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Chile & Argentina Hiking

Chile & Argentina Hiking

Marked by frozen mountains, gaping fjords, enormous glaciers and desolate rolling pampas, Patagonia is one of the world's most spellbinding landscapes. Here Andean condors soar on air currents, guanacos graze in the alpine meadows and flightless ñandúes roam the wind-whipped prairies. With the jagged granite spires of the Torres del Paine and the 200-foot-high, 3-mile-wide river of ice known as the Perito Moreno Glacier, it's easy to understand why explorers, adventurers - and the occasional outlaw - have been drawn to the area for centuries. Complementing the untrammeled beauty of the landscape, each night's hotel welcomes us with plenty of creature comforts.

Days 1-3 El Chalten

Meet in El Calafate Shuttle to El Chaltén for some of the most spectacular hiking in Argentina Explore the remote northern section of Los Glaciares National Park  Choose from such spectacular routes as Laguna Capri and Laguna de los Tres, which provide sweeping views of the Fitz Roy (Cerro El Chalten) massif.

Days 4-5 El Calafate

Enjoy a hands-on cooking class where you'll learn the secrets of making an authentic empanada  Relax, explore town or go horseback riding Strap on crampons and follow expert mountaineering guides across the Perito Moreno Glacier, a frozen landscape of crevasses and ice formations of the most incredible blue  Walk to the balconies lookout along the iceberg-laden Canal de los Tempanos.

Days 6-9 Torres del Paine

Arrive in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, a Biosphere Reserve that is one of the most remote and unspoiled places on earth Enjoy a traditional asado barbecue and visit a historic working estancia   Trek through a lenga forest and along a glacial river en route to the base of the breathtaking 12-million-year-old torres After boating across Lago Pehoé, continue on foot through the French River Valley, which cuts between the Paine Grande massif and the Cuernos (Horns) Shuttle to Punta Arenas, where our trip concludes.

big map

HOSPITABLE HOSTERIAS: Casual Inns

Hosteria El Puma (3 nights): Located at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy and Mount Torre, the hotel's warming fireplace lounge and charming guest rooms make this a great place to begin our trip.

Kau Yatun (2 nights): This country-style hotel is set on 10 forested acres at the foot of Mount Calafate and features a welcoming reading lounge, spacious guest rooms and two restaurants.

Lodge Cerro Guido (1 night): Featuring breathtaking views of the Paine Massif peaks, this lodge has retained much of its original architecture from the 1900s.

Hotel Rio Serrano (2 nights): This stunning hotel on the Serrano River offers panoramic views of the Torres del Paine.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9

Routes For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Biking Average Walking Average
Level 1 2-3 hours 10-20 mile 2-5 miles
Level 2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 5-7 miles
Level 3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 7-9 miles
Level 4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 9-11 miles
Level 5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 11-13+ miles
2010 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS

Guest Trip Reviews

Patagonia is beautiful and the leaders and local guides made it even more interesting and beautiful. I learned so much about the land and the people. This trip had to go down as my best and most enriching Backroads trip.
Lisa Goldberg - New York, NY

All our guides were exceptional. All of them were very knowledgeable and were extremely helpful, courteous and interesting.
Candida Fitts - South Salem, NY