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Chris's Guide

Patagonia.

Three areas. Three countries worth of drama. The honest guide to Patagonia's best hikes and views.

The Region

Three areas. One trip.

Patagonia spans two countries and the three main areas are not close to each other. Understanding the geography before you go makes everything easier. Click any pin to explore.

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If I were to do the trip again, I'd fly into El Calafate via Buenos Aires rather than Puerto Natales via Santiago. While Puerto Natales offers easier access to Torres del Paine, El Calafate sits almost right in the middle of Patagonia's three biggest highlights: Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chaltén (the gateway to Fitz Roy), and Torres del Paine. Base out of El Calafate — drive north to El Chaltén for a couple days of hiking, come back, then head south into Torres del Paine. That's the move.
From El Calafate: → Torres del Paine ~5 hrs → El Chaltén ~3 hrs → Perito Moreno Glacier ~1.5 hrs
Chile · Park Entry Required

Torres del Paine.

One of the most dramatic national parks on earth. I recommend staying inside the park — if you want cheaper accommodation, Puerto Natales is about 1.5 hours south and works well as a base.

Mirador Condor
Easy
The Hike

Mirador Condor

Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile

Distance
1.4 mi
Elevation
629 ft
Time
1–2 hrs
Short but well worth it. The wind was insane the day we went — 20–50mph, which I hear is pretty normal. We had trouble walking on the narrow trail, which actually made it more fun.
Torres Del Paine · Chile
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Easy Viewpoints · Torres del Paine

No hiking required.

Lake Pehoé Boardwalk
Viewpoint 01

Lake Pehoé Boardwalk

Boardwalk connected to a hotel but open to the public. One of the best views in the park, and a short walk from the parking lot.

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Mirador Salté
Viewpoint 02

Mirador Salté + Cuernos

Mirador Salté gives you a beautiful waterfall view. Hike past it (~4 flat miles) to Mirador Cuernos for sweeping views of Lake Pehoé and the Torres Del Paine peaks.

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Mirador Nordenskjöld Lake
Viewpoint 03

Mirador Nordenskjöld Lake

Gorgeous viewpoint. Definitely pull over.

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Argentina · Los Glaciares National Park

El Chaltén. Gateway to Fitz Roy.

El Chaltén is a tiny mountain town built specifically for hikers — everything radiates from the trailheads. Stay here a couple of nights and do both hikes. They're completely different experiences.

Laguna Torre
Laguna Torre trail
Moderate
Hike 01

Laguna Torre

Los Glaciares National Park · El Chaltén, Argentina

Distance
12.5 mi
Elevation
1,700 ft
Time
6–8 hrs
Honestly? The glacier lake at the end isn't that impressive. But the views along the way are well worth it. You could stop at any point before the final lake and walk away happy.
Los Glaciares · El Chaltén, Argentina
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Laguna de los Tres
Strenuous
Hike 02

Laguna de los Tres

Los Glaciares National Park · El Chaltén, Argentina

Distance
13 mi
Elevation
3,100 ft
Time
8–10 hrs
This one's a workout. The first 5 miles are reasonable, but the last 1–1.5 miles go basically straight up the mountain. Bring plenty of water and layers — the weather turns fast up there.
Los Glaciares · El Chaltén, Argentina
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Perito Moreno Glacier
Stop 03 · El Calafate, Argentina

Perito Moreno Glacier.

UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see. Walk the boardwalks and watch massive blocks of ice thunder off into the water below. It's one of the few glaciers in the world that's still advancing — you can feel the scale of it in person.

Located just 30 minutes from El Calafate — easy half day.

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More worth exploring.

Destination guides, trip stories, and honest takes from 39 countries and 44 U.S. states.

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