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El Chaltén, El Calafate & Torres del Paine: Classic Private Patagonia Tour

El Chaltén, El Calafate & Torres del Paine: Classic Private Patagonia Tour

Patagonia
9 Days

Overview

This 9-day private Patagonia classic itinerary covers the three destinations that define Argentine and Chilean Patagonia in a single coherent circuit — two trekking days beneath Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre in El Chaltén, a navigation to Glaciar Viedma on Lago Viedma, two glacier days in El Calafate including Perito Moreno and the Todo Glaciares cruise, and two full days inside Torres del Paine before returning to El Calafate for departure. The route never backtracks: El Chaltén first, El Calafate second, Torres del Paine third — each destination building on the previous in terms of landscape scale.

  • Laguna de los Tres: world class trekking trail El Chalten with your local private guide, or the same day can be swapped for a shorter alternative inside Reserva Los Huemules (Laguna del Diablo trail) or the Glaciar Huemul from Lago del Desierto, depending on fitness level and preference

  • Glaciar Viedma navigation from El Chaltén: a boat excursion from the village onto Lago Viedma to the face of Glaciar Viedma — one of the largest glaciers in South America, reachable only by water and a completely different format from the walkways and navigations in El Calafate

  • Perito Moreno with two optional upgrades: the standard elevated walkways cover the 70-meter ice face; the safari náutico adds a catamaran along the southern wall for a water-level perspective; the minitrekking puts crampons on the ice surface — any of the three or a combination depending on what's available and what fits the day

  • Two full days in Torres del Paine with an overnight inside the park: the first day explores the park's eastern sector; the second covers a different zone before a private transfer back to El Calafate for the departure flight

  • Private mountain guides and transfers throughout: a local specialist guide on every hiking day, with private vehicles between all trailheads, hotels, and the cross-border connections

  • Fully customizable — this private Patagonia classic tour extends naturally with  extra  days in Torres del Paine or Chalten for trekking adventures, Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel, or Buenos Aires at the start for tango and world-class restaurants

Trip Highlights

The signature moments that make this journey unforgettable.

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

  • Trek to Laguna Torre at the base of Cerro Torre's granite spire above the icebergs of Glaciar Grande

  • Navigate Lago Viedma to Glaciar Viedma — one of the largest and least-visited glaciers accessible from El Chaltén

  • Visit Perito Moreno Glacier with optional safari náutico navigation or minitrekking on the ice surface

  • Navigate Lago Argentino to Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers aboard the Todo Glaciares cruise

  • Explore Torres del Paine over two full days covering the park's main circuits with a private guide

Itinerary

Day 1

A private transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE) across the Patagonian steppe to El Chaltén, with the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre massifs rising above the De las Vueltas River valley on approach. An evening guide briefing covers weather conditions and departure timing for the trekking days ahead.

Day 2

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.

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Alternative options for this day:

•       Reserva Los Huemules — Laguna del Diablo trail (~14 km, ~700m, Moderate–Challenging): a private reserve 17 km north of the village with trails outside the standard park network, for a quieter and more remote mountain experience

•       Glaciar Huemul — Lago del Desierto(Easy–Moderate): transfer to Lago del Desierto, 37 km north of El Chaltén, and trekking to Glaciar Huemul — a shorter and less demanding format for those preferring a low impact trekking option

Day 3

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

A full-day hike 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. A gentler day than the previous, with an evening guide briefing on the Lago Viedma navigation logistics for Day 4.

Day 4

A morning boat excursion from El Chaltén onto Lago Viedma to the face of Glaciar Viedma — one of the largest glaciers in South America and the most remote of the major ice tongues accessible from El Chaltén, reachable only by water. After navigation, a private transfer across the Patagonian steppe to El Calafate.

Day 5

A full day at Perito Moreno Glacier, where a 4.7-kilometer elevated walkway system delivers the 70-meter ice face from multiple angles, calving events audible throughout — one of the few glaciers in the world still advancing.

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Optional upgrades:

•       Safari náutico (Navigation): a one hour catamaran navigation along the southern face of Perito Moreno at close range, adding a water-level perspective to the walkways

•       Minitrekking (Ice Trek): a boat crossing to the glacier's southern shore and approximately 90 minutes of guided crampon walk on the ice surface

Day 6

A full-day cruise through Lago Argentino's northern arm, past floating icebergs, to Upsala Glacier — one of the largest in South America — and Spegazzini Glacier, whose ice face rises over 130 meters and is reachable only by water. The north arm of the lake is broader and more remote than the Perito Moreno sector; the scale only registers once the boat is moving through it.

Day 7

A private transfer from El Calafate at early morning, crossing the Argentine–Chilean border at Cancha Carrera after approximately 3.5 hours. Lunch in Cerro Castillo before entering the Torres del Paine National Park at around 1:30 PM. The afternoon covers three stops in sequence: Laguna Sarmiento de Gamboa, where your guide covers the full panoramic view of the Paine Massif; Laguna Amarga, with a short walk along the sandy shore to the best viewpoint of the Paine Towers; and Cañadón Macho, a short hike through open steppe habitat frequented by guanacos and pumas. The day closes at Cascada Paine and the Mirador de los Cuernos del Paine above Lake Nordenskjöld, reached on a 1.5-hour round-trip trail before the transfer to your overnight accommodation inside the park.

Day 8

A morning at the Playita Grey shoreline, where massive icebergs calved from Grey Glacier sit anchored by wind along the volcanic sand beach — followed by a navigation in front of the glacier face. The rest of the day moves through the park's main panoramic circuit: Puente Weber, the Mirador de los Cóndores, and the overlooks of Lake Pehoé and Lake Nordenskjöld with Paine Grande and Admiral Nieto as the backdrop. In the afternoon, a private transfer back across the border to El Calafate for the final overnight.

Day 9

A private transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE) 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 need to fly into El Calafate Airport (FTE), located just outside El Calafate City. This airport receives domestic flights from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque Jorge Newbery – AEP) and international connections via Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).

  • 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 will take a domestic flight from El Calafate (FTE) 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!

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 puma tracking days inside Torres del Paine before the park hiking days — three consecutive days in the Sarmiento sector significantly increase observation probability.

  • Continue to Ushuaia for the Beagle Channel navigation, Tierra del Fuego National Park, and Glaciar Vinciguerra.

  • Add Buenos Aires at the start for tango, world-class restaurants, and the city's historic neighborhoods.

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

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