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El Chaltén & El Calafate: Private Argentina Patagonia Trekking Tour

El Chaltén & El Calafate: Private Argentina Patagonia Trekking Tour

Patagonia
9 Days

Overview

This 9-day private Patagonia Argentina trekking itinerary covers three glaciers and three mountain trails across two of Argentina's most concentrated trekking destinations — El Calafate and El Chaltén — before closing in Ushuaia with two days of subantarctic hiking. The circuit runs south to north in terms of landscape character: glacier ice first (Big Ice minitrekking and Estancia Cristina), then granite and lenga forest (Laguna Torre and Laguna de los Tres), then the oldest and most remote terrain of all in Tierra del Fuego.

  • Big Ice and Estancia Cristina on back-to-back days in El Calafate — two completely different glacier experiences: crampons on the surface of Perito Moreno on Day 2, and the Cañadón de los Fósiles canyon above Upsala Glacier on Day 3, the only full trekking day in El Calafate that doesn't involve Perito Moreno's walkways

  • Laguna Torre and Laguna de los Tres in reverse order: arriving in El Chaltén by private transfer in the afternoon of Day 4 with Laguna Torre as the first trail — a moderate day to build the legs — followed by the demanding Laguna de los Tres ascent on Day 5 when the body is ready for it

  • Private trekking guides and transfers throughout: a local mountain guide on every hiking day, with private vehicles between all trailheads, hotels, and airports — El Calafate, El Chaltén, and Ushuaia each with their own specialist

  • Fully customizable — add Loma del Pliegue Tumbado in El Chaltén, the Vinciguerra Glacier in Ushuaia, or the Todo Glaciares navigation in El Calafate

Trip Highlights

The signature moments that make this journey unforgettable.

  • Minitrekking on Perito Moreno Glacier with crampons on the ice surface, followed by the elevated walkways alongside the 70-meter ice face

  • Navigate to Estancia Cristina across Lago Argentino and trek the Cañadón de los Fósiles canyon above Upsala Glacier

  • Hike to Laguna Torre beneath Cerro Torre's 3,128-meter granite spire and the floating icebergs of Glaciar Grande

  • Hike to Laguna de los Tres beneath Cerro Fitz Roy (3,405m), departing from the Río Eléctrico trailhead by private transfer

  • Trek Tierra del Fuego National Park along the coastal trail to Lapataia Bay, where Pan-American Route 3 ends

  • Hike to Laguna Esmeralda through subantarctic lenga forest and peat bogs above Ushuaia

Itinerary

Day 1

A private transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE) to your hotel on the shore of Lake Argentino. The rest of the day is free — the town's lakeshore restaurants and the first views of the Patagonian steppe set the tone for the glacier days ahead.

Day 2

A boat crossing of Lake Argentino's Rico Arm to the glacier's southern shore, followed by a forest hike to the ice edge where crampons go on. Approximately 90 minutes of guided travel on Perito Moreno's surface past blue meltwater lagoons, seracs, and crevasses. After returning to the shore, the 4.7-kilometer elevated walkway system delivers the 70-meter ice face from multiple angles, with calving events audible throughout.

Day 3

~10–12 km | ~600m elevation gain | 4–5 hours | Moderate

A 2.5-hour navigation across Lago Argentino's northern arm to Estancia Cristina, accessible only by boat. From the estancia, a guided trek up the Cañadón de los Fósiles canyon — marine fossil beds in sedimentary rock at 1,200 meters, with panoramic views over the Upsala Glacier arm of the lake. The only trekking day in the El Calafate area that isn't Perito Moreno.

Day 4

~18 km round trip | ~450m elevation gain | ~6 hours | Moderate

A morning private transfer across the Patagonian steppe to El Chaltén, with the Fitz Roy massif rising on the horizon as the route approaches the village. After a quick check-in, the trail heads west through the Fitz Roy River canyon to Laguna Torre, where Cerro Torre's 3,128-meter granite spire and the floating icebergs of Glaciar Grande fill the view. An evening guide briefing covers conditions for the next day's more demanding ascent.

Day 5

22 km round trip | 960m elevation gain | 8–9 hours | Challenging

A private transfer from El Chaltén to the Río Eléctrico trailhead, 18 km north of the village, cuts the standard approach in half and adds roughly 90 minutes of actual trail time to the day. From the trailhead, a full day ascending through lenga and ñire forest past the Piedras Blancas hanging glacier to the glacial lagoon at 3,054 meters below Fitz Roy's north face. Your guide sets departure time against the morning wind forecast.

Day 6

A private transfer from El Chaltén to El Calafate Airport (FTE) for the domestic flight south to Ushuaia (USH). A local guide meets you at the airport for the transfer to your hotel, with the Beagle Channel visible from the descent.

