Patagonia Itinerary: 10 Days in Southern Argentina

Ten days in Argentine Patagonia allows a thorough experience of the two main destinations: El Calafate and Perito Moreno Glacier in the south, and El Chaltén with its Fitz Roy trekking to the north. With sensible logistics and a slight flexibility buffer for weather, this itinerary produces a complete picture of the region without feeling hurried.

The trekking season runs November to April. This itinerary assumes travel within that window. Outside it, El Chaltén’s accommodation largely closes and trails become dangerous due to ice.

Day 1: Fly to El Calafate

El Calafate’s Malvinas Argentinas International Airport receives direct daily flights from Buenos Aires (both Ezeiza international airport and Aeroparque downtown). Flight time is approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. Aerolíneas Argentinas operates most frequencies; LATAM covers some routes.

Arrive and check in. El Calafate is a purpose-built tourist town — compact, functional, with good accommodation across all budget levels and a pedestrian main street with restaurants and tour operators. The evening is for acclimatising. The lake is large and the light on the Andes at sunset is worth watching from the shore road.

Day 2: Perito Moreno Glacier — Boardwalk

Take the morning minibus to Perito Moreno Glacier, 80 kilometres west of El Calafate. The bus typically departs at 8am or 9am; the earlier departure is better for photography and avoiding the peak crowds.

The glacier entrance is at the national park barrier approximately 15 kilometres before the glacier itself. Entrance fees are collected here. The boardwalk system on the Magallanes Peninsula provides 4 kilometres of walkways at different heights and distances from the ice face. Allow 3–4 hours minimum at the boardwalk — calving events are unpredictable individually but reliable collectively, and patience is rewarded.

Return to El Calafate by afternoon bus. Dinner at a parrilla — El Calafate has several decent options along the main street.

Day 3: Perito Moreno Big Ice Trek or Lago Argentino Boat

Option A: The Big Ice glacier trek. Departs early morning from El Calafate, includes boat access to the glacier, crampon-assisted walking on the ice surface, and approximately 2 hours on the glacier itself. Total day approximately 8 hours. Book the glacier trek from El Calafate well in advance — slots are limited to small groups and sell out weeks ahead in peak season (December–February).

Option B: A boat excursion on Lago Argentino visiting the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers. Full day on the lake, distant glacier views rather than close contact. The scale of the lake — 1,600km² — is impressive on its own.

Option C: A rest day in El Calafate to recover before the more demanding El Chaltén trekking days.

Day 4: Transfer to El Chaltén

The morning bus from El Calafate to El Chaltén departs at approximately 8am and arrives around 11:30am, covering 220 kilometres on a paved road. The journey passes through classic Patagonian steppe — flat, wind-swept, with occasional wildlife including guanacos and Andean condors. The Fitz Roy massif becomes visible on the horizon in the final hour, the towers identifiable even at distance.

Arrive El Chaltén, check in, register at the park information office at the village entrance (mandatory for all hikers), and receive the weather briefing. Afternoon walk to Mirador del Cóndor — a 2-hour return trail from the village that provides orientation to the landscape and first views north toward Fitz Roy.

Days 5–6: El Chaltén Trekking

Day 5 — Laguna de los Tres: Start at 7am to maximise the chance of clear conditions at the summit. The hike is 21km round trip with approximately 800m of elevation gain, concentrated in the final steep ascent. Allow 6–8 hours. The weather window for clear views of Fitz Roy can close quickly — early starts give the best odds. Carry full waterproofs, warm layers, and food for the day.

Day 6 — Laguna Torre: The second flagship hike, 20km round trip, 5–6 hours, minimal elevation gain. A different landscape from Day 5 — more open, with the distinctive ice spire of Cerro Torre as the objective. The route through lenga beech forest in autumn (March–April) is particularly striking. Start at 8am for a comfortable pace with time at the lake.

Day 7: Flexible Day in El Chaltén

Weather delays are a realistic possibility over any 3-day trekking block in Patagonia. Day 7 serves as a buffer: if weather prevented one of the main hikes on Days 5 or 6, this is the repeat day. If both hikes completed, options include the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado trail (panoramic views of both massifs, 23km, 6–8 hours), a shorter walk to Laguna Capri, or a rest day before the return journey.

Day 8: Return to El Calafate

Afternoon bus from El Chaltén to El Calafate. Evening in El Calafate. If timing allows, the afternoon light on the lake is worth sitting with.

Day 9: El Calafate Rest and Optional Day Trip

Day 9 is a buffer for weather delays, a second glacier visit, or a day trip toward the Chilean border. The crossing to Torres del Paine in Chile is technically possible from El Calafate on a very long day — approximately 3 hours each way to the park entrance — but a minimum of 3 days in Torres del Paine is needed to do it justice, making a day trip unsatisfying for most visitors.

Alternative: a second morning at Perito Moreno, particularly if the ice trekking option wasn’t taken on Day 3. The glacier is different at different times of day and in different weather.

Day 10: Fly Back to Buenos Aires

Morning flight from El Calafate to Buenos Aires (approximately 3.5 hours). Most international departures from Argentina leave from Buenos Aires Ezeiza; a domestic flight to Aeroparque allows connection to an evening international departure. The full Patagonia circuit is complete.

Booking Notes

Book domestic flights (Buenos Aires to El Calafate, El Calafate return) at the same time as international flights. Prices are significantly higher when booked close to departure. El Chaltén accommodation in January and February books out — reserve before departing your home country.

Big Ice trek availability is limited; book via an El Calafate operator at least 2 days before, and earlier in January–February.