Heart of the Argentine Andes

Day 1: Arrival to the International Aiport Ezeiza in Buenos Aires
Day 2:  Departure from Buenos Aires Domestic Airport - El Calafate Airport
Day 3:  Perito Moreno Glacier - Ice trek - El Calafate
Day 4:  El Calafate - El Chalten - Trekking - El Chalten
Day 5:  Laguna de los Tres - Poincenot Campsite
Day 6:  Trekking - Laguna Torre - El Chalten
Day 7:  El Chalten - El Calafate Airport - Bariloche Airport - Bariloche -
Day 8:  Bariloche - Otto Meiling Refuge  (1919m)
Day 9:  Otto Meiling Refuge - Agostino Rocca Refuge
Day 10: Agostino Rocca Refuge - Bariloche - Frias Lake - Pañuelo Harbor  - Bariloche
Day 11:  Bariloche - Bariloche Airport - National Airport Buenos Aires
Day 12:  Buenos Aires - International Aiport Ezeiza

Day 1: Arrival to the  International Aiport Ezeiza in Buenos Aires
You will be welcomed at Ezeiza International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Buenos Aires in a private vehicle. Once you are settled in at your first hotel, you can enjoy lunch followed by a half-day walking tour of the city. 

Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan city with European features, is among the 10 most active cities in the world. City of arts, cultures, theaters, traditions ... the variety satisfies even the most demanding traveler.

You visit the imposing Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest in the world, dominated by the Obelisk, a symbol of Buenos Aires. You will pass the prestigious Colon Theatre, a jewel of Argentine architecture, and the famous Plaza de Mayo, graced with architecture such as the Casa Rosada, Casa de Gobierno, the Cabildo, and the Cathedral.

The picturesque neighborhood of La Boca will top off your visit. Its centerpiece is the cobblestoned El Caminito, a former railway route, now a pedestrian walkway lined with pastel-colored buildings, hot spot for painters, tango dancers, and musicians.

Accommodation: Tango de Mayo Hotel, standard room
Located in the cental, dynamic Monserrat neighborhood, this hotel is housed in an Art Nouveau building constructed in 1913 by Italian architect Fausto di Bacco. Be sure to enjoy a drink on the rooftop terrace with impressive views over the Congress.
Meals: L

Day 2: Flight to  El Calafate 
You will be transferred from the hotel to the airport for a flight to El Calafate, on the edge of the Southern Patagonian, and the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.  Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel.

Once you are settled in, get ready for a wonderful culinary experience.  It is said that the kitchen is the heart of the house. Rancho Aparte was created out of this ambiance...  the warmth of a home, the aroma of homemade food, a glass of wine while talking and laughing with friends, both old and new. The Rancho Aparte experience will allow you to savor a home-cooked meal in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The dishes are prepared with local products with the main ingredient, lots of love! The menu is accompanied by selected wine pairings from Argentine and Patagonian wineries. 

"Travel through the encounters you make - and what best way to get to know us than sharing a meal, listening to some nice music, making new friends while living a different experience. I will make yourself feel at home, come meet me in Rancho Aparte." Chef Gabo

Accommodation: Roble Sur, standard room
Roble sur Inn is situated on the outskirts of town, just 5 minutes by car from the central area. Rooms offer panoramic views of El Calafate. Free Wi-Fi is available.
Accommodations at Hostería Roblesur are modern and designed with a mixture of wood, providing a warm atmosphere. They include large windows and a sitting area. 
Meals: B & D

Day 3: Perito Moreno Glacier- Ice trek- El Calafate
A morning transfer of 75 km will transport you from your hotel to Los Glaciares National Park. From the harbor located at Bahia Bajo de la Sombra, you’ll board for a 20-minute crossing of  Brazo Rico and dock at the foot of the refuge. From there, you’ll begin your trek in Los Glaciares National Park (entrance included) amidst exuberant vegetation. As you pause on the beach near the glacier, the guides will educate on glaciology. You’ll continue the walk to reach the foot of the glacier where you’ll don the crampons before starting the trek. The walk that follows is approximately two hours accompanied by mountain guides. At the end of your experience, you will be transferred back to El Calafate.

