Trekking in the Patagonian Andes

Our tour begins with a hike to the Esmeralda Lagoon, where you’ll see an impressive landscape formed by the mountain valley.
After lunch, we’ll start our way back along the path that took us there. Then we’ll get in our ride that’ll take us to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. There we make our trekking, towards the Mirador de Bahia Lapataia where you’ll see a sign that indicates the end of the national route N° 3. On our tour, we will go through several unexplored forest trails where we can contemplate fauna and flora of the Patagonian area itself.

Make your own way to the port. From here, you’ll go with minibuses towards Estancia Harberton. This is the first farm on the island, founded in 1886 by the Anglican missionary Thomas Bridges, and it is located at 90 kms from Ushuaia, on the Beagle Channel. On this tour, you’ll be able to see Gentoo and Magellanics penguins (available between October and March).

Return to your hotel.

Arrival to El Calafate airport and transfer to your hotel in El Chalten, the capital of trekking. Overnight in El Chalten town.

On this day, we are going to do one of the most legendary hiking trails in El Chaltén. It leads to the Torre lagoon, at the foot of the Torre Mount, an impressive granite tower with an ice mushroom on the top. Along the way, you will pass by Mirador Margarita and Mirador del Torre. The trail goes through forests, rivers, an open valley, and slopes, to reach, finally, to the lagoon. The lagoon has erratic ice chunks floating around, which fall from the Glacier Torre, also part of the landscape. This trek is fully guided.

Overnight at Poincenot camp.

This is the most “wanted” trek in El Chaltén. It leads to “de los Tres” lagoon, at the foot of the spectacular Fitz Roy Mount or Chalten Mount. You’ll start in the morning and in the afternoon you’ll return to your accommodation in El Chalten where you’ll spend the night.

One last free day in El Chalten to do a self-guided trek. We recommend you to do the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado trek or Laguna del Desierto in order to visit the Huemul Glacier. Overnight in El Chalten.

Transfer from your hotel in El Chalten to your hotel in El Calafate. Overnight in El Calafate.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before being picked up by our shared-transfer for a trip to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. The trekking adventure begins with a walk along the lake’s coast, keeping an eye out for ice calvings. The guides will provide a talk about Glaciology, and as you approach the glacier, you’ll be divided into subgroups and equipped with crampons and helmets. After the ice trekking, you’ll walk around, enjoying panoramic views of Glaciar Perito Moreno, the mountains, and the lake. Return through the picturesque Bosque Andino Patagónico, completing a 3-hour walk encompassing the lake coast, moraine, ice, and woods. A hot drink will be served at the shelter before you return. In the late afternoon, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in El Calafate.

Departure from El Calafate along Route 15 towards “Glaciar Sur” pier near Nibepo Aike Ranch. Navigate to the South Arm of Argentino Lake, surrounded by the Andes Mountains. Embark on a walk to Frías Lake, accessible only by foot. Pass through a forest of tongues and reach the natural viewpoint for a stunning view of Lago Frías. Descend to the lake’s shore and board the Fitzcarraldo boat for a 5 km navigation through emerald waters. Begin a 4.5 km trek along the Río Frías valley, getting closer to the Grande, Cubo, and Dickson glaciers. Experience the pristine beauty of Los Glaciares National Park and the changing environments of the valley. Enjoy free time to admire the landscape and have lunch before returning to El Calafate.

Transfer from El Calafate to Puerto Natales. Overnight in Puerto Natales.

On this day, your W Trek in the Torres del Paine National Park begins. You will take the 2:30 p.m. bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park. The journey takes about 2 1/2 hours (112 kms). You will reach the park in the afternoon and have time for dinner before spending the night in the Central Sector. Other activities are optional if you want to have a full day in Torres del Paine.

The day starts with a hike through the Patagonian pampas, ascending gradually. As you enter the Ascencio Valley, the terrain becomes steeper, leading you to Los Vientos Mountain Pass. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the landscape and lakes. Continue hiking, passing the Chileno Mountain Hostel and a lenga forest. The final stretch takes about an hour over rocky terrain with large boulders. At the end, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of the three granite towers and glacial lagoon.

