Patagonia: Epic hiking adventure in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Karina Safari

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18 reviews

Feb 27 - Mar 9, 2020

Group size: 12 - 14

Patagonia: Epic hiking adventure

Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Karina Safari

Email address verified
Facebook verified

18 reviews

$3795

Deposit: $1000

Feb 27 - Mar 9, 2020

Group size: 12 - 14

Join Ultimate Patagonia Adventure in Argentina and Chile! If you love hikes and outdoors this trip is just for you! Enjoy most incredible views on Earth as you hike in the Fitz Roy area of Argentina, hike the epic "W trek" in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, ice-climb the giant Perito Moreno glacier, marvel the icebergs of Lago Grey, take a cruise across the Magellan Strait , a home to the largest penguin colony in Southern Chile!

Highlights

Argentinian Patagonia: Hike Los Glaciares National Park: base of Monte Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and Laguna de los Tres
Perito Moreno Glacier. Experience the walk on the surface of iceberg in crampons. Taste a shot of whiskey with a glacier ice as a reward! :-)
Chilean Patagonia: see fantastic landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park
"W TREK express" . 4D/3N Multi-day hike, considered as one of the world epic trails
Penguins colony at the Isla Magdalena, cruise on the legendary Strait of Magellan

Hiking season: February & March is the end of Summer - beginning of Fall in Patagonia, a time of the year when the landscape becomes golden-reddish and vegetation takes unique and beautiful yellow hues. A time when rest is delightful…. Ideal for hiking and photography lovers.

Weather: It is characterized by an unstable trans-Andean climate, with very strong winds. March being the end of the summer season, is still the warm time of the year, with average day temperatures of 12-15°C (54-60°F), with a low of 1°C (33°F) and a high of 23.5°C (75°F). Rain and strong wind is very possible any time all year round. Always come prepared for the 4 seasons. As Patagonia climate is very unstable, rain and shine can happen in the same day.

Level of difficulty: Moderate to High. Be prepared to 8-9 hours hiking daily on a steep uphill/downhill rocky and sometimes muddy terrain, but well marked trails. Daily distance 10-14 mi with altitude gain approx. 2000 feet (pls see more detailed info in the itinerary below).

Good physical fitness is required for this trip.

Altitudes: The good thing that both Argentinian and Chilean treks are at the LOW ELEVATION, NO RISK OF ALTITUDE SICKNESS. Altitudes range between 600 to 4000 feet. Altitude gain on the day treks hikes is 2000 feet average, which is doable for the healthy and relatively fit person.

Accommodation/ Meals on the treks:

- Argentinian Patagonia (El Chalten aka Fitz Roy region): Alpine style chalet (hosteria) , stay in dbl sharing rooms with private facilities. Meals: breakfast, packed lunch.

- Chilean Patagonia (W trek, Torres del Paine NP): Basic shelters (refugios). Stay 3 nights in mixed dorms 4-6 ppl sharing. Made up bunk beds, shared facilities, hot showers. Meals provided: full board

Guided services
Experienced team leader on the entire trip, and local guides in select locations
All transportation
Airport transfers and private transport btw destinations. Regular transport to/from W trek
All lodging
Hotel in Buenos Aires. Charming alpine-style chalets in El Chalten, El Calafate, Puerto Natales. Nice and clean mountain shelters on W trek.
Admissions
Torres del Paine NP, Los Glaciares NP
Activities and day-hikes
3 full day guided hikes in Argentina, Perito Moreno walk on the ice, Penguin colony day-cruise
Meals
Breakfasts in hotels, full board on W trek, packed lunches on the trail
W trek
3 nights full board accommodation in refuges: mixed dorms 4-6 people sharing, made up/bunk beds, shared facilities, hot shower. Regular transport to/from Natales, regular catamaran
Flights
International (~$1000 round trip) and 2 domestic flights (~$250 total)
Meals
Dinners in towns
Travel insurance
~$90 per person for the whole trip
Tips

Tango show & dinner in Buenos Aires13 left

$180

Day 1 (Feb 27/28th)
Day 1 (Feb 27/28th)
Arrival : Argentina, Buenos Aires
Welcome to Argentina, the home of Tango, Evita Peron and Diego Maradona!

Evening arrival in Buenos Aires. Meet at the airport on arrival and transfer to hotel,

Stay at hotel Cyan 3* in Recoletta historic neighborhood
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Day 2 (Feb 28th)
Day 2 (Feb 28th)
Buenos Aires
11AM: Pick up at hotel for a guided walk in Buenos Aires with a local (5-6h).

Free time in the evening.

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Day 3 (Feb 29th)
Day 3 (Feb 29th)
Fly to El Calafate. Drive to El Chalten
08:40AM - take a domestic flight to El Calafate.

11:55 AM - Arrival to El Calafate, Drive the scenic route 40 to the alpine village El Chalten - this is Argentina's premier hiking destination within Los Glaciares National Park. Marvel at the Andean mountains along the way. Arrival around 4PM. Stay at the alpine style hosteria (Hosteria Senderos 3,5*). Evening free.
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Day 4 (Mar 1st)
Day 4 (Mar 1st)
El Chalten: Hike to Laguna de los Tres
Enjoy a full-day guided hike to Laguna de los Tres and a clear view of the Fitz Roy peaks! Laguna de Los Tres is a picturesque lake that draws hikers and lovers of sublime natural landscapes from across the world. Return to Chalten, overnight in hosteria. Distance: 8-miles (12.5km), Time: 8h (return), Difficulty: Medium Elevation gain: 2,300 ft. (700m).

