Patagonia Walking & Hiking Tour

Argentina's Epic Lakes, Peaks & Glaciers

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The beauty of Argentina’s vast Patagonia stretches out before you. Some of the world’s finest trails invite you to explore this varied and wild terrain—from ice-laden landscapes to remote and magical estancias. Experience the power of calving glaciers and the calm of vaulting mountains reflected in blue lagoons. Each day new Patagonian marvels await to impress.

Highlights

Hike to strikingly blue Laguna Capri and be inspired by Cerro Fitz Roy’s famous granite peaks in World Heritage site of Los Glaciares National Park
Witness firsthand Patagonia ice cap’s most extraordinary glaciers—Viedma, Upsala and Perito Moreno with its 200-foot-high blue-hued walls
Voyage by boat and land through a frozen maze of ice and water on Lake Argentino to Estancia Cristina, and discover intriguing geological history on the epic Fossil Canyon hike
Enjoy celebrated Argentine drinks and cuisine—asados (barbecue), distinguished wines and maté—surrounded by the awe-inspiring Patagonian landscape

Argentina

Start/End El Calafate

Itinerary

Days 1-2 Prepare to be awestruck on a walk along boardwalks to see the remarkable Perito Moreno Glacier—and with luck, perhaps witness the impressive sight of calving ice | Visit the Glaciarium, an interpretive center offering a fascinating introduction to how the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and the region's glaciers were formed | Discover world-class Argentine vintages at a wine tasting—Malbec, pinot noir, Torrontés and more.

Day 3 Get ready for an unforgettable full-day excursion to Estancia Cristina including a boat ride across Lake Argentino among icebergs and the famous Upsala Glacier | Keep an eye out on Cristina Bay for condors soaring above | Follow a rocky route to Fossil Canyon, filled with colored stones and ammonite fossils believed to be millions of years old | Weave through lagoons teeming with coots and black-neck swans before journeying back to El Calafate, where you can try homemade ice cream flavored with the local calafate berry.

Days 4-7 Head to El Chaltén, where some of the most epic Patagonian hikes await, complete with magnificent views of the snowcapped Andes, hanging glaciers, lenga forests and unique fauna | Sip yerba maté, Argentina’s national beverage, like a local gaucho | Mirador Cerro Torre reveals mammoth views over the Torre and Fitz Roy peaks | Hike to spectacular vistas of glacier-fed Lake Viedma and to gorgeous Laguna Capri | Witness glaciers spilling dramatically down ice-carved valleys and massive blue icebergs floating atop glacial melt—a memorable sight!

Next: Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

Cancellation fees may vary based upon departure date. Please review the grid below:

Number of Days Prior to Trip Start	Cancellation Fees (per person)	Departure Dates

For information on our trip transfers see here.

Coming soon! For additional information, please call 800-GO-ACTIVE (462-2848) to speak with a trip consultant.

Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.

2019 Private Trip Pricing

10 or more guests: from $4,299 pp dbl occ
8 - 9 guests: from $4,999 pp dbl occ

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

The sky’s the limit! Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

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Dates

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Prices

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Reviews

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Casual Hotels

Esplendor El Calafate

El Calafate (3 nights)

Destino Sur Hotel de Montaña & Spa

El Chaltén (3 nights)

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Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 2-5

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

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Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Argentina

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

Backroads Patagonia Walking & Hiking Tours

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Next: Lodging

Casual Hotels

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Esplendor El Calafate

El Calafate (3 nights)

A contemporary hotel set on a hillside with panoramic lake, mountain and downtown views. (pool)

Destino Sur Hotel de Montaña & Spa

El Chaltén (3 nights)

A boutique lodge with a modern alpine aesthetic boasting beautiful mountain vistas. (spa)

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Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 2-5

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.

Daily Route Options (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 4		Level 5
	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain
1	Welcome Reception & Orientation
2	1	200
	2	300
	Glaciarium Visit (1 Hour)
3	2	200					8*	1000
4	2	200	4	700			6	800
5			4	600			11	1300	14	1800
6					5*	700	10	1200	13*	2800
7	Shuttle to Airport & Trip End

Note: The terrain on this trip includes rolling oak and lenga tree-lined paths, and mountain trails along streams and fjords with rocks and uneven surfaces. Please also note that Patagonia is famous for its intermittent strong winds and fast-changing weather.

* Includes shuttle.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.

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Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Also Included

Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
Snacks and beverages between meals
Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
Park and other entry fees
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
Select coach transfers
Baggage transfers and porterage

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Next: Straight Talk

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Terrain & Trail Support

Our hikes through Patagonia's captivating 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 water, snacks and encouragement is provided by your Backroads leaders and local guides.

Hiking in National Parks

Most hikes on this itinerary take place in 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.

Leaders & Local Guides

Trips with a small number of guests may be supported by one Backroads Trip Leader and a team of knowledgeable local guides. Rest assured that there will always be at least two people hiking on the trail with you.

Itinerary Changes

Because of Patagonia's extreme weather conditions and strong winds, mid-trip itinerary changes and boat crossings are possible on this trip. Rest assured that if severe weather affects our planned activities, your Trip Leaders will find alternate 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!

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Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Argentina

The Best Leaders in Argentina

Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Argentina, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.

The Right Local Pairings

Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.

Experts with Secrets to Share

In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.

Our Cultural Roots Run Deep

Thanks to our extensive connections in Argentina, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politics – and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.

We Speak the Language

If we told you many companies' leaders can't actually speak the language where they lead trips, you'd say incroyable... ridicolo... không the tha thú. At Backroads, fluency in the local language is a given. Find out more on the best leader recruitment, training and development in the business. (And by the way, that was "unforgivable" in Vietnamese.)

We've Set the Standard

For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by

We Stand Behind Our Trips

Most companies' trips in Argentina are run by local operators. At Backroads we manage our own trips; we would never subcontract your precious vacation to a third party. So as you enjoy the support of your seasoned Trip Leaders, along with our expert local guides and drivers, you have the confidence of knowing we're with you every step of the way.

We Know Where We're Going

Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.

Choose Your Fellow Travelers

With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in Argentina that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.

Quality You Can Measure

Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.

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Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

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Patagonia Travel Guide

If you make it to the end of the world, don't miss this incredible bakery!

Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Patagonia Walking & Hiking Tour