Highlights of Patagonia Argentina

• Recommended hike- Cerro Torre

Today, we have a recommendation for true hiking lovers: trek all the way to Cerro Torre and Laguna Torre, one of the most famous hiking trails in the area. Step into the wild for about 8 hours and 12 miles. This is a moderate-difficulty hike, but there is no steep climbing involved, so no previous experience is required!

The journey starts at a notable wooden sign that reads ‘Laguna Torre’ and features a  woodpecker; you probably already saw the sign if you visited the Cerro Torre Viewpoint the previous day. From there, you will continue through a stunning, multi-colored landscape; snow-capped mountains will rein over the native forest of lenga and ñire trees. You’ll pass by the De Agostini campsite and continue to the front moraine…you can hit the summit in 15 minutes! From here you can descend to the lagoon and watch the floating icebergs, or continue to the Mascardi viewpoint, 1 mile up the hill.

• Recommended hike: Laguna de los Tres and base of Mt. Fitz Roy

If you liked the Laguna Torre hiking trail, you’ll love our next hiking favorite: Laguna de los Tres and the base of Mount Fitz Roy. Go for a medium-difficulty, 9-hour hike to the most impressive views of Rio de Las Vueltas Valley. You’ll cross Del Salto Stream, with its icy waters cradled by orange-tinted rocks that frame the breathtaking views of Mount Fitz Roy.

And here’s a little secret: You can also reach Laguna Sucia from Laguna de los Tres… It’s only a 5- minute walk away. Though this hike increases in intensity during the last bit, it’s totally worth it. This is one of the best day hikes in the world!  

Say Hueque Tips

• A little secret to enjoying this hike

Seize the day, wake up early, and watch the sunrise at Laguna de los Tres (see Fitz Roy’s peaks turning red) — this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You can depart from the town of El Chaltén during the night or stay one night at Poincenot campsite, just 1 hour away from Laguna de los Tres.

• Transfer from El Chaltén to your hotel in El Calafate – Day at leisure

Time to continue with your Argentine Patagonia travel itinerary and get ready to board your bus back to El Calafate in the afternoon. The 3-hour drive back will be a good opportunity to relax while enjoying the passing landscapes out your window.

Once you arrive in El Calafate, the bus will drop you off at your hotel. Now is your chance to try some tender Patagonian Lamb, or maybe a heavenly Calafate ice cream. In Calafate, food options are varied and plentiful; from veggie delicacies to the best demonstration of national steaks, there really is something for everyone. You can choose a fancy restaurant for dinner, or a more traditional local tavern to spend an unforgettable night.

• Full-day Safari Azul to Perito Moreno Glacier

We’ll pick you up at your hotel and start our trip to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares where Perito Moreno Glacier awaits! At Bajo de las Sombras port, embark on a 20-minute sail crossing Lago Rico. Enjoy a 30-minute walk to approach the amazing spectacles of the Southern icy walls.

Continue walking through a greenwood and lakeshore and admire the Perito Moreno Glacier. Hop on the boat again and sail closer to the glacier. Get the most amazing views from the water.

Finally, the boat will leave you on the walkways, the lookout trail to traditionally observe the glacier and all its unpredictable movements. At the end of the day, we’ll drive you back to your hotel in El Calafate.

Say Hueque tips

• Walk over the Big Ice

Have you ever imagined walking across the surface of a glacier? Well, this is your chance! The Mini Trekking tour will allow you to trek on Perito Moreno Glacier… This is one of our favorite Patagonia outings; we’re sure you won’t regret it.  This is an optional excursion you can add to this day.

• Optional tours in El Calafate – 4WD and Biking

“Adventure” in El Calafate has different kinds of colors and shapes. For your free day, our suggestion is to get those wheels in motion and keep on exploring. Ten minutes outside of town stands a 3000-foot hill from where you can get stunning views of Lake Argentino, Mount Fitz Roy, and Mount Torre.

Take a day tour and ride in a 4×4 right to the top, where you will spot the Perito Moreno Glacier emerging little by little from La Cordillera de los Andes (The Andes Range).

It’s also a perfect place to find archeological treasures (like millenary shark teeth or petrified oysters) from different geological periods of Earth 

For the second part of the tour, you’ll get on your mountain bike to ride back down to El Calafate. On the way, you’ll stop to grab a bite, take pictures, spot wild guanacos, and challenge your riding abilities by climbing or crossing marshes and little lagoons until you reach civilization again. Nature, history, and adventure, all in one tour!

