Patagonia Unbound: A 10-Day Journey Through Argentina & Chile

Start your trip in El Calafate, Argentina. You’ll fly in from other airports in Argentina, such as Buenos Aires, Bariloche, etc.—plan on a 2–3 hour flight. As soon as you land, you’ll be greeted with the beautiful views of Lago Argentino, a massive glacier-fed freshwater lake that lies within Los Glaciares National Park.

Head to your hotel and explore El Calafate. A town of 30,000 people, the small town vibe is great to walk around, grab a bite to eat. La Cantina features great beer and empanada options in a casual setting, with views of Lago Argentino. You may see horses grazing along the lake—a stunning sight!

Hit the road for your three-hour drive to El Chalten. The trip provides excellent views of the desert of Southern Patagonia along the famous Route 40. There are lookout spots throughout the route to stop and take pictures of the lakes, mountains, vegetation, and animals. Expect to see guanaco (similar to llamas), sheep, and a variety of birds.

Stop at La Leona Road House for a coffee, snack, or bathroom break, where it’s said Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid for almost a month after robbing a bank.

El Chalten is a top-rated trekking destination, the Argentinean capital of trekking. Located at the foot of the Fitz Roy Mountain, surrounded by glaciers, lakes, rivers, and forests, it is still very much a hidden gem. The charming little village feels like a small mountain outpost, with the ability to walk through town to trails. You can easily find boxed lunches or gear you may have left at home if you’re interested in exploring the area on foot.

After your car ride, stretching your legs and exploring the Laguna Capri trail is a must. A relatively easy trail (8km/5 mi), though in the first hour the slope is fairly steep until reaching the outlook of Rio de las Vueltas Valley. Continue for another hour and a half through a forest that splits into Laguna Capri. On a relatively clear day, you’ll have a unique view of the iconic Cerro Fitz Roy.

Stop at El Muro, a cozy coffee-and-pastry shop by day, wine bar and bistro by night, to refuel after your hike.

Take a break from hiking and instead explore a local estancia, or ranch. Whether it’s horseback riding, rock climbing, via ferrata (assisted rock climbing/hiking), mountain biking, or just enjoying a glass of Malbec with views of Fitz Roy, Estancia Bonzana has activities for all levels, even kids. After pick-up from your hotel or the outpost in town, you’ll head to the ranch just outside of town. With 360 views of the mountains and a perfect view of Fitz Roy on a clear day, I highly recommend heading here! I opted for via ferrata and despite a fear of heights, would 100/10 do it again!

After your activity, head over to La Pulperia for lunch. A traditional lamb asado, or roast, cooked over an open flame, is a traditional meal in this part of Argentina. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options available as well.

When your time at the ranch is over, head over to Chorillo de Salto to take in a glacier-fed waterfall before you head back to town for dinner at Roots. Great beers and chill vibes to end a day!

Spend the day hiking to one of the most popular spots in the region—Laguna Torre. Be sure to grab a box lunch (pre-arrange with your hotel if you like!), as this is a full-day trek (20km/12.5 mi). The path ascends for 30 minutes to the first viewpoint of “Cascada Margarita,” which offers the first complete view of the mountain ranges.

Then the trail continues gradually ascending to the highest point of the route, the main viewpoint of Cerro Torre, with a full view of the valley, Glacier Grande, and Cerro Solo.

You’ll then enter the valley of Cerro Torre, walking through the forest near the Fitz Roy River until we reach the area of Campamento D’Agostini. The final stretch concludes with a trail that crosses the large frontal moraines of Laguna Torre.

With this spectacular view, stop to rest, enjoy lunch with views of Cerro Torre, flanked by the needles of Egger and Standhart, along with the background of Cordón de Las Adelas.

After a full day of hiking, dinner at La Cerveceria is a must. Set in a small log cabin, you can sit outside and enjoy a drink, weather-permitting, or head inside for a cozy meal. The savory crepes, roasted stuffed pumpkin, and spinach empanadas were all fantastic.

