Planning a trip to Patagonia is so exciting! Seeing these mountains in person while hiking and even just driving around is seriously incredible. However, the logistics of the trip can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you want to visit both the Chilean and Argentinean sides of Patagonia. Keep reading and use my exact 10-day Patagonia itinerary!
Exploring Patagonia was a bucket list trip for me, and I’m so glad I finally made it happen to visit this beautiful region in South America. As someone who loves outdoorsy travel, Patagonia was the perfect destination! Located at the southern tip of South America, you really feel like you are on the edge of the world!
Patagonia is a huge region spanning across two countries (Chile and Argentina) and you can’t explore all of it in just 10 days. However, if 10 days is all you have, I recommend the following itinerary to see the highlights of this beautiful area ( this is my exact itinerary!)
This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission if you book through my links, at no extra cost to you.
10-Day Patagonia Itinerary Overview
- Days 1-4: Torres del Paine (Chile)
- Days 4-5: El Calafate/Perito Moreno Glacier (Argentina)
- Days 6-10: El Chalten (Argentina)
SEE ALSO: Dolomites Itinerary: The Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary for Adventure-Lovers
How Do You Get to Patagonia?
To get to Patagonia, the first step will be to fly into Santiago (SCL) or Buenos Aires (EZE). From either of these airports, it’s then about a 3-hour flight south into a smaller airport in Patagonia.
For my itinerary starting your trip on the Chilean side in Torres del Paine, you will want to:
- Fly into SCL
- Take a connecting flight into Puerto Natales (PNT) or Punta Arenas (PUQ)
- PNT: 1.5 hour drive to Torres del Paine
- PUQ: 5 hour drive to Torres del Paine
I recommend flying into Puerto Natales for the sake of time. There are fewer flight time options and it can be a little bit more expensive than flying into Punta Arenas, but it’s worth it for the proximity to TDP!
I landed in Santiago at 6:10am and then had a quick layover before my 8:45am flight to Puerto Natales (PNT).
Should I Rent a Car in Patagonia?
YES! I highly recommend renting a car for the first portion of the trip in Torres del Paine. The national park is spread out, so it’s nice to have your own wheels to get around and see the sights on your own schedule. For the Argentinian side of Patagonia (El Calafate and El Chalten) you don’t need a car as it’s super easy to get around without one.
We rented a car from Magallanes Rent-A-Car in Puerto Natales and had a great experience. They brought the car to the airport for us so it was there when we arrived, and the person walking us through the rental process was super friendly. They also included a free little Patagonia tote bag which was a nice touch (and actually came in handy for us during our trip). If they don’t have any availability, I recommend using DiscoverCars which has a great selection.
The drive from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine is easy and pretty straight forward. The only annoying thing about driving around Torres del Paine is that it’s pretty much all gravel roads so your drives will be a bit loud, bumpy, and at a slow speed inside the actual park.
How Do You Get Around Torres del Paine Without a Rental Car?
If you don’t want to rent a car for Torres del Paine, you can still make the trip work. You could either:
- Stay at one of the luxury all-inclusive hotels in Torres del Paine like Hotel Las Torres or Explora. They offer airport transfers, and then you can book excursions through them to see and do things in the national park.
- On a budget? You could instead opt to stay in Puerto Natales and take Bus-Sur to the park each day. However, within the park itself there is only one shuttle, operated by Las Torres, that runs from Laguna Amarga to the Welcome Center and back.
- If you are on a budget and want to stay in Puerto Natales, you also could book a tour that includes transportation. Like this one (which is really highly rated!): Base of the Towers Day Hike from Puerto Natales
When is the Best Time to Visit Patagonia?
The best time to visit Patagonia for a hiking trip is in their summer, which is December – March.
I visited late December/early January, and we had the BEST weather! Also, you have tons of daylight in their summer season. The sunrise was around 6am, and sunset was around 10pm! Plenty of time for activities.
Other Tips for Your Patagonia Trip:
Planning for Patagonia Weather
Patagonia is infamous for its extremely variable weather. It can be sunny one moment, and snowing the next! And it can get insanely windy! Because of this, I recommend making your 10-day Patagonia itinerary flexible and including buffer days in each spot you want to visit. For instance, the top thing I wanted to do in El Chalten is to hike Fitz Roy. I gave myself 4 days in El Chalten so that I could pick the best weather day to do the hike once I arrived in town.
Use Wind Guru and Wunderground as the most accurate weather apps/websites for Patagonia
Do You Need to Bring Cash to Patagonia?
