The Heart of Patagonia
Trekking Southern Argentina and Chile
Feast your eyes upon the magnificent granite spires of Fitzroy, Cerro Torre and Torre Egger across sparkling lakes with a backdrop of glacier-crowned summits. The wild expanse of the Southern Patagonian Icecap, with its contorted icefalls and immense blue glaciers, is all part of this breathtaking experience. From the Fitzroy area, where towering granite monoliths stand more than a mile high, we shoulder our backpacks and set off on an exciting traverse, skirting the base of the Patagonia Icecap through a breathtaking corridor where tumbling glaciers meet windswept forests of evergreen beech trees.
"...the trip was a "class act". You immediately set a tone of safety and comfort and that allowed us to relax so that we could just enjoy being there, exploring, and asking all kinds of questions I expect good food and solid equipment, but your combination of joy, love, knowledge and experience was the catalyst for the trip of a lifteime, an experience that I'll absolutely cherish for the rest of my life."
- Bob Peart - Victoria, B.C.
On route, fairy-tale groves of gnarled and twisted hardwoods are alive with Patagonian songbirds; spectacular gorges, canyons and waterfalls abound. As we exit the icecap realm, we hike along a convoluted landscape of colourful recently glaciated bedrock, and then enter a world of picturesque canyon lands inhabited by large numbers of Andean condors and frequented by guanacos, pumas and Patagonia foxes. This is staggeringly beautiful mountain country with delightful surprises around every corner - a hiker's dream come true.
The final seven-day tour de force begins with a visit to Moreno Glacier before going overland to Chile to hike amongst yet another hallmark of Patagonia: The Torres del Paine massif.
Our Heart of Patagonia trip is a demanding trekking expedition. Completing a cross-section through the finest scenery and natural history that Patagonia has to offer, it promises adventure in the fullest sense of the word.
Highlights
- Trekking adventure along the wild expanse of the Southern Patagonia Icecap.
- Immense sprawling glaciers and jumbled icefalls.
# Journey into isolated, seldom-visited, estancias through remote, trail-less wilderness. - Breathtaking scenery and stunning visuals for photography.
- Visit Lago Argentino, South America’s third largest lake.
- Magnificent granite spires of Fitzroy, Cerro Torre and Torre Egger.
- Convoluted landscape of recently glaciated colourful bedrock, babbling brooks, open beech forests and untouched grasslands.
- Wildlife includes wild horses, pumas, guanacos (New World camels), foxes, raptors, Andean condors, rheas (South American ostriches), and parakeets.
- Hiker’s dream away from crowds.
- Rich educational and cultural experience.
Trip Details
- Trips begin and finish in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Meals, transfers, lodging and tents are included.
Itinerary-in-Brief
More information about this trip is available in our in-depth Trip Information Package. Please contact our office to receive these detailed materials.
Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires, where we'll stay overnight. The afternoon and evening are free to explore Argentina's cosmopolitan and exciting capital. (Airport transfers and hotel are included on double occupancy basis; meals are on your own.)
Day 2: After breakfast, we'll transfer to Aeroparque, the municipal airport of Buenos Aires, for our flight into Patagonia. At Calafate airport we'll meet our mini-bus and driver for a 5 hour drive across the open steppe country to the Cerro Fitzroy area. On arrival at the town of Chaltén we will have supper and overnight at a lovely hostería. This drive will be your introduction to the vast openness of the Patagonia steppes, and you will likely see your first guanacos, rheas (the Patagonian relative of the ostrich), and Argentine gauchos on horseback. (Transfers and lodging are included.)
Days 3-4: We will depart from our hostería with day packs for an all day hike up to a superb vantage point overlooking the Fitzroy massif with all its spires and possibly the view of a climbing party challenging this fortress.
Day 5: In the morning we will cross to the opposite shore of Lago Viedma to Estancia Helsingfors, an active Estancia with cattle, horses and gauchos, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Fitzroy massif. After checking-in to this luxurious estate lodge we'll set off on an afternoon hike. Overnight at the exclusive Estancia Helsingfors.
Days 6-11: Trekking along the base of the Patagonia Icecap to the Upsala Glacier and Lago Argentino. Overnight camping along the way.
Days 12-13: We arrive at the end of our trek where we will meet our boat for the transfer out of the wilds to overnight at a classic country-style estancia. We'll plan a day trip to Perito Moreno Glacier. This massive glacial tongue comes down off the Patagonia Icecap and floats across an arm of Lago Argentino. Overnight at a nearby heritage Estancia.
Days 14-15: An early morning departure sees us heading south along the foothills of the Andes, eventually reaching a small border post leading us into a remote part of Chile. We proceed from here directly west to the footsteps of Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Day 15 we'll do a day hike up to Las Torres. Overnight base camping.
Days 16-17: Hike through the front ranges of the Torres with day packs, photographing and looking for guanacos and rheas. The next day we'll board a boat for a shuttle across Lago Pehoe into the heart of Torres del Paine National Park for a day hike. Overnight base camping on Lago Pehoe.
Day 18: We will meet our vehicle to transfer back to Calafate, Argentina. Overnight Calafate.
Day 19: In the morning we will head to Calafate airport to board our morning flight to Buenos Aires.
Inclusive Services
- the services of two fully qualified expedition guides
- all group equipment
- hotel/lodging on Days 1-5 and Day 18
- all meals from Day 2 to breakfast on Day 19
- all ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 19
- National Park entrance fees
- airport transfers between airports and hotels while travelling on the designated flights and dates of the group schedule
- Note: hotel/lodging is based upon double occupancy
Non-Inclusive Services
- any scheduled airline flights to and from Patagonia and your home
- insurance, excess baggage charges, airport taxes, passports, visas, country departure taxes, beverages, mineral waters, wines and liquors, laundry, room service and items purchased of personal nature while on tour
- airport transfers between airports and hotels when deviating from the appointed flights and dates of the group schedule
- meals not listed as inclusives in the itinerary
- alcoholic drinks with meals at restaurants
- personal belongings and gear as per ‘Clothing and Equipment List’
- gratuities and individual tipping for personal services, and any hotel extras
