This 7 days in Patagonia itinerary pairs Argentina's Perito Moreno Glacier with Chile's Torres del Paine without pretending the border crossing is a quick detour. Spend three nights in El Calafate, travel overland to Puerto Natales on day four, then use it as a base for two full days in the park before departure. You'll walk glacier viewpoints, sail among icebergs and choose between the demanding Base Torres hike and gentler lakeside paths. Book the big excursions and long-distance buses in advance, leave room for wind and weather, and treat the journey between countries as part of the adventure.
November to March offers long daylight and the widest range of glacier boats and park transport; December to February is busiest and windiest. March and early April bring autumn colour and fewer hikers but shorter operating hours. Winter (June–August) means snow, ice and limited services: the Base Torres trail and some park sectors may require a guide or close. Confirm current trail, boat and border schedules before committing to dates.
Fly into El Calafate (FTE) and leave from Puerto Natales (PNT) if flights line up, or continue by bus to Punta Arenas (PUQ). Book an El Calafate–Puerto Natales bus for day four: allow most of the day, typically 5–7 hours or longer with border queues. Bring your passport and check entry requirements for both countries. In El Calafate, use excursion shuttles for the glacier and port; in Puerto Natales, use booked park buses or guided day tours. Torres del Paine's sectors are far apart, so never assume one bus lets you see the whole park in a day.
Morning
Airport transfer roughly US$10–30
Land at El Calafate airport and take the shuttle or a taxi into town. Keep the first day light: flight timings and Patagonian wind rarely reward an ambitious arrival-day excursion. Confirm tomorrow's glacier pickup and pack a windproof layer within reach.
El Calafate Airport, Santa Cruz, ArgentinaAfternoon
Reserve entry; check current tariff
Follow the marked loop through Reserva Laguna Nimez on the edge of town, watching for flamingos and other waterbirds against the vast blue of Lago Argentino. Bring binoculars if you have them, and check the reserve's current opening hours before heading over.
Reserva Laguna Nimez, El Calafate, ArgentinaEvening
Dinner roughly US$20–40
Stroll the main street, pick up picnic supplies for tomorrow and try cordero patagónico (slow-roasted lamb) at a local parrilla. Go to bed early: the glacier is the reason you came, and morning departures start promptly.
Avenida del Libertador, El Calafate, ArgentinaMorning
Park admission and return transfer vary; budget roughly US$50–100 combined
Take a booked bus or excursion shuttle the roughly 80 km from El Calafate to the Perito Moreno sector. Pay or show your park ticket and start on the lower boardwalk circuits: the glacier wall rises across the narrow channel, and you can hear the ice crack before you see it fall.
Glaciar Perito Moreno, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, ArgentinaAfternoon
Walkways included with entry; optional boat roughly US$30–60
Follow the signed upper walkways for a different angle over the ice field. If conditions allow, add a short navigation along the glacier face; boats keep a safe distance from falling ice. Ice trekking is a separate, much pricier prebooked activity, not something you can fit in casually on top of every tour.
Pasarelas Glaciar Perito Moreno, Santa Cruz, ArgentinaEvening
Dinner roughly US$20–40
Ride back to town in the late afternoon. Have a relaxed dinner and check the next day's boat departure point and transfer time: glacier cruises generally leave from ports outside El Calafate, not the town waterfront.
El Calafate, Santa Cruz, ArgentinaMorning
Full-day navigation with transfer roughly US$130–250; check operator
Book a full-day glacier navigation with transfers and head out early to Puerto Punta Bandera. Routes vary by operator, lake conditions and season, so confirm which glacier fronts your particular sailing visits rather than assuming all are included.
Puerto Punta Bandera, Lago Argentino, ArgentinaAfternoon
Usually included in cruise; lunch may be extra
Cruise the channels among blue-white icebergs. Many itineraries view the Upsala area at a safe distance and continue toward Spegazzini; access depends on ice and weather. Carry lunch unless your booking explicitly includes it, and take a sheltered deck break when the wind rises.
Glaciar Spegazzini, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, ArgentinaEvening
Dinner roughly US$15–35
Back in El Calafate, collect any stored luggage, exchange or withdraw a little Chilean currency if practical and confirm tomorrow's bus. Keep your passport, entry documents and any food for the ride accessible; border checks can add unpredictable time.
Terminal de Ómnibus de El Calafate, ArgentinaMorning
One-way bus roughly US$35–70
Leave El Calafate by prebooked coach for Puerto Natales. The drive crosses open steppe and the Argentina–Chile frontier; schedules vary by season. Choose a morning departure and allow the entire day rather than stacking a park tour onto a border-crossing day.
