- Overview
- Map & Itinerary
- Essential Info
- Pics & Vids
- Dates & Prices
Highlights
- Sail past icebergs on Lake Argentino, with views towards Upsala Glacier.
- Step ashore at Estancia Cristina, a historic Patagonian sheep ranch.
- Trek through Fossil Canyon and discover shelters built by icefield researchers.
- Spend a night at Carnero Refuge on Lake Argentino’s remote shore.
- Zipline across the Fitz Roy River, then climb to Paso Agachonas.
- Trek with Fitz Roy massif views, then camp wild beside Laguna Toro.
- Receive a complimentary Water-To-Go bottle when departing on this trip to minimise our plastic foot- print in Patagonia!
Overview
Icebergs drift past as your boat crosses Lake Argentino towards Estancia Cristina, a former sheep ranch in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park. Your first night is under canvas beside a glacial lagoon. The next day, you trek through Fossil Canyon and discover shelters built by researchers exploring the Southern Patagonian Icefield in the 1960s.
From El Chaltén, you take quieter trails with views of the Fitz Roy massif on clear days. You cross the Fitz Roy River by zipline, climb to Paso Agachonas and descend to Laguna Toro. By evening, your tent is pitched beside the lake, with the mountains for company.
Over nine days, you explore these two corners of Patagonia in a small group with local guides. If you’re a fit hillwalker, expect around 12–15 km on most trekking days, with support to keep your pack lighter.
Welcome to El Calafate, Argentina
¡Bienvenidos a la Patagonia! Welcome to Argentine Patagonia, where your adventure begins in El Calafate on the shores of Lake Argentino.
On arrival at El Calafate Airport (FTE), timed with the recommended Adventurous Ewe flight, make your way to your hotel and settle in. If you arrive early, stretch your legs around town and get your first look at the lake you’ll cross tomorrow.
Over dinner, get to know your fellow trekkers before heading into Los Glaciares National Park the next morning for the start of your wilderness adventure.
Included
Accommodation: Hotel in El Calafate
Meals: Dinner
Cross Lake Argentino and Trek to Pascale Refuge
After breakfast, board your boat and travel past icebergs on Lake Argentino, with views towards Upsala Glacier. At Estancia Cristina, you step ashore at a former sheep ranch and begin your trek into the backcountry.
Your first camp is beside Pascale Refuge, a simple metal shelter built for researchers working on the Southern Patagonian Icefield in the 1960s. The refuge offers a sheltered space beside a glacial lagoon. If the weather and the group’s energy allow, there’s time to explore the nearby viewpoints before settling into camp.
Included
Boat journey: Lake Argentino to Estancia Cristina
Accommodation: Camping beside Pascale Refuge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Trek through Fossil Canyon to Bahía Instituto Refuge
As you trek through Fossil Canyon, the rock formations give you a closer look at the geology of this remote corner of Patagonia. Your route leads to Bahía Instituto, a refuge built for researchers exploring the Southern Patagonian Icefield in the 1960s.
If time allows, you can visit the museum at Estancia Cristina to discover how a sheep ranch took shape in such an isolated setting. Your planned overnight stop is Bahía Instituto Refuge.
Included
Accommodation: Bahía Instituto Refuge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Trek to Carnero Refuge on Lake Argentino
A full day on foot takes you to Bahía Carnero, a secluded bay on Lake Argentino. Your overnight stop is Carnero Refuge, a newer mountain shelter built right beside the water.
Once you’ve set down your pack, take a moment by the shore and watch how the weather changes the colours of the lake and the mountains around it.
Included
Accommodation: Carnero Refuge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Trek to Estancia Cristina and Sail Back to El Calafate
From Carnero Refuge, you trek back to Estancia Cristina for your afternoon boat across Lake Argentino. Look out for icebergs on the crossing and take in a final view of the remote shoreline you’ve spent the past few days exploring on foot.
Back in El Calafate, settle into your accommodation after three nights in the backcountry. The evening is yours to find somewhere for dinner in town.
Included
Boat journey: Estancia Cristina to El Calafate
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse in El Calafate
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Travel to El Chaltén and Explore at Your Own Pace
Your morning drive takes you from El Calafate to El Chaltén, a mountain village at the foot of the Fitz Roy massif. When the skies are clear, you can see the granite peaks from the village.
The rest of the day is yours. Take a stroll, find a café or give your legs a rest after four days on the trail. Back at your accommodation, sort your kit for the two-day trek to Laguna Toro.
