Patagonia Trekking Tour: El Calafate & El Chaltén

Patagonia Trekking Tour: El Calafate & El Chaltén

Some landscapes are meant to be observed; others are meant to be conquered. Patagonia is the latter. This Patagonia Trekking Tour takes you deep into the rugged soul of the Argentine south*, far from the paved roads and the crowded tour buses. From the legendary skyline of* El Chaltén, the undisputed capital of trekking, to the ancient blue ice of the Perito Moreno Glacier*, this itinerary invites you to go beyond the postcard.* You are about to walk through the heart of the Southern Andes on your own two feet. Lace up – your adventure begins now.

If you want to see more tours like this one, check out our Patagonia Hiking Tours. You can also check all of our hiking tours in our page Argentina Hiking Tours!

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The Best of Patagonia ArgentinaTurquoise Laguna de los Tres below the snowy granite spires of Mount Fitz RoyThings to do in El ChaltenHiker in an orange jacket sitting on a rock facing Mount Fitz Roy near El ChalténArgentine flag on the lakeshore in front of the Perito Moreno GlacierBoat sailing past a huge blue iceberg on a glacial lakeBariloche to el calafateMount Fitz Roy and a hanging glacier framed by trees near El Chalténfour scenic settings

Day-by-Day Itinerary

El Calafate

Welcome to Patagonia! After your arrival in El Calafate, we’ll take you straight to your accommodation. Since we have quite an adventure ahead, we suggest keeping today easy with a peaceful walk to Laguna Nimez or simply wandering through the town centre at your own pace.Go beyond the traditional glacier visit with this deep dive into the heart of Los Glaciares National Park. You’ll start at Nibepo Aike, a historic ranch, to immerse yourself in local pioneer history and enjoy a traditional Argentine barbecue. Following lunch, bypass the main visitor platforms in favour of a private boat navigation along the South Arm of Lake Argentino, offering serene, front-row views of the ice. Your day finishes at the famed glacier boardwalks, allowing you to appreciate the sheer scale of the Perito Moreno Glacier from every angle before heading back to your hotel.Journey deep into the heart of Los Glaciares National Park with this premium experience. You will navigate the icy waters of Lake Argentino for a spectacular look at the Upsala Glacier before arriving at the historic Estancia Cristina. From the ranch, a 4x4 expedition takes you deep into the mountains to overlook the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The adventure continues with a guided trek through the unique Fossil Canyon, where you’ll walk through a prehistoric landscape filled with marine remnants before returning to town.

El Chaltén

We continue our journey to El Chaltén, the trekking capital of Argentina. Nestled beneath the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre massifs, this village is the gateway to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world’s third-largest ice field. Your 3-hour transfer along the legendary Ruta 40 offers a dramatic tour of the Patagonian steppe and glacier-fed lakes. Once checked in, you have the afternoon at leisure. We suggest stretching your legs with a self-guided walk to Chorrillo del Salto and the Mirador de las Águilas.

Poincenot Camp (El Chaltén)

Set out on a spectacular trekking journey toward the iconic base of Mount Fitz Roy. Starting directly from the village, the trail ascends a gentle slope offering sweeping views of the De las Vueltas River valley. We then transition into an ancient, lush Nothofagus forest, eventually arriving at the serene Laguna Capri. Roughly two hours from the start, this is an ideal spot to pause and, weather permitting, admire your first close-up look at the towering granite spires of Fitz Roy.

We continue our trek for another 1–2 hours through forests and open valleys, enveloped in the unique atmosphere of the Southern Andes, until we reach Poincenot Camp. Your base for the night will be fully prepared upon arrival, complete with high-quality sleeping bags, insulated mattresses and your choice of tent configuration. After a well-deserved rest, we will set out on a scenic 2-hour round-trip hike to the Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint, offering breathtaking vistas of the glacier and the northern face of Fitz Roy. We then return to camp to enjoy dinner under the stars. Today’s trek covers approximately 5 to 6 hours. Please note that camping facilities in this remote area are limited to rustic, latrine-style toilets.

Cerro Torre Basecamp (El Chaltén)

At first light, leave your gear at Poincenot Camp and begin your trek to Laguna de los Tres. This is the most iconic part of the Fitz Roy trek, featuring a challenging one-hour ascent at a steady, relaxed pace up a steep slope. Once at the top, you will cross a moraine to reach the stunning Laguna de los Tres.