Difficulty level: Easy
Accommodation: Roble Sur, standard room
Meals: B & L

Day 4: El Calafate- El Chalten- self-guided trekking
After a 3 hour shared transfer from El Calafate to your hotel in El Chalten, you will trek self-guided up to Los Condores and Las Aguilas viewing points. This is the shortest hike from El Chaltén, enabling you to reach a viewpoint that offers exceptional panoramic views of the Adela, Torre, and Fitz Roy massifs, and the Río de las Vueltas valley.

Optionally you can access a second viewpoint on a natural balcony with views of the steppe and the large Viedma lake. Leaving El Chaltén, you cross over the town on the access bridge over the Fitz Roy River and continue along the road until you reach the National Park Visitors' Centre where the trail begins. From there, this well-signed trail ascends until you get to a viewpoint. This footpath is relatively new as it has been inaugurated in 2004. As its name shows, the lookout point is situated in a strategic place for the eventual observation of condors in their frequent glide to and from the Río Fitz Roy valley. It is also an excellent alternative to appreciate the imposing granite peaks and glaciers that dominate the horizon.

The trail to Las Águilas viewpoint begins at a fork situated a few minutes before reaching Los Cóndores viewpoint, and after a 15-minute walk, you arrive at this natural balcony with panoramic views over the steppe.

Hike: 
Distance: 2 mi. (3 km)
Elevation: +100 m
Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty level: easy
Accommodation:  Hosteria El Paraiso, standard room
El Paraiso is a mountain inn located in the picturesque village of El Chalten at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy.
Meals: B 

Day 5: Laguna de los Tres- Poincenot Campsite
The walk starts along a beautiful trail in the forest, on the West slope of the Polo mount, to get to a slight ascent to Camp Poincenot. The amazing views accompany you all the way: the Blanco River valley and the Piedras Blancas glacier and its lagoon. The climb to the Laguna de los Tres starts at Poincenot and is challenging but the reward is well worth it as you will be up close and personal to the mountains, Fitz Roy in all its splendor, and the spectacular Sucia lagoon. 

Hike:
Distance: 5 + 1 mi. (8 + 2 km)
Elevation: +800 m
Duration: 6 hours
Difficulty level: difficult
Accommodation: Camp Poincenot
Meals, B, L, & D

Day 6: Laguna Torre - El Chalten
Following the Lagunas Madre e Hija Trail, you arrive at Laguna Torre. You begin on flat terrain and then descend to the Fitz Roy River which originates at Lake Torre. The Cerro Torre, overlooking the lagoon, is one of the most majestic peaks and one of the most difficult in the world to climb, with its 2,000 meters of vertical granite. Next to it, other granite giants like Egger and Standhardt Needles, Adela Mountain Range, and the Cerro Grande with its hanging glaciers, adorn this majestic setting. At the end of the day, you return to El Chalten!

Hike:
Distance: 7.5 + 6 mi. (12 + 9 km)
Elevation: + 300 m 
Duration: 6 hours
Difficulty level: moderate
Accommodation: Hosteria El Paraiso, standard room
Meals: B & L

Day 7: El Chalten- El Calafate Airport- Bariloche Airport-  Bariloche - Cooking class & dinner
A 3-hour transfer (210 km) will transport from the hotel in El Chalten to El Calafate, followed by a domestic flight to Bariloche and transferred to your hotel.

You will have some leisure time to discover Bariloche. You can visit the Museum of Chocolate, which is a specialty of the city. Enjoy an exquisite coffee break in one of the best chocolate shops of the city (Mamuschka, Rapa Nui ...).

Stroll on the Avenue Bustillo and 12 de Octubre to enjoy the view of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and of the many mountain ranges in the background.

You will also enjoy a cooking workshop. Depending on the meal you are going to cook, you will look for the best ingredients. Meanwhile, you will discover the local culture, different uses of each food product, and stories about gastronomy. Then, with your beautiful apron, you will prepare a local meal assisted by a chef. Enjoy the tasting!

Accommodation: Hotel Nahuel Huapi, standard room
The Hotel Nahuel Huapi is located in Bariloche city center. Founded in 1938 by italian immigrants, its owners are now the third generation to run it.
Meals: B & D

Day 8: Bariloche - Otto Meiling Refuge
A shared transfer from Bariloche to Pampa Linda. 73 km (2 hrs.)

