On the Trail of Argentina's Patagonia
Trip Overview
Our guided Hiking Tour through Patagonia is by far one of the most amazing adventure experiences any traveler can have. The name Patagonia evokes images of windswept and isolated landscapes, massive glaciers and awe-inspiring granite peaks.
Our hiking tour starts in the small town of El Calafate, and then continues onwards into Los Glaciares National Park. We’ll hike to the Mount Torre viewpoint with views of glaciers, the Adela range, and Mount Torre. We will then visit Perito Moreno Glacier, hiking alongside majestic mountains and through pine forests to the famed Mount Fitz Roy.
For this Patagonia hiking experience, bring along your spirit of adventure and expect to be mesmerized by dramatic beauty.
HIGHLIGHTS OF HIKING ARGENTINA'S PATAGONIA
- More rugged and less crowded than Chile's Patagonia
- Hiking to the Mount Torre viewpoint with views of glaciers, the Adela Range and Mount Torre
- Hike across the forests and pampas (lowlands) of Argentina's Patagonian Fitz Roy National Park
- Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier
Itinerary & Map
Day 1
El Calafate - El Chalten
Arrival
In the morning, you’ll be picked up at the airport and transferred to El Chalten. Please make sure your flight arrives no later than 11:00am. You have the remainder of the day free in El Chalten to relax and explore your surroundings. We will meet in the evening for dinner and a trip briefing.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Fitz Roy Trek
Hiking
After breakfast we will transfer by car to the trailhead. From here, we’ll begin our hike and ascend gradually all morning along the Rio Blanco to the base camp of the same name. This is the camp where climbers wait for a break in the weather when attempting the always-difficult ascents of the granite monolith. We’ll ascend more steeply to Laguna De Los Tres where we will have close-up views of several of the routes used to climb Fitz Roy, weather permitting. From here, we will hike back to our van and transfer back to El Chalten for the night.
Hiking Distance: 20 km / 12 mi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3
Pilegue Tumbado Trek
Hiking
We’ll start with a hearty breakfast and then head out for another day of hiking. We’ll hike a lesser-known trail in Los Glaciares National Park that provides stunning 360° views of the Patagonian landscape. After hiking through forest, wind swept plains and rock fields, we’ll arrive at the viewpoint and have panoramic views of the Cerro Fitz Roy and Torre Valleys below us, as well as the Patagonian steppe and Lake Viedma. After our day of hiking, we’ll return to El Chalten for the evening.
Hiking Distance: 20 km / 12 mi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4
Mount Torre - El Calafate
Hiking
This morning we’ll hike to Laguna Torre, one of the more famous walks in the area that can’t be missed. The trail passes through a wide variety of landscapes of glacially formed valleys and dense forest before ending at the Mount Torre viewpoint. We’ll take a short break at the top to admire the views of the Adela Range and Mount Torre. From here, we’ll head back to the van and transfer to a comfortable hotel in El Calafate. This evening dinner will be on your own in El Calafate.
Hiking Distance: 18 km / 11 mi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5
Estancia Cristina - Canadon de Los Fosiles
Hiking
This morning we’ll transfer to Estancia Cristina, sailing through the north arm of Argentina Lake. Upon arrival, we’ll jump in 4x4 jeeps and drive 9.5km/6mi on a mountain road. A glacier once covered this area. We'll arrive at the continental ice refuge and there we'll start our hike admiring the local flora and fauna, as well as fossils leftover from glacier activity. On our hike, we’ll have impressive views of Lake Guillermo, Patagonian ice fields and Upsala Glacier. Our hike finishes in the valley of the estancia, and then we head back by boat to El Calafate. Overnight at the same hotel in El Calafate.
