The 10 Best Day Trips from in El Calafate, Patagonia

For the curious and unique conformation of its mountains, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, flora and fauna, it is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the World. The best day trip you can do in El Calafate, the tour starts early, on the way to the border crossing (gravel road) "Cancha Carrera" to enter Chile. In this adventure through Chilean lands (gravel road), its main attractions are the Mirador del Lago Sarmiento de Gamboa, Saltos del Rio Paine, Upper Mirador Cerro Almirante Nieto / Cuernos del Paine, Entrance of Laguna Amarga. Once inside Torres del Paine National Park, we will be ready to start with the different trekking trails. Where, accompanied by our local experts, a lunch box will be provided. Then we will continue exploring and knowing the southernmost part of Patagonia, we will learn about its flora and fauna.

Inclusions: Spanish / English guide, Transfer: from your hotel round trip, Vianda (Boxlunch), insurance

Exclusions: Tickets to the National Park: $ 21,000 Chileans (Oct / DIc) $ 11,000 Chileans (May / Sep)

After the disembarkation we access the refuge where the guides organize the groups that are composed each up to 20 people. Then we start a walk along the lake shore for approximately 20 minutes to the glacier. Upon reaching the edge of the ice the guides place the crampons to the participants, who receive instructions on how they should move on the ice. The tour on the glacier is done in about 2 hours, and during the course of it you can see a variety of ice formations such as cracks, seracs, sinkholes, small lagoons. The walk is moderate. The ice surface on which you walk is irregular, but firm and safe. Explanations will be received about the flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region as well as the particular phenomenon that occurs in the Perito Moreno glacier and eventually produces its rupture. At the end of the walk, you will return to the refuge through the exuberant Magellan forest, and then take the catamaran back to Puerto Bajo de Las Sombras.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off hotels located at Calafate downtown areas, Crampons to the participants, Guide for all the tour, Pick up time could be at 8 AM or at 1 PM depending on the availability in high season

Exclusions: Gratuities, National Park fees, Take a lunch box to have a meal in the woods at the side of the lake, before embarking., Transfers Calafate airport to Calafate Hotel are not included, Food or Drinks

Join this full day tour departing from Los Glaciares National Park, which is an area of exceptional natural beauty. With rugged, towering mountains and numerous glacial lakes, explore the National Park as well as Lake Argentino which is 160 km long. At its farthest end, three glaciers meet to launch massive igloo icebergs into the lake with thunderous splashes. Its most famous glacier, the Perito Moreno, awaits us with all its splendor and power.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned vehicle, Guided tour

Exclusions: Entrance fees (national park), Lunch

The experience begins at the Perito Moreno Kayak Experience meeting point, located near the main parking lot, where our team will greet you and inform you about the experience. We welcome you to our base of operations, where you will get dressed and our expert kayak guides will brief you on safety and explain how to paddle through these amazing glacial waters. No previous kayaking experience is required. We will kayak from Playa de los témpanos, paddling towards the front of the glacier, so that it impacts us completely, approaching about 600 meters away. We will stop to take unique images of this moment, while we learn more about this fascinating place. We will also do the guided walk through the Perito Moreno Footbridges where you can take pictures and tour the Glacier.

Inclusions: Pick up through Calafate hotels and drop off to hotels, It includes Vianda, Time in Catwalks, Technical clothing, Snacks, hot drinks, Our kayak experts will explain how to paddle through these amazing glacial waters.

Exclusions: Does not include entrance to the National Park, No previous kayaking experience is required.

Be seduced by the fascinating landscape of the Perito Moreno glacier on this full-day tour from El Calafate. Admire the mesmerizing beauty of the spiky glacier walls, its crevasses and the immensity of its ice formations while touring this renowned national park. Enjoy a 1-hour boat ride to get a different perspective of this natural wonder that rises 240 feet above Argentino Lake. On this tour, you’ll also learn about the general glaciology of the region, as well as the formation of an ice bridge, a particular phenomenon that happens every few years in the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Inclusions: Professional Bilingual Guide, Boat ride, Hotel pickup and drop off, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch, Entrance fees (around USD 17.00) payable only in cash and local currency

