Los Glaciares National Park
Trekking Capital
This 7-day journey through Argentine Patagonia offers a unique experience combining adventure, nature, and the vastness of southern landscapes. Starting in El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, you'll have the opportunity to admire up close the majestic Perito Moreno Glacier, a colossal ice formation constantly advancing, whose fractures and calvings create a fascinating natural spectacle. Navigating the waters of Lake Argentino allows you to view secondary glaciers and ice channels, enjoying the imposing tranquility and silence of this remote environment.
The itinerary continues with an authentic day on a Patagonian estancia, where you can immerse yourself in rural life, learn about sheep farming, participate in traditional activities, and enjoy local cuisine while surrounded by the stunning Andes Mountains. The adventure continues in El Chaltén, Argentina's trekking capital, where you can choose between a hike to Laguna de Los Tres, with spectacular views of Cerro Fitz Roy, or a more relaxed walk to Laguna Capri, surrounded by lenga and ñire forests, enjoying native flora and fauna.
The trip also includes exploring Lago del Desierto, with navigation and trekking to the Vespignani Glacier, a lesser-known but equally impressive glacier that offers a more intimate connection with nature. Each day of this itinerary is carefully designed to provide a combination of contemplation, adventure, and connection with the most authentic Patagonia, culminating with a return to Buenos Aires after a week of unforgettable experiences in one of the world's most spectacular corners.
| DAYS | 7 Days - 6 Nights |
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| DESTINATIONS | Calafate, Chaltén |
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7 Days - 6 Nights
Day 1 - El Calafate
Arrival and transfer from El Calafate Airport to the hotel.
Day 2 - Visit to Perito Moreno Glacier
Early in the morning we make our way to the most famous glacier in the world. It was declared as a Heritage Humanity in 1981 by UNESCO and it is considered unique for many characteristics such as its continuous advance, its comfortable access to its best viewpoints and the possibility to walk over it. The name was given in honour of the great explorer of the Patagonian area, Perito Francisco Moreno.
We walk along the edge of the southern side of the Argentino Lake, before crossing the rivers Centinela and Mitre, at the same time we discover post card views of the pre Andean Mountain Chain. We arrive to Brazo Rico and enter Los Glaciares National Park. While we tour along the Rich Lake we see the huge blocks of ice drifting along and walk until we have a full panoramic view of this giant glacier. If the weather conditions are favourable, we can have the privilege of attending this unique spectacle in the argentinean Patagonia... the ice landslides from the southern falls in which huge ice floes cover the homonym channel as they are accumulated there or in the Brazo Rico.
Here it is possible to get to know the glacier from different panoramic and viewpoints by walking the footbridges whilst we are informed about its history, characteristics and settings. In the afternoon we return to the Hotel.
Note: The Perito Moreno is a glacier in continuous advance; this is different to the great majority of such giant glaciers that are in a severe regression. In its advance it surrounds the cold waters of the Brazo Rico, that are origined from the Argentino Lake which causes some pressure over the ice that make the level of water increase in that part of the lake and has the effect of generating a tunnel of almost 45 metres through which flows from the Brazo Rico and in to the Argentino Lake. The continuous erosion by these waters causes parts of the dome to collapse producing fantastic spectacles.
Optional Tour: Navigation across the Rich lake – Nautical Safari
We leave from the 'Bajo de las Sombras' Port to begin this navigation that complements the visit by the footbridges to the Perito Moreno Glacier and has a time lapse of one hour. There we can see well the southern edge of the glacier. The same as for the Brazo Rico and the Brazo Sur of the Argentino Lake, they are transformed by the glacier into dykes. We navigate the Rich Lake marveling at the imposing face of the glacier that reaches up to 60 metres high. Here we get closer to the confluence between the colossal ice structure and the Magellan Peninsular before continuing, for approximately 3 kms, the length of the southern wall.
This is the major attraction spot and the most awaited moment by all the visitors: the landslides of enormous blocks of ice during the summer season that are related to other typical formations such as crevices, 'seracs' and their bluish tints. We have the opportunity to take photos and capture this emotional experience.
Day 3 - Navigating the Waters of Lago Argentino
Today a navigation between giant ice structures in Los Glaciares National Park is waiting for us. We firstly travel to Punta Bandera (Flag point) in order to make an early embarkation to start our trip on the Argentino Lake, the biggest and most southern of all the Patagonian lakes in the argentinean region. It covers an area of 1466 kms2 and has a depth ranging from 150 to 500 metres.
We begin our navigation by the north branch of the lake, visiting the Spegazzini, Onelli, Bolado and Agassiz Glaciers, these last ones located in the Onelli Bay, moreover we get closer to the Upsala Glacier. This glacier integrates an area surrounded by other glaciers which covers 850 km2 and its walls reach until 80 metres high. Its name comes from the University of the same name in Sweden that was the first one in starting a study about the surrounded area, in the twentieth century. On the other hand, the Spegazzini Glacier is the highest inside the national park at 135 metres and is located on the homonym branch of the Argentino Lake.
We disembark in the Onelli Bay, only if the ice conditions allow us because the large icebergs can block the entrance to the boat and it is always risky for the crew. Onelli leaves us amazed with the presence of an ancient Patagonian forest populated with different species of trees such as ñires, canelos and lengas. We might be lucky if we watch the giant condors that inhabit the Andean Mountain Chain. Meanwhile, we make a walk to a unique place where the confluence of the Agassiz, Bolados and Heim Glaciers into the Onelli Lagoon takes place. In our return we see the front of the Spegazzini Glacier. If you want to see other excursion options in Calafate, click here: Tours in Calafate.
