Patagonia Hiking — Self-Launched (Buenos Aires, El Chaltén & Perito Moreno)
9 days · Patagonia, Argentina
G Adventures charges £2,400
No-markup version: ~£890 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 9-day "Patagonia Hiking — Plus" loop: Buenos Aires, El Chaltén and El Calafate, hitting the same headline hikes (Laguna de los Tres/Fitz Roy, Laguna Torre/Cerro Torre, Perito Moreno Glacier) plus optional rafting — but booked independently using budget hostels, local buses and self-bookable excursions. Argentina's deep south is expensive by South American standards and peak-season (Nov–Mar) beds in El Chaltén and El Calafate can be scarce, so book accommodation early. All costs are rough per-person estimates and exclude international flights in/out of Buenos Aires.
Day-by-day
Arrive Buenos Aires — Palermo or San Telmo base
Buenos Aires
Fly into Ezeiza (Ministro Pistarini). Skip the ~US$45 official taxi and take the Manuel Tienda León shuttle bus to the city centre (roughly £10-13), or use a ride-hailing app for around £8-10 depending on surge. Check into a hostel in Palermo or San Telmo (do it early — the city fills up at weekends). Afternoon wander Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada and Puerto Madero's waterfront for free, then a cheap choripán and ice cream dinner. Evening: pre-book your onward flight to El Calafate for tomorrow or the following morning on Aerolíneas Argentinas / Jetsmart / Flybondi (book weeks ahead for ~£90-140 return). Note: Argentina's 'dólar MEP/blue' exchange rate dynamics mean paying with cards (which now get a favourable rate) can beat cash — check current rules before travelling.
🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£11; city on foot / SUBE card for local buses
🛏Hostel in Palermo or San Telmo, private twin or 4-bed dorm (~£15-22pp)
- →Plaza de Mayo & Casa Rosada walk
- →Puerto Madero waterfront
- →Book El Calafate flights
Fly south to El Calafate, bus on to El Chaltén
Buenos Aires → El Calafate → El Chaltén
Morning flight (~3h15) to El Calafate. From the airport, take a local bus or shared transfer (Remis) into town (~£5-7) and then a direct bus to El Chaltén along Ruta 40 (~3h, ~£18-25 one way with Chalten Travel or Cal Tur; book ahead in high season). Alternatively take the early flight and connect straight to El Chaltén via a pre-booked transfer. Arrive in El Chaltén, a tiny trekking village under the Fitz Roy massif, and settle into a hostel or hospedaje. Short warm-up walk to the Mirador de los Cóndores (free, ~1h round trip) for sunset views. Stock up on trekking snacks from the local supermarket — supplies are pricier here than Buenos Aires.
🚌Flight BA→El Calafate ~£110 return; bus El Calafate→El Chaltén ~£20
🛏Hostel/hospedaje in El Chaltén, private twin or dorm (~£18-28pp)
- →Mirador de los Cóndores sunset walk
- →Gear & snack shopping
Río de las Vueltas rafting, afternoon free
El Chaltén
Book a Class II-III rafting trip on the Río de las Vueltas directly with one of the local operators (e.g. Big Ice, Fitz Roy Expediciones, or via GetYourGuide) — roughly £50-65 including gear and wetsuit. Half-day trip, so you're back for lunch. Afternoon: gentle walk to the Chorrillo del Salto waterfall (~1h each way on foot from town, no guide needed) or relax and prepare gear for tomorrow's big hike. Check weather forecasts at the visitor centre — the Laguna de los Tres trail is best done on a clear day, so be ready to swap Days 3 and 4 if needed.
🚌On foot; shuttle van to rafting put-in organised by operator
🛏Hostel/hospedaje in El Chaltén (~£18-28pp)
- →Class III rafting on Río de las Vueltas (self-booked)
- →Chorrillo del Salto waterfall walk
Laguna de los Tres — the Fitz Roy big day
El Chaltén
The star of the trip and entirely self-guided — no need to pay for a guide. Start at first light (6-7am) from the trailhead at the end of Avenida San Martín. Route: El Chaltén → Río Blanco → Laguna Capri → Poincenot camp → the steep final 45-minute push to Laguna de los Tres (roughly 21-24km return, 8-10h, ~1,000m of ascent). The final section is exposed and can be icy — poles help. You get the classic Fitz Roy skyline and the turquoise glacial lagoon at the base. Bring 2-3L of water (refill at Río Blanco), packed lunch, layers and waterproofs; Patagonian wind is relentless. Restaurant dinner in town to celebrate.
