The Ultimate Self-Launched Adventure in Patagonia

Fly into El Calafate Airport (FTE). A taxi from the airport to downtown El Calafate takes 15–20 minutes and costs roughly £12–16 (book at the official taxi desk in arrivals). Check into your hostel and spend the afternoon exploring the town or walking down to the shores of Lago Argentino for your first taste of Patagonia's vast, windswept landscapes. Head out for dinner at one of El Calafate's many affordable parrillas — try Casimiro Biguá or a local tenedor libre (all-you-can-eat) for great value.

🚌Taxi from FTE airport to central El Calafate (~£12–16). Alternatively, some hostels offer free or cheap pick-up — check when booking.

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in El Calafate — e.g. América del Sur Hostel or I Keu Ken Hostel (dorm ~£15–18/night, private twin ~£35–45/night)

• →Walk to Lago Argentino shoreline (free)
• →Explore El Calafate town centre
• →Welcome dinner at a local parrilla (~£10–15 pp)

Take the early morning bus from El Calafate to El Chaltén (operated by Chaltur or TAQSA, ~3 hrs, £15–20 — book the day before at the bus terminal). Ask to be dropped at or near the Luz Divina Parador on Route 40 if your operator offers a stop, or arrange a kayak day independently. The La Leona River kayak and Cerro Los Hornos fossil hike combination is run by local operators such as Patagonia Aventura or En Patagonia — book directly online or at their El Calafate office (~£50–70 pp including guide and lunch). If this activity doesn't fit your bus schedule, enjoy it as an add-on day from El Calafate before departing, or skip to El Chaltén and fill the day with a short acclimatisation walk. Arrive in El Chaltén by late afternoon and check in.

🚌Bus El Calafate → El Chaltén with Chaltur or TAQSA (~£15–20, ~3 hrs). Book at El Calafate bus terminal the day before.

🛏Hostel in El Chaltén — e.g. Rancho Grande Hostel or Patagonia Hostel (dorm ~£15–20/night, private twin ~£40–55/night)

• →La Leona River double kayak (~2 hrs, £50–70 pp via Patagonia Aventura or En Patagonia — book direct)
• →Short hike up Cerro Los Hornos fossil site (included with kayak activity)
• →Arrive and settle into El Chaltén

No guide needed — El Chaltén's trails are among the best-signposted in South America, and the national park office at the village entrance provides free maps and briefings every morning (mandatory stop, 09:00–10:00). Follow the well-marked Sendero al Torre trail (~7 km return, 4–5 hrs, 500m elevation gain) through lenga beech forest, past the Fitz Roy River canyon, up to the Mirador Maestri viewpoint of Cerro Torre. Keep eyes peeled for the scarlet Magellanic woodpecker. Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park is included in a single fee paid on arrival in El Chaltén (~£15–18 pp valid for multiple days — keep your receipt). Pack a packed lunch from your hostel or a local shop.

🚌Walk from El Chaltén village to trailhead (free, <10 min)

🛏Hostel in El Chaltén (as Day 2)

• →Hike Sendero al Torre to Cerro Torre Mirador (7 km return, free with national park pass)
• →National park entrance fee (~£15–18 pp, covers all El Chaltén trails)
• →Packed lunch on the trail (~£5–8 from local shop or hostel)

The big day. Set off early (06:30–07:00) for the Laguna de los Tres trail (~20 km return, 8–9 hrs, 900m elevation gain). The full route is self-navigable with the free park map — no guide required. The trail begins at the northern edge of El Chaltén, winds through lenga forest along the Río Blanco, passes the Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint (a great turn-around point if needed), continues to Poincenot Camp, then tackles the steep 400m rocky ascent to the ridge. The payoff is Laguna de los Tres — a turquoise glacial lake at the foot of Fitz Roy's iconic spires. Return via Laguna Capri for a different perspective. Pack plenty of water, snacks and layers — Patagonian weather changes fast. National park pass covers this hike.

🚌Walk from hostel to trailhead (free, <5 min from most El Chaltén hostels)

🛏Hostel in El Chaltén (as Day 2)

• →Full-day hike to Laguna de los Tres and back via Laguna Capri (20 km, free with national park pass)
• →Packed lunch at the lake (~£5–8)
• →Optional: Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint shortcut for a less demanding route

Enjoy a slow morning — rest your legs and fuel up with a big hostel breakfast. Take the early afternoon bus back to El Calafate (Chaltur or TAQSA, ~3 hrs, £15–20). The drive traces Route 40 across the open Patagonian steppe, with big skies, guanacos, and a stop near the historic La Leona Roadhouse (allegedly once a hideout for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Arrive in El Calafate mid-afternoon — explore the town, grab a coffee with a glacier view, or simply rest up for the glacier day ahead.

🚌Bus El Chaltén → El Calafate with Chaltur or TAQSA (~£15–20, ~3 hrs)

🛏Hostel in El Calafate (~£15–45/night depending on dorm or private)

• →Scenic Route 40 bus journey back to El Calafate
• →Optional: visit El Calafate town centre or Lago Argentino shoreline (free)
• →Dinner at local restaurant (~£10–15)

Book a day tour to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate — multiple operators run shared minibus day trips including national park entry and boardwalk access (~£35–50 pp; try Caltur or Hielo y Aventura, bookable direct at their El Calafate offices or online). The glacier is ~80 km from town. Spend the morning on the extensive boardwalk network with panoramic views of the 60m-high ice wall — watch and listen for calving events. For the boat cruise along Canal de los Témpanos, book separately with Hielo y Aventura (~£20–25 pp) for a 1-hour catamaran ride past the glacier's north wall. Grab lunch at the park's snack bar (bring pesos). Return to El Calafate by late afternoon.

