El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure

Making it to El Calafate means making it to the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, the gem of Patagonia. If you’ve got time after travelling, you can go birdwatching at Laguna Nimes or visit the ice museum, perhaps with a drink at the ice bar included.

Waking up in Patagonia, your first adventure will be to the Perito Moreno Glacier. Drive to the port where you’ll take a boat to the glacier, giving you a unique view of its icy blue sheer sides. Keep an eye on the sky for condors and eagles!

Continue along the Canal de Los Témpanos to the northern face of the glacier. Pass Bahia Toro, a unique black sand beach, where you can hop off the boat to enjoy a quick walk around this fascinating area. A thundering waterfall is your endpoint, and here your guide will tell you all about the glacier you just saw. Grab a hot drink at the nearby cafe before departing the Perito Moreno area and grabbing a bus to El ​​Chaltén.

After breakfast and a cup of hot coffee, begin with a ride to Rio Electrico. This is the starting point of a hike through the Electrico Valley, which leads you through an enchanting forest. Arrive at Piedra del Fraile, which will be your overnight location. After a break for lunch, you will continue hiking through the valley to the Pollone Glacier. Expect it to be a bit windy- you’re heading headfirst into the wind from the Continental Icefield!

Upon arriving at the glacier, you’ll be appreciating wild nature at its very best. Rock and ice dominate the landscape, and you’ll be able to get a peek of the northern face of iconic Mount Fitz Roy. Take a breather beside a hidden lagoon before hiking back to your refuge for the evening.

This morning, depart for the Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint for a quick, beautiful start to your day. You’ll hike to the Poincenot campsite to drop some bags, then continue up to Laguna de los Tres. This is the closest you can get to Mount Fitz Roy without any technical climbing, and the view of the distinct jagged peaks atop the impossibly blue lake is truly one of the best in Patagonia.

You’ll eat lunch at the lake if the weather allows, then descend back to camp for the evening.

Waking up in an unbeatable campsite, enjoy breakfast before starting out through the forest. You’ll pass a collection of small lakes along this relatively flat path, then drop into a glacial valley that leads to Laguna Torre. Geologists and photographers alike love this valley for its perfect U shape.

Admire the stellar sight of Laguna Torre framed by Mount Torre, one of the most difficult mountains to conquer in the world due in part to its permanent ice mushroom cap formed by strong, cold winds.

After lunch, you’ll head back to El Chaltén through the Fitz Roy Valley.

Your 6 days in Patagonia are sure to be days you never forget. To complete the tour, you’ll grab a bus to El Calafate and depart from the local airport. Until next time!