El Chaltén to Ushuaia: Hiking in Patagonia

• 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 which 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 enjoy 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 – A day at leisure 

In the afternoon you will board your bus back to El Calafate. 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.

• Mayo Trek Spirit & Perito Moreno Glacier

Start the day with a pick-up at your hotel, travel to Puerto Bandera, and embark on an 8-hour nautical safari to discover secluded glaciers and waterfalls of Glacier National Park that can be only reached by boat!

Sail Mayo Channel and disembark on Toro Bay to hike through the Patagonian forest; your specialized guide will tell you about the vegetation of this area (very different from other kinds inside the park) and show you the millenary cherry tree and its 3-meter-in diameter trunk.

Set sail again to reach the Cerro Negro (Black Hill) and make a half-mile soft hike to the base of the hill to admire the hanging Black Glacier. Enjoy your free time in this place that not many travelers have seen, before departing for our third stop, the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. Our boat will pass by the immense icy wall -take your beanie and grab your camera, you may see a piece of ice breaking!- before stopping at Puerto Moreno. Enjoy your free time, wander the traditional catwalk circuit that surrounds the glacier before sailing back to Puerto Bandera, and be driven back to El Calafate.

• Optional tour to a Patagonian ranch

El Calafate has much more to offer than just its magnificent glaciers… we recommend that you complete this 2-week hiking trip to Patagonia by taking a day tour to immerse yourself in the rural culture of Patagonia.

Inside Glaciers National Park, at the end of National Route 15 and after a 1 hr 30 min drive over a rubble road, sits one of the oldest and most traditional Patagonian ranches in the area. It’s the only ranch that continues to maintain sheep and Hereford cattle breeding as its main occupation. You can take a day trip to visit its 30,000 acres of land, learn about its history, and witness a sheep-shearing demonstration and horse training. At the end of the day, a grilled lamb will await, sizzling on its traditional Patagonian rotisserie.

If you would like to add on this tour for your free day, just let your travel advisor know.

• Travel to Torres del Paine National Park

In the early morning, we’ll pick you up from your hotel to start your trip to Chile and your full-day visit to Torres del Paine National Park.

First, we’ll drive through the Patagonian steppe for 2hr 30min (you might be able to see rheas, guanacos, Patagonian hare, and even condors!) until reaching the border of Chile in Cancha Carrera, where we’ll go through customs. 

We’ll keep traveling through isolated and windy landscapes, occasionally dotted by guanacos and native green-orange-tinted bushes; you’ll truly feel the momentous solitude that characterizes Patagonia. Torres del Paine is a gift that keeps on giving; it will unveil its enthralling natural beauties little by little… 

Along a winding road, we’ll make different stops to have a close-up view of various attractions like Cascada Paine (Paine Waterfall), Paine Range at Lake Sarmiento, and the Paine Horns at Lake Nordenskjold. Depending on the weather, we’ll depart on an hour-long walk to reach the lake and get closer to the striking mountain peaks. At midday, after having stopped by the Lago Pehoé Viewpoint to gaze at the vastness of the French Valley, we’ll have our boxed lunch with this mountainous backdrop. 

At the end of this dreamy excursion, we’ll leave you at Laguna Amarga, where your transfer will pick you up and take you to your accommodation inside the park.  

Say Hueque Tips

• Something to take into account

Things to take into account during your trip from Argentina to Chile: It is not allowed to take any fresh food, plants, seeds, etc. They are very strict, and fines can be high. If you are not sure whether something is allowed, please declare it (they will provide you with a form) and they will inform you if you can bring it or not. And please, don’t forget your passport!

• Hike to Base las Torres

Torres del Paine is one of the most beautiful protected areas of South America, and the best way to explore it is by foot. If you like hiking and nature, this should be one of the highlights of your trip. Depending on which area of the Park you are staying in, you will be able to explore different paths — please check with your travel advisor about which are the best options for your location.

