Patagonia: Campervan & Comfort

Before your Patagonia Campervan adventure starts, you’ll enjoy a half-day guided tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park in the morning, and a half day navigation on the Beagle Channel.

The National Park Tierra del Fuego gathers samples of the different ecosystems of the island, which will be introduced to you through our knowledgable guides. During the afternoon, the navigation on the Beagle Channel will let you see from close the famous lighthouse “Les Ecleireurs”, same as the Birds & Sea Lions & Bridget islands.

Accommodation in a hotel in Ushuaia.

After breakfast, our representatives in Ushuaia will give you the vehicle, which varies depending of which van you’re hiring. The most popular choices are:

1). Patagonian Home Sprinter (an adapted model of the “Mercedes Benz Sprinter” van). Ask us for more information.

2). Toyota Hilux 4×4 (double cabin) manual transmission, with the cabin (caravan) on top. 3 adults (or 2 adults + 2 children). Ask us for more information.

Both have manual transmition and capacity up to 3 adults (or 2 adults + 2 children), water tanks, electricity, sink, toilet and shower, stoves for cooking, bed, and other interesting features that aim to provide a comfrotable experience.

Suggested itinerary for today:

Drive from Ushuaia to Cape San Pablo, crossing the Andean Range in the only area where it lies from West to East. On your way, do some stops in Garibaldi’s Pass, lake Escondido, and Lake Fagnano. You’ll see how the lush vegetation of the patagonian forests slowly vanishes after you cross the Andes and enter in the arid steppe. Continue toward the coast until reaching the Cape. There, an old Lighthouse and the famous “Desdemona” sunk ship, will be an idilic natural postcard to spend your night!

Note: this is a suggested itinerary we can be adapted to your interestes, for instance, if you like trekking and rather prefer invest time in the mountains, that’s also possible. Please ask for advice about which places you’re allowed to stay and where not.

Approx. 190 km (from which 50 km are gravel road).

Overnight in your Patagonia Campervan.

Today, a long day of driving across the steppe will bring you from Cape San Pablo toward Cabo Virgenes, in the province of Santa Cruz. On the way, you’ll enter Chile, cross the Magallan Strait (on a Ferry), and get into Argentina again in the Santa Cruz Province, to reach by the end of the day the Cabo Virgenes.

Cabo Vírgenes is a cape in the Atlantic Ocean where is located the km Zero of the legendary Ruta 40 (Route 40). There is a penguin rookery with thousands of penguins (between October and March) where you can walk around, and a picturesque Lighthouse. Stay in the area in your campervan and enjoy the sunset!

Other alternatives: you can also avoid visiting Cabo Vírgenes, and travel instead to Punta Arenas (Chile), from where the journey continues to Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine. This is popular among drivers, however, we have suggested Cabo Vírgenes because it could match very well for a Patagonia campervan trip.

However, you can also see penguins in Ushuaia (in an excursion where you can’t go with the car) and in Punta Arenas (same).

In any of the cases, we’re including a visit to Torres del Paine National Park.

Approx 600 km (it will take you the whole day. Apart from the ferry and the border crossing, you’ll have a long stretch of gravel road. Flat (steppe).

Drive from Cabo Vírgenes to Puerto Natales, Chile again, crossing the endless steppe. It will be over 7 hours (400 km combining gravel and paved road).

Once in Puerto Natales, treat yourself in one of the premium lodges by the Ultima Esperanza Sound.

Make use of these 2 nights at the Park to explore some of its highlights! Overnight in your campervan in one of the allowed spots (please ask us for advice).

If you’re keen on trekking, do the full day hike to the Base of the Towers.

Drive back to Argentina, and head to El Calafate (about 5 hours).

Stay in a lodge and relax the rest of the day.

Make use of this day to visit the incredible Glacier Perito Moreno. In addition, you could add an experience such as hiking on top of the Glacier or kayaking near it.

Overnight in a lodge or your campervan in an allowed spot between the Glacier and the city.

Los Glaciares National Park has other attractions to visit, such as the Glaciers Upsala, Spegazzini, and many other picturesque spots! Some of the suggestions for this day are:

• Full day Navigation toward Glaciers Spegazzini and Upsala.
• Full day excursion to Estancia Cristina and Upsala Glacier.

Overnight in a lodge.

Drive to El Chaltén, 220 km away from El Calafate (paved road), and enjoy the views of the Capital for trekking in Argentina. There are several trails for hiking, with incredible views to the Fitz Roy and Torre Mounts. Furthemore, you can visit spots such as Lago del Desierto and Glaciar Huemul.

During these 3 nights, we suggest 2 nights in a lodge and 1 night in your campervan.

Drive back to El Calafate, and drop off your vehicle at the airport.

We invite you to explore other journeys that you may find attractive:

Patagonia Road Trips

Argentina Road Trips

Ruta 40 Argentina Road Trip

El Calafate to Ushuaia drive tour

Mendoza to Bariloche road trip

Patagonia Tours

Argentina Tours