Los Glaciares Multisport Adventure

Day 1: Transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén; Optional rock-climbing

After breakfast, you’ll take a private transfer from El Calafate through the typical landscape of the Patagonian steppe to El Chaltén. This journey takes around 3hrs by private transfer (driver only), during which you’ll have views of Lake Argentino and Lake Viedma and the Fitz Roy mountain range. On arrival in El Chaltén, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel to relax. We recommend taking a wander around the town, which didn’t even exist before 1985!

Once everyone has arrived, the guide will visit the group for a short briefing on the upcoming activities. El Chaltén offers various options for rock climbing. If it’s your first time you could try our climbing school and learn the basics, but if you’re an experienced climber we can climb any of the multiple-level, high-quality routes in the area. Our guide will suggest the best available option and introduce safety procedures as well as the basic concepts of rock-climbing manoeuvres and equipment. All equipment is included.

Duration of climbing: 3hrs
Difficulty level: Introductory
Accommodation: Hosteria Senderos (3*) or equivalent hotel in El Chaltén

Day 2: Biking at Lago del Desierto; Trek in Los Huemules Reserve

We’ll be met in the morning by our guide and will take a private vehicle towards Lago del Desierto, located next to the Chilean border. Here there is a 37km-long gravel road with wonderful views of the Patagonian landscape of forest, mountains and glaciers.

On arrival at the lake, our guide will give us safety gear and help us to adjust the bikes. We’ll also have a review of the security basics and the proper use of the bike’s brakes and gears. During the ride we'll stop at various spots along the route to take photos of the beautiful crystal-clear rivers and waterfalls in the forest. There will be a vehicle supporting the bike ride in case any of the participants prefer to take a rest and enjoy the landscape from the van.

After 20km, we’ll arrive at Los Huemules Reserve to have a picnic lunch and relax. We’ll then take an easy 2hr 30min hike to the Blue and Green Lagoons. At the end of the day we’ll reach the ECO Lodge on the shore of Lake Condor to spend the night and relax in a wonderful hot tub.

Duration: Biking for 3hrs & hike for 2hrs 30mins
Difficulty level: Introductory
Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Refugio Condor (EcoLodge)

Day 3: Trek to Laguna de Los Tres

Today begins with a short private transfer to the start of the trail into the National Park at Hostería El Pilar. From there we’ll hike along a beautiful trail through the lenga forest, following the Río Blanco (White River) towards the Poincenot campsite.

Along the way, we’ll stop to learn about the flora and fauna that are typical of the Patagonian Andean forest and also visit the stunning Piedras Blancas (White Rocks) viewpoint. From here we can see the Piedras Blancas Glacier and the erratic boulders and lateral moraines left behind as the glacier has retreated in the last few decades. We’ll also enjoy different views of the Fitz Roy mountain chain as we make our way towards our objective for the day – the magnificent Laguna de Los Tres. This unforgettable location has the best view of Cerro Fitz Roy and is one of the most impressive vistas in all of Patagonia.

We will have plenty of time to take in this unforgettable view before descending to the Poincenot Camp for snacks and drinks before our dinner and overnight stay.

Duration of hike: 6-7hrs, 11km
Difficulty level: Introductory
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Supported camping at Poincenot Camp

Day 4: Trek to Laguna Torre

From our forest campsite, we’ll enjoy dawn breaking over the incredible Fitz Roy mountain range. After breakfast, we’ll leave Cerro Fitz Roy behind us and head off towards a beautiful valley with rolling hills and the Lagunas Madre e Hija (Mother and Daughter lagoons). We’ll have plenty of time to stop and take photos and, if we’re really lucky, we may even spot the small group of Cauquenes that is sometimes seen in the area.

The trail leads us through forests of Lenga and Ñires and across a large moraine before arriving at our destination – Laguna Torre. We’ll stop here for lunch while taking in the stunning views of the Torres mountain chain and Glacier Grande. If the weather conditions permit, we’ll then hike towards the Maestri viewpoint for the closest view of Glacier Grande.

This viewpoint is named after the controversial Italian climber, Cesare Maestri, who formulated his strategies for climbing one of the most difficult mountains in the world from this location. Once we’re ready, we’ll leave the lake and mountain and follow the path through the Cerro Torre valley back to El Chaltén where we’ll spend the night.

Duration of hike: 7-8hrs, 17km
Difficulty level: Introductory
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch
Accommodation: Hosteria Senderos (3*) or equivalent hotel in El Chaltén

Day 5: Kayak on Río La Leona; Cerro Los Hornos trek

You’ll be picked up from your hotel at 7:30am. Our epic adventure starts easily enough with a private transfer 1hr 30mins to the Río La Leona. There, we will have a safety briefing on how to use all of the necessary equipment and distribute both the equipment and thermal suits. Once dressed, you’ll be allocated to one of the double kayaks and we’ll launch into the river. The guides will be in single kayaks so they can manoeuvre swiftly through the group, providing further instruction on paddling techniques and looking out for everyone’s safety.

The first kayaking section is about 8km long and should take just over an hour. We’ll come ashore at Estancia La Meseta near Cerro Fortaleza for a well-deserved lunch break and while here, we’ll hike the incredible Cerro Los Hornos to a viewpoint that features fossilized bones and petrified trees. The walk in this area is truly incredible – you'll see the petrified remains from Patagonia's ancient past where dinosaurs roamed these plains. The landscape is other-worldly and at times you'll feel like you are walking on the moon.

We’ll return to our kayaks to explore another stretch of the river, paddling past intriguing geological formations and colourful vegetation typical of the Patagonian steppe. Our private vehicle will be waiting at the end of our journey to take us back to El Calafate.

Length of kayaking: 14km
Length of hike: 5km
Difficulty level: Introductory
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch
Accommodation: Kosten Aike (3*) or equivalent hotel in El Calafate

Day 6: Perito Moreno Glacier - Minitrekking

We depart El Calafate at 8:00am and travel around 78 km on a paved road with wonderful views of lakes, streams and snow-capped mountains towards the Perito Moreno Glacier. We will enjoy our first view of this enormous glacier from a brief stop at the Curva de Los Suspiros (Curve of Sighs), and then complete the journey to the visitors centre and the entrance to the large number of walkways offering unparalleled views of the ice.

Ice Hike Excursion - From the Bajo de las Sombras (Under the Shadows) port this excursion crosses Lago Argentino in a 20-minute sail to a point just off the south face of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by mountain guides who will take you to a hut with toilet facilities. From there, the guides will talk about glaciology as they lead you on a short walk along the shoreline to the access point onto the glacier. Once at the glacier, they will divide participants into sub-groups of a maximum of 20 people, give a brief safety talk, and explain how to fit and adjust crampons. You will then head up onto the ice.

Depending on the route, the glacier hike is usually a low difficulty and lasts about 1.5 hours. It is a fascinating experience that allows you to get up close to the ice and learn about a variety of typical glacier formations, such as cracks, sinks, seracs, lagoons, etc. At the end of the ice hike, you will return to the hut via a walkway through the Patagonian forest, then board your boat to return to the port.

Difficulty level: Introductory - ideal for people who enjoy a little adventure and want to experience using crampons to walking on ice.
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch
Accommodation: Kosten Aike (3*) or equivalent hotel in El Calafate

Day 7: Leave El Calafate

You'll have a day to unwind from your trek and enjoy the town of El Calafate before a private transfer to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast