Patagonia Trekking: an adventure through Argentina and Chile

A hiker's paradise

Today marks the grand beginning of your Patagonia adventure! You'll start with a domestic flight to Calafate. You'll spend the next two days in a small village located a three-hour drive from the airport, at the northern edge of Los Glaciares National Park. El Chaltén is the trekking capital of Argentina: prepare for breathtaking hikes surrounded by the most incredible landscapes.

This region is home to the area's highest peaks, as well as lakes, glaciers, and forests. Among the best treks are Mount Fitz Roy (3,405 m) and Cerro Torre (3,128 m). Our personal favorite? A day hike to Laguna de los Tres, at the foot of the Fitz Roy massif. Prepare to be amazed: it's absolutely worth it!

Rafting, petrified forest or hiking?

Before saying goodbye to El Chaltén (you'll be leaving after lunch, phew!), you'll have plenty of options to enjoy the morning. Fancy trying the southernmost whitewater rafting in the world? That's an option. Want to push past your daily 10,000 steps again with an extra hike? No problem. Or perhaps you'd prefer exploring a petrified forest, teeming with dinosaur fossils millions of years old? That's possible too! In fact, whatever you choose, a truly memorable experience is guaranteed.

After arriving in Calafate and settling into your hotel, you'll set off to explore this charming town nestled on the shores of Patagonia's largest lake. You can discover the incredible birdlife of Laguna Nimez, but one thing is certain: you'll very likely stop at one of the many local craft breweries. Cheers!

His Majesty Perito Moreno

El Calafate is widely known as the glacier capital of Canada, and the most famous of them all is undoubtedly the Perito Moreno. Guess what? You'll have a whole day to explore it. While most glaciers around the world are retreating, this one is an exception, maintaining its equilibrium through a natural cycle of accumulation and melting.

Upon arrival, you can head to one of the viewpoints overlooking the glacier to admire it from below: a truly unique spectacle. Several excursions can be arranged locally, such as a boat trip that will bring you even closer to the glacier, or a kayaking trip for the more adventurous.

The most popular excursion, however, remains the glacier hike. If this appeals to you, you can put on your crampons and, accompanied by an expert guide, explore the interior of the glacier, discovering its deep crevasses, caves, and underground lagoons. A truly unforgettable experience.

In nature

Today is the day you say goodbye (but only for a while) to Argentina as you cross the Chilean border and set off to explore the powerful Magallanes region. The only ways to access this region—starting, for example, from Santiago, if we exclude air travel—are by ferry, which crosses the impressive Chilean fjords, or, as you will be doing, by road!

It will take some time to reach Puerto Natales, so settle in and enjoy the incredible scenery, while keeping a watchful eye out for guanacos, Patagonian ostriches and, with a bit of luck, pumas! Located on the shores of Last Hope Fjord, Puerto Natales is the gateway to one of the highlights of your adventure: Torres del Paine National Park.

Torres del Paine, here we come!

Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is well worth a visit. If you're one of those who have always dreamed of Patagonia, the image of the three towers rising majestically above the crystal-clear lake at Mirador Base Torres surely comes to mind. And that's precisely the destination of your adventure today: so lace up your hiking boots and get ready for a magnificent trek!

After this incredible day, immersed in nature, surrounded by mountains and forests, it will be time to return to Puerto Natales to celebrate the success of your expedition with a hearty dinner and, why not, a good gin and tonic at the southernmost gin distillery in the world. Cheers!

Crossing the Strait of Magellan

Today, you will embark on a long journey to reach your destination: Ushuaia, the southernmost city on the planet. Unsurprisingly, you will head south, through the endless landscapes of the Patagonian steppe, towards the famous Strait of Magellan, named after the Portuguese navigator who was the first to cross it (and, incidentally, circumnavigate the globe).

When you cross it by ferry, it will be hard not to imagine the scene that unfolded here just over a hundred years ago. Did you know that before the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, this was the only passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans? And vice versa, of course.

Once on the other side, you'll be welcomed by the legendary island of Tierra del Fuego, which you'll reach via its Argentinian side before crossing the last foothills of the Andes Mountains, dotted with lakes and snow-capped peaks. Then, at some point, you'll see water again: the Beagle Channel. This is how you'll reach what will be your home for the next three days. And after such a day, you can truly consider yourselves real adventurers!

We explore Tierra del Fuego

The following two days will be entirely devoted to discovering Ushuaia and the incredible nature that surrounds this city. A trip here would not be complete without boarding a boat to sail on the waters of the Beagle Channel, with, on one side, the Argentinian peaks of the large island of Tierra del Fuego and, on the other, the distinctive profile of the Dientes de Navarino, on the Chilean island of the same name.

The canal owes its name to the ship that first traversed it and which, on its second voyage, carried the naturalist Charles Darwin on his expedition around the world. Inhabited by large rafts of sea lions (yes, a group of sea lions at sea is indeed called a “raft,” while on land they are referred to as a “colony”), families of otters, and flocks of cormorants (that's the correct term), this place is most famous for the penguins that populate Martillo Island. You'll have the opportunity to stroll, accompanied by an expert local guide, among the countless penguins of the three different species that nest here each year.

Back in Ushuaia, and with a bit of luck, you might even spot some whales!

But above all, this is a trekking trip, isn't it? That's why you won't leave Patagonia without exploring its magnificent mountains again. On the second day, you can discover Tierra del Fuego National Park and climb Cerro Guanaco, its highest peak, from where you'll enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the entire region.

Remember to bring a postcard from Ushuaia: from the park entrance, you can send it to yourself from the southernmost post office in the world. For your last dinner, how about trying the region's signature dish… giant crab?

Goodbye Patagonia

Unfortunately, it's time to leave the pristine nature of these remote lands and take a domestic flight to Buenos Aires. After so many adventures in Patagonia, it's time to relax: you can stroll through the Palermo neighborhood, shop in its charming little vintage boutiques, search for the best empanada in town, or simply enjoy a coffee while watching the world go by.

And for a touch of culture, why not visit the famous Recoleta Cemetery, where the former Argentine First Lady, Evita Perón, is buried?

Discovering the city

Today, you'll focus on discovering the wonderful city of Buenos Aires and sampling its delicious local cuisine. You'll start at Plaza de Mayo, in the heart of the city, and then stroll along Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world. A stop at Café Tortoni, the oldest café in the country, is a must.

El Ateneo is also worth a visit: this building, formerly a theater, is now considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. You will then continue your exploration to the La Boca neighborhood, passing by La Bombonera, a football stadium whose name is inspired by a box of chocolates, and discover the colorful houses of Caminito. This is the most famous alley in the neighborhood, where you will often encounter tango dancers showcasing their talent to everyone's delight.

Goodbye Argentina!

Hard to believe, but we've reached the end of our trip: it's been full of emotions and moments we'll never forget. Until the next adventure!