Complete Patagonia Adventure starts at El Calafate and travels all the way down to Ushuaia, visiting Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, without a doubt the two most emblematic mountains of Patagonia, Perito Moreno Glacier (the only glacier in the world that shows a closure and rupture process), Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and eventually crossing the Magellan Strait to Tierra del Fuego where the journey ends in Ushuaia the 'city of the end of the world'.

An epic hiking adventure in a stunning wilderness scenery for active travelers and passionate hikers. The very best of Patagonia, offered as a group adventure with fixed departures to keep costs down.

• Departs every Saturday, October - April
• Starts in: El Calafate
• Ends in: Ushuaia
• Minimum number of participants: no minimum.
• Difficulty: easy-medium, not technically difficult, but good physical condition is essential to enjoy this trip to the max.
• Accommodations:
  6 nights at Hostel or Hostería 7 nights at Full Camp
  1 night at a Mountain lodge (shared accommodations)

Day 1: El Calafate airport – El Calafate

We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer you to town to check in at your hostel. The rest of the day you have to yourself, to explore the town. Later we have a welcome dinner.

Lodging:
Option 1: Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Option 2: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Dinner.

Day 2: Bus to El Chaltén – Laguna Capri

After breakfast we set off on our bus for the 220 km long drive to El Chaltén, a small and picturesque village at the foot of Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre massif. We make a stop half way to enjoy local pastries and hot coffee. Once in Chaltén, we'll meet fellow travellers coming from up north (Route 40) and start our trek. We carry in our packs only the necessary items for this 3 nights and 4 days in which we'll overnight in our Full Camps inside the National Park. We hike up a gentle slope on Fitz Roy trail to gain height over the River de las Vueltas valley up to the first viewpoints over Fitz Roy massif. Our hike to Laguna Capri will take us no more than 2½ hours, on a clear and easy trail. Once at our Full Camp at Laguna Capri, we leave our gear in our tent and we enjoy an afternoon walk to the sightseeing points around the lagoon.

Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find everything ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable 3 pers. igloo type tents for each 2 passengers, with mattresses and sleeping bags. An inside cotton sheet is provided as inner lining for the sleeping bag. The camp also features a spacious dining tent, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware. The sanitary services are latrine-type.
Lodging: Laguna Capri Full Camp in double or single tent (rural area)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 3: Cerro Fitz Roy, Laguna de los Tres

Early in the morning, before the first coffee, we can try to catch the morning light painting the granite walls of Fitz Roy in hues of pink. Nothing compares to that early morning magic, but of course the day has much more in store. After breakfast, carrying only a day pack wuth personal items such as parka, gloves, camera, water bottle and box lunch, we hike along Fitz Roy trail up to Rio Blanco, a climbers basecamp on the east side of the mountain. From here a steep 1h trail leads to one of the most spectacular viewpoints of the National Park: Laguna de los Tres, zephyr blue, at the foot of the massif, with full close up views of the spires and glaciers of Fitz Roy massif. Each wall rises from 600 to 1500 mts above the surrounding glaciers. With its 3405 mts height, Fitz Roy is regarded as the 'King of Patagonia' and said to be one of the three most beautiful mountains on Earth (together with Alpamayo in Perú and K2 in the Karakoram). We hike back to Laguna Capri in the late afternoon. Walking time is 5 to 6 hours.
Lodging: Laguna Capri Full Camp, in double or single tent (rural area)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 4: Cerro Torre

Today we make it around Laguna Capri to get to the Lagoons Madre and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet Cerro Torre trail and from there to Cerro Torre Full Camp. The trail runs through beech forest, bogs and shrubland. From the camp a short hike takes us to Laguna Torre, enclosed by morraines and with the Glacier Grande calving on its western side. It is common to see icebergs pushed by the wind onto the shore of the lagoon. The thin and elegant 3128 mts of Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background complete this spectacular view. Walking time 3 to 4 hours.
Lodging: Cerro Torre Full Camp in double or single tent (rural area)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 5: Lagoon & Glacier Torre – El Chalten

In the morning we visit Laguna Torre again to reach the old Maestri base camp, located high up along the northern moraine of the lagoon. For keen hikers we offer an optional excursion, the so called 'Holiday on Ice': early start, crampons and harnesses, a tyrolean (horizontal fixed rope attached to both sides of a river) to cross Fitz Roy river, to visit Glacier Grande, where we will see crevices, ice caves and will practice ice climbing with the proper advice of experienced mountain guides.

Late in the afternoon we walk back to Chaltén along Fitz Roy river valley. Total estimated time of the standard day: 4 to 5 hours. If you go on the 'Holiday on Ice', it is 7 hours plus the trail back to Chalten, which is 2 and a half hours more.
Lodging:
Option 1: Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Option 2: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Optional excursion: Holiday On Ice

Day 6: El Chalten – El Calafate

Morning on your own to visit the picturesque village or to make optional excursions e.g. to Lago del Desierto (in spite of its name, it is a beautiful lake surrounded by beech forest, with hanging glaciers on its western side), or to visit the very interesting National Park Visitor Centre.
By 5 pm we take our bus to our next destination, El Calafate, gateway of the glaciers area of the Park. Arrival time is scheduled for 9 pm. Driving distance: 220 km
Lodging:
Option 1: Hostel room with shared bathroom. Option 2: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom. Meals: Breakfast.

Day 7: El Calafate – Perito Moreno Glacier

We dedicate this day to one of the World's Natural Wonder: Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Icefield, a huge sheet of ice and at 22.000 square kilometres, the third largest glacial area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). Because of unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from you. A beautiful, short trail leads from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints. The roar of the falling chunks of ice inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes this day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 ½) to get to and come back from the glacier across the steppe, observing a wide variety of birds along the way.
Lodging:
Option 1: Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Option 2: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast.

