Compare Patagonia Best Hikes - Classic Treks by Moser Active vs Highlights of Patagonia by Chimu Adventures

Day 1: Arrival in Puerto Natales

Upon arrival at Puerto Natales bus station or airport a private transfer will take you to the hotel (without a guide). In the afternoon you will have time to explore this little town on your own. In good weather, the first impressive panorama of the Paine Massif and Monte Balmaceda can be seen from here. In the evening you meet your trekking guide for a short briefing about the next days.

You spend the first night in a hotel in Puerto Natales in double room with private bathroom.

Day 2: Torres del Paine National Park – Trek to the Torres del Paine Granit Needles

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

In the morning you take our private transfer to the Torres del Paine National Park. You can watch out for the typical animals of this fantastic region like Guanacos and Ñandus. Having arrived in the park your first hike leads you to the famous 'Torres' granite needles. At first you hike up to the Ascencio-valley where you take a break at the Refugio Chileno next to the Ascencio River. After 2 more hours and a tough ascent you are rewarded for your efforts: You will stand in front of the impressive Needles with a green lagoon lying to your feet. Appr. walking time: 8 hours, walking distance: 19 km (11,8 miles), elevation gain of approx. 950 m (3,116 ft) ascent and descent.

Overnight stay in the Refugio Chileno or Refugio Torre with shared bedrooms and shared bathrooms.

Note: If the refugios (lodges) are booked out, you will spend the night in 2-person-tents.

Day 3: Trek to “Los Cuernos”

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today, you hike along Nordenskjöld Lake to the wonderful Refugio Los Cuernos, close to the lake and the “Cuernos”. Passing Monte Almirante Nieto (2,640m), you can probably watch the condor circling in the sky. Appr. walking time: 4-5 hours, walking distance: 11,5 km (7 miles), elevation gain of approx. 250 m (820 ft) ascent and descent.

Overnight stay in the Refugio Los Cuernos or Refugio Frances with shared bedrooms and shared bathrooms.

Note: If the refugios (lodges) are booked out, you will spend the night in 2-person-tents.

Day 4: Trek to the French Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

In the morning you move towards the French valley and its viewpoint “Mirador” where you gain deep insight into the mountains. With a bit of luck you witness ice cracking off the Paine Grande (3,050m) sounding like a roaring thunder. Subsequently you walk along the splendorous Lago Skottsberg to the emerald green Lago Pehoe. Appr. walking time: 6-7 hours, walking distance: 17 km (10,5 miles), elevation gain of approx. 600 m (1,970 ft) ascent and descent. Overnight stay in the Lodge Paine Grande with shared bedrooms and shared bathrooms.

Note: If the refugio (lodge) is booked out, you will spend the night in 2-person-tents.

Day 5: Trek to the Viewpoint Grey Glacier – Puerto Natales

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Today you walk along the Black Lagoon (Laguna Negra) and the Path of Winds (Camino del Viento) to your viewpoint on the Grey Glacier. Depending on weather and season you come across various birds and plants. You hike back to the Lodge Paine Grande, cross the beautiful Pehoe-Lake with a catamaran (approx. 30 min) and take our private bus back to Puerto Natales. Appr. walking time: 4-5 hours, walking distance:  12 km (7,5 miles), elevation gain of approx. 350 m (1,150 ft) ascent and descent.

Overnight stay in a hotel in Puerto Natales in double room with private bathroom.

Day 6: Puerto Natales – El Calafate

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer with a regular bus through the wind branded Pampa to El Calafate in Argentina (without a guide, appr. 5-6 hours). In the afternoon you have time for shopping or for trying one of the famous Argentine steaks. The bird sanctuary ""Laguna Nimez"" on Lago Argentino also invites you to visit. Overnight stay in a hotel in El Calafate in double room with private bathroom.

Day 7: El Calafate- El Chaltén

Meals: Breakfast

Today you are heading to El Chaltén with a regular bus (without a guide, appr. 3 hours), taking a break at the Estancia La Leona. El Chaltén is a lovely village in the mountains that will be our starting point for the next days. In the afternoon you have some time to discover this idyllic place by on our own or to do a short hike to the waterfall ""Chorillo del Salto"".

You spend the night in a hotel in double room with private bathroom.

Day 8: El Chaltén – Cerro Torre Trek

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

In the morning you will meet your trekking-guide for the next two days.

A guided walk leads you to Laguna Torre where you have a great view to the Cerro Torre (3,102m) with its glaciers. Moreover, you take a break at the Agostini Camp that is the Base camp for all Cerro Torre mountaineers. Appr. walking time: 6 hours, walking distance: 18 km (11 miles), elevation gain of approx. 250 m (820 ft) ascent and descent. You spend the night in a hotel in double room with private bathroom.

Day 9: El Chaltén – Optional Trips

Meals: Breakfast

Today you can go on a full day hike to ""Loma del Pliegue Tumbado"" (highly recommended in good weather) or you can choose an optional half day or full day excursion to the lake ""Lago del Desierto"". Or you have some time to discover this pristine place on your own and go on short hikes to the viewpoints “Condores & Aguilas”.

