8 Day Patagonia Itinerary (2025): Our Exact Route, Best Hikes & Travel Tips

What if I told you that you could stand face-to-face with a glacier, hike to some of the most iconic views in the world, and cross borders through Patagonia's wild terrain — all in just 8 days?

In this post, we're sharing our exact 8-day Patagonia itinerary from November 2024, including what we loved, what we'd change, and how to make it perfect for you. From the towering peaks of Fitz Roy to the thunderous cracks of Perito Moreno, this was a bucket-list adventure we'll never forget.

If you're planning your first Patagonia trip or just want to see how we packed so much into a short time — this is for you!

If you're dreaming about glaciers, epic hikes, and remote towns nestled in the Andes, Patagonia will absolutely blow your mind. We spent 8 unforgettable days exploring the southern region of this vast wilderness — hitting El Calafate, Torres del Paine, and El Chaltén — and this itinerary covers the exact route we took, with real tips, trail times, restaurant recs, and lessons learned.

This was our actual trip — no fluff, no unrealistic planning — just what worked, what surprised us, and how we made the most of a fairly short window in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Here's a quick breakdown of our 8-day Patagonia itinerary:

• Days 1–3: El Calafate
  Base for Perito Moreno Glacier, Lago Argentino boat tour, and amazing food. Includes the epic Minitrekking on the glacier and the stunning walkways inside the national park.
• Day 4: Day Trip to Torres del Paine (Chile)
  A long but rewarding day crossing into Chile to explore Lago Sarmiento, Salto Grande, and Mirador de los Cuernos. We did it as a day trip, but if you have more time, consider spending a night or two in Puerto Natales to dive deeper into the park.
• Day 5: Travel to El Chaltén
  A gorgeous drive through the steppe with a stop at Parrilla La Oveja Negra (unreal steak) and a sunset hike to Mirador de los Cóndores y Las Águilas.
• Days 6–8: El Chaltén Hiking Highlights
  Three major hikes, including:
  • The lesser-known but beautiful Glaciar Huemul trail
  • The classic Laguna Torre route
  • And the crown jewel: Laguna de Los Tres, with a bonus stop at Laguna Sucia and a return via Laguna Capri

This itinerary is great for travelers who want a balanced Patagonia experience — not just hardcore trekkers, but people who love nature, local food, and well-paced adventure. We'll walk you through how we organized transport, what we'd do again (and what we wouldn't), and how to make this trip your own.

If you're planning your first trip to Patagonia, or just want to see what's possible in 8 days without rushing everything, you're in the right place.

From first to last: Upsala Glacier, Perito Moreno Glacier, and the boat tour on Lago Argentino

We landed in El Calafate in the afternoon and picked up our rental car right at the airport — super convenient. Having our own car the whole time turned out to be one of the best decisions we made for this trip. It gave us full flexibility to move at our own pace, stop wherever we wanted (especially for photo ops), and skip the hassle of fixed tour schedules.

We checked into Hotel Lar Aike, which turned out to be a lovely surprise. It's not a luxury spot, but it was surprisingly cozy, and the lake views from the room were gorgeous, especially at sunrise. It felt like the perfect place to ease into Patagonia.

That evening, we headed into town and had dinner at Casimiro Biguá. It's a popular place, and we get why — the steaks were solid, and it had a nice casual vibe. Great first night energy without trying too hard.

On day two, we did a boat tour on Lago Argentino that took us to Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers. Being out on the water, surrounded by jagged mountains and massive blue icebergs, was one of those surreal Patagonia moments. We booked this through GetYourGuide and just skipped the transportation option since we had our car — but the tour does include pickup from El Calafate if you're not driving.

Icebergs on Lago Argentino

That night, we had dinner at Mako Fuegos y Vinos Restaurante. Honestly, we didn't have the best experience — the service felt a bit off and the food didn't really land for us. Could've been a fluke, so we're not writing it off completely, but it wasn't a highlight either.

Day three was probably the most epic of the three. We started the morning with a visit to the Perito Moreno Glacier walkways inside the national park — and if you're going, make time for this. The trail system is amazing. It took us about two hours to do most of the loops, and we stopped a ton for photos (you'll see why — the angles are wild, and you can often catch ice chunks calving off the glacier into the lake).

After the walk, we had lunch at the park's restaurant, which was warm and cozy with homemade-style food — surprisingly good for a national park eatery. Definitely hit the spot after a couple of hours in the wind.