Included
Group transfer: El Calafate to El Chaltén
Accommodation: Guesthouse in El Chaltén
Meals: Breakfast
Zipline Across the Fitz Roy River and Trek to Laguna Toro
From El Chaltén, you follow trails through the Laguna Torre sector, with views of the Fitz Roy massif when the skies are clear. You cross the Fitz Roy River by zipline before tackling the climb to Paso Agachonas.
From the pass, you descend to Laguna Toro and pitch your tent beside the lake. After one of your tougher days on foot, there’s time to set down your pack and enjoy the quiet of your final night under canvas.
Included
Fitz Roy River zipline crossing
Accommodation: Wild camping at Laguna Toro
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Trek from Laguna Toro to El Chaltén
Pack up your tent beside Laguna Toro and follow the trail back to El Chaltén. On your final day on foot, take in the changing scenery as you leave the backcountry behind and return to the village.
Once you’ve settled into your accommodation, the evening is yours to find somewhere for dinner and share your favourite moments from the trek.
Included
Accommodation: Guesthouse in El Chaltén
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Return to El Calafate and Farewell
Over a final breakfast in El Chaltén, there’s time to share your favourite moments, from the icebergs on Lake Argentino to the zipline across the Fitz Roy River and your night under canvas at Laguna Toro.
Then it’s time to load your bags for the morning drive back to El Calafate. As you leave the mountains behind, the road opens out across the Patagonian steppe.
Your trip includes one designated group transfer from El Chaltén to El Calafate. If you’re flying home today, allow time for the drive and airport check-in. We’ll confirm the transfer timing and drop-off arrangements before departure.
If you’re staying longer, you could spend another afternoon by Lake Argentino or ask our team for ideas on extending your time in Patagonia or Buenos Aires.
Included
Transfer: El Chaltén to El Calafate
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast
Supporting Local Tourism & Communities
Your first glimpse of Estancia Cristina is from the boat on Lake Argentino. Once ashore at the former sheep ranch, you trek with local guides into a part of Patagonia where shelters built for icefield researchers still stand. From those historic refuges to the quieter trails beyond El Chaltén, you get to know the region through the people who work in these mountains.
Your booking supports a small Argentine operator Adventurous Ewe has worked with for years. After the business closed during the pandemic, the previous owner’s daughter re-established it and helped shape this trek. Travelling with her team keeps that relationship going and supports paid work for local guides and drivers.
Your overnight stays bring business to accommodation providers in El Calafate and El Chaltén. When you have time to explore either town, stop for a coffee or choose a local restaurant and spend a little more time getting to know the places that bookend your trek.
Once you’ve booked your Patagonia Wilderness Trek, you’ll receive details of how to access your trip information through our free mobile travel app. Your day-by-day itinerary, kit list, travel notes and key contacts are all in one place, alongside a trip countdown, weather forecasts and updates from the team.
Use it to check your arrival arrangements for El Calafate and see what to pack for nights in mountain refuges and under canvas. With your trip details on your phone, you can keep the paperwork to a minimum.
If you’d like to talk through your kit or travel plans, just get in touch with our team.
From your first enquiry, you can speak directly with Jim, Sue and our small, family-run team in Eryri. Whether you’re planning your first multi-day trek or you’re used to back-to-back hill days, you can ask about the things that matter to you, from training and kit to arriving in El Calafate.
Jim and Sue have explored this part of Patagonia themselves. For questions about this new route, you also benefit from the knowledge of the local team who helped design it and will guide you on the trail.
If you’re wondering how to prepare for six days of trekking, what to carry or what to expect from nights in refuges and under canvas, get in touch. We’ll talk it through with you so you can arrive feeling ready.
Flights
Fly into and out of El Calafate Airport (FTE) for your Patagonia Wilderness Trek. Flights are booked separately, so you can choose your departure airport, use frequent flyer points or spend a few extra days in Argentina.
Which Flights Should You Book?
Once your trip is guaranteed to depart, we’ll share the recommended Adventurous Ewe flights and confirm the arrival arrangements for Day 1. Please wait for this confirmation before booking.
If you’re connecting through Buenos Aires, check whether your flights use the same airport. Allow extra time if you need to collect your bags, change airports and check in again.
On Day 9, your included group transfer leaves El Chaltén in the morning for El Calafate. Check the recommended departure time with us before booking your return flight so you have enough time for the drive and airport check-in. If you’re considering different flights, see Arrival, Meeting Point & Transfers or ask us how they fit with the group arrangements.