Join this full-day tour of Torres del Paine National Park. Depart early in the morning from El Calafate and admire the natural wonders of waterfalls and lakes that both Argentina and Chile has to offer.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Guided tour, Lunch box

Exclusions: Entrance to National Park

The journey begins at the private port La Soledad, located 47 kilometers from El Calafate. From there, at 9:00 AM we will set sail for the North Canal of Lake Argentino. The ice floes will decorate our passage through the Upsala Canal, from where we can see the Upsala Glacier about 15 km away. Then, we headed towards the Spegazzini Channel to see several hanging glaciers such as the Seco, Heim Sur, Peinetta, and then disembark at Puesto de Las Vacas. There we will take a 30-minute walk through an Andean Patagonian forest and its beaches. Upon returning to the boat we will enjoy lunch while we continue our walk until we reach the front of the highest glacier in the National Park: the Spegazzini Glacier. At this point we go to the Perito Moreno Glacier, where they can disembark on the footbridges for an hour and a half (if they choose this option). We will return to La Soledad port and return to the city at 06:00 PM.

Inclusions: Round trip transfer from central hotels in El Calafate, Sandwich, dessert and soft drink, Non-alcoholic beverage of choice, insurance

Exclusions: Tickets to the National Park (General $ 800 / National residents $ 410 / Children $ 170), Coffee and/or Tea, Alcoholic Beverages

We will start at 9 in the morning with the pick up from the hotels in El Calafate. Finished the same, we will undertake a trip to the town of El Chaltén (National Capital of Trekking) 220 km from El Calafate. On our way, we will cross the Santa Cruz River, and we will stop for a few minutes at Estancia La Leona, next to the homonymous river. We will continue on our way to El Chaltén, bordering Lake Viedma. Upon reaching El Chaltén, we will have 5 hours to enjoy this small mountain town (if you choose the option with lunch or lunch, read the details). To tour the place, we have 2 options: - Enabled all year: Visit the Mirador de los Cóndores and Chorrillo del Salto Accompanied by the guide. - From September to April - (Subject to weather conditions): do part of the trail to Fitz Roy, reaching the Laguna Capri (self-guided trail of 8 km round trip). To return, we will all meet at a previously set meeting point.

Inclusions: Round trip transfer from your central hotel in El Calafate., Spanish / English guide, From September to April, we will deliver a meal to have lunch where you want. From the end of April to September, we will have lunch in a restaurant (drinks not included)., Along with the lunch box, a non-alcoholic drink will be awarded to each passenger.

Exclusions:

The excursion begins at 7 hs from El Calafate. We take the mythic Route 40, that goes along the Argentino Lake up to La Leona river. We will pass by the canyon with the same name “Cañadón La Leona” and after 1.15 h ride we will arrive to the ancient route hotel "La Leona", almost a museum of the Route 40, where you can have coffee and cakes. Our trip continues along the Lake Viedma, from where we will have magical views of glaciers, hidden lakes and the overpowering presence of the Mount Fitz Roy. After arriving at Chalten we continue our ridelago del desierto taking the route that borders the Rio de las Vueltas taking us deeper into the Lengas and Nires forest. The road ends after one hour ride and 37 kms up to the North arriving at Lago del Desierto. From the pier Punta Sur we'll take a 40 minute boat ride to the natural reserve Vespignani from there areoptional hikes to read the best miradors of Vespignani Glacier and the north face of Mount Fitz Roy.

Inclusions: COMPLETE BOX LUNCH, BOAT NAVIGATION THROUGH THE LAGO DEL DESIERTO

Exclusions:

 Navigation on Lake Argentino is one of the few ways to approach some more distant and inaccessible glaciers, having the opportunity to travel inside the catamaran or through the balconies and the deck, which allows you to take wonderful photos. The landing at the Spegazzini Base, a piece of land in the middle of the vastness of Lake Argentino and the field of Glaciers. It allows hiking with the most spectacular views of the National Park.

Inclusions: In / Out Transfers, Professional Bilingual Guide, Navigation, Hike

Exclusions: Meals and / or drinks, Entrance to the National Park, which must be paid at destination in cash and Argentine pesos.