The view from the lagoon is deeply rewarding; you will stand directly before the massive granite walls of Mount Fitz Roy, surrounded by an inspiring mountain landscape. To your left, we will see Laguna Sucia, which sits at a different elevation below a cliff, offering a unique perspective.

After returning to Poincenot Camp to collect your backpacks, you will connect the Fitz Roy trail to the Cerro Torre trail by walking along the pleasant Madre e Hija (Mother and Daughter) lagoons trail (approximately 2 hours). Finally, another hour of trekking will lead you to your basecamp in the Cerro Torre area. Today, you can expect to hike for approximately 5 to 6 hours, with additional time for leisure and exploration.

The landscape offers breathtaking views of Mount Fitz Roy, Nothofagus forests, open valleys, rivers and lagoons. Accommodation will be in tents, with the same high-quality setup as the previous night.

This day will delight you with one of the most spectacular views of El Chaltén: Mount Torre and its surroundings. If the weather allows it, you’ll see this huge granite needle with its frozen mushroom on top, while you sit by Laguna Torre and contemplate the landscape.

The mountain is surrounded by other peaks and features Torre Glacier on the opposite side of the lagoon, from where different ice chunks fall and float across the water. The idea is to hike to the Maestri Viewpoint, where you can enjoy an even more complete experience in the Torre area, and then return to the village through the valley of Cerro Torre, crossing different landscapes including an open and beautiful valley, slopes, rivers and forests.

The trail ends right in El Chaltén, where you’ll arrive around lunchtime. The hike for this day is about 5 hours. Once you arrive, enjoy some time to relax and have a local beer.

After a restful night at the hotel, embark on your next adventure: the trek to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. This full-day hike (approximately 7–8 hours round trip) leads to a breathtaking viewpoint, offering a rare, unified perspective of both the Cerro Torre and Mount Fitz Roy massifs, as well as the sprawling Torre Valley below.

While the vista is weather-dependent (if cloudy, you may only catch glimpses of Laguna Torre from above), the journey itself is spectacular. You’ll ascend through lush forests and open mountain slopes, eventually making your way back down toward the village to enjoy your final night in Patagonia.

OUT

After breakfast, you will be driven to El Calafate Airport for your flight to your next adventure. Have a safe journey!

Where to Stay

Some places where you could stay, from unique premium lodges to classic accommodations.

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Beyond BA Latam is a local travel agency based in Argentina that designs personalized tours in Argentina, Chile and Antarctica. We are very proud to work with a knowledgeable team capable to design trips based on your interests and traveling style. We are able to bring you a different and more enjoyable experience.

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My dream was to go to Patagonia. I was planning it for a long time but decided to find someone who could help me with it. I was assigned with Lucila and this is when my dream stared coming true. She was the most attentive, helpful, and caring person. Listened to every concern I had and paid attention to all my wishes regarding how I want this trip to be like. When the itinerary was ready and the trip booked, she made sure everything was going smoothly. While in Argentina, I can't think of anything that went not according to plan. All the trips, pick-ups, activities were perfectly planned and Lucila was always within reach in case I had any questions. Honestly, this trip was a dream come true and the service quality impeccable. Now, I can't imagine planning my next trip to Argentina with anyone else

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Enjoyable experience in Patagonia Beyond BA , especially Alvaro, our advisor, did a great job helping plan our itinerary in Patagonia. Alvaro was very responsive and gave us good insights/advices during the planning process. At the onset and everyday we received reminders/updates on our drivers and activities for the next day. The whole trip was arranged smoothly and local operators/guides and drivers were all reliable and helpful. We enjoyed our trip and will definitely use them again if I go back to Argentina.

I suppose that Beyond BA got its name… I suppose that Beyond BA got its name from the fact that its organization of trips is BEYOND any expectations one can imagine. Their professionalism is of the highest standards. Lucila (our contact) followed us from the very beginning throughout our journey with her support and advice. All the reservations, flights, guides were as scheduled. It was amazing. To everyone that wishes to visit Argentina, only one travel agency: Beyond.....

Victoria and the team were Exceptional!!! Every email I sent was promptly answered, bookings and payments made easy with Beyond BA and Victoria's professionalism. Highly recommended to book through Beyond BA. Our tour was to Patagonia for hiking and it was an amazing experience. Great value for money. One of the most organised I've been on. Only having to carry day packs on the hikes was a bonus and the camp grounds were comfortable and an experience in its self. There was 3 of us and Victoria secured us triple rooms when not camping. Can not recommend Beyond BA highly enough and Victoria, thank you

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