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Argentina
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Santa Cruz Province
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Lago Argentino Department
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El Calafate
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Tours & Activities
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9-Day Best of Patagonia tour: El Calafate, El Chalten and Puerto Natales
9 days
About this activity
Itinerary
Day 1: El Calafate
Stop At: El Calafate Airport, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Upon arrival at El Calafate Airport, you’ll be transported to your hotel (shared service). After check-in, you have the rest of the day free to explore local shops and restaurants around town, or venture outside El Calafate to surrounding areas like Laguna Nimez, where you’ll see a beautiful sunset (the front desk personnel at your hotel can give you information on transportation, hiking and more).
Duration: 40 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Calafate
Day 2: El Calafate - Full-Day Perito Moreno Glacier with Boat Tour Included
Stop At: Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Avenida Del Libertador 1302, El Calafate Z9405AHY Argentina
After an early breakfast, head out for a full-day guided excursion to Los Glaciares National Park, where you’ll see Perito Moreno Glacier
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
Stop At: Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park Argentina
Admire beautiful views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site on a boat cruise, which allows you to see the glacier up-close. Then take a walk on nearby trails with your guide to viewing platforms which showcase the 19-mile-long (30 km) Perito Moreno Glacier from different angles. Stop for lunch at the park before continuing your exploration (lunch is not included). After your visit to the national park, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in Calafate, where you’ll have free time to eat dinner and relax.
**OPTIONAL: If you would prefer to upgrade your tour to include the Mini-Trekking or Big Ice excursions, both of which allow you to hike the glacier, please write it down in the special requirements box (while booking) and we’ll quote it for you.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Calafate
Day 3: El Calafate
Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Today is a free day. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading out to spend the day as you wish and explore El Calafate on your own.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Calafate
Day 4: El Calafate / El Chalten
Stop At: Road to El Chalten, El Chalten Argentina
In the morning, your transfer will pick you up at your hotel to take you on a 3-hour journey to El Chaltén (shared service). After a scenic drive surrounded by the Patagonian steppe you will reach El Chalten and have the rest of the day free to get familiar with the town or go for a short hike from your hotel.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Chalten
Day 5: El Chalten: Self Guided hiking
Stop At: San Martín, El Chalten, Santa Cruz, Argentina
After breakfast, head out to one of the many nearby trails for an optional self-guided hike. You can get all the necessary hiking information at your hotel or at the Tourist Information Center located right next to the bus station. There are full-day hiking options to Cerro Torre and Mt Fitz Roy, located on the border of Argentina and Chile, as well as shorter, 2- to 3-hour hiking trails near the mountain. Don't forget to pack lunch if you decide to take one of the full-day hikes! Also, if you don’t feel like hiking, you can take an optional boat tour down Lago del desierto (Desert Lake) to discover more of Chalten’s natural beauty.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Chalten
Day 6: El Chalten / El Calafate
Stop At: San Martín, El Chalten, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Enjoy an early breakfast and spend your last few hours in El Chalten at your leisure. This is the perfect day to go for a morning hike and buy some souvenirs before departing to El Calafate.
Duration: 7 hours
Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
In the afternoon, your transfer will pick you up at your hotel in Chalten to take you back to El Calafate where you’ll have the evening free to do as you wish.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Calafate
Day 7: El Calafate / Puerto Natales
Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Today, you’ll leave Argentina behind and head to Puerto Natales in Chile. After breakfast at your hotel, make your way to Calafate bus station for your public bus ride to Chile. Please make sure to keep your passport handy!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile
Upon arrival in Puerto Natales, you’ll make your way to your hotel (transport not provided). Taxis cost roughly $7 USD. After checking into your hotel in Puerto Natales, you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore this Chilean coastal town on your own.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in Puerto Natales
Day 8: Puerto Natales - Full-Day Torres del Paine
Stop At: Torres del Paine National Park Chile
After breakfast, you’ll go on a full-day guided excursion to Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in Patagonia. On the way to Torres del Paine, you’ll visit Milodon Cave, a natural monument composed of three caverns (entrance fee is not included). After reaching Torres del Paine, you will visit the most scenic panoramas of the park that are accessible by vehicle. Covering 447,260 acres (181,000 hectares), this national park is full of stunning natural beauty. Some highlights of this tour are: Grey Lake, Pehoe Lake, Salto Grande waterfall, Nordenskjöld Lake, Amarga Lagoon, etc. On the way, your guide will point out local wildlife like wild guanacos, caramel-colored animals in the llama family, which can be found roaming the nearby plains. After admiring the breathtaking views you can call it a day as your transport takes you back to your hotel in Puerto Natales. The evening is yours to do as you wish.
**OPTIONAL: If you would prefer to change this tour to a full-day hiking tour please write it down in the special requirements box (while booking) and we’ll quote it for you.
Duration: 11 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in Puerto Natales
Day 9: Puerto Natales / El Calafate
Stop At: Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile
After breakfast, make your way to Puerto Natales bus station (transportation not provided). It is highly recommended that you reach the bus station at least 30 minutes before your departure time.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Upon arrival to Calafate, you’ll take a taxi to our local operator’s office, from where a transfer will take you to El Calafate airport (shared service).
IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your flight out of El Calafate departs at 4:30 p.m. or later, since your bus from Puerto Natales will arrive in El Calafate at 2 p.m.
NOTES: Our itinerary is pretty flexible so if you need to add extra nights at any of the mentioned destinations we can quote them for you. Also, we can quote extra tours or replace any of the included tours for a different one of your preference at an extra cost. Just make sure to let us know in advance using the special requirements box while booking.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
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Day 1: El Calafate
Stop At: El Calafate Airport, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Upon arrival at El Calafate Airport, you’ll be transported to your hotel (shared service). After check-in, you have the rest of the day free to explore local shops and restaurants around town, or venture outside El Calafate to surrounding areas like Laguna Nimez, where you’ll see a beautiful sunset (the front desk personnel at your hotel can give you information on transportation, hiking and more).
Duration: 40 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Calafate
Day 2: El Calafate - Full-Day Perito Moreno Glacier with Boat Tour Included
Stop At: Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Avenida Del Libertador 1302, El Calafate Z9405AHY Argentina
After an early breakfast, head out for a full-day guided excursion to Los Glaciares National Park, where you’ll see Perito Moreno Glacier
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
Stop At: Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park Argentina
Admire beautiful views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site on a boat cruise, which allows you to see the glacier up-close. Then take a walk on nearby trails with your guide to viewing platforms which showcase the 19-mile-long (30 km) Perito Moreno Glacier from different angles. Stop for lunch at the park before continuing your exploration (lunch is not included). After your visit to the national park, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in Calafate, where you’ll have free time to eat dinner and relax.
**OPTIONAL: If you would prefer to upgrade your tour to include the Mini-Trekking or Big Ice excursions, both of which allow you to hike the glacier, please write it down in the special requirements box (while booking) and we’ll quote it for you.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Calafate
Day 3: El Calafate
Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Today is a free day. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading out to spend the day as you wish and explore El Calafate on your own.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Calafate
Day 4: El Calafate / El Chalten
Stop At: Road to El Chalten, El Chalten Argentina
In the morning, your transfer will pick you up at your hotel to take you on a 3-hour journey to El Chaltén (shared service). After a scenic drive surrounded by the Patagonian steppe you will reach El Chalten and have the rest of the day free to get familiar with the town or go for a short hike from your hotel.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Chalten
Day 5: El Chalten: Self Guided hiking
Stop At: San Martín, El Chalten, Santa Cruz, Argentina
After breakfast, head out to one of the many nearby trails for an optional self-guided hike. You can get all the necessary hiking information at your hotel or at the Tourist Information Center located right next to the bus station. There are full-day hiking options to Cerro Torre and Mt Fitz Roy, located on the border of Argentina and Chile, as well as shorter, 2- to 3-hour hiking trails near the mountain. Don't forget to pack lunch if you decide to take one of the full-day hikes! Also, if you don’t feel like hiking, you can take an optional boat tour down Lago del desierto (Desert Lake) to discover more of Chalten’s natural beauty.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Chalten
Day 6: El Chalten / El Calafate
Stop At: San Martín, El Chalten, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Enjoy an early breakfast and spend your last few hours in El Chalten at your leisure. This is the perfect day to go for a morning hike and buy some souvenirs before departing to El Calafate.
Duration: 7 hours
Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
In the afternoon, your transfer will pick you up at your hotel in Chalten to take you back to El Calafate where you’ll have the evening free to do as you wish.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in El Calafate
Day 7: El Calafate / Puerto Natales
Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Today, you’ll leave Argentina behind and head to Puerto Natales in Chile. After breakfast at your hotel, make your way to Calafate bus station for your public bus ride to Chile. Please make sure to keep your passport handy!
