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The Torres del Paine massif above a lake under evening clouds, Chile

Sample journey · 12–15 days

Both sides of the Andes: towers, glaciers and Fitz Roy

Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine, El Calafate & El Chaltén

Photo: Marek Piwnicki / Unsplash

Illustrative journey ideas — not bookable packages. No prices, dates or accommodation are implied.

In southern Patagonia the mountains divide two countries, yet the journey between them is one of the most natural routes there is. On the Chilean side the granite massif of Torres del Paine rises above turquoise lakes and a steppe where guanacos and horses graze. On the Argentine side the Perito Moreno Glacier pushes into Lago Argentino, and a few hours' drive away the village of El Chaltén sits right at the foot of Fitz Roy.

This sample journey is for people who want to walk, sometimes long and steep, but return each evening to a warm place to stay. Day hikes here are easily matched to your energy, and stays can be simple or exceptional. Above all, it leaves room for the weather, which in Patagonia changes quickly.

The route

The journey

  1. Punta Arenas
  2. Puerto Natales
  3. Torres del Paine
  4. El Calafate
  5. El Chaltén
  6. El Calafate
  1. A fishing boat moored on the sound at Puerto Natales, with snowy peaks beyond

    01Days 1–2 · Punta Arenas & Puerto Natales

    At the edge of the world, on Last Hope Sound

    A flight to Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan and roughly three hours by road across the steppe to Puerto Natales. The small port town on Last Hope Sound is a good place to catch your breath after the long flight: a walk along the shore, lamb or seafood for dinner and your first taste of Patagonian wind.

  2. Horses grazing the autumn steppe beneath the towers of Torres del Paine

    02Days 3–7 · Torres del Paine

    Five days beneath the granite towers

    Staying inside the park or at its edge lets you walk from first light. The longest and steepest hike climbs to the very foot of the towers: a full day, and worth every step. Other days bring gentler trails to the Cuernos viewpoint, a boat to the Grey Glacier or a ride across the steppe with local gauchos. In the evenings, dinner by a window as the peaks catch the last light.

  3. A small boat on turquoise water before the wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

    03Days 8–9 · El Calafate & Perito Moreno

    Across the border to a wall of ice

    By road through the Cerro Castillo border post to the Argentine side and El Calafate on Lago Argentino: a full travel day. The next day belongs to the Perito Moreno Glacier: walkways from which you can hear blocks of ice fall into the water, a boat to the foot of the ice wall or, with a guide and crampons, a walk on the glacier itself.

  4. A hiker climbing towards Laguna de los Tres beneath the granite spires of the Fitz Roy massif

    04Days 10–14 · El Chaltén

    Trails that start at the door

    About three hours by road along Lago Viedma to El Chaltén. Here trails begin right from the village: to Laguna Torre beneath Cerro Torre or, longest and hardest, to Laguna de los Tres, whose final hour climbs a steep slope beneath the wall of Fitz Roy itself. A quiet day afterwards is well earned. At the end, back to El Calafate and the flight home.

Experience highlights

  1. 01

    The hike to the base of the towers

    A full-day hike into the heart of Torres del Paine: physically demanding, and one of the most memorable in Patagonia.

  2. 02

    Perito Moreno up close

    The glacier wall, a boat and, if you wish, steps on the ice itself.

  3. 03

    Laguna de los Tres

    A long trail from El Chaltén to the lake beneath Fitz Roy's granite spires.

  4. 04

    Evenings facing the mountains

    Stays where, after a day on the trail, what matters most is warmth, a good dinner and a window onto the peaks.

First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.

Make it your own

  • The W trek

    For the very active, the Torres del Paine days can become the multi-day W trek, staying in mountain refugios.

  • A gentler pace

    Shorter trails, boat trips and a night at an estancia on the steppe: Patagonia opens up without long hikes, too.

  • Tierra del Fuego or the fjords

    On a longer journey you could add Ushuaia, or a voyage through the Chilean fjords.

  • With Buenos Aires

    The flight home from El Calafate usually goes via Buenos Aires, a city worth a stop of a couple of days.

Practical considerations

  • The season usually runs roughly from October to April; summer brings the longest days and the most visitors, and in autumn the steppe turns gold.
  • The wind in Patagonia can be very strong and the weather changes several times a day, so hiking days are best planned flexibly.
  • Places to stay in and around the park are limited, so the best ones are worth booking well ahead in season.

General guidance only. Seasons, weather and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

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