🚌Shared minibus day trip from El Calafate to Perito Moreno Glacier (~£10–15 transport portion, or included in day tour package)

🛏Hostel in El Calafate (~£15–45/night)

• →Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalk visit — day tour ~£35–50 pp including transport and park entry (book with Caltur or direct at El Calafate agencies)
• →Optional catamaran boat cruise, Canal de los Témpanos ~£20–25 pp (Hielo y Aventura)
• →Lunch at park snack bar (~£8–12)

Take a shared shuttle or bus from El Calafate to Puerto Natales, Chile (~5 hrs, £20–30 pp — book with Turismo Zaahj or similar, who handle the Cerro Castillo border crossing). Complete Chile's mandatory digital entry form (DDJJ) before you travel, and declare all food items — Chile enforces strict biosecurity. From Puerto Natales, take a park shuttle to Torres del Paine National Park (£10–15 pp). Purchase your park entrance wristband at the CONAF gate (~£30 pp, valid for 3 days). Hike the Mirador Los Cuernos trail (6 km return, ~2 hrs) on arrival, then board the Pudeto–Paine Grande catamaran across Lake Pehoé (book in advance at pudeto.cl, ~£20 pp, 30 mins). Check into Paine Grande Lodge & Camping — refugio dorm beds bookable at fantasticosur.com (~£40–55 pp including breakfast and dinner).

🚌Shared shuttle El Calafate → Puerto Natales (~£20–30, ~5 hrs, Turismo Zaahj or similar). Park shuttle Puerto Natales → CONAF gate → Pudeto (~£10–15). Pudeto–Paine Grande catamaran (~£20 pp — book at pudeto.cl).

🛏Paine Grande Refugio, Torres del Paine — mixed dorm with meals (~£40–55 pp, book well in advance at fantasticosur.com)

• →Border crossing at Cerro Castillo (free — complete digital DDJJ form beforehand)
• →Torres del Paine National Park entry wristband (~£30 pp, CONAF gate)
• →Mirador Los Cuernos hike, 6 km return (~2 hrs, free with park pass)
• →Pudeto to Paine Grande catamaran (~£20 pp)

Set off early from Paine Grande Refugio on the French Valley trail (~20 km return, 7–8 hrs, 600m elevation gain) — no guide required, trail is well-marked and heavily trafficked. Follow the north shore of Lake Pehoé, pass Skottsberg Lake (watch for wind-whipped whirlpools on the surface), trek beneath the face of Paine Grande, and push through Italian Camp to the French Valley viewpoint — a spectacular open plateau ringed by hanging glaciers and soaring granite towers, including the iconic Cuernos del Paine. This is arguably the finest viewpoint on the entire W Trek. Pack your own lunch from the refugio the night before. Return to Paine Grande for dinner included with your refugio booking.

🚌Walk from Paine Grande Refugio to trailhead (free, immediate)

🛏Paine Grande Refugio, Torres del Paine (as Day 7)

• →French Valley hike from Paine Grande (20 km return, free with park pass)
• →Italian Camp and French Valley viewpoint
• →Packed lunch on trail (bring from refugio, ~£0 if included or ~£5–8 if purchased)

An early start for the final W Trek section — hike from Paine Grande to the Grey Glacier viewpoint (~12 km return, 4–5 hrs, 540m elevation gain). The trail passes a quiet lagoon with views back across Lake Pehoé, crosses the Quebrada de los Vientos (Windy Ravine), and scrambles over a rocky section before revealing Grey Lake, often dotted with floating ice. The Grey Glacier viewpoint is one of Patagonia's most dramatic — a vast wall of ancient blue ice spilling from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Stop for a packed lunch here before retracing to Paine Grande. Collect your pack, board the catamaran back across Lake Pehoé to Pudeto (~£20 pp), then catch a park shuttle to Puerto Natales (~£10–15). Check into a hostel in Puerto Natales for your final night.

🚌Walk Paine Grande → Grey Glacier viewpoint and back (free with park pass). Paine Grande → Pudeto catamaran (~£20 pp). Park shuttle Pudeto → Puerto Natales (~£10–15).

🛏Hostel in Puerto Natales — e.g. Erratic Rock Hostel or The Singular Patagonia (budget) (dorm ~£15–20/night)

• →Grey Glacier viewpoint hike (12 km return, free with park pass)
• →Catamaran back across Lake Pehoé (~£20 pp)
• →Park shuttle to Puerto Natales (~£10–15)
• →Farewell dinner in Puerto Natales (~£12–18)

After a final breakfast, head to Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport (PNT) for your onward flight — typically to Santiago (SCL) with LATAM Airlines for your international connection home. A taxi from central Puerto Natales to the airport takes ~10 minutes and costs around £5–8. Alternatively, some hostels can arrange a shared transfer. If you're extending your trip, Puerto Natales is a great base for extra days in or around the park, or you can take the scenic Navimag ferry north through the fjords to Puerto Montt (book well in advance at navimag.com).

🚌Taxi from Puerto Natales hostel to PNT airport (~£5–8)

🛏N/A (departure day)

• →Final breakfast in Puerto Natales (~£5–8)
• →Optional: browse Puerto Natales craft market or Erratic Rock free hiking talk (if extending stay)
• →Depart via PNT → Santiago (SCL) with LATAM Airlines