With an in-depth knowledge of Patagonia, we have designed several itineraries for Patagonia Argentina detailed day by day with recommendations of places to sleep and things to do.
Patagonia Argentina dazzles by its nature, where mountains, forests, glaciers, lakes, wild beaches and marine fauna constitute an imposing landscape not seen in other places in the world.
If you are thinking about what to visit in Patagonia Argentina according to the days available, we are here to help you. As Patagonians by birth, we have explored this region of Argentina and Chile many times.
Based on this, we detail useful information with recommended days, activities and where to stay. Also, you can consult our guide to travel to Patagonia Argentina, with tips on what to wear, when to go and much more.
🔎 Don’t forget to take out travel insurance for Argentina! Check out our article on the best travel insurance to Argentina with recommendations, coverages and prices.
Table of Contents
How many days are necessary to visit the main sites in Patagonia Argentina?
Many tourists only focus on the most recognized of the Argentine Patagonia, that is, El Calafate with its Perito Moreno glacier, El Chaltén and Ushuaia.
If you have only a few days and you are visiting Patagonia Argentina as part of a trip around the country, in addition to visiting Buenos Aires and Iguazú, then 7 days is enough time to visit the main attractions of these three Patagonian cities.
But Patagonia Argentina does not end here, far from it. There are plenty of places to visit both on the Andes side and the Atlantic Ocean side, so you can even spend 10, 14 or 30 days touring the region.
Below, based on our experience, we recommend itineraries for Patagonia Argentina based on availability of days.
What is the best way to tour Patagonia Argentina?
Due to the great distances in kilometers between the northern area of the Argentine Patagonia and the cities of El Calafate and Ushuaia, if you have few days the best way is to do it by plane.
There is a lot of connectivity from Buenos Aires to the main destinations in the south of the country, and even from El Calafate to Ushuaia. The three main airlines are FlyBondi, Aerolineas Argentinas and JetSmart.
Is it possible to tour Patagonia Argentina by car?
Of course you can, but as we mentioned, because of the distances you will need many days, plus the fact that some sections of the roads are not in very good condition or are gravel.
The advantage is that you can get on your own to places where there is not so much availability of excursions such as Las Manos Cave.
Our advice is to rent a car only to visit a certain city and its surroundings.
Bariloche is an excellent option to rent a car, as you will be able to visit many attractions in the surroundings on your own and do road circuits such as Circuito Chico and the Seven Lakes route.
In El Calafate you can drive to the Perito Moreno glacier and go to El Chaltén on your own.
In Ushuaia you can go to Tierra del Fuego National Park on your own by car and visit other lakes such as Fagnano.
🚗 Want to rent a car in Patagonia Argentina? Compare, quote and book here.
Itinerary for Patagonia Argentina in 7 days
This is the minimum number of days we recommend you to stay in Patagonia Argentina, to do the basics.
Day 1 and 2 – El Calafate
- First day: visit the walkways of the Perito Moreno glacier and do the boat ride along the front of the glacier, or do the mini trekking over the Perito Moreno glacier which includes the walkways. For tips, more information, excursions and prices, see our articles visit Perito Moreno glacier and Perito Moreno glacier trekking.
- Second day: navigation on Lake Argentino to see other glaciers such as Upsala and Spegazzini. For tips, more information, excursions and prices, see our article on navigation All Glaciers. At the end of the second day, we recommend you to make the transfer to El Chaltén, to sleep there and start trekking early the next day.
If you want to know how to get there and the best time to go to El Calafate, see our guide about travel to El Calafate.
Recommended hotels where to stay in El Calafate:
- If you have a low budget, we recommend America Del Sur Calafate Hostel, Hosteria Roblesur and Hotel Picos Del Sur.
- If you have an average budget, we recommend Hotel Kosten Aike, Kalenshen Hotel Cerro Calafate and Konke Calafate Hotel.
- If you have a high budget we recommend Boutique Hotel La Cantera, Xelena Hotel & Suites and Blanca Patagonia Hostería Boutique y Cabañas.
Day 3 and 4 – El Chaltén
- Third day: trekking to Los Tres lagoon to see the imposing Mount Fitz Roy up close. More information about duration and sections in our article about trekking to Mount Fitz Roy.
- Fourth day: we recommend two options: trekking to the tower lagoon and glacier, or Laguna del Desierto.
There are other treks that can be done nearby. If you want to see all the trekking that can be done in El Chaltén with its difficulty and duration, see our article about things to do in El Chaltén.
Recommended hotels where to stay in El Chaltén
- If you have a low budget, we recommend Rancho Grande Hostel and Hostería Don Atilio.
- If you have an average budget, we recommend Pudu Lodge and Hotel Cumbres Nevadas.
- If you have a high budget we recommend Destino Sur Hotel & Spa de Montaña and Chalten Suites Hotel.
Día 5 – Transfer from El Calafate to Ushuaia by plane
The airlines Aerolineas Argentinas or Fly Bondi are the ones that make the trip. Between the transfer from the hotel to the airport in El Calafate, plus the arrival in Ushuaia and the transfer to the hotel, you will almost lose the whole day, or at least half a day.