Other blogs I researched before my trip talked about advice for getting cash/ ATMs in certain places. I actually had NO problem paying with my credit card for the entire trip! Even when I bought a little trinket from a street vendor, I was able to use a card. Most places will offer you a 10% discount if you pay in cash, so just keep that in mind if you want to take advantage of that.
Should I Make Dinner Reservations Ahead of Time in Patagonia?
Yes, make a few dinner reservations ahead of time if you can!! This is something I was not prepared for. In Torres del Paine, the only restaurants are inside the hotels/lodges so there are not very many. If you are staying in the national park (which I recommend!) make a dinner reservation ahead of time. OR bring groceries with you from Puerto Natales to cook your own meals. Our first night in town we were staying in the Rio Serrano area. We walked over to three different hotel restaurants and none had availability that night. Thankfully, in our grocery run in Puerto Natales we had picked up some pasta just in case, so we made that for dinner!
In El Chalten, it’s an actual town so there are more restaurants to choose from. However if you are there during peak time (post Christmas, like we were), then be prepared for long waits at restaurants unless you make a reservation.
Is Cell Service Reliable in Patagonia?
No, I didn’t have service pretty much the whole time in Torres del Paine. Make sure to download an offline maps app before your trip. You won’t have cell service to use Google Maps when driving around! We used OrganicMaps and it worked great. In El Chalten, I had cell service in town.
Packing for Patagonia
Pack light! You will be hopping around from bus to bus, lodging to lodging, and you don’t want to be dragging a suitcase along with you. Try to pack in a backpack (We use the Osprey Porter and it’s great!)
10-Day Patagonia Itinerary
Without further ado… it’s time for the most epic 10-day Patagonia itinerary covering both the Chilean and Argentenian sides! This is the exact itinerary I used for my trip in December/Jan 2026.
Day 1: Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park
Once you land in Puerto Natales and pick up your rental car, head about 10 minutes from the airport into the town of Puerto Natales. After your long flight, I’m guessing you’ll want some coffee and lunch before hitting the road to Torres del Paine!
Coffee, Lunch and Grocery Run in Puerto Natales
Most blogs I read before my trip recommended Holaste Coffee. We tried to go there twice, and both times there was a line of people out the door and no where to sit so we bailed!
Instead, I highly recommend Tempest Cafe. It’s on the same street as Holaste, just a few blocks down. Great vibes, super friendly baristas, and amazing coffee!
Afterwards, head to either:
- Alveoli Bakery to try one of their pizzas! This little spot has the most delicious homemade pizzas and the cutest vibes on their covered back patio.
- Cafe Artimana – I had the BEST sandwich here that I still dream about. It had shredded beef and a fried egg and was absolutely delicious. It’s also HUGE so would be great to split if you are traveling with a friend.
Afterwards, head to the grocery store. We went to two of the main grocery stores in town (Unimarc and Don Bosco). Unicmarc was a bigger store and had a good selection of items. However, Don Bosco had better fresh bread for sandwiches and was less crowded. We got some bread, salami and cheese for sandwiches to eat on our hikes, as well as pasta & sauce in case we needed to make dinner one night (so glad we did, because we definitely needed it when we couldn’t get in to a restaurant our first night there!)
Drive from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park
After your grocery store stop, it’s time to hit the road to Torres del Paine! It’s about a 2-hour drive from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine. The drive is nice, easy and scenic!
IMPORTANT NOTE: You have to buy an entrance ticket for Torres del Paine National Park. You can buy it online here. There are two options: a 3-day ticket, or a “more than 3 days” ticket. Tickets are free for children under 12 or for senior citizens age 60+.
Once you start getting close to the national park, the road turns to gravel (get used to the gravel roads – pretty much the whole national park isn’t paved!) You’ll see some nice viewpoints along the way – definitely stop at them if it’s good weather! Head to your lodging and check in.
Once you check in to your lodging, I recommend sitting down and taking a look at the weather for the next few days to make your plan based on the hikes and sites that you want to prioritize. For us, our top priority was doing the Mirador Las Torres hike. You can consult the receptionist at your lodging too, if you want a second opinion. Everyone is super nice!
Get some dinner and rest up for a big day tomorrow!
What’s the Best Place to Stay in Torres del Paine National Park?
There really aren’t a ton of options for loding within Torres del Paine, which makes the lodging here pretty expensive. Some people opt to stay in Puerto Natales and drive the 1.5 hours every day. However, I think it’s totally worth it to be able to stay in the national park, and I was able to find some moderately-priced lodging that was great!
We stayed at:
- Lago Tyndall Cabins (Rio Serrano area) for 2 nights
- Hosteria Pehoe for one night
I highly recommend both of these options!
