Argentina & Chile Explorer
The best of Patagonia and the Lake District
A 10-day route that calls at some of Argentina and Chile's absolute highlights. Spend some time in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires before heading south to El Calafate and the spectacular Glaciers National Park. Then hop across the border into Chile to visit Torres del Paine, one of the most beautiful national parks on earth. From here head to Puerto Varas to explore Chile's Lakes District, before crossing back into Argentina to finish your trip in the picturesque town of Bariloche on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
Key information
| Destinations | Patagonia, Argentina, Chile |
|---|---|
| Activity | Family, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
| Physical Level | Easy |
 Season |
January - December |
Suggested itinerary
Go on a culinary adventure in Buenos Aires
Day 1–2 in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the mother of all Argentinian cities, with amazing French and Italian architecture, a food scene that covers much more than just steakhouses and nightlife that doesn’t get started until 2am. This is the perfect place to begin or end your Argentinian adventure.
Don't miss
Tango in Buenos Aires
Explore the brightly coloured buildings, shacks, and graffiti art of La Boca by wandering through its narrow streets, stopping to watch a Tango show in the square. This neighbourhood is a cultural centre with lots to experience, including museums, Tango courses and milongas. Its offers a real contrast against the fashionable district of Palermo and popular sights such as Teatro Colon and Plaza de Mayo.
Base yourself in scenic El Calafate
Day 3 in El Calafate
The scenic town of El Calafate has many shops and eateries that offer products made from sweet Calafate berries, Patagonia’s famous fruit with many health benefits. There are also some fantastic restaurants where you can enjoy the famously tender Patagonian roast lamb washed down with an Austral beer.
Don't miss
Experience frontier living
Gaucho (cowboy) culture is alive and well in Patagonia. Spend a couple of nights on a working estancia (ranch) and get stuck in with shearing sheep and long rides through the open country on horseback.
Hike in Glaciers National Park
Day 4–5 in Glaciers National Park
The UNESCO World Heritage Glaciers National Park is home to more than 300 glaciers covering 217 miles, as well as mountain peaks, 15,000-year-old lakes and plenty of wildlife. Visitors come to marvel at Perito Moreno, the world’s only glacier to still be growing, or to go hiking around El Chalten.
Don't miss
Admire Perito Moreno glacier
As you stand on the boardwalk marveling at this gigantic glacier, which covers around 250 sq km, you will hear the creaks as it slowly moves. A chunk may even crash into the waters below. As one of 48 glaciers fed by the Patagonian Ice Field in the Andes, Perito Moreno is arguably the most impressive. Enjoy some relaxed trails or even walk on the ice itself.
Visit Chaltén and Fitz Roy
Hot on the heels of nearby Torres del Paine, Argentina’s Fitz Roy Range (inside Glaciers National Park) is a contender for the most impressive hiking landscapes. The country around El Chaltén is truly jaw-dropping, with options for self-guided day hikes or multi-day camp-outs.
Hike “the W” in Torres del Paine
Day 6–8 in Torres del Paine National Park
Tucked away in the southernmost corner of Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of place.
The national park merits its reputation as a world-renowned hiking destination. It brims with classic routes with postcard vistas and lesser-known trails for solitude seekers. The hiking here ranges from easy to challenging, from short day hikes to long circuits of up to ten days.
There are many ways to experience Torres del Paine. Shoestring-budget backpackers rough it at campsites or in simple dorm-style refugios, packing in all their own food and gear. Mid-range travellers seek the convenience of a guided and fully supported adventure, as well as the company of a small group. Luxury travellers indulge in upscale resorts that offer private, tailored excursions into nature. There’s really something for everyone in the park.
Don't miss
Birdwatching in Patagonia
What Patagonia lacks in megafauna it more than makes up for in rare bird life. There are Magellanic penguins on the Valdes Peninsula, Andean Condors soaring above Torres del Paine, flamingos in Tierra del Fuego, and much more everywhere else. Bring your binoculars!
Marvel at snowcapped volcanoes in the Lakes District
Day 9–10 in The Lakes District
Known for its conical volcanoes and its shimmering lakes, this region of central Chile and Argentina offers accessible and easy-going hiking with spectacular views, quiet villages and a laid back pace of life. The region was the former home to the Mapuche people, who managed to fight off both the Incas and Spanish colonialists for 350 years before finally falling to the Chilean Army in the 1880s. Over the following century, Swiss, Austrian and German settlers transformed the area, influencing the architecture and cuisine of towns like Argentina’s Bariloche and Chile’s Puerto Varas, where tourists can visit quaint Swiss-style chocolate shops before enjoying a day of hiking or kayaking on a nearby lake.
Embrace the great outdoors in Bariloche
Day 11–12 in Bariloche
Hugging the shores of the glacial lake Nahuel Huapi and surrounded by forest-lined Mountains, you’d be forgiven for mistaking Argentina’s San Carlos de Bariloche for an alpine Swiss town. With German, Austrian and Swiss influenced architecture and cuisine — the town is known for its excellent chocolate shops — Bariloche is a wonderful year-round destination, boasting a range of winter and summer outdoor activities.
Book this itinerary
This route booked with one of our specialist tour operators would cost from $6,569pp. Pricing varies by accommodation class, and can be tailored to suit your budget.
Pricing is typically inclusive of hotels, transfers, meals, and all guided excursions and activities.
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