Patagonia's National Parks Tour: Torres del Paine & Los Glaciares - 16 Days

Day 3: Boat Ride to Bernardo O'Higgins National Park & Glaciers

After breakfast, you'll hop on a boat for a memorable ride on the Última Esperanza Sound. As you travel along the fjord, the boat will make stops at different viewpoints so you can marvel at the surrounding glaciers, waterfalls, and cliffs. (Keep an eye out for condors flying overhead.)

Your ultimate destination is Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. This massive protected area spans 8,867 square miles (22,860 sq km), making it the country's largest protected area. Here, you'll disembark for a short hike through native forests until you reach the impressive Serrano Glacier.

After some time to snap photos and enjoy the forest, you'll return to the boat and head to the nearby Estancia Perales. Here, you'll break for a traditional lunch of succulent Patagonian barbecue (vegetarian options available), and then transfer back to Puerto Natales.

Day 4: Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour

Wake early and meet your driver for the two-hour ride into Torres del Paine. On a full-day private tour of the park, you'll visit famous attractions, such as Laguna Amarga, which features views of the iconic peaks of the Cordillera Paine. You'll also hike over a suspension bridge in the Lago Grey sector and enjoy views of glaciers. Continue trekking to Salto Grande, the park's famous thundering waterfalls. At the end of the day, you'll transfer to a hotel/lodge adjacent to the park.

Day 5: Self-Guided Day Hike to Base Torres

It's another early start as you meet your driver for the short ride to the Laguna Amarga entrance of Torres del Paine. Once there, you'll embark on an 11.2-mile (18 km) self-guided hike, which takes all day to complete. Start by following a well-marked trail up Mount Almirante Nieto, which features spectacular views of Lago Nordenskjöld and the Asencio Valley below. After two hours of hiking, you'll reach Refugio & Camping Chileno, where you'll break for lunch.

Then it's another hour of hiking past ancient Lenga forests until you arrive at a moraine. The next part is a 45-minute hard scramble to the top and Mirador Base Torres. In this spot, three granite pillars jut out of the ground over a silver lagoon and make for the best view in the park. You'll also see the towering peaks of nearby Torre Sur, Torre Central, Torre Norte, Condor's Nest, and Glacier Torre. Later, you'll hike back down the mountain and meet your driver for the ride back to Puerto Natales. 

Day 6: Lake Nordenskjöld Hike, Transfer to Puerto Natales

Leave your hotel/lodge on another day hike, this time around Lago Nordenskjöld, a lake famous for its turquoise waters. The day's route covers 6.8 miles (11 km) and takes 4-5 hours to complete. Throughout the trek, you'll enjoy some of the park's most famous scenery, including viewpoints looking up at the Cuernos del Paine (Horns of Paine) granite peaks. As you skirt the lakeshore, you'll also pass several rivers, waterfalls, and glaciers. At the end of the afternoon, you'll meet your driver and transfer back to Puerto Natales.

Day 7: Hiking & Horseback Riding at Estancia La Peninsula

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll set off for the beautiful Estancia La Peninsula on the Antonio Veras Peninsula. This sprawling sheep and cattle ranch is surrounded by glaciers, mountains, and beech forests. Getting there involves a fun 40-minute boat trip across the Última Esperanza Sound.

When you arrive at this working wool farm, you'll get an overview of the grounds and choose your own adventure for the day. Possible activities include horseback riding, wildlife viewing, hiking, bird-watching, and more. Your schedule depends on your interests. In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional Patagonian asado (barbecue) prepared by the staff and attend the daily sheep-shearing demonstration. Return by boat to Puerto Natales in the evening.

Day 9: Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour

Meet your driver this morning and head out on a tour of Los Glaciares National Park. The ride there takes about an hour, and as you enter the park, you'll catch your first glimpse of the mighty Perito Moreno. This expansive glacier flows down from the Andes over the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, ending in a great wall that curves around the lake. You can enjoy views of this marvel of Mother Nature via a network of wooden boardwalks on the waterfront (be sure to take plenty of photos).

Then, head over to the port at Bajo de Las Sombras and board a boat for a one-hour tour of the glacier's southern face. The first 20 minutes of the trip will take you past icebergs floating on the lake. These are the result of "calving," a periodic occurrence when ice breaks off the face of the glacier. Eventually, you'll get up close with Perito Moreno's massive ice wall, which rises as high as 230 feet (70 m). After the hourlong tour, you'll return to the port and transfer back to El Calafate.

