Argentina - Patagonia (6 Day)

DAY 1:  TORRES PARK - CERRO CASTILLO - CALAFATE - EL CHALTEN
Sit back and enjoy vast expanse of Patagonia. We will start early in the morning from Torres del Paine (or Puerto Natales) and drive onwards to the Cerro Castillo border crossing (1.5 hrs). There, we will meet the regular bus to Calafate (5 hrs), a small town set on the edge of Los Glaciares National Park amid dramatic scenery and natural beauty. Once in Calafate, we will have lunch with time afterwards to explore the main street and the town’s center. From Calafate, we will take the regular bus and continue on to Chalten (4 hrs). We drive on isolated dirt roads across the pampas and along the northern end of Lago Viedma to reach the settlement of El Chalten, a tiny outpost beside Parque Nacional Los Glaciares at the foot of the impressive Mount Fitzroy. We will arrive in evening to Chalten and overnight at Hosteria in Chalten. (L)

DAY 2:  LOS GLACIARES PARK (Laguna Torre)
We do a full day hike along Cerro Torre Trail to Laguna Torre, an extremely pretty mountain lake with majestic Mount Torre in the background. After breakfast, we walk eastward, following the trail through beech forests and bogs to a pleasant encounter with Fitzroy River. We continue advancing and reach Camp Base de Agostini and then do a short hike to Laguna Torre, escorted in the west by Cerro Torre and the Adela range. Icebergs can be seen peacefully floating on Laguna Torre as the wind pushes them to the coast. We stop at different points to take in the magnificent view and enjoy a picnic. Later, we return to Chalten following the same trail. There is an optional day trip for those wanting to trek on Torre Glacier. Those taking this exciting option get up earlier and do it apart from the main group. Upon returning from the trek, the evening is free for you to enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Chalten’s cozy restaurants. Overnight at Hosteria in Chalten. (B,L-)

DAY 3: LOS GLACIARES PARK (Mt. Fitzroy)
Today’s trek is to Laguna Los Tres with the best available view of Mount Fitzroy – the soaring landmark in Los Glaciares NP. After breakfast we begin our hike by heading towards silent Laguna Capri, passing just beside its northern corner. Then we follow the Fitz Roy Trail up to Rio Blanco, passing Poicenot, the mountaineering camp. Finally, a short but steep trail will take us to Laguna de Los Tres to take in one of the park’s most marvelous natural scenes! The turquoise-blue of the Lagoon is a stunning sight and this is of course is magnified by the accompanying view of Fitz Roy’s spires and glaciers. After our enjoying our lunch and incredible views, we will hike back to Laguna Capri and continue along the trail back to Chalten. We return with time to recover and enjoy our last night in this beautiful park. (B,L-)

DAY 4:  LOS GLACIARES - EL CHALTEN - EL CALAFATE
This morning we will trek to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado and we will have covered the best spots of the Park. After some hours of challenging trek we will reach the western bank of the Massif with superb views of Cerro Torre and the picks around Mount Fitzroy. We come back to Chalten in the afternoon to prepare our luggage for our return to Calafate. We are transferred to the terminal and board the regular bus back to Calafate. We will arrive in Calafate late at night with little time to have dinner. (B,L-)

DAY 5:  EL CALAFATE - PERITO MORENO
After an early breakfast we board the minibus and start the drive that will takes us to Perito Moreno Glacier. After a couple of hours we will reach Los Glaciares National Park and continue driving to Bajo de las Sombras Bay sector, where we board the boat that will sail approximately twenty minutes on Lago Rico reaching the south wall of the glacier. In the other side the guides give us a short talk about the formation of glaciers together with other interesting details about local geology. From this point we do a short walk to the edge of the glacier where we are given the crampons to be fitted to our shoes. Now we start the ice trekking adventure! As we walk ahead we face terrific views of the glacier and surroundings. Our trek finishes with a little ice bar serving whisky on freshly shopped millenary ice from the glacier. After the walk and having lunch we continue on to the footbridges positioned across from the glacier with multiple view points of the superb north wall with its incredible cracking walls. Here you are free to enjoy the surroundings at your own leisure. At the appointed time, we drive back to Calafate. Overnight in hotel. (B,L-)

DAY 6:  EL CALAFATE – HOME
After having breakfast, a transfer will take us to the airport (end of services). You may fly from Calafate to Buenos Aires for your international connection home or add on optional return transfer to Punta Arenas for following day flight to Santiago (price will include overnight in Punta Arenas). (B)

Key: (B)reakfast, (L)unch, (L-) Box Lunch, (D)inner

Physical Requirements: This adventure involves easy to moderate trekking.  Trekking is generally moderate but we do cover some rugged trails in the active programs.  Good physical condition is required.  It is the traveler's responsibility to best assess their physical ability to meet the stated Physical Requirements.