Booking Your Flights
Book independently or ask us to put you in touch with our ATOL-protected flight agent, who is an ABTA member. You pay the agent directly, with no mark-up from Adventurous Ewe.
Boarding Passes & Power Banks
Check whether each airline on your journey accepts mobile boarding passes or requires a printed copy. If you’re packing a power bank, check each airline’s rules on cabin baggage, permitted quantities and maximum capacity in watt-hours (Wh).
Unsure which flights will work for you? Email hello@adventurousewe.co.uk and we’ll help you work through your options before you book.
Check your passport expiry date before booking your Patagonia Wilderness Trek. If you hold a full British citizen passport, it must be valid for your entire planned stay in Argentina. Check the requirements for your passport and for any countries you’ll transit through.
When we ask for your passport details, enter them exactly as they appear on your passport. Carry a copy of the photo page separately from your passport and leave another copy with someone you trust at home.
Visas
If you hold a full British citizen passport, you can visit Argentina as a tourist for up to 90 days without a visa. If you’re travelling on another passport, check the rules that apply to you. Before you travel, confirm the latest entry and transit requirements for your full route. If you’re unsure about Argentina’s rules, contact your nearest Argentine embassy or consulate.
Official Travel Advice
- Australia – https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/argentina
- Canada – https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/argentina
- United Kingdom – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/entry-requirements
- United States – https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/argentina.html
Meeting Your Driver at El Calafate Airport
On arrival at El Calafate Airport (FTE), timed with the recommended Adventurous Ewe flight, you’ll be met and transferred with the group to your hotel in El Calafate. Once your trip is guaranteed to depart, we’ll share the recommended flight, transfer time and meeting point in your trip information.
If You’re Arriving on a Different Flight
You can join the group transfer if you’re at the meeting point by the confirmed departure time. Before booking a different flight, allow enough time to collect your luggage and reach the meeting point. If the timing doesn’t work for you, arrange your own transfer to the hotel.
If Your Flight Is Delayed
If your flight is delayed or you can’t find your driver, call the contact number in your trip information as soon as you can.
Your Return Transfer
On Day 9, your included group transfer leaves El Chaltén in the morning for El Calafate. We’ll confirm the timing and drop-off arrangements before departure. Check these with us before booking your onward flight so you have enough time for the drive and airport check-in.
If you’re unsure whether your flights fit the group transfers, email us at hello@adventurousewe.co.uk before booking.
Travel Insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory for everyone joining the Patagonia Wilderness Trek. Arrange it when you book so cancellation cover is in place, and check that your policy covers the full value of your trip.
What Your Policy Needs to Cover
- Multi-day trekking in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, including remote trails, wild camping and the planned Fitz Roy River zipline crossing.
- Emergency medical treatment, search and rescue, evacuation from remote areas and repatriation. Check whether helicopter evacuation is covered if medically necessary.
- Cancellation before departure and curtailment if you need to cut your trip short.
- Personal liability, loss of luggage and personal belongings, and flight delays.
Share the itinerary with your insurer so they can check the route against any altitude, activity or remoteness limits. Ask for written confirmation that the zipline crossing and remote trekking are covered. Declare any pre-existing medical conditions and keep your policy number and emergency assistance number accessible offline.
Finding a Policy
If you live in the UK, you can ask Campbell Irvine Direct for a quote. Confirm that the policy covers your itinerary and activities before buying. https://www.campbellirvine.com/AdventurousEwe/
If you live in Australia, Smartraveller’s buying guide can help you compare policies. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/choice-travel-insurance-buying-guide
Optional Global Rescue Membership
Global Rescue offers short-term memberships that can provide medical advice and coordinate field rescue and evacuation in eligible emergencies. Depending on the membership terms and your circumstances, services may include transport to an appropriate medical facility or to a hospital in your home country.
Membership is optional for this trek. You still need comprehensive travel insurance. Check the services, limits and exclusions before joining. https://partner.globalrescue.com/adventurousewe/index.html
Health & Vaccinations
Speak to your GP, practice nurse or a travel health clinic at least 8 weeks before you leave for Argentina. Share your Patagonia Wilderness Trek itinerary, including any stopovers or plans to visit other parts of Argentina, so they can advise on vaccinations and any certificates you may need.
Check that your routine vaccinations are up to date, including diphtheria, tetanus and polio, and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Ask whether hepatitis A or a tetanus booster is recommended for you, and whether your wider travel plans affect the advice on typhoid or yellow fever. For the latest guidance, visit https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries/argentina.
Severe Allergies
If you have a severe allergy, please speak to us before booking. We’ll check what our local team can provide and talk through how you’ll manage your allergy at mountain refuges and wild camps, where food preparation facilities are shared and medical help may take longer to reach. We can’t guarantee an allergen-free environment.
Carry your prescribed medication where you can reach it quickly. If you’ve been prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors, keep two in-date devices with you at all times. Our guides and crew don’t carry them as standard. When you meet your guide, remind them about your allergy and show them where you keep your medication.
To talk through an allergy or any other health or support needs before booking, email hello@adventurousewe.co.uk.
Training & Preparation
When you book your Patagonia Wilderness Trek, you’ll receive a training programme tailored to the trip, with practical tips to help you build fitness and get comfortable with your kit.
Build Up to Back-to-Back Hill Days
Start a few months before you travel and gradually build up to walking around 12–15 km on consecutive days with the pack you’ll use on the trek. Include sustained climbs, uneven ground and long descents to prepare for days like the climb to Paso Agachonas and the descent to Laguna Toro.
Running, cycling and swimming can help build stamina. Make hillwalking the main part of your preparation and use longer walks to test your boots, socks, layers and trail snacks.
Get Ready for Patagonian Weather and Nights Under Canvas
Practise walking in wind and rain on familiar routes so you know how your layers work and can reach your waterproofs without unpacking everything. If it’s been a while since you camped, a practice night is a good way to check that your sleeping bag and mat work for you before your nights beside Pascale Refuge and Laguna Toro.
If you’re unsure how to build up your walking or what to carry, say hello at hello@adventurousewe.co.uk. We’ll help you work out where to start.
Getting Argentine Pesos
Argentina’s currency is the Argentine peso (ARS). El Calafate is a good place to get cash before you head into Los Glaciares National Park. Use a bank or licensed exchange office and ask for some small notes for everyday purchases.
Cards are useful in El Calafate and El Chaltén, but carry some pesos for smaller purchases and as a backup. If you’re using an ATM, check the withdrawal limit and fees before confirming.
What to Budget For
Allow for meals and drinks outside your itinerary, extra trail snacks, souvenirs and optional extras. Check What’s Included and What’s Not Included before you travel so you know what to pay for locally.
Tipping Your Local Team
Tipping is optional and is a way to thank your local guides, crew and hospitality staff. You’ll receive tipping guidance before departure, including how to pass on a tip if you choose to give one.
El Calafate and El Chaltén use Argentina Time (UTC−3) year-round. If you’re travelling from the UK, Argentine Patagonia is 3 hours behind when the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 4 hours behind during British Summer Time (BST).
Your flight and group transfer times are given in local time. Check the time difference for your travel dates, especially if you’re arranging your own transfer.
Language & Customs
Spanish is the main language you’ll hear in El Calafate and El Chaltén. A few words come in handy when ordering a coffee, browsing a shop or greeting other walkers on the trail. Your local guides can help you with pronunciation.
Useful Phrases
Hola — Hello
Buen día — Good morning
Por favor — Please
Muchas gracias — Thank you very much
No, gracias — No, thank you
Me trae la cuenta, por favor? — Could I have the bill, please?
Hasta luego — See you later
Visiting Towns, Refuges & Estancias
Say hola or buen día when you enter a shop, arrive at a refuge or pass someone on the trail. Ask before photographing people and follow your guide’s lead around buildings and working areas at Estancia Cristina. At refuges, keep your kit tidy and voices low when others are resting.
Sharing Mate
You may see people carrying a thermos and a small cup with a metal straw. This is mate, an infusion made with yerba mate. Sharing it is a familiar part of Argentine life. If you’re offered some, follow your host’s lead or simply say no, gracias if you’d prefer to pass.
For more on local laws and safety, see https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/safety-and-security.
Travel Advice & Updates
Before you travel to Argentina for your Patagonia Wilderness Trek, check your government’s latest travel advice for entry requirements, local laws, health and safety. Check the advice for any countries you’ll travel through, too. If you’re travelling from the UK, you can sign up for email alerts on the FCDO’s Argentina page.
- United Kingdom: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina
- United States: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/argentina.html
- Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/argentina
- Australia: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/argentina
How We’ll Keep You Informed
We monitor FCDO advice and stay in touch with our local team in Argentine Patagonia. If official advice changes in a way that affects your trek, we’ll contact you directly to explain what it means for your plans and talk through your options.
If you’ve read something that concerns you or you’re unsure how the advice applies to your trip, say hello at hello@adventurousewe.co.uk.
Level 3 of 4: Tough
Your Patagonia Wilderness Trek includes six days on foot, with around 12–15 km on most trekking days. You need good hillwalking fitness and enough stamina for consecutive days on uneven trails, with sustained climbs and descents. From El Chaltén, you cross the Fitz Roy River by zipline before climbing to Paso Agachonas and descending to your camp beside Laguna Toro.
Strong winds and changing weather can make the walking more demanding. You spend two nights under canvas and two in mountain refuges, so you should be comfortable with simple facilities and shared spaces. Sturdy walking boots, waterproofs and warm layers are essential.
You should already be comfortable walking for several hours over rough ground. To prepare, build up to back-to-back hill days carrying the pack you’ll use on the trek. Your local guides assess conditions and how the group is doing, adjusting the pace or route where needed.
If you’re unsure whether this trek is right for you, contact our team. We’ll talk through your experience, training and what to expect on the trail.
Group Size & Guaranteed Departures
You trek in a small group of 6–10 people, with time to get to know your fellow trekkers and local guides. From the boat crossing on Lake Argentino to evenings in mountain refuges, there’s plenty of opportunity to share stories and get to know the people you’re travelling with.
You’re welcome to join solo or come with friends, family or colleagues. You can also use your trek to fundraise for a charity close to your heart.
If you’d prefer a private departure, contact our team to discuss dates and options for tailoring the trip to your group.
When is my departure guaranteed?
Each departure needs at least 6 bookings to run. Once confirmed, its status changes from ‘Available’ to ‘Guaranteed to Run’ in the Dates and Prices table. Please wait for this confirmation before booking your flights.
Other than in exceptional circumstances, we won’t cancel a departure once it’s guaranteed. If you’d like an update before making travel arrangements, please contact our team.
Your Guides & Support Team
You trek with experienced Argentine guides from a small local operator we’ve known for years. Their team helped shape your route, bringing local knowledge to quieter corners of Los Glaciares National Park, from the historic icefield shelters near Estancia Cristina to the trails beyond El Chaltén.
On the trail, your guides assess conditions, set the pace and adjust the route if needed. At the Fitz Roy River, follow their instructions for the zipline crossing. Let them know how you’re feeling as the day goes on, especially if you need a break or want to talk through the terrain ahead.
Your local support team coordinates the logistics that link the two parts of your trek, from the boat crossings on Lake Argentino to your stays in mountain refuges and nights under canvas.
You’re part of the team, too. By looking out for your fellow trekkers, respecting shared spaces at refuges and camps, and following your guides’ decisions, you help everyone travel safely and enjoy the journey together.
Accommodation & Room Sharing
Your trip includes 4 nights in hotels or guesthouses, 2 nights camping and 2 nights in mountain refuges.
Hotels & Guesthouses
You spend two nights in El Calafate and two in El Chaltén. If you’re travelling with someone and would like to share a room, let us know. You’re also welcome to discuss any room-sharing preferences or concerns before booking.
Camping & Mountain Refuges
Your two nights under canvas are beside Pascale Refuge and at Laguna Toro. You also spend a night at Bahía Instituto Refuge and another at Carnero Refuge on the shore of Lake Argentino. Both refuges have shared sleeping spaces only. Earplugs can be useful, and your kit list explains what to bring for nights under canvas and in the refuges.
Solo Travellers & Single Accommodation
You’re welcome to join solo, with shared accommodation included in your trip price. You can request a single room at hotels and guesthouses, subject to availability, and a tent for sole use on camping nights. A single supplement applies to these options.
For requests or questions, email hello@adventurousewe.co.uk.
At Your Hotel or Guesthouse
You have access to toilets and showers during your stays in El Calafate and El Chaltén. Bring a small travel towel and toiletries for the trek.
At the Mountain Refuges & Camps
There are no showers at the mountain refuges or at either campsite. Plan for basic washing and use water sparingly. Your guide will explain the toilet arrangements at each overnight stop.
On the Trail
Ask your guide where you can stop for a toilet break. If you need to go outdoors, follow their advice and choose a discreet spot away from trails and water sources.
Carry toilet paper, hand sanitiser and sealable bags for used toilet paper, wipes and sanitary products. Pack them out and dispose of them in a suitable bin. Keep wipes and sanitary products out of toilets.
Menstrual Care
Bring your preferred supplies and enough sealable bags to carry used products until you reach a suitable bin. Plan for limited washing facilities during the trek. For practical tips, see our Periods, Menopause & Adventure guide. https://www.adventurousewe.co.uk/periods-menopause-adventure-your-friendly-guide-to-feeling-prepared-outdoors/
Wash your hands with soap and water whenever available, and leave shared facilities as you’d like to find them.
