Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia

Chile
Overland
Self-Guided
Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia

Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia

Prices

From $1,675USD

Difficulty

Self-guided

Hotels, Guesthouses, Mountain Huts

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Highlights

Explore the pristine reserves and protected parks of Chile and Argentina

Take a hike through El Chalten's spectacular mountain ranges and jagged peaks.

Marvel at the turquoise waters of Lake Argentino and the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Watch wildlife in its natural environment, including the largest colony of Magellanic penguins in the world

Overnight in the incredible Torres del Paine National Park, trekking route right outside your door

Embark on a 12-day adventure to some of the most beautiful landscapes and natural habitats that Chile and Argentina have to offer on the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Tour. Your journey begins in Buenos Aires and takes you south towards the Valdez Peninsula, where penguins, elephant seals, and whales are some of the only company you’ll have on your hiking excursions.

After visiting local wildlife refuges, you'll continue on to Patagonia to venture among towering blue glaciers, turquoise lakes littered with giant blocks of ice, and mountain ranges that take your breath away. You'll hike the most epic routes of this region to see the towering peaks of El Chalten, the views from Mirador los Tres, and the craggy stone needles of Torres del Paine National Park. This journey in Patagonia is a time you’ll never forget!

Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Hiking Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Argentina

After your arrival in Buenos Aires, a driver will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. After settling in, take time to see some of the city's vibrant sights, like the tourist centre of La Boca, the bohemian quarter of San Telmo, and the tango dancers in Dorrego Square.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Buenos Aires
Distance
None
Meals
None

Day 2 Penguin Watching in Punta Tumbo

Today you'll be transferred from your hotel back to the airport for a quick domestic flight to Trelew. You'll be greeted at the airport and taken to the Punta Tumbo Peninsula, where you'll join an English-speaking guide to watch the planet's largest colony of Magellanic penguins in their natural habitat.

Later in the day, transfer to Puerto Madryn to spend the night in your hotel.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Puerto Madryn
Distance
400km (driving)
Meals
Breakfast

Day 3 Wildlife Excursion to the Valdez Peninsula

This morning, head to the protected Valdez Peninsula Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its important role in the conservation of marine mammals, including whales, orcas, and sea lions. From the cliffs of Punta Pelgada, you can watch the largest elephant seals in the world.

This area is also rich in local wildlife, like ñandu, guanacos, foxes and armadillos.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Puerto Madryn
Distance
400km (driving)
Meals
Breakfast

Day 4 Flight to El Calafate

A shared transfer will take you back to Trelew Airport for your flight south to El Calafate, the gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park. Located on the shores of Lake Argentino and home to the Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate offers beautiful scenery in a rural mountain town setting. There are opportunities to visit Glaciarium Museum, go wildlife watching, or just wander around the quaint town.

Overnight Location
Hotel in El Calafate
Distance
None
Meals
Breakfast

Day 5 Catamaran Cruise and Ranch Tour

Get ready for a great day trip of boat and land tours, plus a visit to an authentic local estancia, or ranch.

Your day begins with a transfer to a pier on Lake Argentino for a 1.5-hour catamaran cruise to Brazo Upsala, a lake that ends at the foot of the Upsala Glacier. Then, you'll visit a traditional local ranch (estancia). In the estancia, you'll visit a small museum, where a guide will tell you the story about the first immigrants who settled here. From the estancia, you'll take a spectacular 4x4 drive to a beautiful overlook of Upsala Glacier. You'll return to El Calafate via the same catamaran.

Overnight Location
Hotel in El Calafate
Distance
None
Meals
Breakfast

Day 6 Visit to Perito Moreno Glacier and transfer to El Chalten

You can't help but admire the amazing view along Lake Argentino as you travel to the Los Glaciares Park. At the park, an English-speaking guide will take you on an excursion to see the mammoth Perito Moreno Glacier, with sheer blue cliffs of the continental ice field. Be sure to ask your guide about the additional option to navigate the southern part of the glacier on foot!