Day 7

A coastal trek through Tierra del Fuego National Park along the Beagle Channel shoreline, past Yamana shellfish midden sites to Lake Roca, continuing to Lapataia Bay — where Argentina's Route 3 reaches its southern terminus at the water's edge.

Day 8

~9 km round trip | ~200m elevation gain | ~4 hours | Moderate

A hike through subantarctic lenga forest and peat bog — active beaver dams reshape the stream terrain throughout the route — to Laguna Esmeralda, a turquoise glacial lake fed by a hanging glacier visible from the shoreline. A shorter, quieter day after the demanding trekking of the previous days.

Day 9

A private transfer to Ushuaia Airport (USH) for your domestic flight to Buenos Aires and onward international connections.

Southwind Experience

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  • Transportation throughout the trip

  • Accommodation

  • Expert local guides

  • Full support from your Travel Agent before, during, and after the trip

  • International or domestic flights

  • Personal expenses and optional activities

To start this journey, travelers will arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s main international gateway, and connect with domestic flights to explore the country.

  • Arrival Flight: Traveler flies from origin city to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) or Aeroparque (AEP), then connects with a domestic flight to El Calafate (FTE).

  • Departure Flight: At the end of the itinerary, travelers take a domestic flight from Ushuaia (USH) back to Buenos Aires (EZE/AEP) for onward international connections.

What our travelers say

S

Simon Phillips

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Southwind from the planning stages to delivery of the trip in Patagonia were faultless and I really love the little reminders sent for each separate stage and really appreciated the added bits around passport checking and border crossing paperwork. The whole team was super friendly, and for our trip with Fernando he was great company and knew where to stop for refreshments and a view! We would strongly recommend southwind, they go the extra mile on service and have a permanent smile. Thank you guys you were faultless.

S

Sameer Phanse

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I had a great experience with Southwind. They organized a tour for us to visit Monte Leon from El Calafate. Fernando & Laura organized the logistics and were very helpful. Martin accompanied us on the tour and doubled up as driver and tour guide, which was beyond our expectations. We saw a lot of wildlife en route, as well as in the park with Martin’s help. I highly recommend Southwind for your Patagonia experience.

F

Franco Peverelli

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The agency proved to be extremely professional. During the long transfer, in an impeccably clean and perfectly maintained vehicle, Mr. Fernando was very attentive to ensure that everything went smoothly. I highly recommend this agency for organizing your trips to South America. Only 5 stars because I can't give more!

J

Joanna Green

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Maria and her team looked after us so well. I would recommend them in a flash. It was 20 years since I had been to El Calafate so I didn't know what to expect. It had changed so much! Maria was helpful, honest, well priced and a pleasure to work with. You could not ask for more. We had the best time thanks to Maria and her organisation. Fernando was our driver to a tour and a delight. Punctual, knowledgeable and all round wonderful. Gracias!!

R

Rosa Puech

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A fabulous company to travel with: the sequencing of the trip, the guides proposed, the suggestions for the area. We highly recommend this travel agency for Patagonia. Fernando is top+top.

M

Martin Bride

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★

Gerardo drove us on a bespoke 8- day trip from Salta up into the wilderness where the 🦩 come to get pink. We had a great time in this spectacular region.

E

Esteban Riminucci

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Exelente asesoramiento de Maria Laura , muy buen servicio y cordialidad de los coordinadores , muy recomendables !!

P

Paulo Fanti

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Muy buena la atención tanto por WhatsApp como en las excursiones. Puntuales en las búsquedas en el hotel... De las excursiones que llevo hechas (todas excelentes) la atención, la coordinación y el conocimiento de los guías es muy bueno. Un excelente servicio, lo recomiendo!

A

Ana Zugarramurdi

Google review

Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Amazing company and experience. We did the Todo Glaciares boat tour in the Premium Lounge and it was beyond expectations! Great staff, great cruise and food! Highly recommended!

Google

Average rating

4.9 ★

How to Customize This Itinerary

This itinerary is a foundation, not a fixed template — we shape it around what draws you to Patagonia in the first place.

  • Add Loma del Pliegue Tumbado in El Chaltén for a 360-degree panorama over Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

  • Add Glaciar Vinciguerra in Ushuaia — the most demanding trail above the city, with views over the Beagle Channel from above the tree line.

  • Add the Todo Glaciares navigation in El Calafate for a full-day cruise to Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers.

  • Cross into Torres del Paine, Chile, for the W Trek before or after El Chaltén.

Every adjustment is shaped around what the trip means to you, then re-engineered with the same private logistics as the original route.

Let's plan your adventure!

Customize your adventure!

Share your trip plans, and we'll tailor it to your needs and budget. Our local experts are ready to craft the perfect journey for you.

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