Itinerary

Day 1, The Patagonic Adventure Starts…

Los Glaciares NP, Argentina

 

 We wake up early and start driving to Cerro Castillo border crossing to Argentina. In Castillo we board a regular bus to Calafate, a small town set on the edge of Los Glaciares NP amidst dramatic scenery and natural beauty. If there are other travel fellows starting from Calafate we will meet them in town. After some hours on the bus, we arrive to Calafate, where a local guide  meet us and give us a general explanation about the trip while we have lunch; after this we have a couple of hours to explore the down town. From the bus terminal we embark on about a 4 hour regular bus ride to Chalten, The drive is on isolated dirt roads across the pampas and along the northern end of Lago Viedma. Chalten is a tiny outpost beside the National Park at the foot of impressive Mount Fitzroy. Once we’ve checked in at the hotel, its time to get a well-deserved rest, which will be needed for the next couple of days!

 

Note:  Excursions days order in El Chaltén might vary based on logistics consideration.

 

 

Day 2, A precious hike to Laguna Torre

Los Glaciares NP, Argentina

 

We do a full day hike along Cerro Torre Trail to Laguna Torre, an extremely pretty mountain lake with majestic Mount Torre in the background. After breakfast, we walk eastward, following the trail through beech forests and bogs to a pleasant encounter with Fitroy River. We continue advancing and reach Camp Base de Agostini and then do a short hike to Laguna Torre, escorted in the west by Cerro Torre and the Adela range. Icebergs can be seen peacefully floating on Laguna Torre as the wind pushes them to the coast. We stop at different points to take in the magnificent view and enjoy a picnic. Later, we return to Chalten following the same trail. There is an optional day trip for those wanting to trek on Torre Glacier. Those taking this exciting option get up earlier and do it apart from the main group. Upon returning from the trek, the evening is free to enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Chalten’s cozy restaurants.

 

 

Day 3, The Challenge: Monte Fitzroy, Mountain of Mountains

Los Glaciares NP, Argentina

 

Today’s trek is to Laguna Los Tres with the best available view of Monte Fitzroy - THE landmark in Los Glaciares NP! Once again, a big breakfast and lots of enthusiasm is required. We begin our hike by heading towards silent Laguna Capri, passing just beside its northern corner. Then we follow the Fitz Roy Trail up to Rio Blanco, passing Poicenot, the mountaineering camp. Finally, a short but steep trail will take us to Laguna de Los Tres to take in one of the park’s most marvelous natural scenes! The turquoise-blue of the Lagoon is a stunning sight and this is of course is magnified by the accompanying view of Fitz Roy’s spires and glaciers. You will probably experience a Torres del Paine flashback. If Torres del Paine is the king mountain of Patagonia, Fitz Roy is surely the beautiful queen! Time for a picnic. In such a memorable place the food can not help but taste better than ever! When everyone is ready, we will hike back to Laguna Capri and continue along the trail back to tiny Chalten.

 

 

Day 4, Last steps in Chalten  

Los Glaciares NP, Argentina

 

Today we will do a short morning trek following the Pliegue Tumbado trail. After an hour trekking up the hill we will reach "Mirador de las Carretas", an excellent viewpoint of the western bank of the Massif with great views of Cerro Torre and the picks around Mount Fitzroy. We come back to sadly prepare our luggage and start our way back to Calafate. We are transferred to the terminal and board the midday regular bus (in April we take the afternoon bus), following the same road filled with Argentinean pampas that welcomed us some days ago. We will arrive in Calafate in the afternoon with plenty of time to rest, walk around the town and look for a nice dinner.

 

 

Day 5, The Big Daddy is on the Way: Glacier Perito Moreno

Calafate, Argentina

 

Once we finish enjoying an early breakfast we board the minibus and start the drive that will takes us to Perito Moreno Glacier. After a couple of hours we will reach Los Glaciares NP and continue driving to Bajo de las Sombras Bay sector, where we board  the boat that will sail approximately twenty minutes on Lago Rico reaching the south wall of the glacier. In the other side the guides give us a short talk about the formation of glaciers together with other interesting details about local geology. From this point we do a short walk to the edge of the glacier where we are given the crampons to be fitted to our shoes. Now we start the ice trekking adventure! Although we feel somehow strange walking with the crampons, it will take us just a few minutes to get used to it. As we walk ahead we face terrific views of the glacier and surroundings. Our trek finishes with a little ice bar serving whisky on freshly shopped millenary ice from the glacier, a cute touch. After the walk and having lunch we continue on to the footbridges with multiple view points of the glacier’s superb north wall with its incredible cracking walls. Here we are left free to enjoy the surroundings at our own leisure. After the thrilling encounter with the glacier, we drive back to Calafate. This is sadly our final night together.

 

Note: Due to operational insurance issues, the age limit for doing the ice trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier is 65 years old. If a passenger exceeds this age then an alternative excursion to the Glacier will be arranged.

 

 

Day 6, Adios!

Calafate, Argentina

 

Today we finish this memorable trip, Adios Patagonia! Hopefully we will meet somewhere else. After having breakfast, a transfer will take us to the airport and we are free to continue traveling on our own or taking another extension with Cascada.

 

 

If you are taking the extension to finish in Punta Arenas:

 

Day 6, Heading to Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas, Chile

 

Once we are ready an early transfer will take us to the Calafate bus terminal. There we board the public bus going to Puerto Natales, arriving in this town around midday. A Cascada representative will wait for us and will take us to the office for refreshing ourselves and help us looking for a nice restaurant in town. When we feel at ease we go boarding the next public bus going to Punta Arenas city, where another Cascada representative will wait for us to arrange the transfer to the hotel. The evening is free and we have dinner on our own. We will definitely look for some of the local delicious dishes like Centolla (king crab) or asado de cordero (lamb BBQ). We go back to the hotel to enjoy our last night in Patagonia.

 

 

Day 7, Adios!

Punta Arenas, Chile

 

Today we finish this memorable trip, Adios Patagonia! After having breakfast, a transfer will take us to the airport and we are free to continue traveling on our own or taking another

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