Argentina: Bariloche & Calafate — Self-Launched 5-Day Patagonia Adventure
5 days · Patagonia (Bariloche & El Calafate), Argentina
Aborigen Tours charges £428
No-markup version: ~£253 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 5-day Bariloche & Calafate circuit — you'll DIY the same lakeside drives, the Llao Llao peninsula viewpoints, the Cerro Campanario chairlift, and the world-famous Perito Moreno Glacier, but you'll book it all yourself for a fraction of the group-tour price. Stay in hostels and budget guesthouses, travel the endless Patagonian steppe on a domestic flight between Bariloche and El Calafate, and use public buses and shared shuttles for the excursions. Costs are approximate, based on backpacker rates, and assume you're an independent solo traveller joining ad-hoc day groups rather than a fixed tour.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Bariloche & settle in
San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro
Land at Bariloche airport (BRC) or arrive by long-distance bus at the downtown terminal, then make your own way to your hostel — Centro Cívico is the most convenient base, walkable to cafés, chocolate shops and the lakeshore. Spend the afternoon acclimatising around the Plaza and the Nahuel Huapi lakefront. Grab a 'sube' transport card if you plan to use local buses, and stock up on supplies. Book tomorrow's Cerro Campanario trip and your Bariloche–El Calafate flight online tonight.
🚌Airport shuttle or local bus 72 into town (~£2) or arrive by long-distance bus
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Centro Cívico (approx £12–18/night)
- →Self check-in at hostel in Centro Cívico
- →Walk the Nahuel Huapi lakefront and Centro Cívico
- →Buy local SUBE bus card
- →Book Cerro Campanario excursion and onward flight
Circuito Chico & Cerro Campanario
Bariloche lakes district
DIY the famous Circuito Chico lakeside route. Take public bus 20 to the Cerro Campanario base, ride the chairlift (~£12) for the postcard panorama over Lake Nahuel Huapi and Huemul Island, then continue along Av. Bustillo past Playa Bonita. Walk out to the Llao Llao peninsula for views of the iconic Llao Llao Hotel and San Eduardo Chapel, and stop at Punto Panorámico and López Bay. A local 'Circuito Chico' half-day minibus tour (~£20–25) is an easy alternative if you don't want to navigate buses. Aim to be back by golden hour over the lake.
🚌Local bus 20 along Av. Bustillo (~£1 per ride) or shared minibus excursion
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Bariloche (approx £12–18/night)
- →Chairlift up Cerro Campanario (~£12)
- →Walk the Llao Llao peninsula & San Eduardo Chapel
- →Photo stops at Punto Panorámico and López Bay
- →Optional Circuito Chico minibus tour (~£20–25)
Fly Bariloche to El Calafate
Bariloche → El Calafate, Santa Cruz
Transfer day. Fly the ~2h domestic hop from Bariloche (BRC) to El Calafate (FTE) — book early on Aerolíneas Argentinas or Flybondi for the best fares (~£70–130 one-way). (A scenic but very long 24h+ bus option exists via Río Gallegos if you're on a tight budget.) Land in El Calafate, take a local taxi or the cheap airport bus into town, and check into a hostel. El Calafate is a small, walkable base for the glacier. Book your Perito Moreno tour or bus ticket tonight, and enjoy a lamb 'asado' dinner on the main street.
🚌Domestic flight (~£70–130, ~2h); airport bus/taxi into town (~£2–5)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in El Calafate centre (approx £15–22/night)
- →Domestic flight Bariloche–El Calafate
- →Check into El Calafate hostel
- →Book Perito Moreno Glacier transport for tomorrow
- →Dinner on Av. Libertador
Perito Moreno Glacier day trip
Los Glaciares National Park
The highlight. Take a public bus or shared shuttle from El Calafate to the Perito Moreno Glacier (~1.5h each way, ~£18–25 return incl. no entry — note the national park entrance fee of ~£25 is paid separately). Wander the network of catwalks and balconies for hours of glacier views and the occasional thunderous calving into Lago Argentino. Add an optional boat safari on the lake (~£22) or, if you're feeling adventurous, a glacier trekking excursion (~£130+). Bring your own lunch — park food is pricey. Buses return in the late afternoon.
🚌Shared shuttle or public bus to the glacier (~1.5h each way)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in El Calafate centre (approx £15–22/night)
- →Bus/shuttle to Perito Moreno Glacier (~£20 return)
- →Walk the glacier catwalks & balconies
- →Optional nautical safari (~£22)
- →Optional glacier trekking (~£130+)
El Calafate & departure
El Calafate, Santa Cruz
Spend the morning at your own pace — visit the Glaciarium museum or the Laguna Nimez bird reserve on the edge of town (~£5), or simply enjoy a slow breakfast. Then make your own way to El Calafate airport (FTE) or the bus terminal for your onward journey, whether that's toward Ushuaia, El Chaltén or back to Buenos Aires. Pick up any last Patagonian souvenirs on Av. Libertador before you go.
🚌Local bus or taxi to El Calafate airport/bus terminal (~£2–5)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional Glaciarium museum or Laguna Nimez reserve (~£5)
- →Souvenir shopping on Av. Libertador
- →Transfer to airport/bus terminal
Self-launched vs. Aborigen Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Aborigen Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£253 | £428 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £175 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Aborigen Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£253
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Argentina: Bariloche & Calafate — Self-Launched 5-Day Patagonia Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £253 per person for 5 days in Patagonia (Bariloche & El Calafate), Argentina. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Aborigen Tours?+
Yes — Aborigen Tours charges around £428 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £253 — a saving of roughly £175 (41%) per person.
How long is the Patagonia (Bariloche & El Calafate), Argentina trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Patagonia (Bariloche & El Calafate), Argentina.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Patagonia (Bariloche & El Calafate), Argentina, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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