Trekking in Patagonia Great Circle: North and South Argentina and Chile

You can fly to Buenos Aires at a convenient time. We recommend arriving at the site at least a day before the scheduled meeting, since the body must acclimatize, which most often occurs due to sudden climate change. If you wish, you can fly directly to El Calafate, thus saving one day of the program!
The meeting with the group takes place in one of the capital’s restaurants, which has a special local flavor.

This city is the Argentine part and the center of Patagonia. The city stretches along the shores of a lake called Argentino. Transfer by local bus to the city of El Chaltén. It smoothly flows into a national park called Los Glaciares, to which our group is heading. Already on the way, Fitz Roy (3359 m) and Cerro Torre (3128 m) will open in all their beauty.
In Patagonia we meet NG and spend the night in an apartment.

We leave earlier in the morning. The distance to the first overnight stay, Camping Agostini is about 11 km. through the park. Overnight in tents in the forest near Lake Cerro. After lunch, without backpacks, we will move to the glacier of the same name, which flows directly into the lake; very often the ice breaks off en masse and floats across the lake. The bravest ones can swim in the lake.

Wake up early to greet an incredible sunrise overlooking the Cerro Torre tower. Breakfast. Gather up camp and move another 13 km to the Pontseyot campsite, also located in the forest. On the way we will pass the valley of the three lakes Lago Tres. Today we will enjoy stunning panoramas at the Fitz Roy Tower. The local name for Mount Chalten is literally “smoky”. Indeed, Fitz Roy, the heart of Argentine Patagonia, is often overcast. But we will definitely be lucky!

Early rise and departure from camp at dawn. Another beautiful sunrise this time overlooking Fitz Roy. Transfer to the Pedra Blancas glacier, from where it is better to photograph Fitz Roy in the morning sun. The distance from the campsite is 6 km on one side, we will cover it in 2 hours. Descent to camp, pack up and return to El Chaltén, where we take the evening bus back to El Calafate. The name of the city was given by calafata berries, which are very abundant in the forests of Patagonia.
We spend the night in apartments.

After breakfast we go to look at the majestic glacier called Perito Moreno. The glacier is located near Lake Argentino. The thickness of the ice in some places reaches up to 700 meters, some of the ice slides straight into the lake, the visible part above the water reaches 60 meters, which is equal to a 20-story building. The spectacle is truly breathtaking, especially when you swim closer to the ice on a boat.
You can not only look at the glacier and admire its greatness, but also take a photo as a keepsake. Those interested can book an excursion to the center of the glacier and walk straight across the ice wearing crampons. You must book a tour in advance.
After the excursion we head back to El Calafate and spend the night in an apartment. Trekking in Torres del Paini (W-trekking)

Early in the morning from the city of El Calafate we will leave for Puerto Natales, a fishing town. Upon arrival, we buy the necessary products and gas for trekking. In the evening we will go to one of the colorful fish restaurants, where we will try local liqueurs made from calafate berries.
Overnight in the apartment. We will leave unnecessary things for storage here.

Early in the morning we leave by bus for the Torres del Paine nature reserve, the journey takes two hours. We pass control and receive permission to visit the National Park. Overnight at a campsite on the shore of Lake Peoe. The campsite has electricity and showers. After lunch we will explore the surroundings of Lake Peoe.

In the morning, we take the first boat across the lake (30 minutes) and get to the starting point of the W-track, the Pine Grande campground. Here we will set up tents and, without backpacks, go to admire the lake and Gray Glacier. The campsite has showers, electricity and wi-fi. The journey is 30 minutes by boat, 22 km (round trip to Gray Glacier).

Early morning departure from the campsite. After 2.5 hours we will go to the Italian campsite, where we can leave some of our things and radially ascend into a very beautiful valley – 7 km, 1.5 hours. We go back and pick up our backpacks. Transfer to the French campsite for another 40 minutes.
Overnight in tents.

Today we will find a picturesque path along a large lake with an interesting name. We move on to the Las Torres campsite.
Distance about 16 km. Overnight at the campsite.

In the morning, a radial (about 9 km) climb to the Torres Towers. The Torres Towers are the finale of our trekking in Patagonia; at the foot of the mountain there is a lake of the same name, in the reflection of which the towers of the mountain are visible. Return to Puerto Natales late in the evening.
Check-in to the apartment.

Today we take the bus and move to the port city of Punta Arenas, which is located on the shores of the Strait of Magellan. Here we have a meeting with penguins according to plan. The largest colony of penguins in Chile is on Magdalena Island, in the Strait of Magellan. Navigation through the strait is very dependent on the wind and wave size, since the excursion takes place on small boats.
Accommodation in apartments.

If navigation is impossible on this day, then an alternative is an excursion to a small colony of king penguins in Tierra del Fuego. You can also devote this day to exploring the beautiful and colorful Punta Arenas, because the city was once the southern gateway to all of America; expeditions to Antarctica usually start from here.
Anyone planning to participate in the 14-day program can schedule an evening flight at 19:00 to Santiago.
Completion of the program to Patagonia – 14 days
Puerto Montt, founded by German colonists in the mid-19th century, is one of Chile’s most interesting cities and the gateway to the Lake District. A huge number of lakes with clear water, surrounded by deciduous and coniferous forests, are surrounded on all sides by majestic mountain peaks and volcanoes. Pureto Mont is also called the northern gateway to Patagonia. There are almost no settlements in the area from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas, and these places are absolutely wild. Here we have an easy climb to the “South American Fuji” – the Osorno volcano 2652 m, and we will also visit the “Valley of the Seven Lakes”, see the picturesque Petrohue waterfall, located at the foot of the volcano.

In the morning we will have a short one-hour flight to Puerto Montt. Here we will be met by a driver with a minibus or we can rent a car. Transfer to Puerto Vares. On the way we will stop at one of the richest fish markets in Patagonia. Here we will have lunch and admire the bays, where sea lions can often be seen. Accommodation in apartments.
In the afternoon you can walk around the very beautiful Puerto Varas. When you get here you get the impression that you are somewhere in Switzerland. In addition, the town is located on a lake, here you can rent a kayak and swim with a view of the Osorno volcano.

After an early breakfast, we will go on a hike to the foot of one of the highest volcanoes in the south of Chile – Osorno (2652 m), we will begin our ascent from a height of 1600 m.
The entire ascent will take about 2 hours, part of the ascent by cable car. Finia at an altitude of 2200 m. From here there is a panorama of the fjords and volcanoes of Northern Patagonia.
In the afternoon we return to Puerto Varas, on the way we will stop by the Petrohue Falls. We will also visit one of the lakes. The brave can swim, the water is +14 C.
Return to the devices.

In the afternoon, flight to the city of Santiago and further to Buenos Aires. Overnight connection at Santiago airport, flight to Buenos Aires.
Completion of the Patagonia program – 17 days

Today at around 12-14:00 we fly to Puerto Iguazu. Attention, arrival at IGR airport (Argentina). Accommodation in apartments. Walks along Iguazu to the “three borders” sign. This is the place where the borders of countries: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina converge in one place.

In the morning, visit the Argentine part of the waterfall. The special thing about the Argentine side of the falls is the opportunity to get up close to the falls and look at the “Devil’s Throat”, the most characteristic part of the falls nearby. A narrow-gauge tram travels through the Argentine Iguazu Park.
A slow inspection will take 4-6 hours.

In the morning we take a custom car towards the border with Brazil. Moving to Brazil. Overview of the Brazilian side of the falls. Before entering the waterfall, we will explore one of the largest bird parks in South America.
In the second half (around 15:00) of the day, flight to Buenos Aires. Hotel accommodation.

Flight home.