Compare Argentina, Chile: Hiker's Patagonia by MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas

Accommodation: Hotel Cabo de Hornos

Upon your arrival in Punta Arenas, on the northern shore of Chile's Strait of Magellan, your trip leader will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. In the evening the group will gather for a briefing on the adventure ahead.

Day 2: Take a scenic drive to Torres del Paine National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Las Torres

From Punta Arenas we’ll drive about three hours across the Patagonian plains to the quiet fishing town of Puerto Natales on the shores of Seno Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Here we’ll stretch our legs a bit and have lunch before continuing on to Torres del Paine National Park, where we'll take in the first spectacular views of the Paine Massif (weather permitting). There is also a very good chance of seeing guanacos—small cousins to the camel and llama—on the way to the park. Because the sun sets late in Patagonia's summer, there's plenty of time to admire and photograph the amazing landscape. In the evening we'll settle in at Hostel Las Torres, ideally situated for our exploration of Paine at just 5 miles from the base of the Torres del Paine.

Day 3: Explore majestic Torres del Paine

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Las Torres

We´ll get an early start for our all-day hike to the Torres del Paine lookout. We follow the Asencio River over a low pass into the Ascencio Valley, passing through beautiful beech forests, talus-covered slopes and finally boulders before arriving at a spectacular viewpoint, where the towers rise majestically before us and the glacial lake is visible below. This is one of the most scenic spots in the world and very fitting for our first impression of the National Park. We´ll enjoy our packed lunch en route before hiking back to our hotel.

Tonight you will be given a waterproof bag (approx. 620 cubic inches) In this bag you must pack clothing and other essential items you’ll need for the upcoming two nights. This bag will be carried by porters while you carry your own day pack—with your camera, extra layers and raingear, personal papers and medication, lunch etc. Meanwhile your duffel, containing the rest of your belongings, is taken to a safe place and will meet up with you again at Hotel Lago Grey on Day 6. The waterproof bag is limited in size. Bring only the essentials.

(Hiking time: Approx. 9 hours, 11½ miles; Start: 400ft/ End 400ft Elevation gain: 2,500ft)

Day 4: Hike beneath the jagged Cuernos del Paine

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Cabañas de los Cuernos

Today we'll begin our trek deep into the park, hiking at a relaxed pace along the north shore of Lago Nordenskjold to Los Cuernos, following the Paso Los Cuernos trail beneath the jagged Cuernos del Paine. The views throughout this hike are magnificent including seeing for the first time the Southern Patagonia Ice Field! Tonight we’ll stay in cozy cabins set on the mountain side right next to a waterfall on the most isolated spot of our journey. The early arrival gives us time to enjoy a soak in the hot tub with privileged views. Overall, this is an excellent staging area for tomorrow's hike to the French Valley.

(Hiking time: Approx. 5 hours, 7 miles; Start: 400ft/ End 200ft Elevation gain: 1,400ft)

Day 5: Hike through the spectacular French Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande

Today we'll hike into the French Valley, one of the most spectacular cirques in the Paine Range. We'll walk below the glaciers that descend from the massifs highest summit in the Paine range, Paine Grande, and marvel at the gray granite peaks of the Cuernos del Paine, which are topped with fantastical black “horns” of slate. Two different hiking options are available today. We can take an 11-mile hike back to camp (approximate hiking time is 6 hours, with a 1,300ft elevation gain) or up to the mirador (viewpoint) above Camp Británico—another 4 hours roundtrip hike—for one of the most impressive views in the park (weather permitting)!

We'll overnight at the Lodge Paine Grande located in the heart of the park on the shore of Lago Pehoé. Your luggage will be carried in by porters.

(Hiking time – option 1: Approx. 10-12 hours, 15 miles; Start: 200ft/ End 250ft Elevation gain: 2,000ft)

(Hiking time – option 2: Approx. 8 hours, 10 miles; Start: 200ft/ End 250ft Elevation gain: 1,200ft)

Day 6: Take a boat to Grey Glacier

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Lago Grey

We’ll arise early and hike along the Paine Grande Mountain towards the face of stunning Grey Glacier, at the southern end of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. We'll enjoy our packed lunch en route, before boarding a catamaran that takes us close to the front of the glacier and then down to the southern shore of the Lago Grey (Grey Lake)—where our hotel for the night is located.