Lago Tyndall Cabins
Lago Tyndall Cabins was one of the most affordable options I found when searching for lodging for our dates. It’s located in the Rio Serrano area, which is technically just outside the national park border. The views of the mountain range from this area are stunning! It was only my husband and I on this trip, but our cabin had two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and was STILL cheaper than a hotel room elsewhere. We had so much space, a kitchen, a porch, and amazing views.
Hosteria Pehoe
I saw a photo of Hosteria Pehoe during my research and thought “I HAVE to stay here!!” I planned my trip about 6 months in advance and there was only availability for one night during my dates, so I snagged it! I felt so lucky to be able to get a room here.
Hosteria Pehoe is a little hotel located on Lago Pehoe, one of the most scenic areas in the central region of Torres del Paine National Park. To get there, you park at the base a bridge and walk across to the little island (so yes, you will need to walk your luggage across the bridge! Even more reason to pack light!)
There is a restaurant on site that is open to the public (but if you are staying there you get to sit at the best tables right next to the window with the view!) And a loft area upstairs of the restaurant that is for guests-only where you can hang out.
Our room was basic, but comfortable. The property grounds are stunning, though! There’s even a little trail to a lookout point up a hill where you can get a panoramic view over the lake.
Other Lodging Recommendations for Torres del Paine
Hotel Las Torres: If you have the budget for it, this would be an awesome place to stay. The hotel is located right at the trailhead for the Mirador Las Torres hike, which is one of the most popular things to do in Torres del Paine. If you stay here, you cut off about one mile each way of the hike since you get to start right at the trailhead (vs everyone else who has to park at the Welcome Center and start the hike from there).
They also offer excursions that you can only book if you are a guest (like riding a horse halfway up the Mirador Las Torres hike), and their restaurant is open to guests only. Very exclusive!
Day 2: Mirador Las Torres (Base Towers) Hike
The Mirador Las Torres hike in Torres del Paine is one of the most iconic hikes in all of Patagonia, and is part of the famous W-Trek. People travel from all over the world to make it to this spot, staring out at the lagoon with the three towers looming in the background. It’s stunning, and definitely a must-do during your 10-day Patagonia itinerary! It’s definitely a long hike with a lot of elevation gain, so be prepared for that. There is a refugio halfway up the hike (Refugio Chileno) where you can take a break and get some lunch or drinks, which is nice!
This is one of the first hikes of the popular W-Trek (5-day backpacking hike), but many day hikers (like myself!) come to the area to complete this bucket list hike as well. See below for the stats:
- Trailhead: Welcome Center (or, if you’re lucky enough to stay at Hotel Las Torres, you can start the trail one mile past the Welcome Center shave some mileage off the hike!)
- Trail type: Out & Back
- Miles: ~13.5
- Elevation Gain: 3,356
- Time Needed: 8-10 hours
This trail is in the eastern section of the park. It took us about 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive there from the Rio Serrano area where we stayed the first night. There are nice bathrooms at the Welcome Center, where you park for the trailhead. We started the hike right at 9am, and ended at 5:30pm, so it took us 8.5 hours (with a quick stop at the Refugio on the way there and the way back).
I do wish we had started the hike earlier than 9am – I knew beforehand that this was a popular hike and it would be crowded, but I underestimated just how crowded it would be. Once we got closer to the top, the trail got narrower and at some points, we had to stop and wait for several people to come down before we could continue going up. I think starting around 7 or 8am would help to avoid this a little bit (but expect to see a lot of people on the trail regardless!)
The first part of the hike is a constant ascent, then mellows out across a relatively flat trail through the canyon (that is notoriously called “Windy Pass”). We got extremely lucky with the weather on our hike – it was warm and sunny with no wind!
Once you reach Refugio Chileno, you are halfway to the top. Once you pass the refugio, you enter the forested section of the trail. I expected this portion to be more flat, but nope – there is still more ascending involved here. Past that, you get to the exposed, rocky section which is the final ascent.
Once you get to the top, the hike will be all worth it! Despite there being a lot of people, I felt that it didn’t deter from the view. There was still enough space to spread out and find solitude, and you can find rocks along the shoreline to take photos on with no one in the background. Keep in mind that they close access to the top around 4:00pm, so make sure you time your hike to get there before then!
Once you hike back down and get back to your car, drive back to your lodging, get some dinner and a beer! You deserve it!
Day 3: Salto Grande, Mirador Cuernos, Lago Nordenskjöld, Laguna Amarga
On the third day of your 10-day Patagonia itinerary, it’s time to give your hiking legs a rest and do some chill (but still EPIC) activities.
