Itinerary
- Day 1
Buenos Aires
You'll arrive in Buenos Aires at your own pace. The tour leader meets you at 6pm for a welcome meeting, with dinner as an option afterward. If you get in earlier, the San Telmo district is worth wandering through, or you could check out the parks in Palermo and grab a coffee at one of those sidewalk cafes.
Optional Activities
- Explore San Telmo district with impressive architecture
- Visit leafy parks in Palermo
- People-watching at sidewalk cafes in Porteno
- Welcome dinner (optional)
Landmarks/POIs San Telmo Palermo - Day 2
Buenos Aires
Walk around Buenos Aires like a local, using the public bus system to get around. Head to Plaza de Mayo and see the President's mansion, then move on to La Boca where you'll find colorful houses and tango dancers in the streets. Stop for coffee and pastries before heading to San Telmo, which has historic mansions and street art. After lunch, your afternoon is free to explore more, visit Recoleta Cemetery, or check out the Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore. There's an optional tango show in the evening if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Buenos Aires historic neighborhoods
- Visit Plaza de Mayo
- Explore La Boca neighborhood
- Traditional Porteno coffee and pastries at local cafecito
- San Telmo neighborhood exploration
Optional Activities
- Explore San Telmo antique market
- Visit Recoleta Cemetery
- Visit Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore
- Attend tango show with dinner (US$120) or without dinner (US$70)
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de Mayo La Boca San Telmo Recoleta Cemetery Ateneo Grand Splendid - Day 3
Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
You'll transfer to the airport for a flight to Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego. The afternoon is yours to explore the city. Consider visiting the old prison that's now the Maritime Museum, or pick one of three coastal boat excursions in the Beagle Channel where you can look for wildlife and penguins.
Optional Activities
- Visit Maritime Museum (old prison of Ushuaia) - US$15
- Beagle Channel catamaran with penguin spotting - US$100
- Harberton Estancia and Isla Martillo penguin colony tour - US$152 + US$22 entrance fee
- Beagle Channel boat trip to Sea Lion Island and Bird Island - US$76
Landmarks/POIs Ushuaia Maritime Museum Beagle Channel Sea Lion Island Bird Island Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse Martillo Island Harberton Estancia Isla Martillo - Day 4
Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego National Park
Head out for a guided walk through Tierra del Fuego National Park with trails through forest and to Lapataia Bay. The drive takes you through different sectors of the park with wide open views and chances to spot Patagonian grey foxes and condors. After lunch, you'll return to Ushuaia with the afternoon free to explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided walks in Tierra del Fuego National Park
- Forest trail walks in multiple park sectors
- Walk to Lapataia Bay
- Park scenic viewing
Landmarks/POIs Tierra del Fuego National Park Lapataia Bay - Day 5
Ushuaia to Punta Arenas
This is a long travel day crossing Tierra del Fuego by public bus, then taking a ferry across the Magellan Strait and entering Chile to reach Punta Arenas. The whole journey takes about 10 hours including the ferry and border control. Later that evening you'll have local specialities like king crab and Chilean wines.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local specialities including king crab and Chilean wines)
Included Activities
- Public bus travel across Tierra del Fuego
- Ferry crossing of Magellan Strait
- Border crossing into Chile
Landmarks/POIs Magellan Strait - Day 6
Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine
Travel north across the Patagonian steppe with views of the Cordillera peaks along the way. You'll stop in Puerto Natales, a coastal town that serves as the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. From there, continue toward the park, passing by Milodon Cave before reaching your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel across Patagonian steppe
- Stop in Puerto Natales
- Pass Milodon Cave
Landmarks/POIs Puerto Natales Torres del Paine National Park Milodon Cave - Day 7
Torres del Paine National Park
An active day with an 8-kilometer guided hike from Lake Sarmiento to Laguna Amarga where you'll spot guanacos, black-necked swans, upland geese, and pink flamingos. You'll see ancient cliff paintings dating back about 6,000 years. Later, drive to Cascada Paine waterfall and then to Blue Lagoon for views of the Torres. There's an optional challenging 22-kilometer trek to the base of Torres del Paine if you're up for it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Lake Sarmiento to Laguna Amarga (8.5 kilometers)
- View ancient cliff paintings along trail
- Visit Cascada Paine waterfall
