Terra Nova Collective
The trail beneath Fitz Roy
Walk the legendary path to Laguna de los Tres, a climb that reveals one of the most iconic views on the planet where the towers of Fitz Roy blaze in the cold Andean sunrise.
Patagonia
Glaciers, Granite & The End of the World
- Duration
- 15 days
- Trip style
- Nature/ Hiking
- Effort
- Challenging
- Region
- Americas
A journey across the last vast frontier of South America
A journey through the most dramatic wilderness in South America from the electric blue lakes of El Chalten to the ice fields of Torres del Paine and onward to the southernmost city on earth.
This route stitches together the greatest hits of southern Patagonia in two weeks: El Chaltén’s legendary Fitz Roy trails, the blue ice of Perito Moreno, the full W trek in Chile’s Torres del Paine, and the windswept channels around Ushuaia. It’s built for hikers who want long days on trail but also a taste of Patagonian towns, food, and nightlife.You start in Buenos Aires and fly straight down to El Calafate and onwards to El Chaltén, the self-proclaimed trekking capital of Argentina. Two full days here give you time for both the Laguna de los Tres and Loma del Pliegue Tumbado hikes before continuing to El Calafate for a day on the Perito Moreno glacier – including an optional ice hike on the glacier itself. From there you cross into Chile and base yourself in Puerto Natales before heading into Torres del Paine for the 5-day W trek. Nights are spent in mountain refugios, so you can hike with a lighter pack while still feeling properly out in the wild. The route covers the three classic valleys: the Torres, the French Valley, and the Grey Glacier. The final leg heads even further south to Ushuaia, a port city wedged between mountains and the Beagle Channel. You’ll take a boat trip past islands full of wildlife and spend a day hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park before flying back to Buenos Aires for a couple of days of city life, steak, and fútbol to end the trip on a high.
Highlights
The W trek in Torres del Paine
Move through the heart of Patagonia where emerald lakes sit beneath vertical granite walls, glaciers pour into ancient valleys and, the famous three towers stand like guardians of the Chilean steppe.
Ushuaia & the end of the world
Head as far south as most people go: sail along the Beagle Channel past sea lions and bird colonies, then hike Cerro Guanaco in Tierra del Fuego for views over mountains, forests, and the very edge of the continent
The route
Day 1: Buenos Aires to El Calafate / fly south, transfer to El Chaltén
Day 2: El Chaltén / Laguna de los Tres and Fitz Roy
Day 3: El Chaltén / Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, then bus to El Calafate
Day 4: El Calafate / Perito Moreno Glacier and optional ice hike
Day 5: El Calafate to Puerto Natales / border crossing, W trek preparation
Day 6: Torres del Paine / first day of W trek, Ascensio Valley and the Torres
Day 7: Torres del Paine / sunrise at the Torres, trail to Los Cuernos
Day 8: Torres del Paine / French Valley and Mirador Francés
Day 9: Torres del Paine / Grey Glacier and kayaking among icebergs
Day 10: Torres del Paine / suspension bridges, catamaran and return to Puerto Natales
Day 11: Puerto Natales to El Calafate
Day 12: Ushuaia / Beagle Channel boat trip and the city at the world's edge
Day 13: Tierra del Fuego / Cerro Guanaco hike and final Patagonian day
Day 14: Fly to Buenos Aires / Palermo, steak dinner and late Porteño night
Day 15: Buenos Aires / football, helado and departure
Start the journey
The first part of the day-by-day route, free to read.
Day 1: Buenos Aires to El Chaltén
Your first flight is domestic: Buenos Aires to El Calafate, operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas or LATAM, departing from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), the city's smaller domestic airport about 15 minutes from the centre. Flight time is roughly three hours. Flights typically depart mid-morning; aim to be on a plane that lands in El Calafate no later than 1 pm to make the onward connection work.
El Calafate's Armando Tola airport sits 20 minutes from the town centre and roughly three hours by road from El Chaltén. Bus operators CalTur, Chaltén Travel and Taqsa run services from El Calafate airport directly to El Chaltén; buses pick up passengers at the airport on request, and in high season (October to April) there are multiple departures, with afternoon buses leaving around 2 pm to 4 pm. A bus booked in advance to meet your flight is the cleanest option. The journey takes two and a half to three and a half hours across the flat steppe, with the Fitz Roy massif appearing on the horizon in the final 30 minutes. Private transfers are faster and available from around USD 120 to 150 per vehicle if you are in a group or want flexibility.
El Chaltén itself is tiny and walkable in 20 minutes. Register your intended hike routes at the national park office, which sits at the entrance to town on the main road in from El Calafate; it is staffed and open from early morning. They provide free trail maps, daily weather updates and route conditions, and require you to sign in before multi-day routes. Pick up snacks and supplies in town the evening you arrive. There are two small supermarkets, a bakery, and a chocolatería. Prices are high relative to the rest of Argentina; bring cash.
Important day-one note: this sequence requires a morning flight from Buenos Aires and no delays. If your flight arrives after midday and misses the afternoon bus, the fallback is either an expensive private transfer or losing the hiking day. Some travellers sensibly fly the day before and spend the first night in El Calafate, arriving in El Chaltén the following morning fully rested and without time pressure.
Entrance fee: since October 2024, accessing the El Chaltén trail network requires a paid pass. Buy it online at argentina.gob.ar/parquesnacionales before arrival. As of early 2025, the rate for foreign visitors is roughly USD 42. The fee applies per day or per multi-day visit; buy the Flexipass if you are staying more than one day.
Get the full Patagonia itinerary
- The rest of the day-by-day route, 13 more detailed entries
- Where to stay, by budget
- Where to eat and drink
- Practical reminders and cautions
- Ways to shorten or extend the trip
- 8 photos from the trip
- A direct line to the traveller who led it
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Open the full itineraryFrom travellers on this trip
“I'd never been on a hiking trip like this. I’d seen photos of Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine before, but hiking both in one trip felt surreal. The W trek was tough in places but I still recommend it to anyone who is able to do it - the views are so worth it”
“Watching sea lions on the Beagle Channel one day and then hiking Cerro Guanaco in fresh snow the next were the best two days for me. The edge of the world didn't disappoint”
“The weather was wild and changed very quickly. It does mean that you can get very lucky or very unlucky with hikes and viewpoints, but this is just part of travelling and you will still see crazy landscapes”