Terminal de Ómnibus de El Calafate, ArgentinaAfternoon
Waterfront free; local taxi if needed
After immigration and customs, check in at Puerto Natales. Walk the costanera along Última Esperanza Sound toward the old pier and the Monumento al Viento. Book or reconfirm the next two days' park transport now; trailhead transfers can fill up in high season.
Costanera Puerto Natales, ChileEvening
Dinner roughly US$20–40; park pass extra
Eat in town and assemble tomorrow's layers, water and packed lunch. Buy the park pass through official channels before travel where required, and check whether your selected day tour includes park entry or transport only. Chile has strict controls on fresh food at the border, so buy hiking snacks after arrival.
Puerto Natales, Magallanes, ChileMorning
Guided full-day transport roughly US$80–170; park pass extra
Depart Puerto Natales early on a booked scenic day tour or with a rental car; a regular bus does not conveniently connect all these viewpoints. Pause for broad views of the massif and guanacos on the approach. Stay on marked paths and keep your distance from wildlife.
Laguna Amarga, Torres del Paine National Park, ChileAfternoon
Trail included with park entry; optional boat extra
Walk from the Salto Grande area to the Mirador Cuernos viewpoint if the wind and trail conditions permit. The turquoise water of Lago Nordenskjöld frames the sharp Cuernos peaks; farther west, a tour may continue to Lago Pehoé and Lago Grey viewpoints. Don't count on a Grey Glacier boat unless it is separately booked and timed.
Mirador Cuernos, Torres del Paine National Park, ChileEvening
Dinner roughly US$20–40
The drive out is long. Eat an early dinner and check tomorrow's Base Torres forecast and trail status. If high winds or ice make the hike unsafe, switch to another marked lower-elevation walk or a second scenic park day.
Puerto Natales, ChileMorning
Return transfer and park pass; guided hike costs extra
Take a prebooked early transfer to the trailhead near the Central sector. The Base Torres hike is a demanding full-day out-and-back, commonly around 18–22 km with substantial elevation gain; allow roughly 8–10 hours on foot plus transport. Start only if the weather, daylight and your fitness suit it.
Sector Central, Torres del Paine National Park, ChileAfternoon
Hike included with park entry; packed lunch roughly US$10–20
Climb through the Ascencio valley and lenga forest toward the steep, rocky final moraine. At the lagoon beneath the three towers, shelter from the wind and enjoy the view before descending the same route. Carry warm layers, rain protection, water, food and a headlamp; turn around in time for the last booked transfer.
Mirador Base Las Torres, Torres del Paine, ChileEvening
Dinner roughly US$20–40
After the shuttle back, keep the evening simple: a hearty meal and a hot shower. If you chose the weather-friendly scenic alternative instead, use this evening to review tomorrow's departure rather than trying to squeeze the towers into a short final morning.
Puerto Natales, ChileMorning
Optional cave admission and transport; waterfront free
Take a restful waterfront walk and breakfast in Puerto Natales. If your departure is late and transport is arranged, visit Cueva del Milodón, a natural cave with archaeological significance about 25 km outside town; otherwise keep the morning local.
Monumento Natural Cueva del Milodón, Puerto Natales, ChileAfternoon
Punta Arenas bus roughly US$12–25; flights extra
Allow a generous buffer for onward travel. Puerto Natales airport has limited seasonal flight schedules; Punta Arenas airport is several hours away by bus, so book the transfer to match your actual flight rather than treating it as a local airport ride.
Terminal Rodoviario Puerto Natales, ChileEvening
Optional dinner roughly US$20–45
If you stay one more night, head back to the waterfront for the last light on the fjord and a farewell seafood dinner. Otherwise, this is your onward-travel window; no fixed evening reservation is needed after a long transfer.
Muelle Histórico Puerto Natales, ChileApproximate mid-range cost when sharing a room: around US$1,330–US$2,730 per person for seven days, excluding international/domestic flights, specialist ice trekking and travel insurance. Glacier cruises and guided park days make some days much more expensive than others; prices and exchange rates change frequently. Check current operator and park rates before booking.
Estimated daily total
US$190–US$390 per person, per day
| Season | Typical range | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Sep–Nov) | 2–15°C / 36–59°F | Longer days return, but cold gusts and trail snow remain possible; some boats and buses start seasonal service gradually. |
| Summer (Dec–Feb) | 5–19°C / 41–66°F | Longest daylight and most services, with powerful wind and rapid shifts from sunshine to rain even on warm days. |
| Autumn (Mar–May) | 0–14°C / 32–57°F | March is quieter and colourful; by May days shorten and some seasonal tours stop running. |
| Winter (Jun–Aug) | -5–7°C / 23–45°F | Snow and ice can limit hikes, roads and boats. Arrange a specialist winter plan rather than relying on this summer route. |
SmartVoyage shows the live forecast, or seasonal averages for far-off dates, next to every day of a generated itinerary.
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