Reasons to go
- Tick off the two most famous national parks in Patagonia, Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina and Torres del Paine National Park in Chile
- Both parks have well-known trails, both multi-day hikes to day hikes
- The main trails (W Trek in Torres del Paine and the day hikes in Los Glaciares) are well-trodden, but there are some fantastic off-the-beaten-track treks too
- Go for rustic campsites or experience the parks from luxury - both have a range of accommodation available.
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Hanging bridge over the valley, Torres del Paine
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The Base of the Towers
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Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine
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Los Cuernos, Torres del Paine
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Hiking in the Bader Valley
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Laguna de los Tres hike
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Sunrise on the mountains above El Chalten
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Trail to Laguna Torre, Los Glaciares
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Laguna de los Tres hike in autumn, Los Glaciares
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The view from Agachonas Pass, Huemul Circuit
Where can I trek in Torres del Paine?
What day hikes can I do in the Fitz Roy range?
Planning your trip
How long do I need?
We'd recommend at least 2 weeks to explore both national parks, which allows enough time for travelling. With this timescale, you could spend 4 to 5 days in Torres del Paine hiking the famous W Trek and 3 to 4 days in El Chalten, where you could do a few day hikes to some of the most spectacular viewpoints of Mount Fitz Roy.
With a little more time, you could hike the full circuit or get off the beaten track in Torres del Paine. In Los Glaciares, our top multi-day trek is the Huemul Circuit for its views of the ice cap.
How do I travel between Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares?
The two parks lie on opposite sides of the Chile-Argentina border, and in total it takes around six hours to travel between them by road.
You can either join a group tour which visits both national parks and includes a transfer between them, or choose separate treks in each destination and let us help you travel between the two by public bus or private transfer. There's plenty of options to break up the journey at the gateway towns to each national park - Puerto Natales for Torres del Paine, and El Calafate for Los Glaciares, where you can visit the majestic Perito Moreno Glacier on your way to the national park.
Natascha says
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When people think of Patagonia, the Paine Massif and Fitz Roy are the images that come to mind - the Southern Patagonian Ice Field has left these massive granite sculptures in its wake that now define the region.
Natascha Yogachandra Patagonia Specialist
Is there more to do than just trekking?
Yes! While the trekking is what draws the majority of people to these destinations, both regions offer a huge variety of activities.
For example, if you're into wildlife or photography, there are puma tracking trips available in Torres del Paine. The Rio Serrano, which flows out of Torres del Paine National Park, provides opportunities for kayaking and fishing, while the estancias around both El Chalten and Torres del Paine are perfect bases for horse riding. You can also take boat trips in both national parks to see some of the stunning glaciers.
Group Tours (with a tour leader)
Combined Treks (without a tour leader)
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The Lake Districts of Chile and Argentina
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Ready to plan your Patagonia adventure?
Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.