If you've dreamt of exploring Patagonia by trail running while staying at comfortable and scenic hotels, this is the trip for you. Throughout the trip, you'll leave tour buses and crowds behind in order to facilitate pristine Patagonian trail running adventures on this running retreat.
Your self-guided trail running trip will start in El Calafate, where you will begin your adventure with a visit to Patagonia’s most famous glacier and one of the world's only advancing glaciers. You'll get up close and personal to El Perito Moreño with a boat tour to view this amazing glacier from the water! You'll then explore further south to our next destination of El Chaltén, home to Monte Fitzroy, Cerro Torre, craft breweries, pristine lakes, glaciers, rivers, grasslands, and some of the world's most spectacular mountain vistas. Your curated hotels offer the comforts of 3-star lodging with authentic Argentinian breakfasts and breathtaking lake and mountain views. In between you'll trail run through Los Glaciares National Park and visit unique Argentinian estancias and nature reserves. You'll trail run from these base camps, where vistas of mountain spires, glaciers, and remote lakes are paired with mate, homemade pizza, typical Argentinian parrillas of roasted meat, ample Malbec, and artisanal beer brewed with special character and history unique to each location. Possible wildlife sightings range from Huemul (patagonian deer) to Condors and Pumas.
This running retreat is the perfect mixture of comfort and exploring a mixture of perfectly runnable and more wild, off-the-beaten path trails of some of Patagonia's most spectacular sites. On this self-guided trail running tour with all logistics, lodging, and transport taken care of, enjoy a break from winter and enjoy a Patagonian summer on your running retreat.
Trip Difficulty: Level 2
https://runcation.org/which-trip-is-right-for-me
Please note, this is a LEVEL 2 trip. Runners must be able to complete the full distance each day on the trip itinerary (7-15 miles) with significant amounts of elevation gain and loss (1,500-3,700 feet per day) in mountainous environments, on technical trails, and at times in unfavorable weather conditions in the mountains of Patagonia.
Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime!
Perito Moreño Glacier tour, including door to door hotel pick-up and drop-off, English-speaking guide, boat tour, and transport costs
Transfer to/from a remote, renovated Argentinian estancia from your hotel to enjoy a unique gastronomy experience with lunch and a glass of wine included
Private transfer between your hotel in El Calafate and your hotel in El Chaltén (~3h each way)
Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations
Accommodation in 3-star hotels in El Calafate and El Chaltén for 6 nights, 7 days
Breakfasts included daily
Trip packet with suggested packing list, itinerary, mountain/weather resources, and gpx trail files
International airfare
Alcoholic beverages and meals
Travel Insurance
Entrance fee to Glacier National Park: 10,000 ARS (US$ 28.60) for foreign adults & children (must be paid in person at the entrance + can't be paid for in advance)
Other National Park Entrance fees (there are NEW rules for entrance fees to other runs on the itinerary--detailed info on how to pay for these will be provided in your trip packet)
Transfer from airport to El Calafate (it's very easy and cost effective to take a Remis--the Argentinian taxi service, or book a shared shuttle)
Extra expenses due to a change in itinerary or in case of you having to shorten the day or trip as a whole (including personal return trips to airport/next destination/etc.)
Passport:
Must have a valid passport valid through 6 months upon date of travel.
Travel Insurance:
Must have travel insurance prior to start of trip.
Weather:
Although this time of year is summer/fall in Patagonia, weather in the mountains, in Patagonia in particular, is variable and trail conditions are subject to change on an hourly basis! Patagonia is renown for its wind and changing weather in particular. Routes and itinerary subjective to change based on the safety of conditions and climate of the trail at the time of the trip. Please pack layers and options for multiple climates accordingly (a detailed packing list will be sent upon registration).
Trip Difficulty: Level 2
https://runcation.org/which-trip-is-right-for-me
Visa Requirements:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Argentina.html
Current CDC Recommendations:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/argentina
How to Arrive:
The trip starts and ends in El Calafate, Argentina. El Calafate is located in southern Argentina (280 kilometers north of Puerto Natales and 220 kilometers south of El Chaltén). El Calafate has a small airport located 20 km east of town with daily non-stop flights to and from Buenos Aires (3.5 hours), Ushuaia (1.5 hours), and Bariloche (1.75 hours). For International flights, most connect in Buenos Aires before taking a domestic flight to El Calafate. Most flights are operated by Aerolineas Argentinas with some operated by LAN. It is very easy to get to/from El Calafate Airport and El Calafate city by local taxi (Remis) or booking a shared shuttle.
Day 1: Your trip will start in the afternoon at your hotel in El Calafate to check in and get settled followed by a meet-and-greet and orientation meeting to meet the guides and go over the logistics and itinerary of the upcoming week! You'll stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel hotel in a lakeside town with a view of Argentina's largest freshwater lake, Lago Argentina. That afternoon, you can enjoy dinner and refreshments at one of the many restaurants in town.