Day 10: Glaciar Sur Hiking & Boating

Get ready for another exciting full-day excursion to witness the star attractions of Los Glaciares National Park. Today's adventure will take you slightly off the tourist trail to admire some lesser-visited (but no less incredible) hidden glaciers. A car will pick you up from your hotel in the morning for the 37-mile (60 km) drive along a dirt road called Camino de las Estancias. At the end of the road, at the park's southern end, there's a jetty. Here, you'll board a boat, and after sailing for an hour, you'll disembark and begin a mile-long (2.5 km) trek to the famous Lago Frías.

Once there, you'll hop in a Zodiac and zip over to the opposite side, where you'll continue on the second leg of the hike, which covers 2 miles (4 km). Then trek through a lenga forest and across an ancient glacial valley until finally reaching the upper part of Lago Frías, which is dotted with icebergs. Though it takes much effort to get here, the rewards are worth it, as you'll enjoy prime views of the Dickson, Cubo, and Grande glaciers. After a break for lunch, you'll begin the return journey.

Day 11: Transfer to El Chaltén, Explore

Leave El Calafate this morning on a three-hour drive north to El Chaltén. Nicknamed "the trekking capital of Argentina," this town sits on the banks of the Río Las Vueltas. Like El Calafate, it's a gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, with towering peaks rising 10,000 feet (3,048 m) above the windswept landscape. If the skies are clear during the drive, you'll have incredible views of the granite massif of Mount Fitz Roy. After checking into your hotel, you can take a walk around town and pop in at one of El Chaltén's many cafés and craft beer bars. 

Day 12: Guided Hike to Laguna de los Tres

After an early breakfast at the hotel, you'll meet your guide and head out on one of the most famous day hikes in El Chaltén: the trail up to Laguna de los Tres. Starting in town, the route covers 12.4 miles (20 km) and takes 8-9 hours to complete. During the trek, you'll pass through native lenga forests and stop at incredible viewpoints looking out to the Fitz Roy Valley and Piedras Blancas Glacier. 

Then, cross a suspension bridge to reach Río Blanco Base Camp, a major hub for rock climbers. From there, it's a final push to Mirador Laguna de los Tres, which looks out to the gorgeous lagoon and affords panoramic views of three surrounding peaks: Fitz Roy, Poincenot, and Torre. After a break for lunch, you'll have some time to relax and enjoy the scenery before descending back to El Chaltén.

Day 13: Kayaking in Lago del Desierto

Get ready to hit the water once again! Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and you'll set out along the scenic route toward one of the region's highlights, Lago del Desierto. Its name means "lake of the desert," and the trip takes about two hours each way. On arrival, your guide will teach you some of the basics of kayaking in the area and get you properly outfitted with the necessary equipment.

Then you'll push off onto the lake's calm, glassy water and begin your paddling adventure, enjoying views of beautiful forests and impressive peaks in the distance. Take a break at Bahía Tranquila, a section of the lake protected from the wind. Since the water is shallow here, it's a nice place to hop off the kayak and enjoy your surroundings. After a 2.5-hour trip around the lake, return to shore. Take some free time to explore the nearby trails or visit the viewpoint of the nearby Huemul Glacier before returning to town for the evening.

Day 14: Self-Guided Hike in El Chaltén

Spend today discovering the numerous hiking trails of El Chaltén at your own pace. One popular option is the hike to Laguna Torre, which leads through a glacial valley to a scenic lagoon. This trek takes about six hours. Another possibility is the hike to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, which takes between six and seven hours and offers excellent views over the park. If the weather is clear, you might glimpse the azure waters of Lago Viedma. In the evening, return to El Chaltén.

Day 15: Self-Guided Hike in El Chaltén

It's another free day to discover new hiking trails around El Chaltén. Beginners can try an easy, 2-3 mile (3-5 km) roundtrip trek to Mirador de los Cóndores or a one-hour hike to the Chorrillo del Salto Waterfall. A more challenging option is trekking up to the Huemul Glacier, located about an hour outside of El Chaltén and named after the elusive south Andean deer. This moderately strenuous journey will take you through some of the most gorgeous scenery in the area, including rivers, streams, and pristine forests. A nice reward is the view of Cerro Torre and Mount Fitz Roy from the top.

Day 16: Transfer to El Calafate, Depart

Say goodbye to Patagonia as you hit the road on the return trip to El Calafate. Enjoy the views of Lago Argentino and the lakeshore as you continue on to the airport, where your flight home awaits. Safe travels!

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