Mount Tronador is an imposing volcano located on the border between Argentina and Chile. Today, the volcano is dormant. It was named Tronador (Spanish for 'Thunderer') by locals in reference to the sound of seracs that fall regularly, sounding just like thunder. It was first climbed by Hermann Claussen on 29 January 1934. In Argentina, the volcano is located in the province of Río Negro near the city of San Carlos de Bariloche. In Chile, it is located in the 10th Lake District. In fact, this massif lies on the very border and separates two national parks: the Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina and the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park in Chile.

Mount Tronador is 3,491 meters high and shows three summit peaks. The Chilean summit rises to 3,320 meters, the Argentine summit to 3,200 meters and the Chilean-Argentine summit on the border to 3,491 meters. It is also located in an area featuring abundant rains which accounts for its ever-lasting snow and seven glaciers: Frías, Alerce, Castaño Overo, Manso, Peulla, Casa Pangue and Río Blanco.

At 8 a.m. you drive south towards Pampa Linda, leaving Nahuel Huapi Lake behind but following Gutierrez Lake. You take the “Ruta 40”, follow the same lake and later drive along some marshland. After about 40 minutes, you turn off this road and take an unpaved track towards Mascardi Lake. After paying the entrance fees to the Nahuel Huapi National Park, you continue the drive towards Pampa Linda where you start the trek.

This is a trail through a century-old Coihue forest that takes you to viewing points from which you admire the beauty of the valley below. Final destination is Otto Meiling mountain hut, a very authentic trekking accommodation.

Hike:
Distance: 9 mi. (14 km)
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Elevation: +1060 m
Difficulty level: moderate
Accommodation: Otto Meiling Mountain Hut in a large common room in bunk bed
Meals: B, L & D

Day 9: Otto Meiling Refuge (1919m) - Agostino Rocca Refuge
This morning you prepare to cross the Alerce Glacier to the "Paso de las Nubes" - or "Cloud Path". After a short walk, you tie up and put on crampons to cross the glacier. During the crossing, you discover a frozen world, its colors, and crevasses. At the exit of the glacier, you arrive on the ridge that will lead you to the Paso de las Nubes. After a steep descent, you cross green meadows before arriving at the refuge Agostino Rocca.

Hike:
Distance: 18 km
Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Elevation: +1268 / -959m
Difficulty level: moderate
Accommodation: Refuge Agostino Rocca
Meals: B, L & D

Day 10: Refuge Agostino Rocca - Frias Lake- Pañuelo Harbor- Bariloche
You leave the heights of Paso de las Nubes to go down into the valley to reach the Frias Lake where the catamaran awaits you. From the refuge, you will admire the turquoise waters of the lake, which contrasts with the surrounding mountains. You cross forests of Nothofagus, native Andean trees of Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia before the navigation that will take you back to Bariloche. This will consist of navigating from the port of Frias Lake by catamaran to Puerto Alegre. A bus will be waiting to take you the 3 km to Puerto Blest where you embark another catamaran to navigate the Nahuel Huapi Lake to Puerto Pañuela in Bariloche.

Hike:
Distance: 14 km
Duration: 6 hours
Elevation: -1373m
Difficulty level: moderate
Accommodation:  Costas del Nahuel in lake room
Meals: B, L

Day 11: Bariloche - Bariloche Airport -  Buenos Aires
Transfer in a private vehicle from your hotel to Bariloche Airport followed by a domestic flight to Buenos Aires. Once you arrive, you will be transferred to your hotel.

In the evening, you are in for a treat! In "El Querandí", enjoy an authentic and traditional tango show, accompanied by a delicious dinner "a la carte" in an intimate and exclusive atmosphere of the early twentieth century (1920s building entirely renovated).

Walk to the El Querandi theatre, located only 5minutes away from your hotel

Accommodation: Tango de Mayo Hotel, executive room
Meals: B, D

Day 12: Departure from Ezeiza International Airport
Transfer from the hotel to Ezeiza International Airport in a private vehicle.

We have many other hiking and walking tours! Be sure to check them out!

On each day’s details, you will find the overnight hotel listed. Hotels are subject to availability at the time of booking. Please note that there is no guarantee of breakfast if leaving the hotel before 7 am. On two nights you will be accommodated in Refugios. Refugios are similar to backcountry huts or lodges. Refugios typically feature 6-8 person dorm-style rooms, equipped with kitchens, cooking staff, bathrooms, showers, and a communal area.