Luxury Argentina's Patagonia Walk 8D7N (Epic Lakes, Peaks & Glaciers), Fully Guided

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 3 km (2 miles), Elevation gain: 61 m (200 ft)
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles),  Elevation gain: 213 m (700 ft)

Today, you meet with your tour leaders at 8.30 a.m at the Hotel Posada Los Alamos, in El Calafate, Argentina. Please arrive dressed in your hiking clothes. Bring your luggage and a daypack with your rain gear, and anything else you may want for today's hike (your luggage will be transported to our first night's accommodations).

After meeting, we shuttle to Estancia Estela where we take a short walk through dunes to stretch our legs and get better acquainted over a picnic lunch of regional fare while reveling in the spectacular vistas of 80-kilometre-long (50-mile-long) glacier-fed Lake Viedma and perhaps catch a glimpse of the 3350 metre (11,0000 foot) Mount Fitz Roy in the distance. Continue to the outskirts of the small mountain town of El Chaltén where you would be exploring Los Glaciares National Park.

Bask in the panoramic views along the road as we hike to Mirador de Los Cóndores and Mirador Águila across the Torre and Fitz Roy peaks.

Done with today’s adventure, settle into Los Cerros Boutique Hotel & Spa, a luxurious resort and your home for the next two nights. Located in El Chaltén, Los Cerros Boutique Hotel offers spectacular views of the surrounding valleys, lakes, and Fitz Roy Mountain. Relax and unwind at the hotel’s spacious lounge while taking in the picture-perfect mountain and valley vistas, treat your tired muscles to a rejuvenating spa session, and afterward, we gather tonight for a welcome reception followed by our first dinner together.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 213 m (700 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 16 km (10 miles), Elevation gain: 366 m (1200 ft)
Level 5, Approx. 21 km (13 miles), Elevation gain: 853 m (2800 ft)

After a fabulous breakfast this morning at the hotel, we begin today's adventure with a warm-up walk through groves of lenga trees for stunning views of the Piedras Blancas Glacier and its lagoon, and hopefully, enjoy unobstructed vistas of the northeastern face of the Fitz Roy mountain range if the weather is favorable. Getting to Laguna Capri, enjoy a sumptuous lunch by the lakeside.

Done with lunch, go on to conquer the challenging rocky switchbacks to Laguna de Los Tres, and while at the top, stare in astonishment at De Los Tres Glacier as it plunges into Lake Viedma, with Cerro Fitz Roy soaring high into the sky just beyond. Carefully make your way back down the switchbacks and back to El Chaltén, passing by Laguna Capri and through some picturesque wetlands along the way to the hotel.

Settle and enjoy the sensational views of the Chaltén Valley and the Rio de las Vueltas from your room, relax your muscles in the whirlpool tub or curl up with a good book in front of the fireplace. Later on, discover and enjoy some Argentine wine vintages, see a slideshow presentation about climbing Cerro Torre, and afterward, we gather for a delightful dinner at a local restaurant.

Level 3, Approx. 13 km (8 miles), Elevation gain: 305 m (1000 ft)

Start the day with a hike along young glacial moraines and over the FitzRoy River. Soak in the stunning and elegant views from the Mirador of Cerro Torre, flanked by the towering granite spires of Torre Egger and Cerro Standhardt.

Done with lunch, head to El Calafate, making a stop at the historical ranch La Leona where Butch Cassidy rested in the old days, visit craft shops and treat your palates to some homemade ice cream flavored with the local berry. Journey to our home for the night, the Posada Los Alamos resort, is located in the heart of El Calafate, close to Argentino Lake. Settle into your room, take a walk through its organic garden, take a dip in the hotel indoor pool, or indulge in a spa treatment.

Enjoy dinner on your own leisure this evening in El Calafate with lots of great restaurants and varieties of dishes to choose from ranging from Argentinean to intercontinental specialties.

