Patagonia,
stop by stop.
Two weeks of glaciers and granite on both sides of the border: Perito Moreno, Fitz Roy from El Chaltén, then Torres del Paine in Chile, all the way to the Strait of Magellan. You drive long straight roads across the steppe, with ripio gravel, a wind that tears car doors open and very few petrol pumps.
By PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ views on Google MapsBy PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ Maps views
📄 Patagonia guide: weather, budget, what to avoid and FAQPatagonia guide: weather, budget, FAQ →
El Calafate · Photo Fernando / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
The full tour in Patagonia
7 stops · 24 activities · ≈ 1 060 km · ≈ €1647/person7 stops24 activities≈ 1 060 km≈ €1647/person
1
El Calafate
Days 1-2
The way in. Pick up the car at the airport, then drive 78 km to Perito Moreno, a 5 km wall of ice seen from a network of walkways.
🎟️ Things to do · activities
Budget mode: focus mostly on free things below 👇
✦ Free · not to be missed
El Calafate Airport
Car pick-up, 23 km east of the town on the RP11.
The Perito Moreno Glacier
5 km front, 60 m above the lake; network of walkways, 78 km away.
Brazo Rico
Arm of the lake dammed by the glacier; in some years its rupture is a rare spectacle.
2
🚗 Car · 3h55 · 213 km
El Chaltén
Days 3-5
The trekking village under Fitz Roy. The trails to Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre start from the village itself.
🎟️ Things to do · activities
Budget mode: focus mostly on free things below 👇
✦ Free · not to be missed
Laguna de los Tres
Glacial lake at the foot of Fitz Roy (3,405 m), trail starting from the village.
Laguna Torre
Glacial lake 10 km to the west, facing the east face of Cerro Torre.
Lago del Desierto
10 km lake at the end of the RP23, on ripio gravel for 37 km.
3
🚗 Car · 3h54 · 213 km
El Calafate (return)
Day 6
A slower day back in town: the glacier museum, cave paintings on the shore of Lake Argentino and a lagoon nature reserve 1.5 km from the centre.
✦ Free · not to be missed
Glaciarium
Glacier museum facing Lake Argentino; visit of 90 to 120 minutes.
Punta Walichu
Rock paintings on the shore of Lake Argentino, east of the town.
Laguna Nimez
Ecological reserve around a lagoon, 1.5 km north of the centre.
4
🚗 Car · 3h59 · 213 km
Cerro Castillo
Day 7
Border day. You leave Argentina at Río Don Guillermo and clear Chilean customs in this hamlet, the seat of the Torres del Paine municipality.
✦ Free · not to be missed
Río Don Guillermo border post
Exit from Argentina; Chilean customs and immigration are in the village, 7 km further on.
Cerro Castillo
Main hamlet of the Torres del Paine municipality; medical emergencies all year round.
5
🚗 Car · 1h56 · 77 km
Torres del Paine (Lake Pehoé)
Days 8-10
Three nights inside the park, by Lake Pehoé: the granite towers, the Paine waterfall and the floating ice of Grey Glacier.
🎟️ Things to do · activities
✦ Free · not to be missed
Base of the Towers
Day hike to the three granite towers; guide compulsory in winter.
Salto Grande
Waterfall on the Paine River, which flows into Lake Pehoé.
Pudeto
Landing stage for the Lake Pehoé catamaran; café and toilets.
Grey Lake and Glacier
Glacier 6 km wide; ice floating near the southern shore of the lake.
6
🚗 Car · 2h18 · 97 km
Puerto Natales
Day 11
A harbour town on the Señoret Channel, with the cave where mylodon remains were found in 1895 just outside it.
✦ Free · not to be missed
Cueva del Milodón
200 m cave, mylodon remains discovered in 1895; entry 12,000 CLP.
The Señoret Channel
The town lines the channel, between the Almirante Montt Gulf and the Última Esperanza Sound.
7
🚗 Car · 3h05 · 247 km
Punta Arenas
Days 12-14
The end of the road, on the Strait of Magellan: an 1843 fort, a cemetery of cypresses and a boat out to the penguins.
🎟️ Things to do · activities
Budget mode: focus mostly on free things below 👇
✦ Free · not to be missed
Magdalena Island
Around 7,000 pairs of Magellanic penguins; boats from October to mid-April.
Fuerte Bulnes
1843 fort rebuilt as a museum on the Strait of Magellan, 52 km to the south.
Sara Braun Cemetery
Avenues of cypress trees, a historic monument since 2012.
"Book" (hotels), "via GetYourGuide" (activities) and "Rent" (car) are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide). Prices, distances and times are approximate.
Take this plan everywhere
The full PDF guide (Patagonia): map, day-by-day stops, hotels by budget and insider tips. Free and available offline.
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Good to know before you go
🍽️ Must-try food
Asado
the national barbecue, several cuts over wood, eaten slowly and with company.
Empanadas
baked or fried pastries, with a different recipe in every province.
Milanesa
Photo Horacio Cambeiro / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)a breaded cutlet, served flat or buried under ham, cheese and tomato.
Dulce de leche and alfajores
caramelised milk, in or on almost every sweet thing.
Malbec and mate
one poured, the other passed round a circle through a metal straw.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Change money through official channels, and check the rate on the day: it moves fast.
- The distances are huge. Plan night buses or internal flights rather than improvising.
- Book El Calafate and Ushuaia early in high season. Beds and tours run out first.
- Keep small notes. Taxis and kiosks rarely have change for a large one.
Have you thought of…?
The little details that make all the difference once you're there.
📶
Your eSIMeSIM
Internet as soon as you land, with no roaming fees. Activated in 2 minutes.
See the plansHolafly · 5% off included🛡️
Your travel insuranceTravel insurance
Health, luggage and cancellation covered so you can travel with peace of mind.
Get a quotePartner link · Ekta🚗
Your car rentalCar rental
Compare rental companies for the best price before you leave.
Compare pricesPartner link · Booking💳
Your fee-free cardFee-free card
Pay and withdraw abroad at the real exchange rate, with no hidden currency fees.
Open an accountPartner link · Revolut
