Explore the beautiful El Chaltén region on a 5-day Los Glaciares multi activity adventure in Patagonia, Argentina. Bike, hike kayak & climb - families welcome
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During this wonderful itinerary, we adjust the level of intensity to ensure everyone enjoys their mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and rock climbing adventures as we do a little bit of everything and learn about the geology, flora and fauna of this spectacular corner of Patagonia.
Spend a night enjoying a hot tub at the Eco dome, and another one glamping with one of the best views in the world, as you spend quality time together on a family trip to remember.
Attractions/Highlights of Los Glaciares multi activity adventure in Patagonia, Argentina:
-Try a bit of everything from hiking, to mountain biking, to kayaking, to rock climbing in and near the spectacular Los Glaciares National Park
-Cycle the beautiful trail from the Lago del Diablo to the Los Huemules Nature Reserve
-Kayak the glacial waters of the La Leona River and hike through a fascinating geological area with a wealth of fossils
-Climb to the Laguna de Los Tres for an incomparable view of Cerro Fitz Roy and Laguna Sucia (Dirty Lake)
-Enjoy the evening in a comfortable Eco Camp with private domes and a hot tub just outside of El Chaltén
The Los Glaciares multi activity adventure in Patagonia, Argentina is recommended for ages: 10 years and up. For children younger than this, please consult with us:
Activities: kayaking, low difficulty hiking trails, mountain biking, rock climbing
Level of difficulty (technical): introductory
Level of physical exertion: moderate
Total duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Itinerary for Los Glaciares multi activity adventure in Patagonia, Argentina:
-Day 1: El Calafate - El Chaltén
We begin our adventure from El Calafate (town or airport) and travel through the typical landscape of the Patagonian steppe to El Chaltén. This ~3-hour journey reveals extensive grasslands, but also views of the Argentino and Viedma lakes and the Fitz Roy mountain range. We will make several stops at panoramic viewpoints, and be sure to keep a sharp eye out to see if you can spot any of the wildlife that inhabits this area.
When we arrive in El Chaltén, we will drop you at your hotel. Our guide will pay you a visit once you are settled in and talk about the different activities that are scheduled for the following days. This is a perfect opportunity to ask questions and make any last-minute purchases before the trip.
Optional (not included): Afternoon rock climbing
You don’t have to go far from El Chaltén to find a wide variety of rock faces that are suitable for all levels of rock climbing experience. If it is your first climb, we will teach you the basic maneuvers on rocks that are suitable for beginners. If you are already experienced, we will take you to high-quality rock that will challenge your skills. Whatever your level, we begin with instructions on basic safety procedures, equipment use, and rock progression technique.
Level of difficulty: introductory
Level of physical exertion: low
Total duration: 3-4 hours
Day 2: Mountain Bike Lago del Desierto
We meet our guide at the hotel and leave El Chaltén by private vehicle to cover the ~37km long gravel road to its end at the southern tip of Lago del Desierto (Desert Lake).
Upon arrival, our guide will provide safety equipment (helmet, gloves, vest), help adjust our bicycles, and explain the basic concepts of safety while mountain biking. Then, it’s off on our two-wheeled adventure.
During our 20km ride, we will stop to admire (and photograph) the most picturesque locations along our route, including the river, the forest, the waterfalls, and the imposing north face of Cerro Fitz Roy. A support vehicle will be available throughout the journey if anyone becomes tired and does not want to continue on bicycle.
When we reach Los Huemules Nature Reserve, we will stop for lunch and trade our bikes for our feet for a low-difficulty hike of about 2.5 hours. This allows us to visit the beautiful Blue and Green Lagoons via well-marked trails.
From there, we will make our way to the Eco Lodge on the shores of Laguna Condor, where we will spend the night enjoying the wilderness and the opportunity to relax in a hot tub.
Level of difficulty: introductory
Level of physical exertion: low
Transport from El Chaltén to Lago del Desierto: 1hr 30mins
Duration of hike in the Los Huemules Reserve: 2hr 30 mins
Duration of mountain bike riding: 2-3 hours
Time of pick up: 8am
Time of arrival at Eco Lodge: 4pm
Included: picnic lunch, accommodation in a double Eco Cabin with dinner and breakfast.
-Day 3: Laguna de los Tres
Today begins with a short transfer to the start of the trail into the National Park at Hostería El Pilar. From there, we hike along a beautiful trail through the lenga forest, following the Río Blanco (White River) towards the Poincenot campsite.
