PATAGONIA IN 10 DAYS
There are few places where you can stand in complete emptiness and feel astonishingly overwhelmed. Patagonia, the southernmost frontier of South America, is a remote gateway to some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. Many people never travel to Patagonia simply because they find the vastness of the region overwhelming. The key to making this trip a reality is mentally accepting the limitations of a 10 day trip and focusing on making the most of your time.
For a trip under two weeks, it's best to focus your itinerary on 1-2 of the below four areas. As a general rule, Patagonia can only be traveled during the summer season due to its frigid temperatures. For countries below the equator, the summer season begins in late November and runs through the end of February.
Los Glacieres
This region is dominated by one of the most iconic Patagonian wonders: the glacier. Although most of Patagonia displays some sort of glacial landscape, Santa Cruz is home to the superstars of Patagonian ice. Parque Nacional Los Glacieres (Glacier National Park) is a protected area divided into two parts: the South and the North. In the South, you will find the majestic Perito Moreno Glacier, the only glacier in Patagonia to be expanding. In the North, you will find a hikers paradasie - landscape covered in endless lagoons and mountains, the most notable being Mt. Fitz Roy.
Torres del Paine
If you are seeking the best of overall Patagonian beauty, look no further than Torres del Paine. This park is the pride of Chilean landscape, encompassing some of the most beautiful mountains, lakes, glaciers, and rivers in all of South America. This region is a hiker's paradise, with treks ranging from three to seven days. Much of this beauty (but not all) can also be viewed by vehicle.
Tierra del Fuego
In Tierra Del Fuego, you will come face to face with one of the largest penguin colonies in the world. Due to its southernmost location, this region is visited in the later months of winter. Although Tierra del Fuego is best known for its wildlife, such as penguins, birds, and sea lions, it also provides an opportunity to explore some of the most remote mountains in all of Patagonia. The city of Ushuaia is also an access point to Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands.
Chilean Fjords
This region of Patagonia is the road less traveled. Most tourists never make it to the Chilean fjords as it can be a difficult region to access. Travel between sights is generally by private boat, allowing you to explore protected waters and rugged shorelines inhabited by sea lions, penguins, and other wildlife. The maze of channels and islands in the fjords can offer varying landscapes, but time restrictions and budget may make this trip a more unlikely choice for a first-time visitor to Patagonia.
Suggested Itinerary:
I chose to explore Los Glacieres and Torres del Paine on my 10 day trip. I wanted a mix of city, hiking, and leisurely landscape viewing.
Buenos Aires - El Calafate - El Chalten - Torres del Paine
As an amateur hiker, I wanted to make the most of my time in South America by combining a city layover, hiking and leisurely landscape viewing. The itinerary below allowed me to view both the Argentinian and Chilean portions of Patagonia while spending a few short days in Buenos Aires.
Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires
To access Patagonia, you will need to fly into either Buenos Aires or Santiago. Buenos Aires is the most convenient of the two if you are planning on seeing Perito Moreno Glacier near El Calafate.
Day 2: Buenos Aires
Spend the day eating asado, alfajores, and empanadas. Break your jet lag with an evening of tango.
Day 3: El Calafate
Arrive in El Calafate Airport and take a bus transfer to your hotel. Walk from the town to Laguna Nimez where you can view flamingos and wildlife with the backdrop of the bright blue waters of Argentina Lake. In the evening, explore El Calafate's main drag. The food is decent at best but the El Calafate ice cream and jam is one of a kind, especially with a decadent cup of hot chocolate.
Day 4: Perito Moreno
After an early breakfast, head out to Los Glaciers National Park to view the majestic Perito Moreno Glacier. I recommend booking a full day excursion. Depending on personal preference and budget, you can view the glacier by boat, kayak, or even glacier trekking. There are several nearby platform trails that allow you to view the glacier from varying vantage points at no additional cost to the park entrance fee. I opted for a boat tour. The entire excursion cost ~$250 and included hotel pick up, guided explanations, and close-up view of the glacier and the icebergs nearby.
Day 5: Estancia Christina
Estancia Cristina or "Cristina Ranch" is known by locals to have some of the most spectacular trekking in all of Glacier National Park. The landscape is so varied, between bright blue lagoons, Glacier Upsala, and rock formations with fossils from millions of years ago, this is Patagonia's best kept secret. Trekking through this paradise doesn't come easy. Estancia Cristina can only be accessed by a private tour that limits the number of daily visitors so booking in advance is an absolute must. Given the access restrictions, trekking this estancia doesn't come cheap either. Expect to pay minimum $250 for the guided group tour.
Day 5: El Chalten Arrive at the local bus station early in the morning and begin the three hour journey to the northern portion of Glacier National Park. Arrive in El Chalten, the trekking capital of the park, by late morning and settle in to your hotel. After a quick brunch, begin the 6 hour trek to Laguna Torre, a spectacular pastel colored glacial lake nestled among the calafate bushes. Return to the sleepy town center for dinner and enjoy some of the best organic steak in the world. Stop by the local grocery store to pack a lunch for tomorrow's hike. Rest up for an intense day of hiking to the glorious Mt. Fitz Roy.
Day 6: Mt. Fitz Roy
Mt. Fitz Roy is the prize today. Laguna del Los Tres is a difficult but incredibly rewarding 1 day hike that will bring you to the mercy of Patagonia's most iconic mountain peak. The last kilometer is incredibly steep, but if you're lucky (unlike us), you won't get stuck in a massive hale storm. The panoramic views are spectacular.
Day 8: Puerto Natales
After breakfast at your hotel, head to the local bus station to complete the last leg of your trip. Kick your heels up for the next 6 hours and cross the border to the Chilean town of Puerto Natales. Spend the evening dining on some of the best ceviche money can buy.
Day 9: Torres del Paine
The final day of touring will be in Torres del Paine. Given the limited time, the W trek or Circuit trek which range between 3 and 5 days won't be an option. The day will be spent on a private vehicle tour of the most important and beautiful parts of the park. Torres del Paine encompasses valleys, mountains, rivers, and glaciers beyond imagination. Although you will see much of what the park has to offer, some of the sights can only be accessed by foot, an experience you will need to leave for your second trip to Patagonia.
Day 10: El Calafate/Santiago
Return to El Calafate and fly to Buenos Aires. Alternatively, fly to Santiago before heading home.