In the afternoon, we did the Minitrekking on Perito Moreno, and wow… it's as cool as it sounds. Walking on the glacier with crampons was surreal — bright blue crevasses, icy peaks, and that satisfying crunch under your boots. The whole thing lasted around 3–4 hours from the boat dock, and we booked it through this tour on GetYourGuide. Just like with the cruise, transportation is included, but we opted out and drove ourselves.

Us having a whiskey with ice from the glacier, on top of the Perito Moreno Glacier

We wrapped the day with dinner at Mi Viejo, which was exactly what we needed — hearty food, warm atmosphere, and no-fuss comfort after trekking on ice.

So yeah, El Calafate came in strong. Between the glacier adventures, scenic drives, and cozy nights, it was the perfect way to kick off our Patagonia trip.

We knew doing Torres del Paine in just one day from El Calafate was going to be a long one — and yep, it was. Our alarms went off way too early (before 6am), and by 7am we were already on the road with our group tour booked through GetYourGuide.

From first to last: Torres del Paine from the Laguna Amarga viewpoint, Lago Sarmiento viewpoint, and Salto Grande waterfall

The border crossing was surprisingly smooth. Just make sure to have your passport handy and filled out correctly, and be patient — it can take a while if there's a line, but we got through without any hiccups. Once you enter Chile, the scenery starts to change pretty fast. Things get even more dramatic, with big open valleys and those jagged peaks in the distance that start to look unreal.

Throughout the day, we made several stops for short walks and lookout points, each one better than the last. Lago Sarmiento was our first real photo stop — calm, turquoise waters with mountain reflections that make you do a double-take. From there we headed to Salto Grande, a short hike to a powerful waterfall that's loud, windy, and awesome. The trail is flat but exposed, so bring a windbreaker. Patagonia doesn't mess around.

The highlight of the day for us was definitely Mirador de los Cuernos, which sits right on the edge of Lake Nordenskjöld. The colors here were just insane. You get this epic view of the Cuernos del Paine (the black-and-gray "horns" of the massif), with the glacial lake glowing below. Honestly, it didn't even feel real — just pure postcard material. We spent a long time here just taking it in.

The iconic Cuernos del Paine towering over Lake Nordenskjöld — snapped from the stunning Mirador de los Cuernos.

By late afternoon, we were winding our way back to the border, a bit wind-burned and totally wiped. The drive back felt longer (it always does), and we didn't get back to El Calafate until well after 9pm. It's a long day, no doubt. But it was absolutely worth it.

So… is a day trip to Torres del Paine worth it?

For us — yes, it was. We had limited time and didn't want to miss this iconic spot. But if you're building out your Patagonia itinerary and have some flexibility, we'd honestly recommend extending your stay by a couple of days and spending a night or two in Puerto Natales. It's the closest town to the park, with lots of great lodging options and easy access to deeper hikes inside the park. That way, you could do longer trails like Mirador Base Torres or even boat trips on Lago Grey without being completely drained from the drive.

Still, even as a long haul, Torres del Paine delivered. It's the kind of landscape that slaps you awake — even after three days of glaciers and big skies, it still managed to blow us away.

After wrapping up our time in El Calafate, we hit the road toward El Chaltén, which sits about 3 hours north. The drive itself is half the fun — endless steppe, snowy peaks on the horizon, and that classic Patagonia vastness that makes you feel tiny in the best way.

From first to last: El Chaltén at night, Mirador de los Cóndores, and Mirador de las Águilas

We've said it before, but seriously — renting a car was the right call. Just being able to travel at our own pace, make random stops for photos (or snacks), and not worry about bus schedules made the whole trip way smoother.

On the way into town, we stopped for lunch at Parrilla La Oveja Negra… and wow. Still dreaming about that bife de chorizo — easily one of the best steaks we've had in Argentina. Perfectly charred, super tender, and paired with a glass of red wine that just hit. Argentine wine never disappoints, but this combo was next level.

Once in El Chaltén, we wanted to stretch our legs after the drive, so we went for a short hike up to Mirador de los Cóndores y Las Águilas. It's a mellow trail that starts behind the ranger station and took us around 1 to 1.5 hours round-trip with lots of photo breaks. At the top, you get sweeping views over the town, the valley, and the Fitz Roy range in the distance — an ideal intro to the area, especially if you time it for golden hour.

