Night 1
Hotel in Buenos Aires
A suitable hotel in Buenos Aires will be selected based on availability.
Explore the pristine reserves and protected parks of Chile and Argentina
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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).
A suitable hotel in Buenos Aires will be selected based on availability.
This is one of the top hotels in Puerto Madryn, and it offers lush green gardens and an outdoor swimming pool.
Comfortable accommodations and friendly staff await here, as do beautiful views from the hotel grounds.
A great spot for exploring El Chaltén, this lodge is known for its spacious rooms and incredible views of snow-capped peaks.
Enjoy the best of Puerto Natales on your doorstep at this comfortable, Patagonia style hotel.
Comfortable dormitory-style bunk beds are where you’ll rest your head after a long day of trekking.
Enjoy the best of Puerto Natales on your doorstep at this comfortable, Patagonia style hotel.
11 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations for 11 nights are included.
All airport transfers are included. All required transports as dictated by the itinerary are also included, except for the flights.
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.
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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9 total ratings, 0 with reviewsStephen L.
I’ve been using 10Adventures route guides for a while, but had never booked a tour. My wife and I booked a self-guided hike in Greece and were so impressed with how we were able navigate the route without a guide with the detailed and easy to follow itinerary. We enjoy travelling independently, and 10Adventures made that happen.
Melinda S.
I was going through a tough time and really needed a getaway so I decided to book a tour through 10Adventures. My trip to Peru changed my life in so many positive and eye-opening ways. I am so thankful for the kind, empathetic team at 10Adventures.
Lina K.
I’ve adventured around a lot of Canada and the US, but I’ve always wanted to explore other parts of the world. I felt a bit scared before booking my trip to Israel, but my conversations with the team at 10Adventures helped ease any worry. I can’t wait to explore more of the world!
Gabriela H.
Travel companies have had to go through a lot during the pandemic but 10Adventures were super flexible and accommodating nonetheless. I had to cancel my tour in France due to the pandemic. 10Adventures was great and let me reschedule for a later date!
Mikael V.
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Alexandra D.
Communicating with 10Adventures feels like talking with a family-run business. I love to explore and travel, and exploring with the comfort of knowing I can talk to the team at 10Adventures with almost immediate feedback helps to ease any stress that comes with adventuring!
Eric S.
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Isabella N.
I have horrible dietary issues making it super hard to book a pre-planned trip sometimes, but the communication through 10Adventures helped me navigate this situation! I am so grateful for all of their help. I cant wait to book with them again!
Erika S.
I just got back from backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, and WOW. What an unreal journey! The alpine meadows, waterfalls, and the lakeside camping spot were memorable highlights! I wonder what other tours 10Adventures has to offer. That one went so well that I am now convinced I need to book another!
Robert D.
I'm not a big fan of traveling because of my fear of flying, but my girlfriend convinced me to go on the Aurora Borealis Tour in the Yukon. I will never forget the mesmerizing northern lights. Such a romantic (and cold) getaway. I would highly recommend it.
Monica L.
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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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