Mirador Cuernos Hike
Ok yes, this is a “hike” but it’s a very chill, short, flat and scenic one! Mirador Cuernos was honestly right up there with Mirador las Torres for us in terms of incredibly beautiful hikes. Even though this one is short, the views are seriously insane. This is a MUST-DO activity during your 10-day Patagonia itinerary, in my opinion! And is hands down the best short hike in all of Torres del Paine.
- Trailhead: Salto Grande Parking Lot (just a 12-minute drive from Hosteria Pehoe)
- Miles: 4
- Elevation Gain: 659 ft
- Type: Out & Back
The first 5 minutes of the hike will take you to the Salto Grande waterfall, which is amazing:
A lot of people will simply walk to the waterfall and then go back to their car (which is crazy, because if you keep going past that it is the most beautiful, serene trails!) Because of this, there is hardly anyone on the trail. A stark contrast to the previous day on the ever-crowded Mirador Las Torres hike.
SIDENOTE: When we started this hike, it started raining and was low visibility. So, we actually drove back over to Hosteria Pehoe and sat in their coffee lounge area, sipping coffee and waiting out the rain until it cleared up. After about 2 hours, it cleared up and we went back over there and did the trail. I wanted to note this as a reminder that you have to be super flexible during your trip to Patagonia based on the weather! And also, there aren’t many places to wait out the rain when you are in the middle of the park, but Hosteria Pehoe is a great option.
After you pass Salto Grande waterfall, follow the trail as it meanders past a beautiful lake with stunning views of the Cuernos mountain range the whole time and the French Valley. This hike was sooo pleasant and stunningly beautiful. After two miles of the flat trail, you’ll reach the end point with the best view (but the views are great the whole way).
Lago Nordenskjöld Viewpoint
After completing the Mirador Cuernos hike, drive about 15 minutes over to Mirador Lago Nordenskjöld. Right before the official viewpoint, you’ll see a small turnout on the left side of the road (the side that the lake is on) with a short trail up a hill. Park here and walk up the hill, and be rewarded with the most incredible view of Lago Nordenskjöld!
Laguna Amarga
If you have time after the other two activities of today, consider checking out Laguna Amarga. This lake is located right outside the east entrance to the park, and has an amazing view of the mountain range along the lake. This is also an area where you are most likely to see a Puma in the wild, which would be so cool!
If you are super interested in having the best chance of seeing a Puma in the wild, you can book a a guided safari type of tour, like this one: Puma Watching & Tracking TDP
Day 4: Glacier Grey OR French Valley
On your last day in Torres del Paine on your Patagonia itinerary, I recommend either checking out Glacier Grey on either a kayak tour or a boat tour, OR doing a day hike to the French Valley.
SIDENOTE: I was not able to do either of these things because it was pouring rain on our last day! Due to the bad forecast, we actually headed back to Puerto Natales and took an earlier bus to El Calafate. But, if the weather had cooperated, I would have decided on one of these two options for the last day!
Glacier Grey
Glacier Grey is the biggest glacier in Torres del Paine National Park, and is located on Lago Grey. It looks epic! Technically, there is a day-hike you can do (part of the W-Trek), but it’s about 14 miles and you have to take a ferry to get to the trailhead, which creates pressure to finish the hike in time to get back before the last ferry leaves for the day. Based on this, I don’t recommend doing the day hike here unless you are a very experienced and fast hiker.
Alternatively, you can either do a 3-hour boat cruise, or you could do a kayak tour! Both options seem awesome.
Glacier Grey Boat Cruise
The most popular way to get a good view of Glacier Grey is to take the Grey III boat cruise. This 3-hour cruise departs from Hotel Lago Grey (which, if you have time, I recommend getting a drink at the bar there!) and gets you up close to the glacier from the water. It costs about $120 per person, and includes a drink (Pisco Sour) made with ice from the icebergs!
Glacier Grey Kayak Tour
If you are looking for a bit more adventure, then opt for a kayak tour instead! I feel like it would be so serene to kayak over to the glacier, and such a unique experience. You can literally touch the water and feel the icebergs! The kayak tours last around 2 hours. This tour through Howlanders looks like a great one!
French Valley Day Hike
Alternatively, instead of checking out Glacier Grey, you could do a day hike to the French Valley. See below for the hike stats:
- Trailhead: Paine Grande Refugio (take the 30-min ferry across Lake Pehoe to get there, which leaves from Cafeteria Pudeto. You can find the ferry schedule here)
- Type: Out & Back
- Miles: 11.5
- Elevation Gain: ~1,800 feet
- Time: 7-8 hours
This hike looks beautiful and peaceful, and has stunning views pretty much the whole way! I love the detailed blog write-up on the trail from TravelYesPlease.