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile
Upon arrival in Puerto Natales, you’ll make your way to your hotel (transport not provided). Taxis cost roughly $7 USD. After checking into your hotel in Puerto Natales, you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore this Chilean coastal town on your own.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in Puerto Natales
Day 8: Puerto Natales - Full-Day Torres del Paine
Stop At: Torres del Paine National Park Chile
After breakfast, you’ll go on a full-day guided excursion to Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in Patagonia. On the way to Torres del Paine, you’ll visit Milodon Cave, a natural monument composed of three caverns (entrance fee is not included). After reaching Torres del Paine, you will visit the most scenic panoramas of the park that are accessible by vehicle. Covering 447,260 acres (181,000 hectares), this national park is full of stunning natural beauty. Some highlights of this tour are: Grey Lake, Pehoe Lake, Salto Grande waterfall, Nordenskjöld Lake, Amarga Lagoon, etc. On the way, your guide will point out local wildlife like wild guanacos, caramel-colored animals in the llama family, which can be found roaming the nearby plains. After admiring the breathtaking views you can call it a day as your transport takes you back to your hotel in Puerto Natales. The evening is yours to do as you wish.
**OPTIONAL: If you would prefer to change this tour to a full-day hiking tour please write it down in the special requirements box (while booking) and we’ll quote it for you.
Duration: 11 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a hotel of your chosen category in Puerto Natales
Day 9: Puerto Natales / El Calafate
Stop At: Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile
After breakfast, make your way to Puerto Natales bus station (transportation not provided). It is highly recommended that you reach the bus station at least 30 minutes before your departure time.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Upon arrival to Calafate, you’ll take a taxi to our local operator’s office, from where a transfer will take you to El Calafate airport (shared service).
IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your flight out of El Calafate departs at 4:30 p.m. or later, since your bus from Puerto Natales will arrive in El Calafate at 2 p.m.
NOTES: Our itinerary is pretty flexible so if you need to add extra nights at any of the mentioned destinations we can quote them for you. Also, we can quote extra tours or replace any of the included tours for a different one of your preference at an extra cost. Just make sure to let us know in advance using the special requirements box while booking.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Included
- 8x Breakfast
- Accommodation included: 8 nights
- 8 nights of accommodation in Argentine and Chilean Patagonia
- Transfers mentioned in the itinerary
- Tours described in the itinerary
- Professional English- and Spanish-speaking guides
Not included
- International or Domestic Flights
- National Park entrance fees (approx $70 USD total)
- Transfers between bus stations and hotels
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Optional tours & Tips
- Entry/Admission - Parque Nacional Los Glaciares
- Entry/Admission - El Calafate
- Entry/Admission - Road to El Chalten
- Entry/Admission - El Chalten
- Entry/Admission - Puerto Natales
- Entry/Admission - Torres del Paine National Park
Additional
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- IMPORTANT: Passport name, number, nationality and date of birth are required at the time of booking for all participants
- IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your flight out of El Calafate departs at 4:30 p.m. or later, since your bus from Puerto Natales will arrive in El Calafate around 2 p.m.
- A current valid passport will be required to cross the international border with Chile. Please, keep your passport handy.
- Hotel accommodation categories are based on service and comfort standards, not star ratings.
- Transport service between Calafate and Puerto Natales is on a local bus.Transports between bus stations and hotels are not included. Taxis cost roughly $7 USD. It’s the traveler’s responsibility to arrive in time to the bus station as per our indications.
- All special requirements must be advised at the time of booking
- This seasonal tour operates from October to April
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
85%
Aquatic
35%
Reviews
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We really enjoyed our trip in Patagonia. The tour was well organised and everything worked out well.
Most importantly, the communication was excellent. Changes and confirmation of pick up times at the hotels was outstanding. Guides were pleasant and helpful.
This tour was definitely for an independent traveler we loved that some of it was left up to our schedule. Most of the rooms were great...beds and water pressure were great. WiFi connections were good. Would recommend it we had a great time.
If you are an independent traveller, not wanting to deal with logistics this is perfect for you. Very few group activities/tours planned outside of the logistics of transport and hotels. If you are looking for a packaged deal, where you are carried from one thing to the next, this is not for you. The tour is basically taking care of all the planes, trains, automobiles of it all. Tour will have you sorted for accomodation and buses and transport which to me is the worst part. That said, you will need to be open with where they book you. Friend and I opted for the comfort option and the places were great. If you go for the lowest cost option, be prepared for more quaint/potentially not-as-central options....as they say, you get what you pay for. We loved this tour because we didn't have the headaches of logistics, and were given the freedom to do what we wanted, when we wanted, when got to a location. Perfect option if you don't want to be on a shared tour bus for 9 straight days :.