Argentina's Patagonia Family Walking & Hiking Tour
Argentina's Patagonia Family Walking & Hiking Tour
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Premiere Hotels
2025: Dec2026: Dec2027: Jan
Epic Peaks, Lakes & Glaciers
It’s a warm empanada at a frontier lodge. A yerba maté by the fire. The majestic Andes, which make humanity seem so small. In one of the most isolated places on earth, find more connection than ever.
Highlights
- Hike in Los Glaciares National Park below Cerro Fitz Roy’s iconic spires
- Cruise among towering aquamarine icebergs in the Upsala Glacier channel and witness the spectacular calving of the Perito Moreno Glacier
- Stay at an exclusive estancia, reachable only by boat, and experience the wilderness as old-time ranchers once did
- Gawk at ancient fossils and witness the imprints of glaciology and geological history on hikes through the rocky peaks
- Ride horseback in the awe-inspiring Patagonian landscape—no better place than this to play gaucho!
Start/End El Calafate
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Hike with your family to spectacular vistas of 50-mile-long, glacier-fed Lake Viedma • Explore Los Glaciares National Park on foot through lenga forests and along ice-carved valleys on the outskirts of the small mountain town of El Chaltén • Embark on a beautiful, uphill hike over a forested mountain to Laguna Azul, a glacier-fed blue lagoon surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks • Sip yerba maté, the local beverage, like Patagonian cowboys.
Nights 1-2
On the shore of Lake Viedma and surrounded by lush woods, this estancia (ranch) gives you a taste of traditional Patagonian life in a tranquil setting.
Days 3-4
Our Mirador del Cerro Torre hike showcases the panorama of a spectacular glacial valley and the impressive Cerro Torre, taking us along young glacial moraines and over the Fitz Roy River • Conquer the challenging, rocky switchbacks to Laguna de los Tres • Gaze upon the famed Fitz Roy peaks mirrored in the impossibly blue waters of Laguna Capri • Malbec, Pinot Noir, Torrontés and more—discover delectable Argentine vintages at our wine reception.
Nights 3-4
Enjoy sensational views of the Chaltén Valley and the Río de las Vueltas from your room, and access memorable hikes from your doorstep. (spa)
Day 5
Find panoramic views on a hike to Mirador de los Cóndores and Mirador de las Aguila • Prepare to be awestruck as you walk along the boardwalks of the Perito Moreno Glacier, a stunning ice mass with 200-foot-high blue walls • In El Calafate, you and your family may opt to try homemade ice cream flavored with the local berry, calafate, and visit craft shops.
Night 5
Beautifully constructed from timber and stone, this historic hotel can trace its origins back to the early days of the Argentinian National Park Service. (pool, spa)
Days 6-8
Get ready for an unforgettable boat ride among icebergs and fjords, and a close encounter with impressive Upsala Glacier • Stay at remote Estancia Cristina for the ultimate authentic Argentine ranch experience • Watch for condors soaring above Cristina Bay • Try your hand at gaucho life with a guided horseback ride across the pampas • Hike to Fossil Canyon for jaw-dropping views of lakes, mountains, glaciers and multicolored rock formations • Enjoy a tour of an estancia and learn about its history from the family’s private museum collection • Hit the trails for one more hike with the magnificent Andes as your backdrop.
Nights 6-7
A favorite among our guests, this remote historic ranch founded in 1914 offers the perfect launching point for hikes into Patagonia's wilderness. It's accessible only by boat, after a cruise on Lake Argentino past the dramatic Upsala Glacier. (This hotel is solar-powered; no electricity 11 p.m.–6 a.m.)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Our hikes through Patagonia's captivating, yet rugged, terrain climb rocky and sometimes uneven paths, many of which are remote and do not intersect with roads. Vehicles will get us to and from the trailheads, but due to the nature of these trails, we won't see our vehicles along the route. Ample trail support in the form of snacks and encouragement is provided by your Backroads leaders and local guides.
Most hikes on this itinerary are inside Argentine national parks and, unlike other Backroads Walking & Hiking trips, regulations require a certified local guide to accompany us. We offer flexibility by dividing into several groups of different paces, with each group hiking in the company of a local guide.
In order to experience the full grandeur of Argentina's Patagonia region, we spend more time shuttling and on boat crossings on this trip than on a typical Backroads trip. This enables us to explore the incredible variety of ecosystems and scenery this region has to offer.
Trips with a small number of guests may be supported by one Backroads Trip Leader and a team of knowledgeable local guides. There will always be at least two people hiking on the trail with you.
Because of Patagonia's extreme weather conditions and strong winds, mid-trip itinerary changes are possible. Boat crossings can be cancelled, which may delay our arrival to or departure from the hotel Estancia Cristina. If severe weather affects our planned activities, your Trip Leaders will find alternative activities that you're sure to enjoy. Expect the unexpected in this remote region, including slow or no internet and the occasional ATM possibly running out of cash. It's all part of the adventure!
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
Premiere Hotel
On the shore of Lake Viedma and surrounded by lush woods, this estancia (ranch) gives you a taste of traditional Patagonian life in a tranquil setting.
Nights 3-4
Premiere Hotel
Enjoy sensational views of the Chaltén Valley and the Río de las Vueltas from your room, and access memorable hikes from your doorstep. (spa)
Night 5
*Deluxe Hotel
Beautifully constructed from timber and stone, this historic hotel can trace its origins back to the early days of the Argentinian National Park Service. (pool, spa)
Nights 6-7
Premiere Hotel
A favorite among our guests, this remote historic ranch founded in 1914 offers the perfect launching point for hikes into Patagonia's wilderness. It's accessible only by boat, after a cruise on Lake Argentino past the dramatic Upsala Glacier. (This hotel is solar-powered; no electricity 11 p.m.–6 a.m.)
Gallery
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 2 customers
Patagonia and Backroads is an exceptional, robust trip
We took our family of five on this trip to Patagonia and we were loved every minute of it. The hiking (our real reason for going) was spectacular with a great balance of longer hikes on one day and then a series of shorter hikes for an active recovery on the following day. The distances and elevation gains were all very manageable and there were options if you didn't want to commit to the distance. The leaders, Brian and Maria, and the other families on the trip made the experience truly great. Everyone was there for the same reason - spend time with their older children in an active, outdoor environment. Everyone embraced the hiking, the terrain, the meals and the travel. Our Backroads guides were there is just the right way - attentive and insightful without overwhelming. They helped make the trip a learning experience and a family experience. On our first night together, the kids had already bonded and took an entire table for themselves to share a meal. That put the parents at a different table and for the rest of the trip everyone seemed to grow closer and more comfortable. That's a great thing when you are long hikes or tacking a set of switchbacks. The accommodations were remote, beautiful and extremely well appointed. I highly doubt that we would be able to secure reservations at these small, boutique hotels since our total group of 17 nearly took over the entire place. It takes a company like Backroads to find these very remote, very nice places and share them with us. I highly recommend this trip for any active family who wants to experience remote, raw, spectacular countryside with a group of like minded guides and people.
Loving Patagonia!!!
This was a great trip for our family. Lots of options for different levels of exercise. I would have hated being there in a large tour group. A small group of 15 was perfect and so much fun. It was our first Backroads trip and our family would definitely plan another trip with them. The guides were fantastic. I feel like we saw areas that you could never get to if we had planned it ourselves.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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