Experience the beauty and wonder of trekking Patagonia’s Ice Field in Argentina and Chile
Go where few tourists go, and enjoy this incredible adventure trekking some of the best routes in Los Glaciares National Park and a foray onto the Patagonian icefield.
The rugged peaks and impressive glaciers of Patagonia have captured the imagination of generations of adventure travelers. Don’t miss the natural beauty and challenging terrain of this guided trekking tour on Patagonia’s Ice Field!
Begin your tour with a visit to Perito Moreno National Park, where you’ll sail on a catamaran to get close to the Perito Moreno glacier. Then head to Los Glaciares National Park and El Chalten for your 7-day trekking tour across spectacular mountain passes and exploring Patagonia’s Ice Field. You’ll have the opportunity to camp on the ice field and in other unforgettable locations such as the Circo de los Altares. Patagonia’s glaciers are melting at an alarming rate – don’t wait too long to experience this incredible tour!
Highlights Of The Patagonia’s Ice Field Trek
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Patagonia’s Ice Field Trekking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Patagonia
Welcome to Patagonia! Arrive at the airport in El Calafate, Argentina. You’ll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel in El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.
Overnight Location: Hotel Kosten Aike, El Calafate
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Visit the Perito Moreno Glacier
Get ready for awe-inspiring views of moving glacier. Leave from your hotel at 9:00 AM for a two-hour drive west toward the border to Chile. When you reach Perito Moreno National Park, you will board a catamaran to sail up close to the glacier. Watch as impressive boulders of ice break off the glacier and drop into the cold water below. After this memorable tour, take a break for refreshments at the visitor area, then continue to tour the park to witness this incredible glacier from a variety of different viewpoints. After a magical day in Perito Moreno National Park, in the afternoon you’ll return to your hotel in El Calafate.
Overnight Location: Hotel Kosten Aike, El Calafate
Distance: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Ruta 40 to El Chalten, Trek to Piedra del Fraile
Leave El Calafate early in the morning and drive to the trekking capital of Argentina, El Chalten. Enter Los Glaciares National Park and drive to the trailhead at the Electrico River Bridge (about 17 km). Once on the trail, a gentle ascent brings you to the heart of the Andes. Hike for about 3 hours until you reach the incredibly beautiful camping area at La Piedra del Fraile.
Overnight Location: Camping at La Piedra del Fraile
Distance: 2.5-3 hours, 7.1 km, 517 m of ascent gain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Trek to Laguna de los 14
Continue your trek today, following the renowned Rio Electrico, which gets its name from its incredible electric blue color. Hike from La Piedra del Fraile along the southern bank of the river. Cross the Pollone River and set camp at Laguna de los 14 (854 m / 2,802 ft). From here, you’ll get your first glimpse of the north face of Fitz Roy mountain.
Overnight Location: Camping at Laguna de los 14 (854 m/2,802’)
Distance: 4-5 hours, 317 m of ascent gain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Cross the Marconi Pass, Hike to the Ice Field
Get a very early start for a long, difficult, but very rewarding day. You’ll gain about 700 m in elevation today over varying terrain. Begin by following the valley and climbing to rocky slopes. Depending on the conditions here, it may be necessary to rope up for safety.
Climb to the Marconi pass (1,525 m / 5,003 ft) where your fantastic view includes seeing the ice field for the first time. The sight is almost surreal, as though you’re looking through a window into a different world. Descend from the pass to the ice field where, weather permitting, you will camp for the night. Hike until a suitable camping area is found, or, if necessary, continue on to the Gorra Blanca refuge and make camp nearby. You have now crossed the Chilean border and you’ll camp in the vicinity of the famous Cerro Gorra Blanca mountain.
Overnight Location: Camping on Ice field at Gorra Blanca Refuge
Distance: 7-8 hours, 671 m of ascent gain, 70 m of descent loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Hike Across the Ice Field to El Circo de los Altares
Awake this morning for the first time on the world’s third largest ice mass. Today’s route is easier and much shorter with very little elevation change. Hike across the glacier for several hours to reach El Circo de los Altares. This place is iconic in mountaineering circles because it is surrounded by some of the best-known climbing locations in Patagonia: Cerro Standhardt, Torre Egger, and Cerro Torre’s eastern face. Camping in this spectacular area may turn out to be the highlight of your whole tour.
Overnight Location: Camping at Circo de los Altares
Distance: 4-6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Trek to Laguna Ferrari
Leaving your incredible Circo de los Altares campsite behind, continue hiking south across the ice field. After approximately 4 hours, you will return to mountainous terrain, climbing a rocky segment of trail to reach Ferrari Lake. Camp here for the night, at the foot of the Paso del Viento mountain pass. The panoramic ice field views from here are simply breathtaking, and if conditions are right you may also have a good view over the mountains on the Chilean side of the border as well.