Overnight stay at Hosteria Senderos 3*
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Day 5 (Mar 2nd)
Day 5 (Mar 2nd)
El Chalten: hike Lago Torre
Continue to explore more trekking routes around El Chalten area. Laguna Torre trail to spot the dramatic Cerro Torre, hike to Laguna Capri or head up to the Condor Mirador to enjoy great views of the town. Drive to El Calafate (3h), overnight in hotel.
Duration: 8-9 hours (return), Difficulty: moderate Elevation gain: 700m

Overnight at hotel -boutique La Cantera 4*
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Day 6 (Mar 3rd)
Day 6 (Mar 3rd)
El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier, "walk on the ice"
Today we meet with giant Perito Moreno Glacier.! A fun adventure awaits, a 2 hours guided walk on the ice in crampons. See fascinating landscape of the glaciers: streams, small lagoons, gullies, cravasses and plenty of ice formations of the most incredible blues. The trekking is moderate. Back to El Calafate, free time to explore the souvenir shops and restaurants of this tiny town.

Overnight stay at hotel-boutique La Cantera 4*
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Day 7 (Mar 4th)
Day 7 (Mar 4th)
Chile, drive to Puerto Natales
Drive to to the border to Chile and discover a natural playground of glittering lakes, icy waterfalls and lush valleys, framed by the spindly peaks of the Cordillera del Paine mountains. Heading to Puerto Natales (3.5h drive). Free evening in town. Preparation for W trek, Meet with trekking guides and detailed team briefing on W trek. Overnight in Hosteria Factoria 2.5* (4 ppl sharing rooms)

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Day 8 (Mar 5th)
Day 8 (Mar 5th)
W trek: Base Torres
07:30AM - Departure from Puerto Natales by a regular bus service to Torres del Paine National Park (~2h drive), then take a park shuttle to Refugio Torre Central. Check-in and leave your main luggage at the alpine shelter.

Hiking to Base Torres with a light backpack , return to the shelter (refugio), dinner and overnight (rooms 6ppl sharing).

Distance: 18 Km, Duration: 7-9h, Difficulty: High, demanding (The hike involves a 45- to 60-minute boulder scramble to the Miradór Las Torres), Elevation gain: 800m

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Day 9 (Mar 6th)
Day 9 (Mar 6th)
W trek : French Valley
Breakfast at refugio Torre Norte Central, packed lunch will be provided..

Take a shuttle bus, then catamaran navigation along Pehoe Lake to the western side of the park. Around noon arrive to Refugio Paine Grande for check-in, Leaving your main luggage at the refugio, take a light backpack for hiking French Valley. Return to refugio by 7PM, dinner and overnight (rooms 6ppl sharing).

Distance: 20 km/ 12 miles, Time: 7-8 hrs.Difficulty: Medium, Elevation gain: 600m
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Day 1 (Feb 27/28th)

Arrival : Argentina, Buenos Aires

Welcome to Argentina, the home of Tango, Evita Peron and Diego Maradona!

Evening arrival in Buenos Aires. Meet at the airport on arrival and transfer to hotel,

Stay at hotel Cyan 3* in Recoletta historic neighborhood

Grigory Lyakhovitskiy

18 reviews

Professional adventure travel organizer and team leader since 2006. Originally from Moscow, Russia. Lived and worked as a tour guide and destination expert in South American countries (Ecuador and Colombia) in 2009-2012. Moved to the U.S. in 2012. Resident of San Francisco bay area. Founder of Safarika Adventure Club, CA since 2013 (CST # 2112795-40). Join our tribe of active travelers! Experience epic bucket list destinations and world best trails you have only dreamed of in our unbeatable team adventures to South America and beyond

It was an awesome trip!! Karina created the best agenda that allowed us to experience different places/things. The local crew/guide was professional and took care everything for us, and the food is better than expected. Karina stayed connected with us before and throughout the whole trip and responded quickly to our questions/concerns. Highly recommended!

By CARISSA CHEUNG for Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mt (Memorial day) on Jun 25, 2019

This was a fantastic trip, with top-notch organization, carefully selected itineraries and a very professional local crew. The food was delicious and we enjoyed comfy accommodations as well. Karina is on every detail, so everything ran smoothly. Highly recommended!

By Carla Risso for Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mt (Memorial day) on Jun 03, 2019

We spent an excellent and adventurous two weeks with Karina in Patagonia this end of "summer". Karina created the perfect itinerary that allowed us to experience so many unique places there. It was a good mix of hiking and more relaxed days. We were hiking up and down the sides of mountains, walking on glacier (even had whiskey in the Ice Bar), had tour to visit penguin’s colony on Isla Magdalena, city tour, Tango Show and tango lesson. The trip was very robust in terms of activity level, and I would classify it (hiking part) as moderate/strenuous due to the long days of hiking. Five stars for Karina’s planning and organizational skills. I would definitely recommend this trip to my friends, and I look forward to new adventures with Karina.

By Olga Barzman for Patagonia: Epic hiking adventure on Mar 29, 2019

We had a good team, very excited lookouts. Karina took care of everything from hotel and flights reservations and check ins to places for dinner and lunch boxes during hiking. I had very good time and enjoyed every minute my travel with Karina. Highly recommend. Thank you so much Karina for the great and wonderful adventure.