Tip: always book these internal flights in advance, especially if you are traveling during the summer season in Argentina, due to the high demand. In addition, you will be able to better plan your activities taking into account the departure and arrival times of the flight.
Day 6 and 7 – Ushuaia
- Sixth day: you have two options to do in the same day the Beagle Channel navigation, End of the World Train and Tierra del Fuego National Park, that is to say, the three main activities in Ushuaia, or with more tranquility, the first day to do the End of the World Train and Tierra del Fuego Park, leaving the Beagle Channel navigation for the second day.
- Seventh day: the last day of this itinerary in Patagonia Argentina is to explore the city center and visit the Presidio Museum. If you have not done the Beagle Channel navigation on the first day, now is the time. Otherwise, good alternatives are the trekking to the Esmeralda lagoon or the excursion to the Fagnano and Escondido lakes.
If you want to know how to get there and the best time to go to Ushuaia, check out our guide about travel to Ushuaia.
Recommended hotels where to stay in Ushuaia:
- If you have a low budget, we recommend Del Bosque Apart Hotel, Posada Del Fin Del Mundo and Hostería Patagonia Jarke.
- If you have an average budget, we recommend Hotel Canal Beagle, Hosteria y Restaurante America and MIL810 Ushuaia Hotel.
- If you have a high budget we recommend Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort, Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel and Cilene del Fuego Suites & Spa.
Itinerary for Patagonia Argentina in 10 days
To the 7 days detailed in the above itinerary, two options may be added for the remaining three days:
Option A: same sites to be visited increasing the number of days in each one.
An extra day in El Calafate to visit one of the Patagonian estancias such as 25 de Mayo
or Estancia Cristina. On the excursion you will enjoy typical Patagonian food such as lamb.
An extra day in El Chaltén. This way you will be able to do the trekking to Los Tres Lagoon, Cerro Torre and Laguna del Desierto.
An extra day in Ushuaia. On the third day you can do some activities in the Tierra del Fuego National Park such as hiking or canoe rental.
In summary, the itinerary of Patagonia Argentina in 10 days would be as follows:
- Day 1, 2 and 3 El Calafate
- Day 4, 5 and 6 El Chaltén
- Day 7 Transfer from El Calafate to Ushuaia
- Day 8, 9 and 10 Ushuaia
Option B: add an extra destination to the 7-day itinerary detailed above.
Our recommendation is to visit Bariloche and its surroundings. The itinerary for Bariloche for the 3 days would be as follows:
- First day: includes arrival in the city plus transfer to the hotel. In addition, you will surely have time to visit the downtown area and its artisan chocolate shops. More information in our article things to do in downtown Bariloche.
- Second day: do the Circuito Chico, a panoramic tour around Bariloche that includes hills, lake and mountain viewpoints and charming villages, such as Colonia Suiza. More information in our article for the Circuito Chico.
- Third day: sailing on Lake Nahuel Huapi to visit Victoria Island and the myrtle forest in the town of Villa La Angostura. More information in our article about navigation on the Nahuel Huapi lake.
If you want to know how to get there and the best time to go to Bariloche, check out our guide travel to Bariloche.
Recommended hotels where to stay in Bariloche:
- If you have a low budget, we recommend Hostería La Casita and Patagonia Jazz Hostel.
- If you have an average budget, we recommend Design Suites Bariloche and Hampton by Hilton.
- If you have a high budget we recommend Hotel Llao Llao Resort and Huinid Bustillo Hotel & Spa.
In this second option, the itinerary of Patagonia Argentina in 10 days would be as follows:
- Day 1 flight to Bariloche plus tour of the city centre
- Day 2 and 3 Bariloche
- Day 4 plane from Bariloche to El Calafate plus Perito Moreno Glacier
- Day 5 El Calafate
- Day 6 and 7 El Chaltén
- Day 8 flight from El Calafate to Ushuaia
- Day 9 and 10 Ushuaia
Itinerary through Patagonia Argentina in 14 daysItinerary
If you have 14 days for a Patagonia Argentina itinerary, then you can do a mix between option A and B of the Patagonia Argentina itinerary in 10 days.
In summary, the itinerary of Patagonia Argentina in 14 days would be as follows:
- Day 1 flight to Bariloche plus tour of the city centre
- Day 2, 3 and 4 Bariloche
- Day 5 flight to El Calafate plus Perito Moreno Glacier
- Day 6 and 7 El Calafate
- Day 8, 9 and 10 El Chaltén
- Day 11 flight from El Calafate to Ushuaia
- Day 12, 13 and 14 Ushuaia
The extra day in Bariloche, with respect to the 10-day itinerary, you can choose between going to Mount Tronador and its hanging snowdrift, or traveling the Seven Lakes route to San Martin de los Andes.
What sites to add if you have more days to visit Patagonia Argentina?
There are many other places to visit if you have more time, such as the Lanin volcano, de Las Manos cave and the east coast of Patagonia Argentina, where you will find wild beaches and the town of Puerto Madryn with whale watching, penguins, sea lions and killer whales.
As you read, Patagonia Argentina has plenty of places to visit, you can even spend a whole month touring it and you won’t get bored for sure.
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