Included: 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners, as detailed in your day-by-day itinerary.
On evenings when dinner is at your own expense, you can try a local restaurant in El Calafate or El Chaltén and order whatever takes your fancy. Your guide can help with recommendations.
Dietary Requirements & Allergies
If you’re vegetarian or vegan, have coeliac disease, a food intolerance or an allergy, please contact us before booking. We’ll check with our local team and explain what they can provide, particularly at mountain refuges and camps. Food preparation facilities are shared, so we can’t guarantee an allergen-free environment.
Tell us about your requirements when booking and remind your guide on arrival. Depending on your needs, we may suggest bringing suitable snacks or supplementary food from home.
Snacks & Personal Extras
Pack familiar snacks for longer trekking days. Bring some Argentine pesos (ARS) for extra snacks and drinks in El Calafate and El Chaltén before heading into the backcountry.
To talk through your dietary needs, email hello@adventurousewe.co.uk.
Drinking Water & Your Water-to-Go Bottle
Keep water within easy reach and drink regularly on the trail, even when the weather is cool. Your guide will advise where you can refill and which water sources need treating.
Bring water purification tablets suitable for backcountry use, especially if you drink from a hydration bladder. Treat the water before drinking and follow the instructions for the volume you’re treating and the full contact time, including any longer treatment time specified for cold water. Ask your guide if you’re unsure whether a water source is suitable for your treatment method.
Your Complimentary Water-to-Go Bottle
On your first overseas adventure with Adventurous Ewe, you’ll receive a complimentary Water-to-Go filtration bottle on departure. Returning travellers may request a replacement filter for their existing bottle.
Each filter is rated for up to 200 litres. Follow the manufacturer’s activation and care instructions. Keep your filter bottle for plain water and mix electrolytes or flavourings separately in a refillable bottle or hydration bladder using drinking water.
Carrying Water on the Trek
A hydration bladder makes it easier to drink as you walk. If you use one, carry a separate refillable bottle as a backup and check with your guide before setting out how much water to carry between refill stops.
Refilling and treating water along the way helps cut down on single-use plastic bottles.
Weather & Conditions
In Argentine Patagonia, November is late spring and March marks the start of autumn. Both months offer good daylight for trekking, with longer evenings in November. You can set out in sunshine and meet rain or strong gusts later the same day, especially along Lake Argentino and on exposed trails above El Chaltén.
March & November Temperatures
- March: Average highs of 17°C and lows of 5°C at El Calafate Airport. Around 16°C and 5°C in El Chaltén.
- November: Average highs of 16°C and lows of 4°C at El Calafate Airport. Around 16°C and 5°C in El Chaltén.
These averages are for lower elevations. Expect colder conditions at Paso Agachonas and overnight at Laguna Toro.
What to Expect on the Trail
Prepare for strong winds, showers and cold nights in either month. Wind chill can make exposed sections feel much colder, and snow is possible on higher ground. Pack for the possibility of temperatures dropping to freezing overnight at camp.
Your guides assess the forecast, trail conditions and how the group is doing. They may adjust the pace, route or itinerary as conditions change.
Preparing for Wind, Rain & Cold
Follow your kit list, especially the guidance on waterproofs, warm layers, gloves and your sleeping bag. Keep a dry layer for camp and put on something warm when you stop. If you notice persistent shivering, unusual clumsiness or confusion in yourself or another trekker, tell your guide straight away.
Checking the Forecast
Check the mountain forecast a few days before departure. Look at wind gusts, wind chill and precipitation at elevations close to your route. Your guides will use local forecasts and trail conditions to make decisions on the trek.
https://www.mountain-forecast.com/subranges/patagonia/locations
Safety & Support
Your wellbeing, and that of your guides and crew, shapes how we run this trek. Our Safety Management System includes trip-specific risk assessments and emergency procedures for the route through Los Glaciares National Park.
Experienced Mountain Support
You trek with experienced local Argentine guides who know the routes around Estancia Cristina and El Chaltén. They assess the weather, trail conditions and how the group is doing, and may change the pace, route or itinerary. At the Fitz Roy River, follow your guides’ instructions for the planned zipline crossing.
Working Together
Stay with your group, follow your guides’ instructions and let them know promptly if you feel unwell, unusually cold or exhausted. Look out for your fellow trekkers and speak up if you’re concerned about someone.
