Patagonia, Argentina Itinerary- 5 Days
Planning on visiting the Argentinian side of Patagonia? There are so many things to do and so many sights to see, you will want at least 5 full days to explore the Patagonian mountain range from the mountain town of El Chaltén and take a day trip to Perito Moreno Glacier! I did the itinerary below as part of a guided tour, and could not recommend it enough! Our guide Carlos was great and the itinerary allowed us to see as much as possible with little worry or stress!
My trip to Patagonia was hosted, but I was not required to write this post and all my thoughts about Patagonia and our guided trip are my own.
Getting to Patagonia, Argentina
To get to Patagonia, Argentina from another country, you will likely need to take a flight to a major Argentinian airport such as Buenos Aires (EZE) and then take a regional flight to El Calafate airport (FTE).
El Calafate to El Chaltén
From El Calafate, it is about a 2 hour 30 minute drive to the small town of El Chaltén which sits at the base of the Patagonia mountains. You can rent a car to get to Chaltén or take a bus ride between the two towns. Most of Chaltén is walkable, so there is not much need for a car once you arrive in the town.
Group Trip to Patagonia, Argentina
I went to Patagonia, Argentina as part of a group trip and I can’t recommend it enough! Especially if you book as a solo female traveler, I met so many amazing women and had so much fun exploring as a group!
Our guide was Carlos and I can’t imagine a better guide! He is extremely knowledgeable on the area, and was able to pivot our plans based on weather and conditions which is especially important in Patagonia, where the weather can change in an instant!
Day 1- Hiking to Laguna de Los Tres
- Distance: 13.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,503 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
Laguna de los Tres is a difficult trail to climb, but oh so worth it in the end! This is one of the most stunning lakes in Patagonia, and possibly the world, and must be on your Argentina itinerary!
You can start this trail from two trailheads, but the easier-to-access trailhead starts on the Sendero Monte Fitz Roy Trail which is located at the North end of the town of El Chaltén.
This is a loooong trail so start early make sure you have enough light, and limit the amount of time you are exposed to the sun in the morning!
Laguna Capri
At around 1.7 miles you’ll reach a fork in the trail and if you continue to the left, you’ll reach the shore of Laguna Capri.
This is a beautiful spot to take in the lake with views of Fitz Roy (Cerro Chaltén), and also one of two spots on the trail with bathrooms.
Laguna de Los Tres
After Laguna Capri, the trail is flat for a few miles before it starts to ascend to Laguna de los Tres. About 5.5 miles into the hike, the trail becomes much steeper and gains over 1500 feet in 1.3 miles. This part of the trail is especially difficult so make sure to have lots of water and snacks to make it to the top.
When you reach the top, the sight that greets you is one of the most beautiful in Patagonia- Laguna de los Tres. When melted the lake is a striking blue, but it is also a sight to see frozen.
Day 2- Explore the Town of El Chaltén & See Condors
After a hard day of hiking on Day 1, spend Day 2 exploring the town of El Chaltén. There are so many cute shops and restaurants in town, and you can see mountains from all around.
Where to Eat in El Chaltén
Below are some of the best places we ate in El Chaltén, Argentina, all recommended by our guide!
- La Oveja Negra– This was my favorite place we ate in Argentina! Meats like beef, pork, and lamb are offered all throughout Argentina, but this place had the best in my opinion!
- La Nana– This is a cute cafe with great coffee, waffles, and homemade lemonade! We went here several times because it was so close to our hotel.
- La Birre Del Rancho– A tap house with delicious and large portions- this is the perfect place to grab a beer and burger after a day of hiking in Patagonia!
Mirador de los Cóndores
- Distance: 1.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 426 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
This is a short but scenic trail that starts at the Southernmost end of El Chaltén. It leads up to a great lookout of the town and Fitz Roy in the distance. Here you are very likely to see condors and eagles flying overhead.
Day 3- Via Ferrata
On Day 3 of your Patagonia itinerary, try something different! One unique thing to do in El Chaltén is to climb a via ferrata. Carlos booked us through Estancia Bonanza, and it was a fantastic experience!
If you don’t know, a via ferrata is similar to climbing, but you are hooked into a permanent metal cable on the mountainside the whole time and there are often metal rungs making it a bit easier than regular climbing.
This particular climb was very beginner friendly with a small zipline at the end to a viewpoint of the mountains.
Day 4- Laguna Torre
- Distance: 11 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,643 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
On Day 4, it’s time for another long hike to Laguna Torre. This one is still long but much easier than Laguna de los Tres.
The first two miles are a bit steep and end with a great view of the range and Cerro Torre, but after that, the trail is more even.
At the end of the trail is Laguna Torre a lake named for its central view of Cerro Torre. This makes for a beautiful view from the lake, made even more stunning by the glaciers floating in the lake.
Eat lunch at the lake before heading back. Carlos brought out wine at lunch which was perfect to enjoy with this view!
Day 5- Perito Moreno Glacier
You can’t visit Argentina without stopping by Perito Moreno Glacier! It is about a 4-and-a-half-hour drive from El Chaltén, but only 2 hours from El Calafate which is where we stayed the night before.
It is about $30 per person to enter Parque Nacional Los Glaciares which contains the many boardwalks to view the massive glacier.
The unique thing about Perito Moreno is just how close you can get to it! Two and a half miles of boardwalks crisscross in front of the glacier at different heights, so no matter where you are, you are sure to get a good view of the glacier.
You May Also Like
SAVE IT FOR LATER
