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Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40

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Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40
From $5,830USDBook Now
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14 days from $5,830USD
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Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40
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Ruta 40 is one of the longest roads in Argentina, and it traverses the country from south to north, slicing through legendary Patagonia. With this road as your north star, the Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40 tour offers incredible day trips and excursions as you cruise Ruta 40 over nearly two weeks.

With more highlights than you can name in a breath, the Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40 tour shows you the best of Argentine Patagonia. Boat around the expanse of the Perito Moreno Glacier, trek to Laguna de los Tres, stop for coffee in ranch towns unaffected by modern bustle, unwind on the shores of Lago Posadas, and trek in Patagonia’s newest national park. Each adventure is bookended by miles on the road, revelling in the scenery sweeping by. With the perfect mix of adventure and distance covered, this tour is an ideal way to pack a lot of Patagonia into one adventure!

Argentina, South America
Happiness promise

Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40

Drive Ruta 40 to experience Patagonia from one end to the other
4.60
(49 reviews)
14 days from $5,830USD
Easy quote
Duration
14 days
Season
Jan-Apr, Oct-Dec
Activity
Walking
Type
Guided, Private
Accommodation
Hotels
Difficulty
Moderate (3/5)
From $5,830USD (see prices for this tour)
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National Geographic
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FodorsTravel
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National Geographic
Guardian
Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40
Personalized Service
Let our experienced travel advisors plan your perfect adventure

Ruta 40 is one of the longest roads in Argentina, and it traverses the country from south to north, slicing through legendary Patagonia. With this road as your north star, the Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40 tour offers incredible day trips and excursions as you cruise Ruta 40 over nearly two weeks.

With more highlights than you can name in a breath, the Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40 tour shows you the best of Argentine Patagonia. Boat around the expanse of the Perito Moreno Glacier, trek to Laguna de los Tres, stop for coffee in ranch towns unaffected by modern bustle, unwind on the shores of Lago Posadas, and trek in Patagonia’s newest national park. Each adventure is bookended by miles on the road, revelling in the scenery sweeping by. With the perfect mix of adventure and distance covered, this tour is an ideal way to pack a lot of Patagonia into one adventure!

rating
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
Trip highlights

Drive across a huge portion of Patagonia and Argentina from El Calafate to Perito Moreno on Ruta 40.

Get up close to the icy blue Perito Moreno Glacier, getting unique viewpoints of this massive ice shield.

See the iconic mountains and lakes of Patagonia, including Fitz Roy and Laguna de los Tres.

Stop into hamlets and estancias, getting a taste of true life in the harsh and rugged landscapes of the region.