Hiking Distance: 14 km / 9 mi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6
Perito Moreno Glacier
Sightseeing
This morning we’ll then set off to see one of the most famous geological sights in the world, the Perito Moreno Glacier, located in Los Glaciares National Park. It is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and is a protected UNESCO site. Perito Moreno is one of the few glaciers that is still stable with seasonal fluctuations in the position of its snout. It calves into Lake Argentino and sometimes the terminus creates a natural dam and part of the lake becomes landlocked. Every so often it is possible to see huge lumps of ice break off and fall into the lake and float away as icebergs. With some luck we’ll spot some wildlife in this area including condors, buff-necked ibis, black-chested buzzard eagles and ashy-headed geese. In the afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel in El Calafate for our farewell dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7
El Calafate
Departure
You will be transferred to the airport to connect with your flight onwards.
Meals: Breakfast
What's Included
TRIP INCLUSIONS:
All accommodation (twin shared), meals as indicated (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), internal transportation, airport transfers and English-speaking guides.
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE:
International airfare, internal air to and from El Calafate, airport departure taxes, gratuities, meals not indicated and items of a personal nature.
MEALS:
6 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 2 Dinners
ACCOMMODATION:
Hotel: 6 Nights
Trip Facts
Weather in Argentina
Buenos Aires
October to November: Pleasant afternoon temperatures, 20-26°C (69-79°F) with six to eight hours of sunshine daily.
December to February: Hot summer season with average afternoon temperature of 29°C (84°F) with nine hours of sunshine daily.
March to April: Pleasant afternoon temperatures, 20-26°C (69-79°F) with six to eight hours of sunshine daily.
June to August: Winter months bringing mild afternoon temperatures of 14°C (57°F) with only four hours of sunshine daily.
Patagonia
The weather in Patagonia, though extremely variable, can often be wet, cold and windy. Throughout the country, the proximity of the Pacific and the Andes creates numerous pockets of localized weather patterns known as microclimates. The average temperature during the day is 11°C (51°F). At night, the temperature drops to 3°C (38°F).
October to April: Cool, cloudy and dry.
May to September: Cold. Although there are no snowfalls, the influence of the ocean reduces the severity of winter.
Travel Documents
Citizens of Canada and the US only require a valid passport to enter Argentina. Please ensure that your passport is valid for six months beyond the date of arrival, or you may be refused entry. Always carry a photocopy of your passport in the unfortunate case of loss or theft; this precaution will speed up the reissue process.
Food and Water
A great part of Argentina adventure travel is the food. Some of the must-tries in Argentina include carbonada (beef stew with rice, sweet potatoes, squash, maize and chopped apples and peaches), matambre relleno (stuffed and rolled flank steak served cold or baked) and almendrado (ice cream rolled in crushed almonds). You should exercise caution with food sold in the streets. Tap water is treated in Buenos Aires, although to be on the safe side it is advisable to drink only bottled water, which is available widely. Fruit drinks, soft drinks, coffee and tea are all widely available and safe to drink.
FAQ
Our adventures are built for small groups, with a maximum of 12 travellers on each guided tour. Each group is diverse, comprised of men and women of many different nationalities and ages. By travelling in small groups we leave minimal ecological impact, cause less disruption to the native life and are able to gain a better appreciation for our surroundings.
We understand that people come in many fitness levels, so we've graded our trips accordingly. There are four difficulty levels on our trips: Easy, Moderate, Challenging, and Strenuous.
This is a “challenging” trip.
Although the hikes themselves are not particularly strenuous, their length and challenging terrain will be more taxing than expected. Days are full, average 6-9 hours per day. The terrain is along trails of rolling hills, through forests, along coastlines and partly scrambling over rocks and boulders (sometimes in the snow). The winds can be extremely strong and the temperatures change from one moment to the next. For the most part, you are only expected to carry your daypack on the trail while hiking. The rest of your gear will be carried by the included porter service. Your daypack should be large enough to include your lunch, water, camera, sunscreen and any layer clothing you may need to adapt to the changing weather on the trail.
