In Patagonia

From Tierra del Fuego to the mighty peaks of Patagonia, our spectacular journey brims with exhilarating hikes, either moderate or challenging (your choice!). We hike trails below the great shark fin of Mt. Fitzroy in Argentina’s Glacier National Park, amid the soaring towers of Chile’s Paine Massif, and on Tierra del Fuego’s secluded islands. Fine inns and historic estancias keep us comfy as we savor the wonders of this “uttermost end of the earth.”

Itinerary at a Glance

Days 1-3
Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Tierra del Fuego

Our lively exploration of Buenos Aires includes a visit to La Boca, a haven for artists. In Ushuaia, one of the southernmost cities in the world, our hikes lead along the secluded bays of Tierra del Fuego, and on the Beagle Channel, a Zodiac ride brings us to a remote island for a picnic lunch.

Days 4-7
Glacier National Park

Up-close perspectives of Fitzroy (11,703') and the slender granite pinnacle of Cerro Torre (10,280') are the thrill of our hikes in this famed park. One hike brings us through a valley forested by native lenga trees to Laguna Torre, a serene glacial lake with the spire of Cerro Torre soaring directly above it. We also journey across deep Lago Viedma by boat, navigating amid floating icebergs, then make an exciting hike right on the vast Viedma Glacier for a chance to peer into its fantastic ice caverns.

Days 8-9
Estancia Helsingfors

From renowned Estancia Helsingfors, with its spectacular location in western Glacier National Park, our trails bring us through beech forests to stunning Lago Azul, a pristine lake with magnificent Fitzroy views. On our hikes, we keep an eye out for Patagonia’s exotic creatures, including guanacos and rheas.

Day 10
Moreno Glacier / Lago Argentino / Calafate

Crossing rolling Patagonian steppes to turquoise Lago Argentino, we walk along a boardwalk with phenomenal views of the spectacular 20-story-high icewall of the Moreno Glacier, where the sounds are as amazing as the views.

Days 11-16
Paine National Park, Chile

Chile’s Paine National Park is one of the natural masterpieces of the planet. Amid granite spires, azure lakes, and massive glaciers, we hike into the stunning Ascencio Valley, to the base of the three giant monoliths of the Paine Towers, and to Grey Glacier, with its icebergs calving into Lago Grey. From Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan, we depart on Day 16.

What the Trip is Like

This trip is Level 4, Moderate to Strenuous. The hiking will be physically demanding at times (but we do offer shorter hiking options on the two longest hiking days). Most of the hiking takes place below altitudes of 4,000 feet. For the most part, the trails are not overly rugged or difficult, but the approaches and descents can be steep, and the trail conditions rocky or muddy. There are also some long driving days across the steppes, and everyone should be prepared for bumpy, dusty road conditions. Please note that your leader may make adjustments to the itinerary and hiking routes, depending on local weather and trail conditions.

We recommend you make a special effort to get in good physical condition for this trip. The better condition you are in, the more you will enjoy your experience. We suggest you begin training several months before departure. Start gradually by doing hikes, running, using a Stairmaster, or riding bikes. The object is to improve your overall aerobic capacity and get your hiking muscles limbered up. Even a brisk 30-45 minute walk every other day over moderately steep terrain can do wonders for your conditioning.

Accommodations
We stay in a variety of well-located hotels and lodges. Rooms in these places are not always of uniform or international size. However, our leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms in Patagonian lodges tend to come in small sizes in exchange for the privacy they afford. In addition, please note that many hotels and lodges in Patagonia have twin-bedded rooms. Very few have “matrimonial” rooms (rooms with a double bed). While we can request a double-bedded room for you if you ask us well in advance, we cannot guarantee it.

Explanation of Trip Levels