Pack up and hit the road—it’s time to go see the glaciers! A four-hour drive from El Chalten, Los Glaciares National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, when its almost 200 glaciers were recognized. Half of the park is occupied by the Patagonian ice field, the third largest ice field after Antarctica and Greenland.

Roam around on the walkways for 360 views of the glaciers. But there’s a better way to get even closer to the glacier—taking a boat to the foot of the glacier. The boat sails in front of the north wall of the Perito Moreno glacier to appreciate the height of its walls and its beautiful landslides. The boat will drop the group off and you’ll have approximately 90 minutes to walk through the landscape and even touch the glacier!

Spend the night back in El Calafate, about an hour and a half drive from the Perito Moreno glacier.

Depart from El Calafate and drive to Puerto Natales, Chile. Don’t forget your passport! You will need to complete a digital affidavit on your cell phone, to be completed 48 hours prior to crossing the border. No fresh food, plants, seeds, etc. can be brought with you when you cross the border into Chile, so leave or throw away any of these items. Your luggage will be scanned, your passport stamped, and your affidavit reviewed. Once you cross the border, use the bathrooms or grab a quick bite to eat at El Ovejero, a small outpost.

After you drop your bags at your hotel, head out to explore Puerto Natales. Discovered by European sailor Juan Ladrilleros in 1557. He named the area Última Esperanza (Last Hope) as it was his last chance to find the Strait of Magellan, after exploring the fjords of the area. But it was not until 1911 when the town was officially founded, with the construction of the port that served the sheep and wool industry.

Walk down to the remodeled waterfront, explore the main square, the church, the Monument of the Milodon, the Historical Museum, and the dock of the artisan fishermen. Grab a coffee at Nomad Coffee, or gelato at Artisan Gelateria Aluen Patagonia off the square before checking out handmade local goods at Pueblo Artesanal. Artesanías De La Patagonia. Finish your day with dinner at Café Artimaña.

Drive to Torres del Paine National Park, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1978. During the drive, you’ll see Sofia Lagoon and Toro Lake until reaching the National Park entrance in Serrano Sector.

Make a stop at Grey Lake. A small, easy hike along the shores of the lake is a great way to take in all the beauty around you. From there, head to Lago Pehoe for a lunch break and views. End the day in the Salto Grande sector. Salto Grande waterfalls mark the beginning of the short hike to Los Cuernos (the Horns) viewpoint for the best views.

Head back to Puerto Natales and have dinner at Lenga Restaurant. The menu changes frequently based on the season, but this place was so delicious, I came back a second night for dinner!

You’ll have an early morning wake-up call to hike through one of the most popular activities in Patagonia, Base de Las Torres. A route through forests, rivers, bushes, and rocks to achieve one of the most popular views in a demanding hike of approximately 8–9 hours, covering a total of 24 km/15 mi.

The first hour and 30 minutes will be a constant ascent to reach the “Paso de los Vientos”. Take in the beauty of the mountains as you begin a descent of approximately 30 minutes towards the Refugio Chileno for a brief rest. There are bathrooms, a restaurant/bar, and camping sites here. The route continues for one hour between river-lined forests.

The last section has a slope of 300 meters and a challenging terrain with rocks and some forest in the first 25 minutes. The final part is an exposed trail without vegetation, on looser ground, and with a view towards the final section of the valley, gaining altitude quickly. Your view is the prize, with views of a glacial lake overlooked by Torre Sur, Torre Central, and Torre Notre.

It’s time to say goodbye to Puerto Natales! Don’t forget your passport! You will go back through border control in both Chile and Argentina and continue on to El Calafate. Have dinner at Mi Viejo—one last asado dinner before departure.

Whether you are heading on to another destination in Argentina or Chile, or heading back home, take a few moments to soak up the beauty that surrounds you before it’s time to head to the airport.