Self-Launched: Everything Starts at the End of the World — Patagonia

Fly into Ushuaia (USH) — the southernmost city in the world — and check into a hostel or guesthouse near the waterfront. After settling in, walk up to the Martial Glacier trailhead area for a late-afternoon forest walk with views over the Beagle Channel; the trail markers start just past the Andino Ushuaia clubhouse and are free to access. Book your accommodation walk-ins are usually fine outside Jan–Feb peak, but reserve ahead in summer.

🚌Airport shuttle bus into town ~£3, or taxi ~£8

🛏Hostel dorm in central Ushuaia (e.g. Hostel Antarctica or similar) £16

• →Self-guided Fuegian forest / Martial Glacier trail walk
• →Ushuaia waterfront and harbour wander
• →Optional: Museo Marítimo y del Presidio (former end-of-the-world prison) entry ~£8

The classic Ushuaia boat day. Book a shared Beagle Channel navigation directly with one of the local operators at the harbour (or via GetYourGuide) — most run a 4–6 hour route past Alicia Island sea lion colony, Bird Island, and Martillo Island for Magellanic penguins, plus Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and a short guided walk on Bridges Island. Smaller boats land on the islands while catamarans only view from offshore, so choose a small-vessel option if you want to step ashore.

🚌Walk to harbour

🛏Hostel dorm in central Ushuaia £16

• →Shared Beagle Channel navigation with island visits
• →Sea lion, fur seal, penguin and cormorant spotting
• →Bridges Island nature walk and Yamana shell middens

Take the public bus (or a shared shuttle/minibus) from Ushuaia to the national park entrance, pay the park fee and explore independently. Walk the coastal trails around Bahía Lapataia, Ensenada and Acigami (Roca) Lake — most trails connect and can be linked into a full day. If you want the canoe paddle on the Lapataia and Ovando rivers, book it in town the day before as a standalone activity; otherwise the walking alone is superb. Catch the last bus back to Ushuaia.

🚌Return public bus to park entrance ~£12

🛏Hostel dorm in central Ushuaia £16

• →Coastal and forest trails of Tierra del Fuego National Park
• →Bahía Lapataia and Acigami Lake picnic
• →Optional self-booked river canoeing

The long haul north. The most straightforward route is a BUS SUR bus from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas via the Strait of Magellan ferry crossing (about 12 hours, overnight or daytime depending on departure) — book online ahead in high season. Keep an eye out for dolphins from the ferry deck. On arrival, check into a budget hotel or hostel in the town centre.

🚌BUS SUR Ushuaia–Punta Arenas incl. ferry ~£55

🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Punta Arenas £25

• →Strait of Magellan ferry crossing
• →Wildlife spotting from the ferry deck

Morning to explore Punta Arenas on foot: the waterfront promenade, Plaza Muñoz Gamero and one of the small museums. In the afternoon take a BUS SUR bus south to Puerto Natales (about 3 hours) — your base for Torres del Paine. In town, sort out your park entry registration, bus/shuttle to the park and any guided options for the next day.

🚌BUS SUR Punta Arenas–Puerto Natales ~£12

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Natales £18

• →Punta Arenas waterfront and plaza walk
• →Local museum visit
• →Optional kayaking on the Strait of Magellan

The marquee hike. Take the early public bus from Puerto Natales to the park's Laguna Amarga/Central entrance, then walk the Base Las Torres trail — roughly 20 km round trip, 8–9 hours, with about 900 m of elevation gain on the final moraine scramble. Cross the Ascencio River and finish at the glacial lake beneath the three granite towers. Pay the park entrance fee on arrival (buy online in advance in high season). If self-navigating feels daunting, a self-booked small-group day tour from Puerto Natales costs around £65–80 including transport.