Follow your kit list and tell us about any medical conditions, allergies or support needs before departure. Carry hand sanitiser and wash your hands with soap and water when facilities allow.
Medical Care in Remote Areas
On the trails and at camps, you may be some distance from medical care and mobile coverage can be limited. Weather and terrain can delay assistance. If you need help, your guides will coordinate the response, which may involve changing the itinerary or arranging transport to reach medical care.
Before booking, consider how you feel about trekking and camping where medical help can take time to reach. If you have an existing health condition, discuss the itinerary with a medical professional and talk to us about any practical support you may need.
Before You Travel
Read the latest FCDO travel advice for Argentina. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina
Comprehensive personal travel insurance is compulsory. Check that your policy covers remote trekking, wild camping, the Fitz Roy River zipline crossing, emergency medical treatment, search and rescue, evacuation and repatriation.
If you’d like to talk through your preparation or support needs, email hello@adventurousewe.co.uk.
Changes to Your Itinerary
Weather in Los Glaciares National Park can change quickly. Strong winds and poor visibility may affect your boat crossing on Lake Argentino, while rain, snow on higher ground or local restrictions can change trail access and overnight plans.
If conditions prevent you from following the planned route, your guides will assess the options with our local team. You may take a different trail, shorten a trekking day or stay somewhere different.
Your guides may also adjust the timing to make use of a suitable weather window. The Fitz Roy River zipline crossing and the trek over Paso Agachonas depend on conditions and access on the day.
Changes may also be needed if transport is disrupted or someone in the group needs support. Your guides will explain what’s changing and what it means for the days ahead, with help from our local partner and office team.
Please come ready to adapt and follow your guides’ decisions. Your safety takes priority over completing the planned route.
Responsible Travel in Practice
From the boat crossing on Lake Argentino to the trails beyond El Chaltén, your trek is shaped by people who live and work in Argentine Patagonia. Here’s how your trip supports local businesses and how you can look after the places you visit.
Local People & Places
You trek with local guides from a small Argentine operator we’ve known for years. The previous owner’s daughter re-established the business after it closed during the pandemic and helped shape this route. Your booking supports her team and brings business to hotels and guesthouses in El Calafate and El Chaltén.
When you have time in town, try a local café, restaurant or shop. Ask before photographing people and follow your guide’s lead when visiting Estancia Cristina.
Water & Waste
On your first overseas adventure with Adventurous Ewe, you receive a complimentary Water-to-Go filter bottle to help reduce your use of single-use plastic bottles. Returning travellers can request a replacement filter. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use your filter for its rated life.
Ask your guide where to refill and how to treat your water. Use water sparingly at refuges and camps, and carry out your litter, including food scraps, tissues, wipes and sanitary products.
On the Trail
You trek in a group of 6–10. In Los Glaciares National Park, follow your guides’ advice on where to walk and camp. Give wildlife space, leave plants and rocks where you find them, and take all your belongings with you when you leave camp.
Beyond This Trek
Adventurous Ewe supports Cool Earth’s work with rainforest communities through an ongoing company partnership. https://www.adventurousewe.co.uk/cool-earth-partnership/
Adventurous Ewe holds Travelife Partner recognition for its sustainability management practices.
Optional Extras & Extensions
Give yourself more time in Patagonia or add a stop in Buenos Aires. Ask us about the following options, available at an additional cost and subject to availability.
Extra Nights in El Calafate or El Chaltén
Arrive in El Calafate a day early to settle in after your flights and take a walk by Lake Argentino. After your trek, an extra night in El Chaltén gives you time for a shorter walk or a leisurely afternoon in town.
Single Rooms & Tents
Request a single room for your hotel or guesthouse nights, or a tent for sole use on camping nights. A supplement applies. The mountain refuges have shared sleeping spaces only.
Private Airport Transfers
If your flights fall outside the group transfer times, ask us about a private transfer between El Calafate Airport (FTE) and your accommodation in El Calafate.
Buenos Aires City Stay
Break up your journey with a few nights in Buenos Aires before or after your trek. Spend an afternoon browsing the bookshops and cafés, explore San Telmo or make an evening of it at a tango show. We can help you work out how a city stay fits around your domestic flights.
For prices, availability and help fitting these options around your flights, email hello@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.
Want to Make This Adventure Your Own?
If the scheduled dates don’t fit or you’d like to trek with your own group, you can ask us about a private Patagonia Wilderness Trek. Whether you’re marking a milestone with friends or family, planning a team adventure with colleagues or business partners, or fundraising for a charity, tell us what you’d like the trip to achieve.