🚌On foot from town trailhead (free)
🛏Hostel/hospedaje in El Chaltén (~£18-28pp)
- →Laguna de los Tres trek to Fitz Roy (self-guided)
Laguna Torre & Cerro Torre, then bus to El Calafate
El Chaltén → El Calafate
Early start for the Laguna Torre trail (~18km return, 5-6h): easy grade out to the mirador over the glacial lagoon with spiky Cerro Torre on the horizon. Shorter alternative: Laguna Capri or the Condor Mirador. Back in town by early afternoon for the bus to El Calafate (~3h, ~£20). Arrive and check into a hostel; grab a hearty lamb (cordero) dinner or a cheap parrilla plate.
🚌Local bus El Chaltén→El Calafate ~£20
🛏Hostel in El Calafate, private twin or dorm (~£16-25pp)
- →Laguna Torre / Cerro Torre trek (self-guided)
Perito Moreno Glacier day trip
El Calafate
Book a seat on one of the regular shared shuttle services (Transportes Las Dunas, Cal Tur) or a GetYourGuide day trip to Los Glaciares National Park (~£30-45 including park entry; national park fee ~£15-20 paid separately). Depart ~8am, 1.5h drive, and you get 3-4h on the boardwalks watching huge slabs of ice calve off the glacier with a thunderous crack — easily the equal of the guided tour. Optional extra: the boat trip towards the glacier face (~£60-75 booked locally, cheaper than the operator's listed US$80). Return to El Calafate by early evening.
🚌Shared shuttle bus to park & back ~£35
🛏Hostel in El Calafate (~£16-25pp)
- →Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalks (park entry ~£17)
- →Optional boat trip to the glacier face
El Calafate free day — Laguna Nimez & town
El Calafate
Relaxed day. Reserve a morning at the Laguna Nimez nature reserve on the edge of town (~£8-12 entry) — a birdwatcher's paradise with flamingos and the lake backdrop; walkable from anywhere in town. Afternoon for souvenir shopping, a café and a slow lunch. Optional: the Glaciarium ice museum on the town shuttle, or a day trip to the remote Estancia Cristina if your budget allows. Book your flight back to Buenos Aires tonight if you haven't already (evening departures are cheapest).
🚌On foot; optional local shuttle ~£2
🛏Hostel in El Calafate (~£16-25pp)
- →Laguna Nimez reserve
- →Optional Glaciarium museum
Fly back to Buenos Aires — La Boca & San Telmo
El Calafate → Buenos Aires
Morning or early afternoon flight back to Buenos Aires (~3h15). Check into a hostel and spend the late afternoon in La Boca — the colourful El Caminito street is free to wander and tango buskers perform on the cobbles; stay street-smart and don't stray far from the tourist strip after dark. Optional evening: a tango dinner show in San Telmo or Abasto (book direct, roughly £45-70 for the cheaper shows; the operator's version is bookable via GetYourGuide too). Or do a self-guided street-tango night at Plaza Dorado, free on Sundays.
🚌Flight El Calafate→BA ~£110 return; local bus/taxi ~£4
🛏Hostel in Palermo or San Telmo (~£15-22pp)
- →La Boca & El Caminito wander
- →Optional tango dinner show
Depart Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Last morning in the city. If your flight is late, do the free Recoleta Cemetery walk (Evita's tomb), browse the San Telmo Sunday market (if it's Sunday) or grab a final coffee and medialuna. Take the Manuel Tienda León shuttle back to Ezeiza (~£11) allowing 3h before an international departure.
🚌Shuttle bus to Ezeiza ~£11
🛏None — departure day
- →Recoleta Cemetery & Recoleta walk
- →San Telmo market (if Sunday)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£890 | £2,400 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,510 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£890
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Patagonia Hiking — Self-Launched (Buenos Aires, El Chaltén & Perito Moreno) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £890 per person for 9 days in Patagonia, Argentina. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £890 — a saving of roughly £1,510 (63%) per person.
How long is the Patagonia, Argentina trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Patagonia, Argentina.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, backpacker trip through Patagonia, Argentina, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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