When you think of Patagonia, THIS is the Patagonia you imagine. THIS is the ultimate bucket list trip.

Hike the famous W Circuit in Torres del Paine National Park (Chile), trek on Perito Moreno, the most impressive glacier in Patagonia (Argentina), and hike to the iconic Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre in El Chaltén. 

The W Circuit is the most popular hike through the famous Torres del Paine National Park in Southern Chilean Patagonia. We will hike a total of about 50 miles through the heart of this park, exploring the mountains, lakes, spires, and glaciers that make up the Paine Massif. This is one of my absolute favorite places in the entire world, and I can't wait until you feel its magic.

Perito Moreno Glacier is on the southern end of Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. It is THE most impressive glacier in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. There are three ways to experience this glacier: by boat, by boardwalks, and by trekking on the glacier itself, and we get to do all three!

At the northern end of Los Glaciares National Park lies the famous Mount Fitz Roy. This giant rock, along with the many spires that surround it, is one of the world’s most iconic climbing destinations. We’ll hike to both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre during our stay in El Chaltén.

Meet and greet at Punta Arenas Airport. From there we will make the trip to Torres del Paine National Park; the trip is about 5-5.5 hours of driving through the Patagonian steppe (desert), passing through Puerto Natales, a picturesque town located 70 miles from the park. We can keep an eye out for pumas as we approach our accommodations for the night.
Meals: Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: EcoCamp Patagonia Domes

Our W Circuit begins with a steep ascent underneath the hanging glacier of Almirante Nieto (8,700 ft) with beautiful views of lake Nordenskjöld. After about an hour and a half we reach Refugio El Chileno, where we will have access to bathrooms. We will be able to re fill water bottles along the trail, which continues through a millenary Lenga forest (1 hour) to the base of the moraine. One more challenging ascent (45 min) to the base of the towers. This lookout “Mirador Base Torres” or “Base of Torres del Paine” is one of the most impressive in the park. From here we can see Torre Sur (9,350 ft), Torre Central (9,200 ft), Torre Norte (8,530 ft) and Cerro Nido de Cóndor. We will return the same way we came up. Total 18km (11 miles).
Difficulty Level: High
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: EcoCamp Patagonia Domes

The trail goes between the base of Almirante Nieto (part of the Paine Massif) and Lake Nordenskjöld’s turquoise waters, with many photo opportunities and places to picnic above the lake. After about 4-5 hours, we will reach the base of Los Cuernos where the Refugio is located. The cabins here are one of the most charming sites in the whole park, a perfect mountain oasis to rest and recover energy for tomorrow’s challenging trek into French Valley. Total 11km (7 miles).
Difficulty Level: Medium
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Cabins Los Cuernos

The first part of today’s trek winds up and down along the shore of Lake Nordenskjöld until we reach Campamento Italiano (Italian Camp). At this point we will leave our big packs and only take what we need to complete the out and back to French Valley. After ascending for about an hour, we will reach a lookout to observe the hanging French Glacier, which will most likely be avalanching before our eyes. From there, the trail continues up to Campamento Británico (British Camp) and the lookout considered by many as one of the most incredible spots on the Circuit. At Mirador Británico, you can see Paine Grande, Cerro Hoja, Cerro Máscara, Cerro Catedral, Cerro Aleta de Tiburón, Cuerno Norte, and more. We will return back to Italian Camp, and then hike on to the Pehoé sector, where Refugio Paine Grande is located. Total 25km (15 miles).
Difficulty Level: High
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande

Trek to Refugio Grey. The trail goes through the western side of the Paine Massif with views of Grey Lake. After an hour and a half, we will reach Mirador Grey, where we can begin to see Grey Glacier. Once we reach the refugio and check in, we will begin our afternoon kayak excursion on Grey Lake. Total 11km (7 miles).
Difficulty level: Medium
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Refugio Grey

After Breakfast, we will hike until Paine Grande and cross Pehoe Lake by Catamaran 12.00 (30 min) until Pudeto Pier where our private transfer will be waiting to take as to El Calafate. From Pudeto Pier we will head to Cerro Castillo Border Crossing (1,5 hours Transfer) and then to El Calafate (3,5 hours). The drive to Calafate is a great introduction to Patagonia. The journey takes us across the vast barren Patagonian Desert, called the steppe, where we may see native guanacos (from the llama family) and rheas (from the ostrich family). Once we arrive, we will have a free evening to explore the beautiful town of El Calafate.

Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch 

Accommodation: El Quijote or similar 

Dinner is not included this evening to allow you to explore the beautiful town of El Calafate (and take a break from group activity if you need one!). There are many restaurant options, I suggest La Zorra, La Tablita, or Viva la Pepa. You can budget about $10-15 for a regular restaurant, or about $30-40 for a specialty steakhouse (not including alcohol).

After an early breakfast, we will depart for Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. The glacier excursion begins at Bajo de las Sombras port, about 6 km before the glacier balconies. Here we will enjoy a 20-minute boat ride across the Rico Arm, with breath-taking views of Perito Moreno Glacier’s front wall.
On the opposite shore, we will disembark to meet our specialized bilingual mountain guides, who will welcome us and lead us to a small shelter. After a short briefing, we will depart with our guides along the lake’s shore towards the edge of the glacier. Once on the ice, the guides will help us into crampons and explain how to walk with them.
The two-hour circuit that follows will introduce us to the fascinating landscape of the glaciers: the streams, small lagoons, gullies, crevasses and incredible blue ice formations. The trekking is moderate. The ice surface is irregular, but it is firm and safe. We will learn about flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region, as well as the particular phenomenon’s that happen with Perito Moreno Glacier.
We will return to El Calafate around 5pm to pick up our bags and then we will head to El Chaltén, Argentina; a picturesque mountaineering town located at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy at the northern end of Los Glaciares National Park (3 hours drive).
Difficulty level: Medium.
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner: La Tapera Restaurant
Accommodation: Hosteria Los Ñires

After breakfast and before we start our trekking excursion, we will go to Haydee ́s Bakery to choose among different delicious options for our trail lunch.
We will begin our trek from the hotel in El Chaltén following the Fitz Roy river valley along a good path until reaching the first lookout point where we will get great views of the Mount Torre-Adela’s mountain range and the magical spire of Cerro Torre. We will continue towards Lake Torre (Laguna Torre).
The walk continues over flat terrain until we reach one of the two campsites used by climbers attempting the daring ascent of Cerro Torre. Then we will come to the moraine at Laguna Torre, which we will climb up and over to view the lake itself and the Torre glacier tumbling into it and, if weather allows, we’ll see the dazzling silhouette of Cerro Torre.
Return via the second campsite to El Chaltén.
Difficulty: High
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner: La Cervecería
Accommodation: Hosteria Los Ñires
Lunch is not included today because we’re visiting a local chocolate shop and bakery to choose what you’d like to take with you on the trail. Think the BEST empanadas and alfajores! This is what I prefer here in El Chaltén, so trust me on this one. I carefully designed this opportunity for you, and I think you’ll appreciate it. You can budget up to $10 for lunch.

After breakfast and before we start our trekking excursion, we will go to Haydee ́s Bakery to choose among different delicious options for our trail lunch.
We will begin by meandering through beech wood forests that lead us to our first views of the majestic Mount Fitz Roy and the glaciers and lakes that flow from it. As the landscape opens up before us, this view only becomes more expansive and dramatic. Eventually, we will reach one of the two campsites where climbers wait out the weather before attempting to climb Fitz Roy or other peaks in the massif. At this point we will start a steep climb that leads us to Laguna de Los Tres, where we will have an incredible panoramic view. On a clear day, we will be able to see Lake Viedma in the distance and the steppe that flows to the end of the horizon.
After descending the steep part, we will continue on past a hanging glacier to El Pilar, where our private transfer will be waiting to take us to our extra special farewell dinner.
Difficulty: High
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner: extra special farewell dinner
Accommodation: Hosteria Los Ñires
Lunch is not included today because we’re visiting a local chocolate shop and bakery to choose what you’d like to take with you on the trail. Think the BEST empanadas and alfajores! This is what I prefer here in El Chaltén, so trust me on this one. I carefully designed this opportunity for you, and I think you’ll appreciate it. You can budget up to $10 for lunch.

Trip ends today! After breakfast, we will head back to El Calafate airport / city.
Meals: Breakfast