Exploring Patagonia in Depth

Southern Patagonia is a vast and wild region ideal for exploring in small groups willing to trek among mountains and lakes. You will drive along deserted roads and stay in small typical estancias (ranches) and camp, where at all possible, in order to appreciate the local culture. This will give you a different perspective of Patagonia and its people than when travelling in large groups and staying at hotels. Most places we stop include 2 or 3 days trekking, which in many cases is the only way to explore these regions.

Day 1 - Saturday – Buenos Aires.
Arrive to Buenos Aires and make your own way to the hotel. There will be a group meeting with the tour leader or a local guide at the hotel in the evening. Overnight in Buenos Aires.

Day 2 - Sunday – Buenos Aires / Comodoro Rivadavia.
Breakfast. Transfer to the domestic airport for our flight to Comodoro Rivadavia. Arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Comodoro Rivadavia.

Day 3 - Monday – Comodoro Rivadavia / Petrified Forest / Estancia Telken or similar.
Breakfast. Early morning start to commence our drive to the 65 million years old Petrified Forests at Colonia Sarmiento. After short walks in the area, we have lunch and continue driving past Perito Moreno town to the typical Patagonian Estancia Telken or similar. Overnight at Estancia Telken or similar. Dinner.

Day 4 - Tuesday – Estancia Telken / Perito Moreno National Park.
Breakfast. After breakfast we start driving south to the impressive Rio Pinturas canyon where we stop and walk down a few hundred meters to find the 9,000 year old paintings at the “Cuevas de las Manos” (hand-painted caves). After admiring these paintings, we continue driving south to the Perito Moreno National Park (do not mistake with the Perito Moreno Glacier which is within Los Glaciares National Park). This National Park is probably the least known and least spoiled in Argentina. There are only a couple of Estancias (ranches) and the ranger’s house within the thousands of hectares it comprises. Abundant in wildlife, we will enjoy two incredible full day walks to admire the rich flora and fauna, the blue lakes, as well as spectacular views of the highest peak in southern Patagonia, the San Lorenzo Mount (3706 mts.). Overnight at Estancia La Oriental or similar. Lunch & Dinner.

Day 5 - Wednesday – Perito Moreno National Park.
Breakfast. Explore the park on foot. Many different trekking options are available. Depending on weather conditions, we will choose the best possible one each day. Overnight at Estancia La Oriental or similar. Lunch & Dinner.

Day 6 - Thursday – Perito Moreno National Park.
Breakfast. Another day to explore the park on foot. Again depending on weather conditions, we will choose the best possible route for the day. Overnight at Estancia La Oriental or similar. Lunch & Dinner.

Day 7 - Friday - Perito Moreno – El Chalten (Fitz Roy).
Breakfast. Early morning start for a long drive south along the unpaved National Road 40. Arrive to the Andean village of El Chalten late afternoon. Camp.  Lunch & Dinner.

Day 8 - Saturday – El Chalten (Fitz Roy)
Breakfast. El Chalten is the base for the most impressive treks, rock climbing and ice expeditions in Patagonia. Some of the most well known peaks, Fitz Roy (3375 mts.) and Cerro Torre (3128 mts.), attract the very best rock climbers from around the world. Our two full days will include trekking to Laguna de Los Tres, facing Fitz Roy, and Laguna Torre in front of Cerro Torre. Camp. Lunch & Dinner.

Day 9 – Sunday – El Chalten (Fitz Roy)
Breakfast. Trek to Laguna de Los Tres or Laguna Torre. Camp.  Lunch & Dinner.

Day 10 – Monday - El Chalten – El Calafate
Breakfast. Morning for short walks. Lunch at El Chalten and continue south (220 km) to the town of El Calafate, base to Los Glaciares National Park, with its impressive Perito Moreno Glacier. At leisure to explore the town or bird watch at Nimes Lagoon. Overnight at Hotel in Calafate. Lunch.

Day 11 – Tuesday - Perito Moreno Glacier
Breakfast. Spend this day exploring the Perito Moreno Glacier. After driving along Lago Argentino for about an hour, we arrive to Los Glaciares National Park. Continue driving through this winding road, with views of the Glacier and its surrounding lakes and peaks, until we reach an area from where we will appreciate the immensity of this glacier. We get closer to its front wall (about 50 mts high) as we walk the easy paths. If we are lucky enough, we might even watch and listen the huge ice crackings that plunge into the lake. We suggest you bring your own lunch from Calafate. Return to Calafate in the afternoon. Overnight at Hotel in Calafate.

Day 12 – Wednesday – El Calafate – Torres del Paine
Breakfast. Continue driving along the Patagonian Steppes, this time towards Chile. As we approach the border, some of the peaks within the Torres del Paine National Park appear upon us. Time for lunch (no fruit, vegetables or raw food allowed into Chile) at the border and continue our way until we reach the Park. Depending on where we set our campsite, we may need to trek today for a few hours but this would mean less hours the following day. The landscape has gradually changed to a greener one, with a wide variety of fauna like guanacos, foxes and condors. The Park is surrounded by lakes, glaciers and snowed mountain peaks, some of which we will visit during our stay here. Camp. Dinner.

Day 13 - Thursday – Torres del Paine National Park
Breakfast. Trek to the Paine Towers (about 7 hrs return journey or less, depending where our camp is set, including a last 45 minute steep walk to reach the lagoon). The scenery all along the way is amazing, with lakes and lagoons behind us, the Ascencio River valley on one side, and mountains on the other Camp. Lunch & Dinner.

Day 14 - Friday – Torres del Paine – Punta Arenas (Chile)
Breakfast. Early morning departure to visit other parts of the Park (Grey Lake, Administration Centre, Pehoe Lake) including some short walks. Continue to the fishing town of Puerto Nataleswhere you can have a late lunch. We then keep on driving along a paved road to Punta Arenas, the biggest city insouthern Patagonia. Arrive late afternoon. Overnight at Hotel in Punta Arenas.

Day 15 - Saturday – Punta Arenas
Breakfast. Trip concludes after breakfast.