Day 8: El Calafate – Torres del Paine National Park

Early start for a 6 hours drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the steppe, still following stretches of the legendary route 40 to get around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo. After the border crossing we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different mountains that are the hallmarks of the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. Once we enter the Park, we go for a short 1 to 2 hours walk to get familiar with the landscape, the wind and the rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds. There are also lots of flowers. Back in the bus, we reach our camp at the foot of Paine massif.
Lodging: Las Torres Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 9: Paine Towers – Ascensio River Valley

Early in the morning we start walking towards the bridge over the Ascensio river, headtrail for the world famous Paine towers. As a one hour 'warm up' we hike up a steep slope to get inside the valley itself, a narrow 'V' shaped alpine valley coming from inside the Paine massif. A gentle downhill trail leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cozy and comfortable mountain lodge, which can be a good turnaround point for those not wishing to do a full day hike. We then walk on a gentle slope along the riverside and inside beech forest. A final climb on moraines takes us to the Towers viewpoint: a glacial lagoon and the three towers rising vertically 1000 mts from the glacier. A breathtaking hike culminates in a breathtaking view! We retrace our steps to the camp on the same way we came. Walking time: 7 to 8 hours.
Lodging: Las Torres Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 10: Lake Pehoe crossing – French Valley

Early in the morning a 1 h drive takes us to Port Pudeto to board the catamarán that crosses lake Pehoe twice a day. Once at the far side of the lake, we leave unnecessary items in our tents and we set out to the French Valley trail. The trail skirts Paine Grande south slopes and lake Skottberg, to take us after 2 hs and a half of continuous ups and downs, to the hanging bridge upon the French River. This breathtaking location is at the foot of both the 2700 mts south east face of Paine Grande (to the west) and the Horns, with its characteristic black sedimentary topping, to the east. We continue walking 1 h further by Italian camp to reach breathtaking viewpoints over the area. After lunch and photos we retrace our steps back to Refugio Pehoe Full Camp. Walking time: 5 to 6 hours.
Lodging: Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 11: Glaciar Grey viewpoints

The Lake Grey trail leads across ridges from Pehoe valley to Grey valley. This magnificent glacier flows down 60 km from the Patagonian Icefield, and terminates at Lago Grey where huge chunks of ice are continually calving and crashing down into the grey coloured lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the western slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park. From the high sections of the trail many different viewpoints allow us to see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rise far in the distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall, and of course the lake and glacier Grey themselves. We reach the main viewpoint, a rocky point some 2 hours away from Pehoe offering stunning views of the majestic scenery. We return on the same trail, crossing bogs, shrublands and forest. By noon we take the boat to cross lake Pehoe and from there we go to our accommodations in Puerto Natales, a picturesque fishing town located on the shores of 'Last Hope sound' also known as 'Ultima Esperanza' fjord.
Lodging:
Option 1: Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Option 2: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch

Day 12: Puerto Natales – Río Grande

Today we have a long drive ahead to reach the legendary Magellan Strait, which we will keep in view up to Primera Angostura, where we board the Ferry to cross the Strait. This passage, discovered by Hernando de Magallanes in 1520, was the natural and logical way for all vessels until de Panama Channel was opened at the beginning of the XXth century. You will find yourselves wondering how those brave men dared to sail these waters in such fragile vessels!!! Once in Tierra del Fuego (literally, Land of Fire, named for the fires seen by the first white sailors on the coast, which were lit by the local Indians to cook and for heat) we re-enter Argentina at Paso San Sebastián. After a couple more hours we reach Estancia Las Hijas, where our Full Camp will be waiting for us, as well as a lamb prepared in the classic Patagonian barbecue style. A dining saloon, toilettes and showers are available tonight.
Lodging: Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 13: Río Grande - Tierra Mayor valley

In the morning we learn about the ranch activities and how dogs herd the sheep. By mid morning we continue south to Solar del Bosque, a small, cozy mountain refuge located in the Tierra Mayor valley, where we'll spend the rest of the day. After lunch, those who wish can visit Laguna Esmeralda on their own, a beautiful lagoon with Glacier Ojos del Albino in the background (quite an easy trail). On the way back to our lodge we cross terrain that has been modified by beavers that were introduced to the area from Canada during the middle of the last century.
Lodging: Mountain Lodge with shared bedrooms and bathrooms
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 14: Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park– Beagle Channel boat trip

We leave the valley behind and in about half an hour reach Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the World. We leave our luggage at our hostel or hotel (we will not check in, as it is still early in the morning) and continue to Tierra del Fuego National Park. This National Park is located in the southwestern corner of the argentinean side of the Island, bordering Chile. The main attraction of the Park and in fact of the whole Island, are the mountains that come right down to the sea. We take a short hike in this area. In the afternoon, a boat trip through the Beagle channel allows us to see the different species of sea birds and mammals that live in this remote corner of the Earth.
Lodging:
Option 1: Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Option 2: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast and box lunch.

Day 15: Ushuaia – Ushuaia Airport

This morning you can explore the town on your own. Ushuaia is the economic hub of the region and for its small size it is quite bustling. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Ushauaia airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Our services end at the airport.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.

Rates per Person

in double occupancy:
with Inn /private facilities: US$2584

in single (Inn): US$3116

High Season Supplement: US$120
on departures between Nov 1, 2011 - Jan 31, 2012

For further information and booking inquiries please send us and e-mail.