DURATION
5 DAYS
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
EASY
EL CALAFATE AND TORRES DEL PAINE
At the edge of the Patagonian steppe and lakeshore is El Calafate. This small tourist town, with just over 20,000 inhabitants, is in Argentina’s Santa Cruz province, 316km from its capital Rios Gallegos.
Located at the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, this breathtakingly beautiful area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Within the 600,000-acre park are some of Patagonia’s most important places, such as the Perito Moreno and Upsala glaciers, and Cerro Fitz Roy.
El Calafate is 80km from the national park and acts as a base from which the majority of the region’s activities are accessed. Trips to more remote places like El Chalten, and even the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile are all possible from El Calafate.
El Calafate’s tourism infrastructure is ideal, with the city offering a variety of hotels, local cuisine and transport services.
Day 1
El Calafate, Patagonia
Arrive at Calafate, the capital of the glaciers and gateway to the Perito Moreno Glacier.
Upon arrival you will be taken to the hotel and have the rest of the day to relax or explore the city. You could also walk to Laguna Nimez in time for the beautiful Patagonian sunset.
Day 2
El Calafate, Glaciar Perito Moreno
After breakfast you will start the full day excursion to Perito Moreno. In Glacier National Park, you will take the route along Lake Argentino where, 80km from El Calafate, the Perito Moreno is revealed by its 70m high walls of ice. Numerous walkways leading to the front of the glacier (there are approximately 5 km gateways) offer both a visual and audio experience, with each different view soundtracked by the constant ruptures and echoes of the iceberg. The tour also includes a short boat trip past the glacier.
You will return to the hotel in the evening.
Duration: 6 hours
For the more adventurous, glacier hiking tours with Big Ice or Minitrekking are also available as an addition. For more information on these excursions, just ask!
Day 3
El Calafate, Patagonia
Free day. Ask us about optional excursions, we recommend taking a trip to Estancia Cristina.
Day 4
El Calafate – Torres del Paine Nacional Park
Early in the morning, you will begin a full day excursion to Torres del Paine National Park.
On this tour of one of South America’s most important National Parks, you will discover the most beautiful and impressive landscapes in Patagonia, including Salto Grande, Laguna Amarga, Lago Pehoe, the Horns of Paine and the famous Torres del Paine.
Get your camera ready to capture in the wild guanacos.
The tour ends at approximately 4Pm at which time you will be transported back to your hotel in Calafate.
Day 5
El Calafate, Patagonia
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport or bus terminal to make your departure.