Along the way, we will stop to learn a little about the flora and fauna that is characteristic of the Patagonian Andean forest and also visit the beautiful Piedras Blancas (White Rocks) viewpoint. Here we will see the Piedras Blancas glacier and its associated glacial features, including the erratic boulders and lateral moraines left behind as the glacier retreated over the last few decades.
We will have many different views of the Fitz Roy mountain chain as we make our way towards our objective for the day - the magnificent Laguna de Los Tres. This unforgettable location has the best view of Cerro Fitz Roy - and one of the most impressive vistas in all of Patagonia. During this Los Glaciares multi activity adventure in Patagonia, Argentina we will have plenty of time to take in this unforgettable view before descending to the Poincenot campsite where we will spend the night.
We will camp in an exclusive part of Poincenot site - away from other hikers who may be staying there. Our tents are large and include an inflatable mattress, a warm sleeping bag with a liner that is washed after each tour, and a pillow with pillowcase. In addition, we have a large dining dome where we will eat and can hang out together in comfort.
Distance: 13km +650/-400m
Duration: 6 /7 hours
Level of difficulty: introductory
Level of physical exertion: moderate
Included: 1 night of organized camping at Poincenot campground with breakfast, a boxed lunch and dinner
-Day 4 : Laguna Torre - Cerro Torre - El Chaltén
From our forest campsite, we will enjoy the first light of day breaking over the incredible Ritz Roy mountain range.
After breakfast, we leave Cerro Fitz Roy behind us and head off towards a lovely valley with rolling hills and the Lagunas Madre e Hija (Mother and Daughter lagoons). We will have plenty of time to stop and take photos and, if we are very lucky, we may even spot the small group of Cauquenes that is sometimes found in the area.
The trail leads us through forests of Lenga and Ñires and across a large moraine before arriving at our destination - Laguna Torre (Tower Lake).
Here, we will stop and have lunch while taking in the spectacular views of the Torres mountain chain and Glacier Grande (Big Glacier).
If the weather conditions allow, we will then hike towards the viewpoint Maestri for the closest view of Glacier Grande. This viewpoint is named after the controversial Italian climber, Cesare Maestri, who designed his strategies for climbing one of the most difficult mountains in the world from this location.
Once we are ready, we will leave the lake and mountain and follow the trail through the Cerro Torre valley back to El Chaltén.
Distance: 17km -400m
Duration: 7/8 hours
Level of difficulty: introductory
Level of physical exertion: moderate
Included: Breakfast and boxed lunch.
-Day 5 : Kayaking the La Leona River (group activity with maximum of 12 people)
After a 7:30 am pickup at your hotel, our epic adventure starts easily enough with a 1.5-hour transfer to the La Leona River. There, we will have a safety briefing, explain how to use all of the necessary equipment (wetsuit, neoprene boots, cockpit covers, semi-dry jacket, life jacket, mittens, helmet, dry bag for personal belongings and food), and distribute it to each person.
Once dressed, you will be allocated to one of the double kayaks and we will launch into the river. The guides will be in single kayaks so they can manoeuvre quickly through the group, providing further instruction on rowing techniques and looking out for the safety of everyone.
The first kayaking section is about 8 km long and should take us just over an hour. We will come ashore at Estancia La Meseta near Cerro Fortaleza for a well-deserved lunch break. While here, we will hike the incredible Cerro Los Hornos to a viewpoint that features fossilized bones and petrified trees.
We return to our kayaks to explore another stretch of the river, paddling with the current past fascinating geological formations and the colorful vegetation that is typical of the Patagonian steppe.
From the end of our paddle, our private vehicle will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in El Calafate.
Kayaking Distance: 14km
Hiking Distance: 5km
Start time: 7:30am
Finish time: 4:00pm
Level of difficulty: introductory
Level of physical exertion: moderate
Included: Bilingual Kayaking Guide (English/Spanish), transport to the river and then on to El Calafate, double kayak with all required equipment (thermal suit, neoprene boots, spray jacket, cockpit cover, helmet, gloves, life vest, waterproof bag), box lunch
Note: Throughout the Los Glaciares multi activity adventure in Patagonia, Argentina our camping equipment is already set up at the campsites. Participants only have to carry personal objects and their boxed lunch during the trek. The campsites have dry toilets (with a seat) but do not have electricity or showers. Access to drinking water is available throughout most of the hike.
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