Start with your preferred dates, group size and walking experience. You’ll speak directly with our family-run team in Eryri. Together with our local Argentine partner, we’ll talk through what’s possible, from adjusting the pace to adding time in El Chaltén or a few nights in Buenos Aires. Dates and options depend on local availability and conditions.
Freedom with Peace of Mind
Travelling with your own group gives you more say in how the adventure takes shape. You can focus on sharing the experience while we coordinate the guides, accommodation, boat crossings and transfers.
To start planning, email hello@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.
| Departure & Return | Duration | Availability | Deposit | Total Cost* | (*Total cost includes the deposit) |
| Nov 13, 2027 Nov 21, 2027 |
9 Days | Available | £295.00 | £3095.00 | Book Now |
| Mar 04, 2028 Mar 12, 2028 |
9 Days | Available | £295.00 | £3095.00 | Book Now |
| Nov 11, 2028 Nov 19, 2028 |
9 Days | Available | £295.00 | £3095.00 | Book Now |
What's Included?
Before You Go
- Personal pre-trip support from our family-run team, with input from the local guides who helped shape your route
- Full trip information and updates through our free mobile travel app
- A training guide and practical tips to help you prepare
- Exclusive outdoor retailer discounts, available in store and online
- Financial protection for your booking through ABTOT
- A flexible monthly payment plan
- A complimentary Adventurous Ewe Water-to-Go filter bottle on departure for your first overseas adventure with us. Returning travellers can request a replacement filter for their existing bottle.
During Your Trip
- Experienced local Argentine guides for your six trekking days
- 4 nights in hotels or guesthouses, 2 nights camping and 2 nights in mountain refuges
- 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners, as detailed in your itinerary
- A group transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE) to your hotel, timed to meet the recommended Adventurous Ewe flight
- Boat crossings on Lake Argentino to and from Estancia Cristina
- Group road transfers between El Calafate and El Chaltén, as detailed in your itinerary
- The Fitz Roy River zipline crossing on your trek to Laguna Toro.
Planning & Protection
- Trip-specific risk assessments and a safety management system that includes emergency planning
- Adventurous Ewe’s public liability insurance. You’ll also need your own compulsory personal travel insurance.
What's Not Included?
What’s Not Included
– Flights to and from El Calafate (FTE), including any domestic connections. You can book independently or through our ATOL-protected flight agent.
– Compulsory personal travel insurance covering remote trekking in Argentina, wild camping, the Fitz Roy River zipline crossing, emergency evacuation and repatriation.
– Visas and other entry documents, including any associated fees, where applicable.
– Vaccinations and personal medication.
– Airport transfers outside the designated group transfer arrangements.
– Lunches and dinners other than those listed as included in your day-by-day itinerary, plus drinks and personal snacks.
– Electrolytes and water purification tablets.
– Personal clothing and equipment, except items listed as provided. Check your kit list before buying or hiring anything.
– Tips for your local guides, support crew and hospitality staff, given at your discretion. You’ll receive tipping guidance before departure.
– Single-room supplements at hotels or guesthouses, where available.
– Optional excursions, trip extensions and additional accommodation outside the itinerary.
– Personal purchases and incidental expenses.
– Additional costs if you leave the trip early, such as transport, accommodation or flight changes, subject to your booking conditions and insurance cover.
Carry some Argentine pesos (ARS) for small purchases in El Calafate and El Chaltén.
Thoughtful and Responsible Travel
On your Patagonia Wilderness Trek, you travel with a small Argentine operator that helped shape your route. Its local guides take you through quieter parts of Los Glaciares National Park, from the historic icefield shelters near Estancia Cristina to the trails beyond El Chaltén.
- Stay and spend locally. Your nights are split between hotels or guesthouses, mountain refuges and camps. In El Calafate and El Chaltén, choosing a local café, restaurant or shop is a simple way to support small businesses.
- Refill along the way. You receive a complimentary Water-to-Go filter bottle to help reduce your use of single-use plastic bottles. Ask your guides where to refill.
- Look after the places you visit. You trek in a group of 6–12. Follow your guides’ advice on where to walk and camp, give wildlife space and carry all litter back out, including food scraps.
- Pack with waste in mind. Remove unnecessary packaging from snacks and new kit before you leave home. At refuges and camps, follow your guides’ advice on water use and bring used packaging back to town for disposal.
Adventurous Ewe holds Travelife Partner recognition for its sustainability management practices and provides ongoing financial support for Cool Earth’s rainforest protection work through a company partnership.
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