After your day spent exploring, I recommend heading back to Puerto Natales and spending the night there to be in place to catch your morning bus to El Calafate the next day.
Puerto Natales Lodging Recommendation: The Rufus Boutique Hotel is a great option centrally located in the heart of town!
Day 5: Puerto Natales to El Calafate
On day 5 of your 10-day Patagonia itinerary, you’ll be saying goodbye to Chile and taking a bus across the border to Argentina to head to the city of El Calafate!
What to Expect on the Bus Ride from Puerto Natales to El Calafate
The bus ride from Puerto Natales, Chile to El Calafate,Argentina takes about 5-6 hours (including the border crossing). Don’t be nervous about the length of this bus ride – the busses are actually super nice and comfortable (way more comfy than seats on an airplane). Most of them have WiFi, too. Use BusBud to buy your bus ticket – this is the most popular site to use for bus tickets in the region, is super easy to work with, and is what we used for every bus ticket throughout our 10 days in Patagonia.
I recommend picking the first bus departure time in the morning (the first one should be at around 6am), so that you can be the first one to the customs line at the border. We went on the Marga Taqsa bus, on the top floor. When we boarded, we were each handed a bottle of water and an Alfajor (Argentinian dulce de leche cookie). Our bus was a double decker (which is common for this route) and we sat on the top floor. The seats were big and comfy, there was cool A/C blowing, and we had WiFi. Not bad!
About 30 minutes in to the journey, you will reach the border of Chile/Argentina. Everyone will get off the bus and get in line at the Chilean customs building to show your passport to exit the country. You will then drive about 2 more minutes down the road and get out again to go through customs on the Argentinian side. (your passport doesn’t get stamped here, sadly!)
SIDENOTE: When you enter Chile at the airport, they give you a little piece of paper called a PDI Tourist Document. It literally looks like a receipt and if you didn’t know any better, you might throw it away (which yes, we did, because we didn’t know!). Every lodging we checked in to in Chile asked us for this document. We got lucky and each time, they said it was ok and let us check in without it, but that we would need to get a replacement in order to exit the country.
When we got back to Puerto Natales, we went to the PDI Office to get a replacement, but the man working there said that we actually didn’t need it to exit the country?? And sure enough, at the customs border, they didn’t ask us for it. Not sure why we got mixed info about that, but to save yourself the hassle, just save the paper when they give it to you at the airport.
Once you get through customs and get back on the bus, you can sit back, relax, look out the window, and enjoy the ride! Our bus stopped at a random hotel restaurant about an hour-ish from the destination for a bathroom/snack break.
Best Place to Stay in El Calafate
Budget: Hostal Schilling – (pictured above!) we stayed here in a private room and loved it! The front desk staff was super nice. They helped us arrange a private driver to take us to the glacier the next day, and also to order a taxi to the bus station the next day (you could walk there but we were tired and didn’t want to walk with our bags because there’s some uphill involved). The room was nice and clean, and the common areas were super cool and they have a nice backyard you can hang out in as well. It’s also very centrally-located, just a quick 3 minute walk to some of the best bars and restaurants.
Mid-Range: Hotel Kosten Aike has great reviews and in is also in a good location!
For this 10-day Patagonia itinerary, you’ll only be staying in El Calafate one night. Once you arrive from the bus, it’s about a 15-min walk to either of these hotels (which was welcome after sitting on a bus for 6 hours!) Check in to your lodging, settle in, and then go get some food!
Where to Eat in El Calafate:
If you only have time for one meal in El Calafate, go to Buenos Cruces Pasta Bar! It’s set in a little courtyard garden type of setting with string lights. I had one of the best ravioli’s I have EVER had in my life (the ham, mozzerella, sundried tomatoes stuffed pasta in garlic cream sauce). One of the coolest parts is the chef herself brings the dishes out to you on a legit silver platter with the dome on top, and then puts it in front of you and takes the silver dome off, as if to see your reaction. Great vibes here, and amazing food.
I’ve also heard really good things about Mi Viejo, if you are wanting a more traditional Argentinan parilla meal. It was closed on the day we were there though!
Day 6: Perito Moreno Glacier
On Day 6 of your 10-day Patagonia trip, it’s time to explore the most iconic glacier in all of Patagonia! Perito Moreno glacier is unique in that it’s one of the few growing glaciers in the world. It grows at a rate of about 6 inches per day! It’s a truly massive ice field that is so incredible to see in person.