Our recommendation is to make a solo hike to Base de las Torres del Paine. This is the most famous hike in the park since it takes you to the base of the Paine Horns (8500 f.o.s.l.), a challenge for climbers all over the world. It takes 8-10 hours round-trip. 

The first 2 hours of the trek are very tiring since you are walking up, leaving the valley where the Hosteria and Refuge Torres del Paine are located. You’ll cross Ascensio Valley, taking its winding path and gazing over Ascensio River until you get to the first stop, Refugio El Chileno. From here, you’ll continue for one hour through a lenga forest — the changing landscapes will combat any tiredness! 

You’ll finally get to the moraine; the last beat of the trek, and the hardest. The last hour will be an uphill climb, but take your time, you’ll definitely make it to the top! Every effort will be compensated with breathtaking views of these massive granite mountains that grow past a blue lake and up to the sky.

• French Valley – Hike into the ‘Heart of Torres del Paine’

Today, prepare to continue this hiking adventure on the other side of the park.  We’ll pick you up at your accommodation to take you on a 1-hour ride to the Pudeto area, where you will take a 45-minute navigation to the opposite shore of Lago Pehoé.

You can take a day pack with your valuables and the things you might need for today and tomorrow — for your convenience, our local operator can keep your heavier luggage until tomorrow. Please just let us know in advance.  Upon your arrival, you’ll go to Paine Grande Refuge (very close to the dock), where you’ll stay overnight. 

From here, we recommend that you enjoy the French Valley Hike (not included). This is a unique opportunity to visit one of the least-accessible areas inside the park since there is no road nearby. But, with your own two legs, you’ll definitely make it! 

What will you find in the French Valley? Hanging glaciers, pristine woods, and some daunting jagged peaks: the multi-colored Paine Grande and the forbidding Paine Horns. You can also cross the rope bridge over the French River to reach some stunning views of the French Glacier or continue to the French Valley Plateau, or down to the Pehoé River and the glacier.

Take into account that, these last two options, though amazing experiences, will demand an extra effort since you’ll have to hike a rocky path alongside the moraine. You will get back to the campsite by skirting Lake Skottberg.

• Boat trip to Glacier Grey

In the early morning, you will hike to the Grey Mountain Hut. This is an amazing hike that will lead you to the shores of Grey Lake and its floating glaciers, with stunning views of the massive Southern Ice Field and the Grey Glacier that blend together and extend their white cloak far beyond what the eyes can see.

You already have a boat scheduled for later this day. Right after the hike, you’ll embark on a cruise from Grey Lake’s beach, and after crossing the blue waters, filled with floating icebergs and dramatically framed by glaciers and snow-capped mountains, you’ll get to Hosteria Grey. 

• Transfer to Puerto Natales – Free evening

When you arrive, a transfer will be waiting to take you on a 4-hour trip through dry, mountainous steppes to finally reach Puerto Natales, where you’ll spend the night.

• Bus to Punta Arenas – Day at leisure 

Today you’ll make your way to the bus station of Puerto Natales to depart to Punta Arenas. We advise arriving there 30 minutes before the departure time, in order to avoid any last-minute inconveniences. This is a 4-hour trip in a standard bus through the steppe, crisscrossed by mountains and fjords. Upon your arrival at the bus station in Punta Arenas, you’ll head to your hotel — you can walk or take a taxi for around $5-7 US dollars.

Punta Arenas is the southernmost city in Chile, located on the Magellanic Strait, and is the leading port for Antarctic cruises and scientific research. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, Punta Arenas was the most important maritime crossroad between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, and thus, the city grew as a commercial center surrounded by European-style buildings. Its colorful houses, standing out from a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, are a site for sore eyes. 

Say Hueque Tips

• What to do in Punta Arenas?

You can enjoy the evening by taking a 3-hour city tour to learn about Chilean history, visit the Mirador Hill (and get the most gorgeous views of Magellan Strait), or stop by the Maggiorino Borgatello Museum to see the masterfully crafted pieces made by the Onas, Yaganes and other natives of the area.

