3 weeks Patagonia round trip for self-drivers

Day 1 – Arrival in Buenos Aires

Upon arrival at Santiago de Chile airport, you will be greeted by a German-speaking representative who will assist you. You will then be transferred to your hotel in Buenos Aires where you will stay for 2 nights. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore on your own.

In the afternoon, a 4-hour guided city tour begins through Buenos Aires. There is more to this vibrant metropolis than meets the eye. From the historic Plaza de Mayo, you will travel along Avenida 9 de Julio, where you can catch a glimpse of the iconic obelisk. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city in the charming bohemian district of San Telmo before continuing to La Boca, the colorful port district known for its vibrant houses. Stroll along “El Caminito” street, decorated with colorful facades and street art. The tour ends in the modern port district of Puerto Madero, where you can relax in a chic cafe.

Day 2 – Calafate – El Chaltén (200 km asphalt, 15 km gravel / approx. 3 hours)

You arrive in El Calafate and pick up your rental car. Drive north on the legendary Ruta 40 to the junction with Ruta 23, which leads to El Chaltén. This small town is the starting point for hikes and expeditions to the famous Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. You spend 3 nights at the Hostería El Pilar, which is located at the foot of Fitz Roy.

Day 3 – El Chaltén

Embark on a self-guided hike to Laguna de los Tres, located at the base of Cerro Fitz Roy. The well-trodden and easy-walking trail takes you through beautiful forest and mountain scenery to the Rio Blanco base camp, with the impressive Fitz Roy always in sight. The final climb to Laguna de los Tres offers magnificent views of the iconic mountain. The hike takes around 6-7 hours with an elevation gain of 800 meters. Return to your accommodation for another overnight stay.

Day 4 – El Chaltén

Continue your trekking adventure on your own to Laguna Torre, located at the foot of the legendary Cerro Torre. This mountain is known as one of the most challenging mountaineering destinations in the world due to its steep granite walls. The views from Laguna Torre are breathtakingly beautiful, with its windswept granite needles and huge glaciers. The hike takes about 6 hours with an elevation gain of 400 meters. Return to your accommodation for another overnight stay.

Day 5 – El Chaltén – El Calafate (220 km asphalt, 15 km gravel)

In the morning you will take a scenic drive along the valley of the Río de las Vueltas to Lago del Desierto, a glacial lake on the Chilean border. Here you can take a short hike to the Huemul Glacier or take a boat ride to the northern end of the lake, passing hanging glaciers. In the afternoon you will return to El Calafate, which is located on the beautiful Lake Argentino. You will spend 3 nights in a hotel.

Day 6 – El Calafate

Take a day trip to the Perito Moreno Glacier, a world-famous attraction in southern Patagonia. Witness the impressive sight of the glacier's icefalls thundering into the lake. The 5-kilometer-wide glacier is over 60 meters high and surrounded by a forest of beech and fire bushes. Marvel at the natural beauty of this glacier and its surroundings.

Day 7 – El Calafate

Optional: Head to the port of Puerto Bandera and take a boat trip to the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers (to be booked on site). This excursion offers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of these glaciers up close.

Day 8 – El Calafate – Cerro Sombrero (450 km asphalt – 7 hours including border crossing)

From Calafate, travel to Río Gallegos and then south to Punta Delgada, where you will take a ferry to Bahía Azul (ferry fare not included). Continue south to Cerro Sombrero. You will spend the night in a simple hostel, the best choice locally.    

Day 9 – Cerro Sombrero – Onaisin – Estancia Rolito (120 km gravel, 140 km asphalt, approx. 8 hours)

Head to Estancia Onaisín, located on the bay of Bahía Inútil. Here you will find the only colony of king penguins outside of Antarctica. You will have the opportunity to observe these animals up close. Then you will cross the border at San Sebastián into Argentina and continue on Ruta 3 to Estancia Rolito. Here you will spend one night with half board. In the afternoon, we recommend a trip to the nearby sea at Cabo San Pablo, where you can observe various coastal birds and marine animals.   

Day 10 – Estancia Rolito – Ushuaia (150 km asphalt, 15 km gravel, approx. 3 h)

In the morning you will travel over the Garibaldi Pass to Ushuaia. You will spend two nights in a hotel.

The afternoon is at your disposal for your own exploration. Perhaps you will take a trip to the Tierra del Fuego National Park, which offers various hiking opportunities.

Day 11 – Ushuaia

Optional: Take a boat trip in the Beagle Channel to the islands of Isla de los Pájaros (cormorants) and Isla de Lobos (sea lions).

Day 12 – Ushuaia – Tolhuin – Lago Blanco / Chile (235 km asphalt, 175 km gravel, approx. 7 hours with border crossing)

Drive through remote forest areas and the pristine southern beech forests of Tierra del Fuego over the Garibaldi Pass to Tolhuin. From there you drive north to Río Grande and then west over the Bellavista Pass into Chile to the idyllic Lago Blanco. You will spend two nights in the simple but charming Hostería Las Lengas.

Day 13 – Lago Blanco

Enjoy a day at leisure, with numerous hiking opportunities at Lago Blanco or Karukinka Park, as well as opportunities for wildlife watching or fly fishing.

Day 14 – Lago Blanco – Porvenir (270 km gravel, approx. 4 hours)

Continue your journey through fire land Continue northwest, past Camerón and along the Strait of Magellan to Porvenir. Here you will spend one night in a hotel.

Day 15 – Porvenir – Puerto Natales (140 km gravel, 320 km asphalt, approx. 7 hours)

Travel along the Strait of Magellan to Bahía Azul. Take a 20-minute ferry ride to Punta Delgada and then continue along the Strait of Magellan to Puerto Natales. Spend one night at the Hotel Weskar.

Make sure you fill up as there are no fueling facilities in Paine.

Day 16 – Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine (20 km asphalt, 70 km gravel, approx. 2 hours)

Drive via Cerro Castillo to the eastern entrance Portería Sarmiento of the Torres del Payne National parksSimilar to the Fitz Roy area, this park is one of the absolute highlights for mountain lovers in PatagoniaIt offers beautiful mountain ranges, huge glaciers, countless glacial lakes of different colors and a diverse wildlife, including guanacos, foxes, rheas, black-necked swans, armadillos, skunks and numerous bird species. You will spend two nights in a hotel in the southern region of the park, overlooking the Serrano River, mountains, glaciers and "horns".

Day 17 – Torres del Paine

Take a tour of the park to Lago Grey. We recommend a 2-hour hike on the peninsula in front of the hotel to the viewpoint of the Grey Glacier, where you can see hundreds of blue icebergs floating in the bay. Alternatively, or after this, you can take a hike (approx. 6 hours) along the Río Pingo to the waterfalls.

Day 18 – Torres del Paine

Today you will travel along Lago Pehoé & Salto Grande, where you will have the best view of the Cuernos. Then you will continue your journey along the beautiful Rio Paine to Laguna Azul, which offers the best view of the Torres. Along the entire route you will come across herds of guanacos. Spend a night in the north of the park at the beautiful Estancia Tercera Barranca, from which you will have a magnificent view of the “towers” ​​of the Paine.

Day 19 – Torres del Paine – Calafate (280 km asphalt, 80 km gravel, approx. 7 hours)

Cross the border into Argentina at Cerro Castillo – Cancha Carreras and continue to Calafate where you will spend one last night in a hotel to complete your trip.

Day 20 – Departure

Rental car return at the airport and departure.