Perito Moreno glacier is about an hour outside of El Calafate, and is the main reason people visit El Calafate on their Patagonia trip. There are a few ways to experience the glacier:
- Walking the Boardwalks
- Perito Moreno glacier has the most amazing boardwalk system set up for you to walk around and get different viewpoints and angles of the glacier. You really can get a pretty great view from the boardwalks and they are set up very nicely!
- Taking a Boat Cruise
- You can take a one-hour boat cruise to a view of the glacier from the water’s edge. You can book in advance, but you don’t necessarily have to. We just walked up to the boat dock and bought a ticket for a boat that was leaving 10 minutes from then. But maybe we just got lucky? If you prefer to book in advance, you can book a boat tour here.
- Walking on the Glacier (!!)
- If you are up for more of an adventure and immersive experience, you can book a guided tour to walk/hike on top of the actual glacier. One of the most popular/best tour companies is called Hielo y Aventura. You can book their guided “Big Ice” tour here!
The only way to hike on the glacier is through guided tour. If you don’t wish to hike it and would rather experience Perito Moreno glacier from the walkways or the boat cruise, you have two options:
- Guided Tour that Includes Transfers from El Calafate
- You can book a guided tour to bring you to the walkways, with an optional boat cruise involved.
- Do it on your own!
- If you want the flexibility to be on your own timeline/schedule, it’s super easy to explore on your own. You can either
- Rent a car for the day and drive yourself (I recommend using DiscoverCars)
- Hire a private driver. Your lodging should be able to help you arrange this easily! Will cost about $150 total.
- Book a bus ticket through BusBud for about $40 each way
- If you want the flexibility to be on your own timeline/schedule, it’s super easy to explore on your own. You can either
Personally, I was tempted to book the ice hiking guided tour to get on the glacier itself, but ended up opting to do the walkways and boat tour instead since I had been hiking on a glacier in Iceland before already. It does look awesome though, and includes a whiskey tasting with the ice from the glacier!
We ended up using a private driver that Hostal Schilling easily arranged for us. I liked the idea of being on my own schedule and also wanted to make sure we were back in time before our 6:00pm bus to El Chalten. The driver was super friendly, and stopped at a few viewpoints on the way into Los Glaciares National Park. When we decided that we would like to try to hop on one of the 1-hour boat cruises, he drove us straight to the dock, walked us to the ticket booth, and communicated with the ticket person on our behalf. He helped us get two tickets for the boat that was leaving in just 5 minutes!
Afterwards, he was waiting for us at the dock to take us to the walkways, which was equally as amazing.
If you are on a budget (or short on time) and considering if you should do the boat cruise or not – I will say – the walkways alone are incredible! You could go there and just do the walkways and be satisfied, in my opinion.
NOTE: You will need to buy your entrance ticket to Los Glaciares National Park. It’s easier if you do it beforehand so you can just show your ticket at the entrance. You can buy it here.
After your day spent exploring Perito Moreno glacier, it’s time to head to the last town on this 10-day Patagonia itinerary: El Chalten! We booked a 6:00pm bus on BusBud with ChaltenTravel. The ride is abut 2.5 hours and is SO SCENIC!
You’ll arrive around 9:00pm. Check in, get settled, and get ready for some more exploring!
Best Place to Stay in El Chalten
Budget/Mid Range: Patagonia Travellers Hostel
We stayed in a private room here and it was great! It’s perfectly located right on the main street in town (and pretty close to the Fitz Roy trailhead). The front desk staff was super nice and helpful. You can rent bikes from the hostel if you want to go for a bike ride one of the days. They have hiking poles you can borrow for free for your hikes. The room was pretty basic but clean.
Luxury: Los Cerros del Chalten OR Destino Sur
Both of these hotels look like amazing options and I’ve heard great things about them. We actually tried to go to the spa one day at Destino Sur but they told us it’s for guests only. So, that is a perk of booking there, in case you want to treat yourself to a massage on one of the days!
Day 7: El Chalten – Fitz Roy Hike
El Chalten is the most incredible, special little mountain town. There’s just something in the air there… it truly feels just magical and happy and exciting! You most definitey do not need a car. The town is small and you can walk everywhere. All the trailheads are walking distance, right on the edges of town. A stark contrast from how spread out it is in Torres del Paine! El Chalten was my favorite area we stayed in during this 10-day Patagonia itinerary.
What to Do on Your First Day in El Chalten
Similar to my advice for Torres del Paine, when you arrive to El Chalten – take a good hard look at the weather forecast (use Windy or Wunderground) to see which days will have the best weather. Most people traveling to El Chalten (including myself) want to prioritize doing the famous Fitz Roy hike on whichever day has the best weather forecast. Let’s pretend, for this itinerary, that the best weather day for the hike is on day 1, but switch this itinerary around for whatever works best based on your weather forecast in the moment!