🚌Return public bus Puerto Natales–park entrance ~£15

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Natales £18

• →Base Las Torres (Mirador Las Torres) full-day trek
• →Ascencio River crossing
• →Glacial lake at the towers' base

Cross back into Argentina. Take a bus Puerto Natales–El Calafate (about 5–6 hours) — a cross-border service runs most days; book ahead. Afternoon arrival, check in and explore the town. In the evening, treat yourself to traditional Patagonian dishes (lamb al asador, guanaco stew) at a local parrilla — the operator's cordero al palo experience translates nicely to a self-booked table at a countryside estancia or town asador.

🚌Bus Puerto Natales–El Calafate ~£30

🛏Hostel/budget hotel in El Calafate £18

• →Cross-border bus journey with lake and steppe views
• →El Calafate town exploration
• →Traditional Patagonian dinner at a local parrilla

A must-do. Book a shared day trip (GetYourGuide, Klook or any agency on El Calafate's main street) to Los Glaciares National Park for the Perito Moreno Glacier. You get the park's panoramic walkway network plus, on most tours, a short boat ride near the south ice wall. If you prefer full independence, take the regular public shuttle bus to the glacier and pay the park fee at the gate. Look out for calving chunks of ice crashing into Lago Argentino.

🚌Shared tour transport or public shuttle to glacier

🛏Hostel/budget hotel in El Calafate £18

• →Perito Moreno Glacier panoramic walkways
• →Glacier face viewing and calving ice
• →Optional boat navigation near the ice wall

Take the morning bus along Ruta 40 and the shore of Lago Argentino down to El Chaltén (about 3 hours) — a tiny trekking village sat between Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. If you're driving or on a tour with stops, the Parador La Leona roadhouse museum makes a great coffee break, but the regular bus goes direct. Settle in, pick up trekking food, and orient yourself on the village trails.

🚌Bus El Calafate–El Chaltén ~£22

🛏Hostel in El Chaltén £20

• →Scenic bus ride along Lago Argentino and Viedma Glacier views
• →El Chaltén village exploration
• →Optional Parador La Leona stop if self-driving

The second big hike, totally free and self-guided from the village. Follow the Fitz Roy trail up the Río de las Vueltas valley, past the Río Blanco base camp, then push up the steep final moraine to Laguna de los Tres beneath Cerro Fitz Roy — about 20–22 km round trip, 8–9 hours, 750 m of gain. Bring layers and plenty of water; the final section is the hard part. On the way back, take the short detour to the Mirador del Fitz Roy viewpoint if your legs allow.

🚌Walk from the village (trailhead at the north end of town)

🛏Hostel in El Chaltén £20

• →Fitz Roy trail and Laguna de los Tres hike
• →Río Blanco base camp
• →Fitz Roy massif viewpoint detour

A quieter and arguably better-value day than another repeat of Fitz Roy. The Loma del Pliegue Tumbado trail climbs steadily to panoramic terraces with simultaneous views of Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field — also about 20 km round trip. Because it's less crowded, you often have the viewpoints to yourself. If you're managing fatigue, turn back from the lower terraces.

🚌Walk from the village

🛏Hostel in El Chaltén £20

• →Loma del Pliegue Tumbado full-day trek
• →Panoramic views of Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Patagonian Ice Field
• →Optional Paso del Viento views

Return bus to El Calafate (about 3 hours). Afternoon is free — wander the town, visit the Glaciarium museum if it interests you, or just rest your legs after two big trekking days. Stock up on supplies and exchange any remaining cash before tomorrow's flight.

🚌Bus El Chaltén–El Calafate ~£22

🛏Hostel/budget hotel in El Calafate £18

• →Return bus to El Calafate
• →El Calafate town exploration
• →Optional Glaciarium museum or Laguna Nimez reserve birdwatching

Fly out from El Calafate (FTE). Allow plenty of time — domestic flights south are limited and weather can cause delays, so leave a buffer day if you're connecting to an international flight. Trip ends.

🚌Local bus or taxi to El Calafate airport ~£4

🛏N/A (departure day)

• →Airport transfer and departure