Buenos Aires & Patagonia Full Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Buenos Aires!

Afternoon:

  • Welcome to Buenos Aires! Meet at Ezeiza International Airport at 3:00 p.m, where your adventure will begin.

Evening:

  • Begin your trip with a briefing from your local Trip Leader, and then head out to your first dinner with your new group of friends. 
  • Use this opportunity to get to know your new companions over a delicious meal.
  • Experience the lively nightlife of Buenos Aires before returning to your hotel to rest up for the adventures ahead.

Day 2

City Tour of Buenos Aires

Breakfast: 

  • Enjoy your first breakfast in Buenos Aires.
  • Take a city tour of the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, starting on Plaza de Mayo, then Puerto Madero, continuing to La Boca, and visiting San Telmo.

Afternoon:

  • Explore the restaurants in the city and enjoy lunch with your friends.

Evening:

  •  Enjoy a night of tango at Palacio Tango, including a Tango class, a 3-course dinner, and a captivating show, before departing for Patagonia tomorrow.

Day 3

Welcome to El Chaltén

Morning:

  • After enjoying a hearty breakfast in Buenos Aires, board your three-hour included flight to El Calafate.

Afternoon:

  • Embark on a 3.5-hour drive to El Chaltén, the Argentine Trekking Capital! As you approach El Chaltén, you'll see mountains and glaciers piercing the horizon. 
  • Take a tour of the town with your Trip Leader to familiarize yourself with the area and prepare for the next day's adventure.

Evening:

  • Enjoy your group dinner, and be sure to fuel up for tomorrow’s full day of hiking!

Day 4

Trekking Laguna de los Tres

Morning:

  • Eat a hearty breakfast at your hotel and fuel your body for the long day of hiking ahead! Today’s hike will be 13 miles (22 kilometers) and take approximately 10-12 hours, varying difficulties from flat terrain to steep inclines. We will go at a comfortable pace so everyone can keep up. 
  • Take the included transfer to Rio Electrico, just north of town, where your adventure will begin. The path is relatively flat and with gentle inclines to ease you into the day of hiking.
  • Arrive at our first viewpoint, Piedras Blancas glacier, then a bit later, you will leave the forest and end up in a clearing where you can view the peaks of “S,” Saint Exupéry, Poincenot, Fitz Roy, Mermoz, and Guillaumet.
  • Arrive at the Poincenot Basecamp before beginning the uphill descent. Anyone physically unable to complete the climb can wait here for the rest of the group to descend from the top of Fitz Roy.
  • Climb 1,300 feet (400 meters) of elevation in about 90 minutes to reach Laguna de Los Tres.
  • This last part of the trek will be steep, and the path will be boulder rocks with steps and may be challenging for most travelers, but what waits for you at the top will be worth it! 
  • Reach the top of the path and take in the majestic views of Fitz Roy, Los Tres Glacier, and its lagoon. The large scale of this location will make you feel tiny in comparison.

Afternoon:

  • Enjoy your box lunch at the top of Fitz Roy and rest for about an hour.
  • For those who want added adventure, take a short hike during lunch and circle Laguna de Los Tres to head towards a viewpoint of the Laguna Sucia and its glacier. 
  • Now start your descent back down to base camp.
  • After a bathroom break at basecamp, take the trail back to El Chaltén, where you can walk down to your hotel.
  • Along the way, you’ll venture through varying landscapes and crystal clear streams and pass by Laguna Capri—a favorite spot for photographers. 

Evening:

  • Debrief on your hike and the breathtaking views. Afterward, head to dinner and grab a beer at a microbrewery or enjoy some hot chocolate.

Day 5

Optional Activities in El Chaltén

Morning:

  • Have breakfast at your hotel before venturing on day two of your trekking adventure!
  • Choose between a short hike to Mirador de los Condors, a longer hike to Laguna Torre, or Whitewater rafting in Rio de las Vueltas. 

Afternoon:

  • Take in the stunning granite peaks and glaciers that surround El Chatlén.

Evening:

  • The day ends with a delicious dinner at Asadores, offering a diverse vegetarian and vegan menu.

Day 6

Welcome to El Calafate

Morning:

  • Have breakfast at your hotel before your 3.5-hour drive to El Calafate. 

Afternoon:

  • Upon arriving at your new place, take some time to explore the town by visiting Laguna Nimez, where you can admire birds and flamingos.
  • Ask your Trip Leader for their recommendations on restaurants for lunch, and try the Calafate ice cream--it’s a must!

Evening:

  • After exploring the town, enjoy the included dinner before calling it a night.

Day 7

Perito Moreno Glacier

Morning:

  • Rise and shine with breakfast at your hotel before heading out for another fun day!
  • Take in the beautiful scenery as you drive from El Calafate to the Perito Moreno Glacier.
  • Ride along the edge of Lake Argentino, snap some gorgeous pictures, and watch for condors and eagles soaring above.
  • Take different hiking paths, each rewarding you with different vantage points of the glacier. You might even see a few icefalls!

Afternoon:

  • It’s time for an up close and personal look at the glacier!
  • Board a boat for a one-hour cruise along the south face of the glacier. 
  • The boat will make frequent stops along the massive glacier for you to appreciate the spectrum of colors that appear in the ice walls. 

As an optional activity, you can go for the Glacier Mini Trekking, a must-do in Patagonia.

Evening:

  • Enjoy the scenic drive back to El Calafate.
  • Freshen up in your hotel room and enjoy dinner as a group. 
  • Compare glacier photos before tucking in for the night.

Day 8

Departure

Morning:

  • Wake up to one last Argentine sunrise, enjoy breakfast, and return to El Calafate Airport for your included flight to Buenos Aires.
  • Say your farewells to your new friends before boarding your flight back home.

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