• Bus to Ushuaia – Day at leisure

In the early morning, you will get to the bus station to embark on a full-day bus trip to Ushuaia, the last destination of your 16-day trip in Argentina and Chile. Take into account that you’ll be crossing borders again today!

This is a 12-hour trip in a comfortable bus, equipped with reclining seats, where you’ll cross the Patagonian steppe. Look out the window and you’ll see yellow and green grasslands with Chilean gauchos riding into the wild and grazing unbothered sheep until you reach the ferry crossing. It will take around 45 minutes to cross the mythical Strait of Magellan and hit the road again to cross the Chilean border, finally entering Tierra del Fuego Island on Argentine soil.

As the famous end-of-the-world city approaches, grazing sheep will turn into wild guanacos and horses, with snow-capped mountains and evergreen woods arising at the entrance of Ushuaia. Once you get your “Southernmost City” passport stamp, you’ll realize that this intrepid journey through remote Patagonian roads was absolutely worth it.

Upon arrival in Ushuaia, you will be transferred to your hotel. Ushuaia is a small town, and it is really easy to get around on foot.

Take the afternoon to explore the town, learn about the region’s rich history at the Prisoners’ Museum, or visit the Galleria of Fuegian History (it has a lovely restaurant as well!). Please, don’t forget the local gastronomy! Ushuaia has the best seafood in Argentina.    

Say Hueque Tips

• Something you should take into account

This bus trip allows you to see the landscape of other, lesser-known parts of Chile and will give you a much more complete perspective of the area. However, we understand that it is a long journey, and can be a very tiring day. For an additional cost, you can choose a less adventurous option; from Torres del Paine, you can drive back to El Calafate and then fly to Ushuaia.

• Discover Tierra del Fuego National Park wildlands

Today we’ll pick you up from your hotel to start a 10-hour, moderate-difficulty, adventure in Tierra del Fuego National Park, just 7.4 miles away from the city and bordering 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. 

• Beagle Channel boat trip – Tour Ushuaia’s famous islands

In 1833 Charles Darwin sailed the Beagle Channel and found something great. Today it’s your turn: become another explorer of this channel, primitively named Onashaga Channel since the Onas where its first discoverers.

 Make your way to the tourist pier (located downtown) to embark on a 4-hour Beagle Channel navigation in a fully equipped boat with a capacity for up to 26 people. With Argentina on your left and Chile on your right, you’ll sail this natural border until reaching the iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, which is still in operation.

 On the way, enjoy uplifting panoramic views of Ushuaia Bay, crowned by the Martial Glacier’s diverse marine wildlife, such as cormorants (flying birds, closely related to penguins) and fur seals. Hop off on Bridges Island to explore its vegetation, and visit the archeological remains of the Yamanas (the native inhabitants) accompanied by a specialized bilingual guide. 

 During the trip, enjoy bottomless hot cocoa and cookies, or try the maté (loose herbal tea), which is every Argentinian’s favorite drink. Once we get back to the port, you can make your way back to your hotel or stop in a local cafe or brewery to enjoy an amber craft beer paired with a traditional Patagonian appetizer.

Say Hueque Tips

• Have you ever walked amongst penguins?

If not, Ushuaia is your chance to fulfill that bucket-list dream… You can switch out the Beagle Channel Navigation to take the Magellanic Penguin Rookery Tour on Martillo Island (available from October to April at an additional cost), or add one day to your Ushuaia itinerary so that you can do both. On Martillo Island, you will also see a very rare type of penguin that is typically only found in Antarctica: the yellow-crested penguin.

• Transfer from your hotel to Ushuaia airport

Today we’ll take you to the airport, where your 2-week hiking trip in Argentine and Chilean Patagonia will come to an end. But don’t be sad! You can return whenever you want (we’ll welcome you with open arms) or… continue your trip towards the North of Argentina, to beautiful Salta or the wine region in Mendoza. Argentina still has plenty to offer! Check out our travelers’ favorite trips to Argentina and Chile.