Hike Fitz Roy (Laguna de los Tres)
This was my FAVORITE hike I did through my full 10 days in Patagonia, and should not be missed! Did you know that the viewpoint of mountains at the end of this hike is what inspired the Patagonia logo? How cool!
See below for the hike stats:
- Trailhead: Sendero al Fitz Roy (right at the end of the main street, about a 10 minute walk from Patagonia Travellers Hostel)
- Miles: 13.9
- Elevation Gain: 3,454 ft
- Type: Out & Back
- Time Needed: 8-10 hours
The trail is beautiful pretty much the entire way, with great views. It starts out with an ascent for the first mile, but then the trail flattens out and is pretty moderate until you get to the final climb at the end, which is a bit brutal, but totally do-able and absolutely worth it for the view at the top!
If you are reading this and are not physically able to hike 14 miles, you should still do the first mile of this hike. Within mile 1, you reach the first “Mirador Fitz Roy” viewpoint. My husband actually threw his back out the first day we arrived in El Chalten, and sadly he was not able to go the full way, but he was happy to just be able to make it to that first Mirador! It really is a great view.
Despite my husband’s thrown-out back, I was determined to make it all the way to the end of this bucket list hike. I actually made friends with a couple that I met in town, and I hiked it with them!
We started the hike at 7am, and ended at 3:30pm, so it took us a full 8.5 hours (with very minimal breaks).
You will need to buy an entrance ticket for this hike (It costs $45). It has been said that if you get to the trailhead before 7am, the rangers aren’t there yet and you can hike it for free. BUT I am here to tell you that that isn’t true (or maybe we just got unlucky). We got there at 6:45 and sure enough, there was a ranger at the station. They told me cash only, which I didn’t have with me, so I had to whip out my phone and buy it online. So I recommend to just buy the entrance ticket online the night before your hike.
Day 8: El Chalten – Chill Day Hikes
Your legs are probably TIRED from the Fitz Roy hike yesterday, so it’s time to take it easy today! I have two chill (but rewarding) short hikes for you.
Kick off your day with some breakfast in town, and then head to:
Mirador de los Condores (Condor Lookout) Hike
This easy hike gives you some great views of El Chalten from above, with Fitz Roy looming in the background. See below for the hike stats:
- Trailhead: Mirador de los Condores (about a 20 minute walk through town from Patagonia Travellers Hostel)
- Miles: 1.6
- Elevation Gain: 423 ft
- Type: Out & Back
- Estimated Time: 45 min – 1 hour
Note that there is a pay station at the entrance to the hike. I recommend, when you are buying your entrance ticket for Fitz Roy, to make it a multi-day pass so that you can go on this hike as well. Otherwise, it will cost $45 just to hike it, which is crazy to me since it is such a short hike! You could also try to go before 7am or after 7pm (the sun doesn’t set till around 10pm) when the rangers are supposedly gone so you won’t need a ticket.
After that, grab some lunch or a beer in town before heading to the next spot:
Chorillo del Salto Waterfall
Next up – check out this cool little waterfall that is a short hike away from town.
- Trailhead: Sendero Fitz Roy, but take the detour to the right
- Miles: 4.1 if you walk the whole way, or 0.6 miles from the parking lot
- Elevation Gain: 456 ft (if you walk the whole way)
- Type: Out & Back
- Time: 1-2 hours (or 20 minutes if you get a ride to the parking lot)
To see this waterfall, you can either walk all the way from town OR you could get a ride to the parking lot and then it’s only a half mile from there. Alternatively, you could also rent bikes and bike to the parking lot.
The hike isn’t very scenic compared to the others on this 10-day Patagonia itinerary, and follows along pretty much parallel to the gravel road. We opted to rent bikes from our hostel to get to there. I am not used to mountain biking/riding on rough terrain though, so honestly biking on the gravel road was a little tough for me!
The waterfall itself was cool to see. Definitely not anywhere close to a highlight of my time in El Chalten, but still a fun activity to do if you have a lot of time/days in the area. There is so much daylight, so you truly do have so much time to do multiple activities in one day in the summer here!
Explore the Town of El Chalten
After the waterfall, explore town a bit. There are lots of bars, restaurants, and shops along Ave St. Martin, which is the main street in town. A few of my favorites:
- Mathilda: We ate dinner here on the outside patio and really liked it
- Meme’s Cakes: we loved this place so much that we went three times during our stay in El Chalten! They have great coffee, cookies, and cheesecake. They also have great Mate here!