Mileage: Optional shakeout run in the afternoon 4-6 miles along Lago Argentina
Accommodation and breakfast in 3-star hotel included
Day 2: After a quick optional morning shakeout run, you'll return to a breakfast spread of homemade Argentinian jams, coffees, teas and baked goods. Your adventure today will take you to the Perito Moreño Glacier, one of the highlights of Argentinian Patagonia and one of the world's only advancing glaciers. This spectacular glacier spans approximately 252 square km – 30 kilometers in length, about 5 km wide, and from the water to the top of the glacier the average height is a 73 meters! It is fed by the Southern Patagonia Ice Field and you'll get the chance to see some glacier calving from a boat tour viewing the glacier from the water! You'll enjoy transport and a guided tour. Afterwards, you'll return for dinner to celebrate your final evening in El Calafate before heading to the mountains tomorrow.
Mileage: Optional flat shakeout run before/after tour
National Park entrance fee, guided transport to/from the glacier, and boat tour included
Accommodation and breakfast in 3-star hotel included
Day 3: Today you'll set off for El Chaltén, one of Patagonia's most spectacular mountain towns. After views of mountains roll by on the Patagonian highway, you can check in to our mountainside hotel before setting off for an afternoon adventure run straight from the front door. You'll head out and up from town following a trail alongside the river of the valley as views begin to unfold of Cerro Solo, the Adela range, Cerro Torre and the Mount Fitzroy. That evening you're free to explore the restaurants in town, or sip a glass of Malbec and watch the golden hour over the nearby mountains.
Mileage: ~11.8 miles, 1,500 feet elevation gain/loss*
Breakfast and accommodation in 3-star hotel included
Private transfer between El Calafate hotel and El Chaltén hotel included
Day 4: After a spread of a delicious breakfasts of granola, yogurt, juices, homemade breads and eggs, you'll head out on another adventure run for the day. The trail starts in the lower, rocky hills and shrublands with views of Cerro Torre and Fitzroy. Youu'll wind through a forest of lenga before our steepest climb of the trip. From the summit you can see both Cerro Torre and Fitzroy to the north and the Río Túnel Valley to the south. Treat yourself to an artesanal aprés at a famous cerveceria, or brewery in town, before enjoying a meal of tender Argentinian steaks (or visit the vegetarian restaurant in town), fresh trout from the local Lago del Desierto, and a generous pour of Malbec.
Mileage: ~14-15 miles, 3,300 feet elevation gain/loss
Breakfast and accommodation in 3-star hotel included
You'll wake up for breakfast at your El Chaltén hotel and depart for another adventure run in the area. Today you'll set out for Loma del Pliegue Tumbado through various climates of pampas to forests to alpine rocky terrain with views of Mount Huemul, Viedma lake, and the Andes of the skyline of Mount Torre and Mount Chaltén. If you prefer to take a rest day today is a good option for visiting the spa in town, hiking or running to the nearby waterfall, or enjoying cafes and restaurants in town.
Mileage: ~12 miles, 3,700 feet elevation gain/loss for Loma del Pliegue Tumbada
Mileage: 4.1 with 500 feet gain/loss for waterfall option
Breakfast and accommodation in 3-star hotel included
Day 6: After another delicious breakfast at your hotel, enjoy an optional run to a local mirador, or viewpoint, for a chance to catch sight of condors soaring before getting ready for a unique lunch experience!
You'll catch private transfer to a renovated Argentinian estancia where you'll travel route 41, also known as the Scenic Route of the National Sovereignty of the Senda del Huemul, which borders the entire route of the Rio de Las Vueltas. You'll have a chance to view different landscapes and mountains on the scenic drive. After crossing a suspension bridge, you'll meet your local guide who will take us further onto the reserve with 4×4 vehicle until reaching El Establo at the ranch.
Your tour of the estancia begins at the foot of the Cordón del Bosque, a mountain range that watches over an area of 8,000 hectares of forests, streams, rivers and mountains. In this unique gastronomy experience you can enjoy exquisite Patagonian lamb roast on the stake and the traditional Curanto al hoyo. The ample meal includes salad, side dishes and dessert as well as a glass of Argentinian wine or soft drink. Vegan/vegetarian options available (please get in touch with your retreat organizer). There is an on-site organic garden that supplies the ingredients for their dishes.
After a leisurely lunch, you'll receive transfer back El Chaltén before receiving private transfer back to El Calafate!
Mileage: ~4 miles, 600 feet elevation gain/loss
Breakfast and lunch included
Breakfast and double accommodation in 3-star hotel included
Private transfer to and from El Chaltén to a remote and private Argentinian estancia to enjoy an included lunch
Private transfer from El Chaltén to El Calafate included
Day 7: After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll depart in the morning for the El Calafate airport or onwards to other travel destinations! You’ll leave Patagonia with new friends and tons of memories!
Breakfast included
