Winter Patagonia detailed itinerary
Day 1: El Calafate airport - El Calafate
We meet you at El Calafate Airport and from there you are transferred to El Calafate. At 7 pm you meet up with the rest of your group and the guide for a briefing meeting.
El Calafate is a small town of some four thousand inhabitants, El Calafate was for several decades a tiny staging post for the wagons transporting wool between remote estancias (sheep stations) and the coast. It lies near the shore of the vast, turquoise lake Argentino and is today a gateway to the natural wonders of the Los Glaciares national park.
Note: Accommodation options – hostel with shared bathroom, double room or single room with private facilities.
Day 2: El Calafate – El Chaltén
After breakfast we travel by bus to El Chalten, a small remote mountain town close to the Fitzroy peaks. We travel along 190 km of gravel road through the Patagonia steppe with a short stop at La Leona, a picturesque inn, where you can enjoy homemade cakes – highly recommended is the lemon meringue pie! From here, the views of the Viedma lake are superb. When we arrive in El Chalten you have time to wander around and explore the town and nearby walks. B,D
Day 3: El Chaltén – Fitz Roy trail
The trail starts in the north corner of the town. A gentle slope leads us to the first viewpoint over the River de las Vueltas valley, and we continue on to Laguna Capri and the first sights of Fitz Roy. Laguna Capri should be frozen at this time of the year, giving us the chance to get a unique picture of the frozen lagoon with Fitz Roy spires and glaciers in the background. From Capri we already have excellent views over to Fitz Roy.
If conditions are OK, we continue on towards Rio Blanco, Fitz Roy base camp for climbers. Once at the base camp and depending on weather and terrain conditions those who would like to can continue upwards to Laguna de los Tres, spectacular viewpoint for the Fitz Roy massif, spires and glaciers.
During today’s walk we climb 500 metres to the first viewpoints and 400 more meters if we climb to Laguna de los Tres. We carry snowshoes if there is enough snow to warrant their use. Walking time will depend on the conditions of terrain but if you walk the full trek to Laguna de Los Tres then this is a tough full day hiking. B,L,D
Day 4: El Chaltén - Cerro Torre trail
Today’s walk takes us to the Torre valley. This valley starts as a glacier valley in the Laguna Torre reaching town as a fluvial valley. Is shorter and with considerably less altitude gain than yesterday’s Fitz Roy trail.
We arrive at the first viewpoint after our first hour of walking, giving lovely views up the valley. Depending on conditions, we will continue along the valley floor thorugh scrubland then southern beach forest to reach lakeTorre, natural viewpoint over the group of ice-mushroom-covered spires of the Cerro Torre massif. The lagoon could be frozen, in which case we can cross it and head to the front of Glacier Grande. Its blue colour and dimensions are breathtaking.
Weather, conditions and time permitting we can try some basic ice climbing in the frozen waterfalls which hang on the sides of the lagoon. We hike back to El Chaltén in late afternoon. B,L,D
Day 5: El Chaltén – El Calafate
Morning at leisure to rest or to take an additional walk.
We recommend a walk to Cerro Pliegue Tumbado with beautiful views over Fitz Roy, Torre and the glacier valley in between. Alternatively take a more leisurely option to visit Estancia Madsen (home of the first white settler of the valley) or the Chorrillo del Salto waterfall, that should be half frozen at this time of the year.
In the afternoon we take our bus back to El Calafate where we transfer to our lodge. B
Day 6: El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
Vast in scale (over four miles wide and 60 metres high at its face!), this almost surreal spectacle is set amid a labyrinthine system of iceberg-filled waterways, and backed by deciduous beech forests and snow peaks. Spectacular even by the standards of the Los Glaciares National Park, this glacier also represents an anomaly: The Perito Moreno, unlike the other glaciers of the region, is still growing.
Periodically (every so many years) its advancing edge reaches the near shore, cutting off and damming up the Brazo Sur ice-berg channel. When this occurs, the steadily-building water pressure forces a breach in the ice and eventually a huge volume of water bursts forth and surges through to Lake Argentino. A feature of the glacier is the frequent, ear-splitting calving of ice-bergs.
After breakfast we depart by bus to the Magallanes peninsula, the entrance of The Glaciers national park. Its centrepiece is the Perito Moreno Glacier, which, because of unusually favourable local conditions, is one of the world’s few advancing glaciers. We go down to the lakeside to board a boat (optional) that takes us on a spectacular short cruise along the front of the glacier. We return to El Calafate. B
Day 7: El Calafate – Optional Boat Trip on Lake Argentino
This is a spare day and you can choose some of the options that El Calafate can offer.
One of the most recommended day tours is to go sailing on the catamarans that make the trip to the glaciers which calve in the west arms of Lake Argentino. Among them are glaciers Upsala, Spegazzini and Onelli, Bolados and Agassiz glaciers in the area of Laguna Onelli.
Various 4 wheel drive excursions and horse riding are available at El Calafate. B
Day 8: Trip ends OR
Fly El Calafate - Ushuaia for 4/5 day extension
Transfer out to airport for end of trip OR fly today from El Calafate airport to Ushuaia airport, in the island of Tierra del Fuego, the legendary Land of Fire. We fly over the Magellan Strait and the snow covered mountains of the southern end of the Andes range.
Upon arrival, we check in our lodge and we can then visit the different museums of the City of Ushuaia, such as the Navy Museum or the Old Prison. B
Day 9: Tierra del Fuego - Tierra Mayor valley
We drive 17 km to Tierra Mayor valley. This area of the island hosts most of the winter sports. Today we head up the valley towards Cerro Alvear, combining snowshoeing and Nordic skiing.
After our outdoor activity we have a hot chocolate in a Mountain Refuge and drive back to Ushuaia in the evening. We provide snowshoes, skis and all the necessary equipment for today. B,L
Day 10: Tierra del Fuego National Park and Beagle Channel Boat trip
The Island of Tierra del Fuego is divided north south by the border between Argentina and Chile. In the southwest corner of the Argentinean side is Tierra del Fuego National Park, where the southern beech forest covered mountains meet the sea. In this spectacular location we visit Lapataia bay and make a walk along the shore.
In the afternoon we take a boat out into the Beagle Channel. We have excellent views of Ushuaia and its mountain backdrop, from the sea, as well as the many sea mammals and birds that live in the Channel. We will also see the Faro (lighthouse) Les Ecleurs and we learn some of the history of the early explorers and settlers in this inhospitable region. B
Day 11: Ushuaia – Ushuaia airport
Visit the town this morning for some last minute sightseeing and shopping. Transfer to the airport to take your flight. B
PLEASE NOTE: It is possible to extend your time in Ushuaia to 5 days to allow for more winter walks and Nordic skiing.
Extra day in Ushuaia
The extra day is spent at Lakes Fagnano y Escondido. After breakfast, drive north, crossing the mountains at the Garibaldi Pass. From the Pass, those who want can go on the old route towards Lake Escondido, a 30 minutes hike up to Hosteria Petrel.
Those not wanting to hike can go on the 4 wheel drive vehicle up to the Hosteria, where we meet the hikers! From Hosteria Petrel we continue driving on an old timber trail around the lake up to a panoramic viewpoint.
Just after noon we drive back across Garibaldi Pass to Tierra Mayor valley, where we get to a winter resort where we have “cordero al asador”, which is lamb roasted Patagonian style, for lunch.
In the afternoon, choose snow cats, dog pulled sleds, Nordic ski, ice skating or just relax and contemplate the snow covered valley from the cozy lodge. We drive back to town in the afternoon.
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