- Bandidos Patagonicos: Good outdoor patio spot for a beer
- La Cerveceria Chalten: Favorite dinner spot! We had to wait two hours for a table though… (they don’t do reservations)
- Fuegia Bistro: This was probably my second-favorite dinner spot. The food was great, the staff was so friendly!
- La Wafleria: the waffles were ok… but the vibes here sitting outside on a sunny day are great
Day 9: El Chalten – Laguna Torre Hike
Kick off your second-to-last day of your 10-day Patagonia itinerary by getting breakfast at La Esquina. From here, it’s only an 6-minute walk to the Laguna Torre trailhead.
Laguna Torre is an 11-mile hike, but if you aren’t up for a long hike this day, you can just do the first 1.5 miles to Mirador del Torre (this is what we did, since my husband injured his back!)
I hear that the full hike is much easier than Fitz Roy and is fairly flat with nice views most of the way. It’s known as one of the best hikes in El Chalten!
Hike Stats:
- Miles: 11.2 (or do a shorter hike to the first viewpoint, which would make it about 3 miles round trip)
- Elevation Gain: 1,873 ft
- Type: Out & Back
- Time Needed: 6-8 hours for the full hike, or 2 hours for partial-way
Try Mate
While you’re in Argentina, you have to try Mate! It’s the national drink of Argentina. Drinking this highly-caffeinated tea is like a ritual to locals that represents community and friendship. Traditionally, it is served in a gourd (but most places serve it to you in a ceramic glass) full of dried Yerba leaves. You then have a separate pot of hot water that you pour into the cup with the leaves, and you drink it out of a metal straw, and share it with the person next to you.
I recommend going to Meme’s Cakes in El Chalten to order Mate. They serve it to you with two cookies. We went two days in a row – the cookies were AMAZING and we really enjoyed the mate!
Tip: Only order one, since it is meant to be shared.
Day 10: Horseback Riding at Estancia Bonanza
On the last day of your 10-day Patagonia itinerary – it’s time to hop on the saddle and go on a horseback riding tour! This was one of the highlights of my time in El Chalten, and I highly recommend it. I haven’t really ever ridden a horse before, but it is very beginner-friendly.
Estancia Bonanza is located on land right next to the national park, about a 20-minute drive from town. The grounds are STUNNING and they have a luxury lodge you can stay at, but also they offer horseback riding, via ferrata, and climbing tours.
The horseback riding tour is something that can’t be missed, truly. We picked the half-day horseback riding tour that included an authentic lunch of roasted lamb. It was the most magical day.
What to Expect on the Estancia Bonanza Horseback Riding Tour in El Chalten
You walk to their office in the heart of town in El Chalten as the meeting point. From there, you get in a sprinter van and they take you about 20 minutes to the Estancia. You walk across the coolest suspension bridge over the river to get to the meeting point where the horses are.
They give you a helmet to wear and a spot to drop off your belongings before a quick overview about how to ride a horse. They asked if anyone had horseback riding experience, and the 3 people that raised their hand stood to the side (I’m assuming they gave them specific horses to accomodate their skill level, but I’m not sure!) For the rest of us, it was mostly everyone’s first time. They helped us up onto our horses and we were on our way!
It was the most serene, beautiful experience riding a horse through this open meadow with Fitz Roy in the background. My horse started trotting a little bit which was fun. The trail goes into a forest at one point, and then opens back up with even better, closer views of Fitz Roy. You cross a small stream on your horse and keep going for a little while longer before arriving at this barn, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, which is the lunch spot!
This was the most SCENIC spot to have lunch. Everyone had a table next to a window with a clear view of Fitz Roy. The food was incredible – they were roasting a lamb over an open fire in the back of the barn. We each got a glass of wine included with lunch, too. This was my top meal during my stay in El Chalten!
Afterwards, they take you back to the starting point by van.
It was such a memorable afternoon, and one of the highlights for me of our 10-day Patagonia itinerary.
Once you get back to town, depending on if you flight out is that evening or the next morning, you may need to head to the airport. Our flight was that evening, and the bus schedule on BusBud didn’t quite work out for our flight time. Instead, our hostel helped us to arrange a private driver to the El Calafate airport, which is about a 2-ish hour drive. Honestly, I would have preferred the bus (the busses in Patagonia are so lux and comfy!) but the main perk of the private driver was that we had her stop on the way out of town to get a picture of this iconic view of El Chalten from the road:
I hope this 10-day Patagonia itinerary helps you have the most amazing trip!!