In the afternoon, you'll be heading towards El Chalten, a popular base for trekkers in Argentina. Follow Ruta 40 across the Rio Santa Cruz, enjoying splendid views of Lake Viedma and the peaks of Cerro Torre, Saint Exupéry, Fitz Roy, and Guillaumet.

Overnight Location
Hotel in El Chalten
Distance
374 km (driving)
Meals
Breakfast

Day 7 Hike to the foot of Mount Fitz Roy

Get ready for a day of climbing in Los Glaciares National Park! Your trek begins by hiking above the Rio las Vueltas and looking down on the enormous tongue of the Piedras Blancas Glacier.

From the Poincenot campsite, a one-hour climb to the foot of the Fitz Roy peak reveals a stunning view of snow-capped stone giants reflected in the Laguna dos Tres. The Mirador los Tres is the most famous viewpoint in the park, revealing an endless landscape you'll never forget.

Overnight Location
Hotel in El Chalten
Distance
8 to 9 hours, 24km, 800m of ascent
Meals
Breakfast

Day 8 Hike to Cerro Torre

A five hour hike in a valley along with the Rio Fitz Roy and across several roll sills takes you to Lago Torre, capped with an impressive snow mushroom. After hiking back, you return to El Chalten the same way.

Later in the evening, at 18:00 the bus will take you to El Calafate.

Overnight Location
Hotel in El Calafate.
Distance
5 to 6 hours, 20km, 200m of ascent
Meals
Breakfast

Day 9 Cross the Pampas into Chile

Today you'll cross the border into Chile. The trip takes you along the turquoise waters of the Rio Santa Cruz, across the 'pampas' (plains), and to the border post of Cerro Castillo. You'll reach Puerto Natales by afternoon and head to your hotel for a well deserved rest.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Puerto Natales
Distance
340km of driving
Meals
Breakfast

Day 10 Explore Torres del Paine National Park

From your hotel, you'll be transferred via private transfer to the Biosphere Reserve of Torres del Paine National Park. Well worn footpaths snake their way through 227,000 hectares of mountain, glacier, lakes and river.

You’ll see the most fantastic sites, such as Gray Beach (a black sandy beach where you can see the icebergs coming from Gray Glacier), as well as Laguna Amarga, the jagged peaks of the Cuernos, and tumbling waterfalls. Tonight you'll sleep in a mountain hut with nature's beauty all around you.

Overnight Location
Mountain hut in Torres del Paine National Park
Distance
200km of driving
Meals
Breakfast

Day 11 Trek to Mirador Las Torres and return to Puerto Natales

Without a doubt, the viewpoint at Mirador las Torres is the most famous in the Torres del Paine National Park, with jagged peaks lining small alpine lakes.

The hike there begins along the Ascencio River and through ancient lenga forests to arrive at the foot of the moraine. From there it's a steady vertical climb to Mirador las Torres, where you'll be rewarded with views of vertical granite walls towering towards the sky 1000 metres above a glacier. Bring a camera!

During afternoon (at 19:00) a regular bus will take you from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Puerto Natales
Distance
8 hours, 22 km, 900m ascent
Meals
Breakfast

Day 12 Departure

It's time to pack your bags and begin the trip back home. A transfer will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Puerto Natales Airport for your outbound journey.

Overnight Location
None
Distance
None
Meals
Breakfast

Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Price and Dates

This wildlife and hiking tour of the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia is run as a private tour for your group and the price depends on the number of participants.

Please note, that standard rooms are double/twin and groups of odd numbers can opt out to stay in a triple room and save $74USD per person or add a single supplement of $530USD to use one single room instead.

Prices below are per person:

  • Self-guided groups of 2: $1,850USD per person
  • Self-guided groups of 3: $1,750USD per person
  • Self-guided groups of 4: $1,675USD per person
  • Self-guided groups of 5: $1,695USD per person
  • Self-guided groups of 6: $1,675USD per person
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Accommodation on the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Tour

The accommodation on this tour is primarily based in hotels, with one night in a dormitory-style mountain hut that sleeps six.

Hotels on this trip are 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.

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

Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement of $530USD to have a private room in a hotel where possible (excluding the night in the mountain hut as no single rooms are available).

