Highlights of Patagonia
Experience Overview
Cover some of the most stunning glacial scenery in the world – from the jagged, snow-capped peaks of Mount Fitz Roy and Torres del Pain to the gigantic and still-advancing icescape that is Perito Moreno Glacier. On this Patagonian adventure, start with a tour of cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, then head to frontier town El Chalten to tackle the likes of Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre. Continue to El Calafate, where the marvels of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field are just a hop, skip and jump away. Then, explore the famed Torres del Paine National Park in Chile – keeping your eyes out for grazing guanacos and the famed Los Cuernos. If you’re short on time, but keen to explore Patagonia to its fullest – this trip is for you.
Highlights
- Start with a bang in Buenos Aires, with a walking tour and tango class to make the most of your limited time in the capital.
- Explore the incredible Laguna de los Tres through thick woodlands, over streams and past granite spires to the famed blue lagoon at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy.
- Listen to the thunder as cracks form in the spectacular wall of ice that is Perito Moreno Glacier. This massive, blue-hued natural wonder is constantly breaking and reforming.
- Hike past the most beautiful waterfalls and glaciers of Torres del Paine National Park with your guide, and spot wildlife like guanacos and rhea birds along the way.
- Let someone else take care of the permits and accommodation so you can focus on soaking up the views with new friends – trekking is what small group travel was made for!
Trip Details
Product Code: 1854
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Public bus,taxi,plane
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: GGCB
Starts: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Finishes: Puerto Natales, Argentina
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (6), Lunch (1), Dinner (1)Accommodation: Hotels (6 nights) Camping (1 night)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $6,560 ($820 /day)
Itinerary
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm today, where you’ll get to know your group and local leader. The adventure begins straight after the meeting with an orientation walk that visits Avenida de Mayo, Cafe Tortoni, Florida Street, Plaza de Mayo (Casa Rosada, Cabildo, Catedral de Buenos Aires) and Plaza Dorrego (San Telmo). Continue to Palermo for a fun tango class – in a private space, a professional tango couple will explain the dance’s origin and history, then give a sultry demonstration. Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to join an hour-long beginner’s class to learn some of the basics. Following the tango class, you may want to head to one of the many parrillas (steak houses) in the area for dinner.
Included Activities:
- Buenos Aires - Orientation Walk
- Buenos Aires - Tango class
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast today, fly south from Buenos Aires to El Calafate, then travel by van to the frontier town of El Chalten, north of Glacier National Park. Hikers and climbers from all around the world congregate here to reach the glaciers and mountains of the park. Take it easy and drink in the views today, in preparation for your hike tomorrow. The afternoon is yours to relax, sightsee or get to know your fellow explorers.
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Rise and shine nice and early for your first day of trekking. After breakfast at your hotel, begin with perhaps the most famous of all Patagonia’s trails – the Laguna de los Tres. Ascend from El Calten through incredible landscapes, heading through woodlands framed by granite cliffs and over clear streams towards the three frosted peaks of Mt Fitz Roy. Along the way, you’ll see numerous glaciers, but the primary reward on this trek comes at the end of a steep climb – the Glacier de los Tres and the blue lagoon at the base of Mt Fitz Roy. Take in the gorgeous views, snap a couple of shots and take a moment to appreciate the view. This evening is yours to relax and recharge.
Included Activities:
- El Chalten - Laguna de los Tres guided hike
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning’s schedule is as clear as the mountain air, so you can decide whether to recuperate or tackle another trail. If you can’t wait to explore further, perhaps head out on the Laguna Torre trail. Aside from the first two kilometres, there’s very little ascent on this trail, which leads to a beautiful glacier lake at the base of Cerro Torre. Hiking there and back will take around 7 hours, depending on how many stops you make, so make sure to head out nice and early and get back to your hotel in time. This afternoon, travel to El Calafate, where you’ll spend the night.
Optional Activities:
- El Chalten - Laguna Torre guided hike - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, visit the immense Perito Moreno Glacier. This electric-blue beauty is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world and at 3 km wide and 35 km long, it’s a spectacular sight. Watch and listen to the crack of the ice as it plunges into the waters below, creating a thunderous symphony. The glacier is the third largest reserve of fresh water in the world, after the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets. You’ll also have the option to add a mini hike onto your visit, which explores part of the Moreno glacier on foot – this hike is not available without a guide, so make sure you book ahead. Once you’re finished soaking up the wonder of this natural formation, return to your El Calafate.