Overnight Location: Camping at Ferrari Lake
Distance: 6 -7 hours, 80 m of ascent, 300 m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Trek across the Paso del Viento Pass to Toro Lake
Return to the eastern side of the Andes today by crossing the famous Paso del Viento mountain pass. When you reach the top at 1,400 m (4,593 ft), you’ll understand why it is called the “Wind Pass”. Be prepared for high wind speeds, but it’s the view that will really take your breath away. Pause here to enjoy one last look over the ice field and the world-famous granite spires that Patagonia is known for. As you descend on the other side, the trail is poorly marked. You’ll pass a small glacier at the base of the Cerro Grande mountain then continue on to camp on the shores of Toro Lake (650 m/2,133’). Before reaching the campsite, you’ll cross the Toro River via en exhilarating zip line.
Overnight Location: Camping at Toro Lake (650 m/2,133’)
Distance: 6-7 hours, 220 m of ascent gain, 750 m of ascent loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Cross Pliegue Tumbado Pass to El Chalten
Descend along the Tunel River for several hours and then climb again to cross the Pliegue Tumbado pass, then follow the path that leads to El Chalten. Notice how the landscape around you changes at lower altitudes. Once again, you are surrounded by grassy plains and flowers. Celebrate your completed journey with a nice dinner and a comfortable night in a hotel.
Overnight Location: Hosteria El Puma, El Chalten
Distance: 5-6 hours, 350 m of ascent gain, 600 m of descent loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (only if still trekking)
Day 10 Extra Day in Case of Bad Weather
Today is an extra day included in the itinerary in the event that weather conditions delay your trek at some point. In many cases the extra day is required during the trek.
If an extra day is not needed, then today is a free day in in El Chalten. Lodging and meals are not included. Please be prepared to pay for it personally.
Overnight Location: Camping (if extra day needed) or Not Included
Distance: N/A
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 Travel from El Chalten to El Calafate, Departure Day
Sadly, your Patagonia’s Ice Field tour has reached its end. After breakfast, return to El Calafate and arrange your departure from there. Pleasant travels!
Overnight Location: N/A
Distance: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
Patagonia’s Ice Field Trekking Tour Price and Dates
Pricing for this guided Patagonia’s Ice Field Trek depends on your group size. You might be joining an international group for this trip.
The prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room:
- Guided Groups of 4: from $3,940 USD per person*
* Pricing for this tour depends on the size of your group, as well as your travelling dates. Please click the Book Now button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates.
Book NowAccommodation on the Patagonia’s Ice Field Trek
Accommodations on your trek through Patagonia’s Ice Field are based on camping in tents. Before and after the trek, stay in 3- and 4-star hotels in El Calafate and El Chalten.
In some cases, accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Please note, that in case bad weather delays the tour at some point, you have a one-day reserve and your hotel booking for day no. 9 will be moved to day no 10. If the tour runs smoothly and trek ends on-time, it’s on you to book a hotel for a night no. 10.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotel Kosten Aike, El Calafate ★★★★
This wonderful hotel in a convenient location works hard to be both environmentally friendly and a haven for your stay in El Calafate.
Camping in Patagonia
Sleep in tents along the trail, surrounded by beautiful scenery and amazing Argentinean wilderness.
Reserve day in case of bad weather
This is the reserve night in case of bad weather occurring during the trek. Lodging in town for this day is not included and it’s up to you to book a hotel.
Hosteria El Puma in El Chaltén ★★★
Tucked away just off of the main Avenido, this modern 3-star hotel features is conveniently located close to trekking circuits and the city center.
What’s included in the Patagonia’s Ice Field Trekking Tour?
Meals
9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners are included on your tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 9 nights along the tour are included as described (in case you need a reserve day on trail, then – all 10 nights are included). You will stay in 3- or 4-star hotels for 3 nights, and during your trek in Patagonia’s Ice Field you will be camping in tents for 6-7 nights.
Transportation during the Tour
Private transportation throughout the tour is included.
Also Included
- Local English-speaking professional UIAGM
- Assistant mountain guide (groups of 4 or more)
- National Park entrance fee
- Tour to Perito Moreno
- Quality mountain tents for camping (2 people per tent)
- Common camping equipment for the group
- Porters for tents and kitchen equipment
- GPS navigation systems
- Satellite phone for communications and rescue
- Complete mountain first aid kit
Not included
- Transportation to and from El Calafate before and after the tour
- Personal camping gear
- Lodging and meals on the reserve day, if you have returned to town
- Any extra activities
- Tips
- Personal equipment and expenses
- Insurance
- Anything else not listed as included
Optional Extras
- Extra night in El Chalten or El Calafate before or after the trip
- Hotel night in El Chalten on night 9 (not refundable in case reserve day is needed)
Frequently Asked Questions about Patagonia Ice Field Trek
Andes World Travel is a boutique adventure tour operator, founded by mountaineers, grown out of a love for adventure and first-hand knowledge of the Andes region. They offer a wide range of tours throughout South America, including both adventure tours and cultural tours.
Andes World Travel offers climbing, trekking, and hiking tours with an emphasis on safety and professionalism. They also offer “light trekking” trips for less experienced adventurers.
The company runs tours in Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Peru. They focus on sustainable practices and are more than willing to customize their tours to client’s wishes.
Learn MorePatagonia Ice Field Trek Map
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