(Hiking time: Approx. 4 hours, 7 ½ miles; Start: 250ft/ End 200ft Elevation gain: 800ft)

Day 7: Travel to Argentina and explore El Calafate

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Mirador del Lago

Today we depart Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park and drive across the border into Argentina (please be prepared for delays of up to a few hours while crossing the border). We'll proceed over the flat grassland steppes to the town of El Calafate, located on the southern shore of glacial lake called Lago Argentino. El Calafate is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park and is a great town to explore. You trip leader will recommend restaurants for your dinner on your own tonight.

(Driving time: approx. 7 hours)

Day 8: Marvel at the famous Perito Moreno Glacier

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Mirador del Lago

Today we'll enjoy a full-day excursion to Los Glaciares National Park to see the renowned Perito Moreno glacier. At this very active glacier, a 200-foot-high headwall continually calves massive blocks of ice into the lake with a thunderous roar—an awesome spectacle of nature's power at work. Hiking options are available, depending on the weather, and include a walk on the glacier itself  (this walk is available for travelers under 65 years of age). This is an outstanding but easy glacier hike among the great ice peaks and towers. We'll enjoy a picnic lunch and return to El Calafate at the end of our day. Dinner tonight will be on your own.

Day 9: Drive to Los Glaciares National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Cabañas Fitzroy

After an early breakfast, we’ll continue our drive across the steppes and along the northern end of Lago Viedma to the little town of El Chaltén—our base for  the following days' excursion into the park. The views get better and better as we approach the mountains and glaciers, and we'll soon appreciate why we have traveled so far! We’ll stop for a picnic lunch en route, and once we arrive at our lodging we might do some hiking if time permits.

(Driving time: 3 to 4 hours)

Days 10-11: Explore Los Glaciares National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Cabañas Fitzroy OR Destino Sur

On these two days, we'll enjoy long day hikes into the park's interior. We'll be treated to some commanding views of the spectacular peaks of Fitz Roy (11,072') and Cerro Torre (10,280'), both sought after by photographers and climbers the world over. Where we hike is weather and group dependent, but with so many great options, we can’t miss! If conditions permit, we'll visit the base camp for Cerro Torre climbs, Laguna Torre, which is situated on a beautiful glacial lake with the stunning monolith framed behind it. Other possible destinations include Laguna Capri and Laguna de los Tres, as well as Piedras Blancas and Piedra del Fraile, the east entrance to the famous Southern Patagonia Ice Field.

Day 12: Return to El Chaltén

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Destino Sur

We'll rise early to enjoy one last hike in Los Glaciares National Park before returning to El Chaltén in the afternoon. Tonight we'll gather for a farewell dinner.

Day 13: Fly to Buenos Aires

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Loi Suites Recoleta

This morning we'll transfer to the town of El Calafate, where we bid farewell to our guide, before catching a flight to Buenos Aires—the cosmopolitan capital of Argentina, often referred to as the "Paris of South America." Upon arrival in Buenos Aires we'll transfer to our hotel in the city's stylish Recoleta district. Dinner will be on your own in Buenos Aires, where there is no shortage of tempting culinary offerings!

Day 14: Take in the sights of Buenos Aires and depart

Meals: Breakfast

The day is free for shopping and sightseeing. You may wish to explore the Recoleta district in the northwest sector of the city, famous mainly for its nightlife but also well worth a visit by day. Close by are the Museum of Fine Arts and the National Cemetery, which holds the tombs of many famous people—among them, Argentinian first lady Eva Peron. The downtown district, especially along Calle Florida, contains many galerias (huge enclosed shopping malls) with dozens of stores and colorful stands.

In the evening, we'll transfer to Buenos Aires airport for homeward-bound flights. Your international flight can depart at any time on this day, but we highly recommend staying on a few extra days to take in Buenos Aires.