We strongly recommend that you begin a regular fitness program - that is if you are not already doing so. Four times a week, 60 minutes per session should be a minimum to prepare you for this adventure. The optimal workout would include weight training and cardiovascular activities such as walking, cycling and aerobics.
BikeHike Adventures has been operating since 1994.
The logistics of organizing tours to remote corners of the world can be very complex. Our trip development department spends long hours researching destinations, routes, ground operations and equipment. All itineraries are screened without clients before they are added to our growing repertoire of adventures. Nothing is untested.
Our travellers share a common love for outdoor adventure. Most are looking for a physical adventure in an unfamiliar destination. This trip attracts one of our most diverse groups. A typical trip is comprised of men and women of varied ages and nationalities. Most of our clients on this trip are regular mortals in good physical condition, who exercise regularly and are invigorated by a personal challenge.
The age range on this trip is typically from 30-55, although we occasionally get younger and older travellers as well.
We have prepared a packing list that you can download by clicking the link to the right on this page.
El Calafate, Argentina. On day 1 of the trip, please make sure your flight arrives no later than 11:00am into El Calafate. On day 7 of the trip you can depart El Calafate at anytime.
Can I take this trip if...
This trip is quite popular with singles. Unlike many adventure travel companies, we don't charge single supplement fees to solo travellers. Instead, we pair you with another traveller of the same gender. If we can't find you a roommate, you get your own room at no additional charge. A single private room supplement fee is only required if you specifically request a confirmed private room for the duration of the trip. Learn more about solo travel with BikeHike.
We will do our best to accommodate special dietary requests (e.g. vegetarian, gluten free, etc.), but ask that you please discuss your request with us when signing up for a trip.
This trip is generally not a family focused trip for young children. However, this trip could be suitable for strong and active older teenagers.
We do offer many other Family Focused trips, some of which are able to accommodate children as young as six.
More about this trip...
No. None of the elevations reached on this trip are considered high altitude. The highest point reached is 1200 meters / 3900 ft.
The weather for this trip is best from Mid October to the end of March.
The hikes are all day trips. All you need to carry is a day pack that holds water, snacks, rain gear, camera, etc.
Accommodation
Most of our trips include comfortable mid-range accommodations. This includes accommodation that provides a clean and comfortable experience in characterful surroundings that reflect the destination. To build stronger connections with the communities and support the local economies, we avoid using large international chain brands on BikeHike trips.
This trip includes the following types of accommodation:
HOTELS
In an effort to keep money in the communities we visit around the world, BikeHike prefers small hotels, bungalows, and haciendas that showcase the character and local flair of each destination.
Click HERE for more information about accommodation styles.
Trip At A Glance
| Day | Destination | Activity | Distance | Lodging | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
El Calafate - El Chalten
|
— | — |
Hotel
|
d
|
| 2 |
Fitz Roy Trek
|
Hiking
|
20 km
12 mi
|
Hotel
|
b,
l
|
| 3 |
Pilegue Tumbado Trek
|
Hiking
|
20 km
12 mi
|
Hotel
|
b,
l
|
| 4 |
Mount Torre - El Calafate
|
Hiking
|
18 km
11 mi
|
Hotel
|
b,
l
|
| 5 |
Estancia Cristina - Canadon de Los Fosiles
|
Hiking
|
14 km
9 mi
|
Hotel
|
b,
l
|
| 6 |
Perito Moreno Glacier
|
Sightseeing
|
— |
Hotel
|
b
|
| 7 |
El Calafate
|
Departure
|
— | — |
b
|
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Have You Experienced This Trip?
Submit a ReviewPatagonia was one of the very best trips our family has ever taken! Our guide, Lucia, was fabulous and truly became part of our family. The scenery, the vistas, the icebergs/glaciers – all of it, were amongst the most spectacular we have ever experienced – magical. Our trip was planned to include the right amount of hiking, sightseeing, adventure, and just experiencing the region. Our only complaint was that we needed time to see more!
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