Please note: There could be ice falls from the Upsala Glacier that leave giant icebergs which could block the navigation to the Onelli Bay. This natural hazard could make difficult the landing. When this happens the boat crosses the waters of the Ice floe Channel to go on the northern position of the Perito Moreno Glacier.
Day 4 - A Day at a Patagonian Estancia
In the morning we drive to the estancia Nibepo Aike Estancia located within the Perito Moreno National Park. There and enjoying a wonderful view of the Cordillera de Los Andes will receive us with coffee, tea or mate cooked with dry cookies. Then we will walk through the South arm of lago Argentino where we will observe different folds in the Earth's crust demarcated by the variety of sediments that gave origin. Also walk trails among forests of beech and ñires in which inhabit a very varied fauna. Towards noon we will enjoy a great show of Creole skill test of reins and meekness of Criollo horses, then we will see a demonstration of sheep shearing and walk through the historical case of the stay will be where us stories of the first settlers in the area, to finish this tour with a visit to the Organic Orchard. After these activities, we will have opportunity to enjoy a typical lunch with grilled Patagonian lamb, sausages, chorizo steak, variety of salads and dessert. Then and now with new energies we will make a tour to the Crystal Hill in a way winding up and as we gain altitude will have a large panoramic town of stay, South, Rico arm arm and the Rock Lake, to finally take back to the city.
Day 5 - Trekking Laguna de Los Tres or Trekking Laguna Capri
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to El Chaltén. Free day to rest or enjoy a self-guided trekking. You can choose the trail to Laguna de Los Tres, Laguna Capri, or both.
Trekking Laguna Capri
The trekking to Laguna Capri offers a unique relaxing view for the eyes and it is ideal for those who do not have the time to take a whole day walking, like going to the Laguna de Los Tres or Laguna Torre. Our main objective is to arrive to the first viewpoint of the Fitz Roy Mountain. We begin from the town of El Chaltén, it is an easy trekking although the slope is pronounced for a stretch of about 2 hours, rising some 350 metres. The first part is the same as Los Tres track until we arrive at a natural rocky viewpoint where we can turn off to the south until the camping site. At the viewpoint we will have a privileged view of the Torre Mountain and its surrounding ice needles such as Poincenot, Saint Exupéry, Mermoz and Guillaumet. We stop just a few minutes before entering the Capri Camping Site in order to see the Laguna Capri. We return by the same trail to our lodgings in the town.
Trekking Laguna de Los Tres
Free day to rest or do some hiking. Depending on the physical conditions we recommend making the trek to the base of the Cerro Fitz Roy, the three Lagoon (moderate, 8 hours) or the hike to Laguna Capri (easy, 4 hours)
Trekking to the Fitz Roy Mountain: Laguna de los Tres
Breakfast at the boarding contracted. We have a day off in El Chaltén. We suggest to undertake the most important trekking in Los Glaciares National Park. The trail to do this is perfectly signaled. We get to the first viewpoint, with the view of the Piedras Blancas Glacier, after about two hours of hiking by the Río Blanco Valley and walking through the ancient forests of nothofagus. We go a little further and arrive to the Poincenot Camping Site which finishes on the Río Blanco. From here we climb up a steep slope which rises 400 metres until the Mountain Fitz Roy Base: Laguna de los Los Tres.
The trail finishes on the edge of a glaciatic moraine. From here we have an amazing view of the lagoon and its glacier together with the classic profile of the Fitz Roy Mountain, that appears from the top of its envelope of ice at a height of more than 2,000 metres. If we feel like going a little further we can turn off to go to the Laguna Sucia viewpoint from where we can see the Viedma Lake and the hanging glaciers. We return to the town going to Laguna Capri. If we are not late we should be arriving at about 18 hrs. In case you require a mountain guide please advise in advance.
Day 6 - Lago del Desierto: Navigation and Trekking to Glaciar Vespignani
Breakfast at the hotel. We set off towards the southern end of Lago del Desierto, often mistakenly called Laguna del Desierto. We travel 38 km along a dirt road that winds through the Valle del Río de las Vueltas. The scenery is distinctly Andean-Patagonian, with mountains, forests, waterfalls, and shimmering bodies of water blending in natural harmony. We begin our navigation from the dock at the southern tip of Lago del Desierto, heading toward the trailhead at Cerro Vespignani. During the boat ride, we enjoy spectacular and unique views of this lake nestled between the Vespignani and Del Bosque ridges, covered in native forest, hanging glaciers, and mountain streams. To the south, we can admire the north face of Mount Fitz Roy. After disembarking at Cerro Vespignani, we embark on a medium-difficulty trek to the viewpoints of the Vespignani Glacier and Mount Fitz Roy. We enter the forest after a briefing from our guide about the nature reserve. There is a geodesic dome where we can leave any belongings we don't need for the trek.
This area is part of a larger protected zone — the Lago del Desierto Provincial Nature Reserve in the Province of Santa Cruz — which protects the native Patagonian forest, Lago del Desierto itself, and its hanging glaciers such as Huemul, Vespignani, and Sepúlveda, all visible during this tour. Visitors have the opportunity to hike through a well-preserved natural environment.
Day 7 - Return to Buenos Aires
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to El Calafate Airport for the flight to Buenos Aires.