We checked into Andino Aparts for our stay, which turned out to be perfect. The rooms were spacious, super clean, and having a little kitchenette was a bonus for prepping trail snacks. If you're looking for something a bit more upscale, El Chaltén has great options — we almost went with Los Cerros del Chaltén or Destino Sur Hotel, and both looked amazing. You can check out more places to stay here depending on your vibe and budget.

We ended the night with a glass of wine and packed our daypacks — next up: our first big hike in Patagonia.

After getting settled in El Chaltén, we dedicated the next three days to exploring its iconic trails — and wow, they lived up to the hype. Each day brought different landscapes, effort levels, and surprises (especially the food… always the food).

Day 6: Glaciar Huemul (with a Chorrillo del Salto detour)

From first to last: Chorrillo del Salto, Glaciar Huemul lake view, and Glaciar Huemul trail landscape

We didn't originally plan on doing the Glaciar Huemul hike, but the host at our apart hotel mentioned it as a quieter trail that most tourists miss. Total hidden gem move. It's located near Lago del Desierto, about an hour's drive from town — so again, having our own car made this one a breeze. If you're not driving, you'd definitely need to arrange a transfer or catch one of the limited buses that head that way.

We stopped first at Chorrillo del Salto, just off the main road and super easy to access. It's a short walk to a pretty little waterfall — nothing too wild, but a nice warmup and photo stop.

From there, we continued on to Glaciar Huemul, and it really delivered. The trail is about 3.5 km round trip, takes around 2 hours, and has a steady incline — moderate difficulty overall. The glacier view at the top is absolutely worth it, especially with the turquoise lake right in front of it. Bonus: it's way less crowded than the more famous hikes.

Dinner that night was at Maffia Trattoria, and holy pasta — they nailed it. We had lasagna, and it was amazing. We weren't expecting to find standout Italian food in this tiny hiking town, but the homemade pasta and wine made for one of our favorite meals of the trip.

Day 7: Laguna Torre

From first to last: Glaciar Grande, us at Laguna Torre, and the laguna itself

This is one of El Chaltén's classic hikes, and for good reason. The trail to Laguna Torre is 18 km round trip and took us about 6 hours, including time at the lagoon. It's considered moderate, and we'd agree — the elevation gain is gradual, nothing too steep, and the views open up pretty early into the trail. The weather held up, which made it even better.

When we got back into town, we treated ourselves to hot chocolate at La Chocolatería Josh Aike. Such a cozy little spot — you could easily lose an hour just sitting there, warming up and reliving the hike. Dinner was at Resto El Muro, a local restaurant with a Patagonian comfort food vibe. The goulash was excellent, and the staff made us feel right at home.

Day 8: Laguna de Los Tres via Senda El Pilar + Laguna Capri

From first to last: Laguna de Los Tres completely frozen, view from the trail, and Laguna Sucia hidden gem

This was the big one — and it absolutely earned its reputation. We booked a transfer to the Senda El Pilar trailhead, which let us do the full loop instead of hiking in and out the same way. Starting at El Pilar is such a great choice: you get glacier views early on, especially of Piedra Blanca and Cerro Madsen, and the trail is nice and quiet in the morning.

The path is friendly most of the way, until you reach the last kilometer before Laguna de Los Tres. That final section is steep, rocky, and demanding, with some scrambling and narrow switchbacks. This is where we were really glad to have proper hiking shoes and trekking poles — highly recommend both.

At the top, the view over Laguna de Los Tres is jaw-dropping. But don't stop there — we almost skipped the short extension to Laguna Sucia, but we're so glad we didn't. It's just a little further and gives you this dramatic overlook of another glacier-fed lagoon that's deeper in color and also really good.

Laguna Capri

On the way back, the trail winds through Laguna Capri, which is gorgeous and peaceful. If you're not completely exhausted, it's a great spot to take one last break before the descent.

We wrapped the trip with dinner at Merino, where we had really good lamb — tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection.

Tips for Hiking in El Chaltén:

• Start early: Especially for Laguna de Los Tres. You'll beat the crowds and get better light for photos.
• Layer up: The weather changes fast. Even on sunny days, it can get cold and windy at the peaks.
• Trekking poles & good boots: The steeper sections will test your knees and ankles.
• Offline maps: We used AllTrails for everything — helpful for checking trail profiles and knowing how far you've got left.

Eight days in Patagonia go by fast — but if you plan things right, it's enough time to see glaciers, hike through jaw-dropping valleys, and eat some of the best steak (and pasta?) of your life. Looking back, we're so glad we didn't try to overcomplicate it. We focused on a few key destinations — El Calafate, Torres del Paine, and El Chaltén — and that gave us the perfect mix of variety, without the chaos of constantly packing and repacking.

