How many days do you need in Buenos Aires, El Calafate & El Chaltén?
- Most travelers spend 7-8 days in Buenos Aires, El Calafate, and El Chaltén combined
- Visiting Buenos Aires, El Calafate, and El Chaltén in 5 or 6 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 9 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Puerto Iguazú, Ushuaia, and Puerto Madryn
How Many Days to Spend in Buenos Aires
Recommended Itineraries for Buenos Aires, El Calafate & El Chaltén
Recommended Itinerary for 1 Week
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires, Explore | Buenos Aires |
| Day 2 | Fly to El Calafate, Explore | El Calafate |
| Day 3 | Perito Moreno Glacier Hike | El Calafate |
| Day 4 | Transfer to El Chaltén | El Chaltén |
| Day 5 | Hike to Laguna de Los Tres | El Chaltén |
| Day 6 | Hike to Mirador Cerro Torre | El Chaltén |
| Day 7 | Return to El Calafate, Fly to Buenos Aires & Depart | Buenos Aires |
If you want to experience the heart of Argentine Patagonia, come to Los Glaciares National Park. This one-week itinerary begins with your arrival in Buenos Aires, where you'll have the day to explore the city. Then you're off to El Calafate to hike across the iconic Perito Moreno Glacier before checking out the town of El Chaltén and enjoying hiking excursions around the famous Mount Fitz Roy. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 8 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires, Explore | Buenos Aires |
| Day 2 | Fly to El Calafate, Visit the Glaciarium | El Calafate |
| Day 3 | Perito Moreno Glacier Hike | El Calafate |
| Day 4 | Free Day in El Calafate | El Calafate |
| Day 5 | El Calafate to El Chaltén | El Chaltén |
| Day 6 | Hike to Laguna de Los Tres | El Chaltén |
| Day 7 | Hike to Laguna Torre | El Chaltén |
| Day 8 | Return to El Calafate, Fly to Buenos Aires & Depart | Buenos Aires |
Discover the natural wonders of Argentine Patagonia on this exciting eight-day itinerary. Begin in the capital city of Buenos Aires, where you'll enjoy a full day of sightseeing and a night out on the town. Then travel south to El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. Visit the region's famous glacier, Perito Moreno, then take a scenic drive to the town of El Chaltén for hiking excursions around the spectacular Mount Fitz Roy. Read more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Extended Itineraries
2-Week Itinerary Including Torres del Paine, Ushuaia & Puerto Natales
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires, Explore | Buenos Aires |
| Day 2 | Fly to El Calafate | El Calafate |
| Day 3 | Perito Moreno Glacier Hike | El Calafate |
| Day 4 | Bus to El Chaltén | El Chaltén |
| Day 5 | Hike to Laguna de Los Tres | El Chaltén |
| Day 6 | Return to El Calafate | El Calafate |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Torres del Paine | Torres del Paine |
| Day 8 | W Trek to Refugio el Chileno (Day 1) | Torres del Paine |
| Day 9 | W Trek: Hike to Refugio Los Cuernos (Day 2) | Torres del Paine |
| Day 10 | W Trek: Hike to the French Valley (Day 3) | Torres del Paine |
| Day 11 | W Trek: Hike to Grey Glacier (Day 4) | Puerto Natales |
| Day 12 | Transfer to Ushuaia, Explore | Ushuaia |
| Day 13 | Explore Tierra del Fuego National Park | Ushuaia |
| Day 14 | Depart Ushuaia |
This 14-day journey to Patagonia begins in Buenos Aires, then quickly moves to El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. After marveling at the Perito Moreno Glacier, you'll take the scenic route to El Chaltén for a full day of self-guided hiking. Cross the border to Chile to access Torres del Paine National Park. You'll spend four days hiking the famous W Trek before circling back to Argentina, where you'll spend the end of the trip exploring Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. Read more
How to travel between Buenos Aires, El Calafate & El Chaltén
How to get to El Calafate
Perched on the shore of the ice-blue Lago Argentino, El Calafate is most known as the gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park and its famous Perito Moreno Glacier. Many visitors choose to fly directly to El Calafate from Buenos Aires or visit El Calafate on the way back north from Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. Your best bet to reach El Calafate is to take a plane—the notable exception is if you're traveling to or from El Chaltén, which is only about 133 miles (214 km) to the north. Read more
How to get to El Chaltén
Known as one of the most spectacular destinations for hiking in Patagonia, El Chaltén practically sits in the shadow of Mount Fitz Roy and a truly spectacular section of the Andes. The nearest local airport is three hours away in El Calafate, and the easiest way to reach El Chaltén is to travel to El Calafate and drive (by private transfer, rental car, or bus) from there. Read more
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