If you would like to add any Patagonia tours to this day, just let your travel advisor know.

• Transfer to El Calafate airport – Transfer from Ushuaia airport to your hotel

Today we’ll drive you to the airport to take your flight to Ushuaia, the popular “End of the World” destination. Upon arrival at the airport in Ushuaia, we will drive you to your selected hotel and then you will be free to explore the city and the surroundings.

Ushuaia is a small town, really easy to get around on foot. The Yamanas, its first inhabitants, called it Ushuaia which means “protected bay” in their language. It was officially incorporated into the Republic of Argentina in 1884, and it soon became a penal colony, in order to establish a permanent Argentine settlement.

Say Hueque Tips

Our recommended Patagonian tours and visits in Ushuaia:

• Visit one of the most curious museums in the city—The Thematic Gallery of the “Historia Fueguina” to see the more than 120 character life-size figures that will tell you all about the history of Ushuaia, or unearth the story of the scariest and most dangerous criminals at the Prison Museum.

• Visit the different restaurants in town, Ushuaia is the best place to eat seafood in Argentina. —The word you shouldn’t forget is centolla (king crab!). You can try the finger-licking Blake Hake too. 

• Discover Tierra del Fuego National Park wildlands

Today we’ll pick you up from your hotel to start a 10-hour, moderate-difficulty, hiking adventure in Tierra del Fuego National Park, another highlight of Argentine Patagonia. The National Park is just 7.4 miles away from the city and borders the shore of the famous Beagle Channel.

Upon arrival at Ensenada Bay, you will have time to enjoy the view over the Beagle Channel before you start hiking along the coast. Four miles of trail await you, where you’ll discover native flora, wild fauna, and the remains left by the Yamanas, the native inhabitants of the area. After this 3-hour hike, you will reach Lake Roca, where lunch will be served.

After a full homemade picnic, you will start the second part of this adventure. Take your oar and plunge into a 1hr 30 min paddling trip along the Lapataia River (only available for children over 5 years old). Make it all the way to Lapataia Bay, where the Panamerican Highway and National Route 3 end at an awe-inspiring landscape.

After discovering the unique vastness of this stunning setting, we’ll take you back to your hotel to rest and enjoy another Patagonian evening.

• Full-day Trekking to Emerald Lagoon

Enjoy a 7-hour trip to the Esmeralda Lagoon and explore a secret hideaway of Tierra del Fuego National Park. You’ll be picked up at your hotel in a minivan (up to 18 people) to start this trekking adventure. Take a 1-hour scenic drive through lengas and cohiues, the ancient trees of Fueguian forests, until you reach the welcoming refuge. 

Start your 2hr 30min trek to the Emerald Lagoon. This is a moderately difficult trek (7 miles and 700 feet of uneven terrain) which will lead you across streams and through dense forests. Reach the hidden lagoon, this is an excellent place for spotting foxes, condors, and beavers.

Marvel at the turquoise water while you take a 45-minute break to enjoy a delicious boxed lunch. After lunch, return to the refuge, from where you will be picked up and driven back to Ushuaia.

• Half-day Beagle Channel Navigation

In 1833 Charles Darwin sailed the Beagle Channel, today it is your turn! At the appropriate time, you will go on your own to the tourist pier (located in the center of the city). Embark on a 3-hour long boat trip along the famous Beagle Channel. Gain panoramas of Ushuaia Bay, where the city lies proudly crowned by the Martial Glacier. Unearth the diverse marine wildlife, such as cormorants (flying birds, closely related to penguins) and fur seals that frolic their time away on Alicia Island.

Reach the iconic Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, the ancient guard of the bay. On our way back, we will stop at Bridges Island to walk a wildlife interpretative path, hear about Yaman’s history (the native inhabitants), and see the largest shelly deposits of the region. During the excursion, you can enjoy a delicious hot chocolate with cookies or try the Mate (strong green tea) the favorite Argentine drink. Once we get back to the port, you will make your own way back to your hotel.

• Transfer to Ushuaia’s airport – Transfer to Buenos Aires International Airport

Get ready to leave Ushuaia and fly to Buenos Aires. We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Ushuaia and drive you to the airport. Upon arrival at the domestic flight airport in Buenos Aires, you’ll have a transfer to the international airport Ezeiza where you’ll take your flight back home, ¡buen viaje! (Good trip!).

If you want to continue traveling, Argentina still has plenty to offer! Check out some more of our travelers’ favorite trips to Argentina and Chile.