Stroll along Lake Nordenskjöld’s tranquil shores, admiring Mount Almirante Nieto and its hanging glaciers. Capture the stunning scenery of the towering summits reflecting in the turquoise lake. Experience the contrasting geography and keep an eye out for condors flying above. Follow the Arriero River, offering serene spots to rest and refill your water bottle. Reach the highest viewpoint to witness the lake’s full splendor and the French Glacier cascading from Paine Grande Mountain.

Embark on a beautiful hike into the Francés Valley, surrounded by breathtaking mountain peaks and pristine nature. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of forests and glacial streams, replenishing your bottle with fresh water. Admire the majestic Los Cuernos Mountains towering above. The highlight of the trek awaits at a lookout, offering incredible views of the Francés Glacier and the Paine Massif Mountain Range.

Experience the final part of this incredible trek as the trail winds through rocky areas and native forests, offering sightings of diverse bird species. Follow the base of Paine Grande, the tallest mountain in the park, and be mesmerized by the surreal views of hanging glaciers cascading from its summit. As you emerge from the tree cover, the first lookout reveals Lake Grey and floating glacier fragments, steadily increasing in size. Each sighting magnifies your sense of awe. Finally, behold the breathtaking view of Grey Glacier in all its glory. Conclude your adventure with a catamaran ride on Lake Pehoé and a bus journey to Puerto Natales for an overnight stay.

Transfer to Punta Arenas airport to take a flight to Puerto Mont. Once you arrive, transfer to Puerto Varas. Overnight in Puerto Varas.

Depart from your Puerto Varas hotel along Llanquihue Lake’s south bank, heading straight to Osorno Volcano via Ensenada in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. Arrive at Ensenada, the easternmost lake port, and marvel at the imposing Osorno Volcano. Continue to La Villa de Ensenada for a delicious southern-style lunch. Take a scenic walk through a forest of coigüe trees, reaching an altitude of 1,000 meters to observe La Burbuja Crater and enjoy panoramic views of the Petrohué River valley and Calbuco Volcano in the magnificent Andes. Proceed to the ski center at 1,200 meters, where you can access the ski lifts for better landscape observation (not included). Witness lava formations from past volcanic eruptions and savor a panoramic view from the summit of Osorno Volcano. Return to your hotel in Puerto Varas.

Lake crossing navigation through the Andes from Puerto Varas (Chile) to Bariloche (Argentina). Overnight in Bariloche.

Explore the classic circuit of San Carlos de Bariloche, a renowned mountain village in Patagonia. Learn about its history as a top tourist destination and the National Capital of Adventure Tourism. Visit iconic viewpoints like Cerro Campanario and the Llao-Llao Peninsula, offering stunning vistas of Moreno and Nahuel Huapi lakes, as well as López and Capilla hills. Take a nature walk through the beautiful native forest of Llao-Llao Municipal Park. Conclude the excursion with a lunch and beer tasting at Gilbert Craft Beer Factory.

Valle Encantado showcases a captivating blend of volcanic rock formations and a stunning blue river. After an 80KM transfer from Bariloche along the Limay River Valley, we reach Valle Encantado and venture into this extraordinary location by crossing the river on a boat. The walk takes us through diverse areas of the valley, navigating between towering rock walls, caves, and breathtaking panoramic vistas. Remember to bring sun protection, a backpack for your box lunch, and an extra coat for the trip.

This excursion combines kayaking and hiking in Nahuel Huapi National Park for a complete experience. We head south on Route 40 in the morning, entering the National Park and reaching our base at Lake Mascardi. After a brief introduction to kayaking techniques, we embark on a journey to explore the stunning turquoise waters and breathtaking Andes mountains. We pause at a remote beach for a picnic lunch, followed by a leisurely return to the starting point. Optionally, you can take a scenic walk to immerse yourself in the forest and lake surroundings before heading back to the hotel. *This excursion can be customized based on client preferences, offering either a kayak and hike or a full-day kayak adventure.

Transfer to Bariloche airport and end of our Patagonian trekking experience.

If you are interested in Patagonia, we invite you to explore our following tours:

Patagonia Hiking Trips

Fitz Roy Trek Patagonia

El Chalten-Torres del Paine

Huemul Circuit

South America hiking tour

Argentina trekking tour

Patagonia O Circuit Tour

W trek tour

Andean Crossing from Bariloche to Puerto Varas

Dientes de Navarino

Peninsula Mitre Trekking

Patagonia Tours

Argentina tours