El Chaltén, El Calafate & Ushuaia: Private Patagonia Adventure

A flight to El Calafate Airport (FTE), where a private driver meets you for the scenic transfer across the Patagonian steppe to El Chaltén. Guanacos are a regular sight along the steppe, and the Fitz Roy massif appears on the horizon in the final stretch. An evening briefing from your guide covers weather conditions and timing for the trekking days ahead.

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

A private drive to the Río Eléctrico trailhead, then 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. The descent follows the Laguna Capri trail with views over the De las Vueltas River valley.

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

A gentler trail west through the Fitz Roy River canyon to the moraine above Laguna Torre, where Cerro Torre's spire and the icebergs of Glaciar Grande are the payoff.

~14 km | ~450m elevation gain | 6–7 hours | Moderate

Private drive to Estancia Los Huemules, a private nature reserve of pristine Patagonian forest. The trail winds through ancient lenga woodland to the dark waters of Laguna del Diablo and the turquoise Laguna Azul, crossing a protected area for the observation of the huemul, an endangered Patagonian deer.

A scenic private drive from El Chaltén back to El Calafate, with a stop at Cerro Frías Ranch (23 km from town, inside Estancia Alice) for a 4x4 excursion or horseback ride with views of the Andes and native wildlife — guanacos, condors, and foxes on the surrounding steppe.

~4 hours trekking (2h forest, ~2h on ice) | Full-day excursion | Challenging

A boat crossing of Lake Argentino's Rico Arm to the glacier's southern shore, followed by a hike to the ice edge where crampons go on. The Big Ice trek navigates past blue meltwater lagoons, crevasses, and ice formations carved by the glacier's movement — approximately two hours of crampon travel on the surface.

A full-day cruise aboard the María Turquesa through Lake Argentino's floating icebergs to Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers, with a guided walk at Las Vacas Bay and lunch on board. The return route passes through the Canal de los Témpanos with views of Perito Moreno from the water.

A 4x4 transfer to the historic Charles Furh area at the mouth of Lake Argentino, then a 15-kilometer kayak in double kayaks down the Santa Cruz River to Estancia Río Bote — following part of Charles Darwin's overland route through Patagonia in 1834. Certified guides provide the full kit including dry suits. A country-style lunch at the estancia, then 4x4 return to El Calafate.

A domestic flight from El Calafate (FTE) to Ushuaia (USH), the southernmost city in the world. A local guide meets you at the airport for the transfer to your hotel, with time in the afternoon for the downtown waterfront and a first view of the Beagle Channel.

A coastal trek through Tierra del Fuego National Park past Yamana shellfish midden sites to Lake Roca, followed by a canoe descent of the Lapataia River to Lapataia Bay, where Pan-American Route 3 ends at the water.

A guided ascent from the edge of the city along the former lumberjack's path to Cerro del Medio and Margot Lagoon, continuing to the summit of Mount Roy — the highest point of the day's route — then descending through the Martial Glacier Valley with panoramic views over Ushuaia city.

A drive along the Beagle Channel coastline to Estancia Harberton, founded in 1886 by Anglican missionary Thomas Bridges and the oldest estancia in Tierra del Fuego. From the estancia, a zodiac crossing of the Beagle Channel to Martillo Island for the Magellanic penguin colony, with seabirds throughout the navigation.

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