Night 1

Hotel in Buenos Aires

A suitable hotel in Buenos Aires will be selected based on availability.

La Posada in Puerto Madryn

This is one of the top hotels in Puerto Madryn, and it offers lush green gardens and an outdoor swimming pool.

Hosteria Puerto San Julian in El Calafate

Comfortable accommodations and friendly staff await here, as do beautiful views from the hotel grounds.

Hosteria Vertical Lodge in El Chalten

A great spot for exploring El Chaltén, this lodge is known for its spacious rooms and incredible views of snow-capped peaks.

Hotel Vendaval in Puerto Natales

Enjoy the best of Puerto Natales on your doorstep at this comfortable, Patagonia style hotel.

Night 10

Refuge Torres in Torres del Paine National Park

Comfortable dormitory-style bunk beds are where you’ll rest your head after a long day of trekking.

Hotel Vendaval in Puerto Natales

Enjoy the best of Puerto Natales on your doorstep at this comfortable, Patagonia style hotel.

Hotels on Standard Tour

What’s Included in the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Tour?

Meals

11 breakfasts are included.

Accommodations

Accommodations for 11 nights are included.

Transportation during the Tour

All airport transfers are included. All required transports as dictated by the itinerary are also included, except for the flights.

Also Included

  • Shared service with an English-speaking guide in Puerto Madryn
  • Shared service with an English-speaking guide to the Perito Moreno Glacier
  • Shared service with a local guide to the Upsala and Spegazzini glacier
  • 4x4 excursion from estancia to Upsala Glacier Overlook
  • Private transfer to Torres del Paine on day 10

Not included

  • Flights to Chile and from Argentina
  • Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
  • Entrance fees to national parks and nature reserves
  • Guides for trekking on Days 7, 8 and 11
  • Alcoholic drinks

Optional Extras

  • Whale watching excursions, available from June to December
  • Visit to Punta Walichu archaeological site in El Calafate
  • Visit to Glaciarium Museum in El Calafate
  • Navigation of the southern part of the ice front of Perito Moreno Glacier

Frequenty Asked Questions about Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia

How hard is the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Tour?

We rate this tour as a 3/5 due to the more demanding trekking and walking component of the itinerary. This tour includes consecutive days of walking and/or trekking long distances which may not be suitable for certain travellers. While not all days of this tour include hiking, you should have suitable levels of experience and fitness to get the most out of this tour.

Do I need a visa to travel to Chile and 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 Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Tour?

11 breakfasts are included.

Do I need insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your Travel Insurance.

How do I get to Buenos Aires to start this tour?

You can fly into Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires (EZE), where you will be picked up to begin the tour.

Is the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Tour in English?

On the days when a tour guide is included, the guide will be English speaking.

Where does the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia Tour end?

The tour ends at Puerto Natales Airport, Chile. Many travellers will fly from Puerto Natales to Santiago, Chile to connect with their outgoing international flight.

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

Check with your family doctor.

Are there any travel restrictions for Chile and Argentina?

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.

When is the best time to travel to Patagonia for this tour?

The best time to travel to the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia for wildlife watching and trekking is from November to early March, during the region's warmer summer. However, whale watching is only available until December, so prepare for colder weather if you’re wanting to participate.

Reviews

All tours on 10Adventures are operated by highly vetted local tour operators and guides.

Having local tour operators and guides means you get a more authentic experience, and your booking creates jobs in the local communities you visit.

Details of the local tour operator will be listed on your booking invoice. If you have questions about the local operator prior to booking, please click the “Ask a Question” button below.

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Prices

From $1,675USD

Difficulty

Self-guided

Hotels, Guesthouses, Mountain Huts

Start Your Booking

What travellers say

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Rated 4.9 on Google Reviews

Tour Difficulty

We rate this tour as a 3/5 due to the more demanding trekking and walking component of the itinerary. This tour includes consecutive days of walking and/or trekking long distances which may not be suitable for certain travellers. While not all days of this tour include hiking, you should have suitable levels of experience and fitness to get the most out of this tour.


Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.

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