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 10 km (6 miles), Elevation gain: 396 m (1300 ft)

Done with a hearty breakfast this morning, we travel to Punta Banderas where we embark on an unforgettable scenic cruise across Lake Argentino among icebergs. The vaulting mountains here block most of the moisture rising off the Pacific, creating a starkly beautiful arid steppe on the east side of the park. Create memories with breathtaking photos of spectacular fjords and mountain peaks, and views of the famous Upsala Glacier. Come across Andean condors soaring overhead as we cruise through this otherworldly maze of ice and water.

Come to the end of our cruise as we arrive at the remote ranch-turned hotel and our home for the next two nights, Estancia Cristina. A unique and stunning lodge, the Estancia Cristina offers stunning sights of the Upsala Glacier as well as sensational natural scenarios, and that ultimate authentic Argentine ranch experience.

Continue this exciting exploit with a hike into the Patagonian wilderness, starting along the shoreline of Cristina Bay. Stumble upon a pristine waterfall before beginning a steep ascent through lush lenga forest while wallowing in the extraordinary views of lakes, mountains, and glaciers. Later tonight, we gather for an authentic Argentine Asado dinner while reliving the day’s adventures.

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 3 km (2 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 14 km (9 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)

We will be shuttling this morning to a breathtaking lookout point over the massive Upsala Glacier and Guillermo Lake before heading over rocky terrain en route to Fossil Canyon. Come across ammonite and marine fossils believed to be millions of years old, see imprints of squid and jellyfish, and multicoloured rock formations ranging from orange to gold to red. Next head down a gentle section, weaving through picturesque lagoons teeming with coots and black-neck swans.

Take a break from exploration to enjoy lunch on the trail before heading back to the estancia where you are free to take a stroll or just relax. Learn about the fascinating history of this property on a guided tour of its rustic museum with photos and personal possessions of the Masters family to look through. Afterwards, we gather for a mouth-watering dinner.

FOUR HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)
Level 2, Approx. 10 km (6 miles), Elevation gain: 274 m (900 ft)
Level 1, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 14 km (9 miles), Elevation gain: 701 m (2300 ft)

Enjoy a hearty breakfast this morning at the hotel, and afterward hike through the stunning Patagonian terrain on our route through the picturesque Valle del Rio Caterina. Go on to climb the face of Cerro Mesón to Mirador Cristina. Delight in the rugged mountain and glacier vistas all around as you take a break to eat lunch. Feel like taking things slow? That’s alright as you are free to relax back at the hotel.

This morning, you will be provided with the opportunity of trying out the gaucho life with a guided horseback ride across the pampas. Discover Patagonian flora and see lots of wildlife along the route including condors and grazing guanacos.

Bid farewell to Estancia Cristina this afternoon as we cruise across Lake Argentino to Puerto Punta Bandera and shuttle to remote Eolo, our breathtaking Relais & Châteaux home for the next two nights. Located halfway between the city of El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park, the 10,000 acres property is the perfect place for one to relax and enjoy the subtle elegance of nature.

Settle into your room, and luxuriate in the magnificence of scenery that will surely leave you mesmerised. Enjoy dinner at your leisure in the Eolo dining room before retiring for the day. We will be served a blend of local and regional produce promoting the region’s heritage.

Be prepared to be awestruck by your first glimpse of the enormous Perito Moreno Glacier, a stunning 61-metre-high (200-foot-high), blue-hued walls, and one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia. Marvel at the world’s wonder from its famous balconies, a series of platforms providing panoramic views, and ensure to take breathtaking photos of this beautiful phenomenon.

Head back to our luxurious hotel for a sumptuous lunch, after which you are free to go on exploring, or spend the rest of the day leisurely. Pick a book from the library, immerse in the breathtaking views the hotel has to offer, treat your muscles to a relaxing massage at the resort’s spa, or tour the vast Patagonian steppe on your own, either on foot or on a mountain bike.

Sit down to a palatable and tasty farewell dinner at the hotel’s dining room, and remember to try out a traditional Patagonian lamb Asado.

Level 1, Approx. 3 km (2 miles), Elevation gain: 213 m (700 ft)

This morning, we take one last morning walk on the vast land of Eolo, through the Patagonian steppe, on the foot of the Cerritos Frías. Back at the hotel, we convene, bid our fond farewells and transfer to the El Calafate airport to continue your onward journey.