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Trip map

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Day by day itinerary
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Day 1
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El Calafate
Welcome to El Calafate, the perfect starting point for your adventure in 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.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hotel in El Calafate
Included Meals None
Day 2
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Perito Moreno Glacier Excursion
Start today with one of the park’s most-visited sites, 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 disembark from the boat to enjoy a walk around this amazing 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 and spend some time adventuring on your own before departing the Perito Moreno area.
Distance Flexible
Overnight Location Hotel in El Calafate
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch
Day 3
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El Chaltén and Madsen’s House
Savour breakfast before departing for El Chaltén, a gorgeous drive with the mountains flanking the highway. After a post-arrival lunch, it’s on to the home of Andreas Madsen, a Danish man who lives in the valley with his family. Their unique history paints a picture of local life in this less-hospitable region. After tea at his own dining room table, you’ll drive back to town to try out the assortment of restaurants and bars in the evening.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hotel in El Chaltén
Included Meals Breakfast
Day 4
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Day Trip to Pliegue Tumbado
Today you’ll take a hike to explore the geological fault of Pliegue Tumbado, with very old fossils embedded into the rock. Watch for ammonites and belemnites from 100 million years ago as you walk! You’ll enjoy panoramic views of the park while you walk as well, so you’ll have plenty to snap photos of. Your guide can tell you about the unique flora and fauna of the area while you enjoy the gentle uphill climb. At the end of the day, you’ll be able to enjoy the town and pick a spot for dinner.
Distance 7 hours, 20km
Overnight Location Hotel in El Chaltén
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch
Day 5
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Laguna de los Tres and Mount Fitz Roy
This morning, depart for the Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint for a beautiful start to your day. Continue to the Poincenot Campground, where mountaineers from all over the world camp between their adventures. After a break here, you’ll take on the most difficult part of today’s route, gaining elevation as you approach 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. Descend via Laguna Capri, another scenic spot. Celebrate your hike tonight at a local restaurant.
Distance 8-9 hours, 22km
Overnight Location Hotel in El Chaltén
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch
Day 6
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Travel to Perito Moreno National Park
Cross another park off your list as you drive into Perito Moreno National Park, watching the vast expanse of the land fly by as you go. You’ll pass a few far-west style towns, where time seems to stand still and nothing modern has interfered with the original spirit. Crossing over a gravel road on the final stretch, you’ll park in Perito Moreno and head to your hotel for the evening. Take some time to chat with the rangers about the park, which was founded almost 100 years ago.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hotel in Perito Moreno National Park
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7, 8, and 9
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Trekking in Perito Moreno National Park
Today, tomorrow, and the next day will be spent hiking within the park. You’ll wake each day and choose a route with your guide. The trails here receive fewer visitors in a year than Los Glaciares does in a day, so enjoy the peace and quiet on undisturbed trails. Some of the routes you can choose from include the Peninsula Belgrano (easy loop featuring a turquoise lake), the Via Láctea (a challenging trek to Mount San Lorenzo), and Cerro León (day trek up to a panoramic viewpoint over the park).
Distance Variable
Overnight Location Hotel in Perito Moreno National Park
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10
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Drive to Lago Posadas
After three great days of hiking in Perito Moreno, you’ll hop in the car and head to Lago Posadas, enjoying the view of the steppe fading into the horizon. Stop in the hamlet of Bajo Caracoles, where you can meet a few locals and grab a coffee. Continue along a gravel road to Lago Posadas, where a small town of about 500 people welcomes you. There are two beautiful lakes here, both of them bright turquoise against the ochre landscape.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hotel in Lado Posadas
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11
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Route 41 to Los Antiguos
Hit the gravel roads again this morning, driving along Route 41. You’ll wind along neat geological formations, cross rivers, and gain elevation as you go. You can see the Andes to the west and the Buenos Aires plateau to the northeast. The evening sees you arrive in Los Antiguos, where a cherry festival is held every January. Take a walk along the shore of Buenos Aires Lake and enjoy tapas in a local restaurant.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hotel in Los Antiguos
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12
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Hike in Parque Patagonia
After eating breakfast at the hotel, you’ll drive into one of the newest national parks in Argentina, Parque Patagonia. This park used to be a vast swath of private land, but it was recently handed over to the parks association after being restored in the wake of the eruption of the Hudson volcano. You’ve got a few options for hiking routes, so chat with your guide to pick the best one. Wherever you go, keep an eye out for native wildlife like guanacos, similar to llamas. You’ll end the day in Perito Moreno.
Distance Flexible
Overnight Location Hotel in Perito Moreno
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13
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Cueva de las Manos
Drive down Ruta 40 to Cueva de las Manos today, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area is filled with caves that contain hand-painted scenes and prehistoric footprints. These paintings and prints are over 9000 years old! After exploring the caves, you’ll spend some time in the Pinturas River valley, where the contrasting red earth, blue water, green trees, and bright skies paint a gorgeous scene.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hotel in Perito Moreno
Included Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14
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Tour Concludes
Adios, Patagonia! After traversing the region on Ruta 40, it’s time to continue on elsewhere. You can either fly out of Comodoro Rivadavia or El Calafate.
Distance None
Overnight Location None
Included Meals Breakfast

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Dates and prices

This guided hiking and driving tour in Patagonia is run as a custom tour for your group and the price depends on the number of participants.

Prices below are per person:

  • Guided groups of 2: from $5,830USD per person
  • Guided groups of 3+: on request
What’s included

Meals

13 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.

Accommodations

Accommodations for 13 nights are included. Accommodations before or after the tour are not included but can be added as a supplement.

Transportation during the Tour

Transfers according to the itinerary are included. Public bus tickets as needed are included. Luggage transfers between hotels are included. Either public or private airport transfers are included upon departure.

Also Included

  • Guide services

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
  • Gratuities
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional excursions
  • Visas if required
  • Anything not mentioned as included
  • Some entrance fees

Optional Extras

  • Optional activities or excursions
  • Additional nights before or after the tour
  • Equipment hire if needed

Accommodation for Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40

This tour is based in hotels. The hotels are generally 2 or 3-star and offer basic amenities to keep you comfortable.

In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.

Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. If you would prefer a single room where available, you can pay a supplement. Single occupancy may not be available in all locations. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40 tour?

We rate this tour as a 3/5. While you don’t need any technical climbing skills, you should be comfortable with a couple of longer hiking days of around 7-8 hours. The conditions in Patagonia tend to be unpredictable, so you should be comfortable being out in strong wind, rain, or hot sun.

Do I need a visa to travel to Argentina?

Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.

Are meals included on the Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40 tour?

13 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.

Do I need insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip. Get your travel insurance.

How do I get to El Calafate to start this tour?

You can fly into El Calafate Airport (FTE). You can take a taxi to your hotel or arrange a transfer.

What should I bring?

You should bring a 30-litre backpack, warm hat, fleece jacket, waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, a buff or scarf, hiking boots, sunglasses, trekking poles, lip balm (it’s dry in Patagonia), sunscreen, water bottle, headlamp, and warm gloves. Any equipment you don’t own can be rented locally if needed.

Is the Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40 tour in English?

Yes, your guide will be English-speaking.

Where does the Exploring Patagonia on Ruta 40 tour end?

The tour ends in Perito Moreno. You can either fly out of the airport in Comodoro Rivadavia or El Calafate. Both are several hours away, so we can help you book a bus or arrange a transfer.

Do I need special vaccines to travel to Argentina or Chile?

Check with your family doctor.

Are there any travel restrictions for Argentina or Chile?

Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.

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Why travellers choose this tour
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