Included Activities:
- El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier day trip
- El Calafate - Los Glaciares National Park
Optional Activities:
- Perito Moreno - Guided trek (65 yrs old is the maximum age permitted) From Price (569 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning after breakfast, you’ll travel to the jewel of Patagonia – Torres del Paine National Park. Known for its soaring mountainous peaks, bright blue icebergs and glaciers and untouched grasslands (home to many wild guanacos, birdlife and the Patagonian fox), this park is a nature-lovers paradise. When you arrive, the day is yours to explore. You might want to find a good spot to watch the sunset, gracing your visit to this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with some of the best natural entertainment.
Accommodation:
- Camping with basic facilities (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, head out on a full-day trek in Torres del Paine National Park. The Base Las Torres trek can be a bit of a challenge – but with high reward. Today, you’ll witness some of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth, including rolling hills backdropped by snow-capped peaks and diverse flora and fauna among expansive rivers and lakes in different shades of blue and green. After hours of exploring this incredible park, you’ll arrive at the base of Torres del Pain (or The Blue Towers) – the three distinctively jagged peaks that are synonymous with Chilean Patagonia. At their base, a turquoise lake sits still, completing the scene. In the afternoon, travel to Puerto Natales and perhaps round your group to celebrate your last night of Patagonian adventure however you like.
Included Activities:
- Torres del Paine - Base las Torres guided hike
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today after breakfast, your trip comes to an end. If you’d to extend your stay in South America, just speak to your booking agent.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Hannah - Traveled, February 2024
Incredible views await you!! Traveling with our guide Guillermo paired with local guides throughout the trip made for a very unique and insightful experience that I’m so grateful for. I definitely recommend hiking poles as this trip moves fast and rest days are few! I only wish I had more time. With itinerary changes a few highlights effecting our time in the park weren’t included.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/02/2024
Brenna - Traveled, December 2024
Great way to quickly see some of the most amazing parts of Patagonia, especially while all accommodations/transport are taken care of. Our group leader was fantastic and the trip was great - it’s fast paced but a great way to get it all done in a week.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/02/2024
John - Traveled, November 2023
We had an absolutely brilliant time on our trip to Patagonia. The treks are challenging but so rewarding and the scenery is stunning. Everything was organised expertly by our guide Tomás who is an exceptional tour guide. We’ve made lifelong memories and have so many amazing stories to tell from our time in Patagonia.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2023
Michael - Traveled, November 2023
Have done a number of trips over the past 20 years, this was probably the best and Tomas was the reason for it
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/19/2023
Rory - Traveled, November 2023
Had an amazing time in Patagonia! As a small group, we all bonded really well. Our crew leader, Tomas, was fantastic! There was a lot of humour, fun and experiences that I will never forget.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2023
Emily - Traveled, February 2023
The information on our itinerary was wrong, making us believe a highlight of the trip would be included. Our guide was brought in as a backup and knew almost nothing about the region. It was her first time in the area, she was as much of a tourist as we were. I should have gone solo saved myself $4000 and a lot of headache
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/01/2023
Steven - Traveled, February 2023
I believe more information on your website about details at the stops made on this trip would it more attractive to people considering it. For example, mention the boat trip to the base of the glacier.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/25/2023
Yvette - Traveled, February 2023
Our guide had never been to Patagonia so we did not receive any education. Her knowledge of Buenos Aires was limited to what is where, very limited history. Tours were optional and payment required to be cash this info not given ahead of time so we did not bring enough cash. Trekking guide admitted to us that he took us in unsafe conditions and should not have done so.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/28/2023
Rajitha - Traveled, November 2022
Amazing tour with so much to see! Do exercise beforehand to get most out of it. Trek on the ice was spectacular.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/19/2022
Aylish - Traveled, March 2022
Patagonia is amazing, and our guide did a great job in organizing everything and making the trip run smoothly, as well as teaching us about the area. The landscape is really beautiful, and we ate a lot of good food. Definitely a memorable trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/12/2022
Douglas - Traveled, March 2022
Beautiful mountains and glaciers, wonderful trip leader. Nice accommodations and food. Chilly and windy so bring clothes with lots of layers.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/14/2022
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