- Walk at Blue Lagoon with views of the Torres
Optional Activities
- 22-kilometer trek to base of Torres del Paine (challenging, approximately 10 hours, not included) - requires notification by Day 2
Landmarks/POIs Lake Sarmiento Laguna Amarga Cascada Paine Blue Lagoon Torres del Paine - Day 8
Torres del Paine National Park
Start with views of Lake Pehoe, then hike steeply to Mirador Cuernos for views of Valle del Frances. Your afternoon is free to relax or explore more trails, with options for walks to Escondida Lagoon or Nutria River. There's also an optional excursion on the Serrano River involving a speedboat, waterfall walk, another boat, and glacier viewing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Lake Pehoe viewpoint
- Hike to Mirador Cuernos
Optional Activities
- Walk to Escondida Lagoon (approximately 2-hour round trip)
- Walk to Nutria River (approximately 2-hour round trip)
- Serrano River excursion with speedboat, native forest walk, Ultima Esperanza fjord, and Serrano Glacier viewing (approximately 6 hours, return around 8pm) - US$140
Landmarks/POIs Lake Pehoe Mirador Cuernos Valle del Frances Escondida Lagoon Nutria River Serrano River Serrano Glacier Paine Massif Bernardo O'Higgins National Park - Day 9
Torres del Paine to El Calafate
Depart for the Argentine border at Cerro Castillo, crossing a vast plateau where you'll see very little except occasional estancias. Drive to Calafate, which takes about 6 hours and sits on the southern shores of Lago Argentino. It's your gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Border crossing at Cerro Castillo
- Travel across Patagonian plateau
Landmarks/POIs Cerro Castillo Lago Argentino Los Glaciares National Park - Day 10
Perito Moreno Glacier
Spend a full day at Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the great sights in South America. You'll have included walks along boardwalks in the National Park with panoramic glacier views. There's an optional boat ride to the glacier face or an optional ice trek using crampons if you're interested (though there's an age limit of 65 years for the ice trek).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boardwalk walks in Los Glaciares National Park with panoramic glacier views
Optional Activities
- Boat ride to Perito Moreno glacier face - US$28
- Perito Moreno ice trek with crampons (ages 65 and under due to National Park regulations) - US$160 without transfers or US$210 with transfers
Landmarks/POIs Perito Moreno Glacier Los Glaciares National Park Southern Patagonian Ice Field - Day 11
El Calafate to El Chalten
Drive to El Chalten, which takes about 3 hours and gets you there around 11am. The town sits at the confluence of the De las Vueltas and Fitzroy Rivers in Los Glaciares National Park. Grab lunch and check in, then your afternoon is free to explore the town and surrounding trails. There's an optional 8-hour trip to Lago del Desierto with a scenic drive, sail, and hike to Vespignani Glacier.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive to El Chalten
Optional Activities
- Lago del Desierto trip with scenic drive, sail across lake, and hike to Vespignani Glacier lookout (8 hours, return evening) - US$80
- Viedma Glacier boat trip - US$78
- Huemul Reservation tour (includes guide, transfers, entrance fee, minimum 2 people) - US$160 per person
- Self-guided walks on local trails
Landmarks/POIs El Chalten De las Vueltas River Fitzroy River Los Glaciares National Park Lago del Desierto Vespignani Glacier - Day 12
El Chalten and Mount Fitz Roy
A guided hike to the base of Mount Fitz Roy if the weather cooperates. The indigenous Tehuelche called it 'Chalten' meaning smoky mountain because of the cloud cover. You'll hike through forests and mountain scenery with chances to spot the elusive huemel deer and condors. This is challenging at 26 kilometers round-trip with about 950 meters of climbing and descent, taking around 9 hours total. Shorter self-guided walks are available if you prefer something less demanding.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike to base of Mount Fitz Roy
Optional Activities
- Shorter self-guided walks on local trails
- Relax around El Chalten town
Landmarks/POIs Mount Fitz Roy - Day 13
El Chalten to Buenos Aires
Drive back to El Calafate, which takes 3 hours, for an afternoon flight to Buenos Aires. An optional tango show is available once you arrive in the capital. Keep in mind that flight schedules sometimes mean a late arrival, so you might have the morning free in Patagonia depending on when you leave.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to El Calafate for flight
Optional Activities
- Tango show in Buenos Aires (US$120 with dinner or US$70 without dinner)
- Day 14
Buenos Aires
Your Patagonia tour ends at your hotel in Buenos Aires. There are no activities scheduled for this day, so you can depart whenever you'd like. Luggage storage is available if your flight is later in the afternoon or evening.