If you're building your own Patagonia itinerary, here are some things we wish someone had told us:

Don't try to do everything

It's tempting to squeeze in Bariloche, Ushuaia, and the W Trek all in one go — but Patagonia is huge, and travel between spots takes time. Pick a few key locations and dive deep. For us, sticking to the southern Patagonia circuit (Calafate → Torres del Paine → Chaltén) gave us real, immersive moments instead of just checking boxes.

Having a car made a big difference

We know not everyone wants to drive, but seriously — having our own car gave us total freedom. We could leave for hikes early, stop for photos, explore off-the-beaten-path spots like Glaciar Huemul, and avoid the time constraints of tours. That said, tours are still a great option if you're not into driving — many of the ones we did (like Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno Minitrekking) include full transport options.

Gear matters — especially your feet

Good boots and hiking poles saved us, especially on Laguna de Los Tres. The weather also turns on a dime, so pack layers. Even if it looks warm and sunny in town, it can be windy and freezing at the viewpoints.

Start your hikes early

We know — no one wants to set an alarm on vacation. But getting to the trailheads early means cooler temps, fewer people, and often clearer skies (weather tends to change by afternoon). Plus, you'll have more flexibility to rest or take detours like Laguna Sucia.

Small towns, big food

From melt-in-your-mouth lamb at Merino, to lasagna at Maffia Trattoria, to hearty dishes at El Muro — El Chaltén really surprised us with its food scene. Same goes for El Calafate. Don't skip the local parrillas — and always say yes to the wine.

Would we change anything?

Honestly, not much. If we had a few extra days, we might've stayed overnight in Puerto Natales to explore more of Torres del Paine without the long drive. But for an 8-day trip, this route gave us everything we wanted: glaciers, lakes, epic hikes, good food, and plenty of wow moments.

Patagonia will test your legs, windproof gear, and snack stash… but it'll give you memories for life. And if you're still on the fence — just go. You won't regret it.

Whether you're craving epic hikes, mind-blowing landscapes, or a taste of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia, this 8-day itinerary offers a little of everything. We hope this guide helps you plan your trip — or inspires you to add Patagonia to your bucket list. Got questions or want help customizing your trip? Drop a comment or send us a message — we're always happy to share!

Is 8 days enough to visit Patagonia?

Yes, 8 days is enough to see some of Patagonia's most iconic highlights — like Perito Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paine, and the major hikes in El Chaltén. You won't see everything (it's a huge region), but with smart planning, it's more than enough for a memorable and diverse trip.

Can you visit Torres del Paine on a day trip from El Calafate?

You can — and we did! It's a long day, but totally doable. The tour includes early morning pickup, border crossing, several scenic stops inside Torres del Paine National Park, and returns late in the evening. If you have extra time, consider staying overnight in Puerto Natales for a more relaxed visit.

Do I need to be in top shape to hike in El Chaltén?

Not at all. While hikes like Laguna de Los Tres are challenging, most trails in El Chaltén are well-marked and doable with a basic level of fitness. Trails like Laguna Torre and Mirador de los Cóndores are great options for moderate hikers. Just go at your own pace, wear proper shoes, and bring layers.

Is it better to rent a car or use buses/tours in Patagonia?

If you're comfortable driving, we highly recommend renting a car. It gave us way more flexibility, let us start hikes early, and made it possible to visit off-the-beaten-path spots like Glaciar Huemul. That said, if you're not into driving, most major experiences can be booked with transportation included.

What's the weather like in Patagonia in November?

November is late spring in Patagonia, so you'll get milder weather, longer daylight hours, and fewer crowds than peak summer (December–February). Still, weather changes fast — it can be sunny one minute and snowing the next. Dress in layers and always bring windproof gear.

Is Patagonia expensive to visit?

It can be, but it depends on your travel style. Park entrance fees, guided excursions, and eating out in tourist towns like El Chaltén can add up. But you can balance that out by doing self-guided hikes, shopping at local markets, and choosing mid-range accommodations.

What's the food like in El Calafate and El Chaltén?

Way better than we expected! From juicy Patagonian lamb to fresh pasta and artisan chocolate, both towns have surprisingly solid food scenes. Local parrillas, homemade comfort food, and cozy cafés are easy to find — and the Malbec is never a bad idea.