You spend the night in a hotel in double room with private bathroom.

Day 10: Trek to Laguna de los tres – Monte Fitz Roy Trek

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

You hike to Laguna de los Tres and the viewpoint of Laguna Sucia. You also pass the Base Camp Rio Blanco that serves all Fitz Roy mountaineers. Finally you gain an unforgettable view on the Fitz Roy and the surrounding mountains. Appr. walking time: 8-9 hours, walking distance: 24 km (14,9 miles), elevation gain of approx. 750 m (2,460 ft) ascent and descent.

You spend the night in a hotel in double room with private bathroom.

Day 11: El Chaltén – El Calafate – Perito Moreno Glacier

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning you get back to El Calafate with the regular bus (without a guide, driving time appr. 3 hours).

In the afternoon you visit the incomparable Perito Moreno Glacier in the Los Glaciers National park that is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field (with a guide). If you are lucky you will watch the Glacier calving. Furthermore, you take a boat ride over the Argentino Lake along the imposing ice walls of the glacier (appr. 1 hour).

Overnight stay in a hotel in double room with private bathroom.

Day 12: Back to Puerto Natales

Meals: Breakfast

You travel from Argentina back to Puerto Natales / Chile on a regular bus (without a guide).

Or: Private Transfer to the airport of El Calafate (without a guide).

Day 1: Arrival transfer in Santiago

On arrival at Santiago Airport, please make your way through Customs and Immigration and only exit from the green doors marked 'Meeting Point’.

Our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it and waiting for you outside this exit. Please only make contact with our representative.

This service includes a driver and local English speaking guide who will provide you with any useful information needed for your stay.

Santiago de Chile

Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city, lies in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of the Andes and the Chilean Coastal Range. Founded in 1541, Santiago has been Chile’s capital since colonial times. It is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city and although it features many colonial buildings, it has grown into a modern metropolis and the cultural centre of the country.

Day 2: Transfer to the airport for onward destination

You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your onward flight. This service includes a Spanish speaking driver only.

Hotel Las Torres - Arrival

You will meet you at your arrival point and transferred to Hotel Las Torres, located inside Torres Del Paine National Park. This transfer is up to 5 hours in length on good paved and dirt roads and offers a great introduction in the wide open expanses of the Patagonian pampas.

Pick ups at 9am and3pm from Punta Arenas City and 9.30am and 3.30pm from Punta Arenas Airport.

Day 3: Explore Torres del Paine National Park

There are no set itineraries for your stay at Hotel Las Torres. Each day you can choose from a selection of five to ten different activities selected according to the weather and your interests. These include hiking, horseback riding, van or motorboat excursions. In groups no larger than ten guests accompanied by a bilingual guide, explorations allow an in-depth contact with the wonders of Torres del Paine National Park, year round.

Day 4: Explore Torres del Paine National Park

There are no set itineraries for your stay at Hotel Las Torres. Each day you can choose from a selection of five to ten different activities selected according to the weather and your interests. These include hiking, horseback riding, van or motorboat excursions. In groups no larger than ten guests accompanied by a bilingual guide, explorations allow an in-depth contact with the wonders of Torres del Paine National Park, year round.

Day 5: Hotel Las Torres - Departure

Early this morning you will depart Las Torres Hotel aboard their shuttle service transfer. Departure times will be reconfirmed to you directly by the hotel the evening prior to your departure.

Please note journey times are as follows however they are dependant on weather and road conditions:

El Calafate via Cerro Castillo (border crossing) will be approximately five hours and 30 minutes departing at 7am.

Puerto Natales will be approximately two hours departing at 2pm.

Punta Arenas will be approximately five hours departing at 7.30am and 1pm.

El Calafate

El Calafate flanks the southern shore of Lago Argentino in the southwest part of Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province. The town is near the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and one of the gateways to World Heritage Listed Parque Nacional Los Glaciers. The name El Calafate is derived from the calafate plant common in Patagonia. The town’s main street, Avenida del Libertador General San Martín, is lined with restaurants, cafes, chocolate shops and souvenir shops.

Day 6: Perito Moreno with South Wall Cruise

This morning you will be collected from your hotel to venture into Los Glaciares National Park to see the world famous Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier is more than two miles wide and averages 74m in height above the surface of the water of Lake Argentino. It is one of the very few glaciers in the world that continues to advance and if you are lucky you may see the glacier calving as large masses of ice break away from the glacier and collapse into the water. Enroute to the glacier, stop at the pier for a short boat trip to the south wall of the glacier. From the water level you get a feel for the size of this remarkable glacier - a true highlight of Patagonia. Reaching the Icebergs Channel, the boat will stop at a safe distance from the glacier, continuing to sail down all its front, allowing a spectacular view of the high wall of ice. On completion of the tour you will be taken to your hotel.

Day 7: Transfer to the airport for onward destination

You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Please note this service is with driver only.