Day Trips from El Calafate to Chile

Torres del Paine National Park is home to some of South America’s most dramatic natural landscapes and epic hiking trails—most of which require two or more days to complete. This tour lets you experience hiking in the park on a day trip, following a lesser-known trail from Big Jump to the Horn Lookout with magnificent views over Lake Nordenskjöld and Lake Pehoé.

I lived a unique journey to the top of Cerro Frias, designed for lovers of trekking and Patagonian adventure. The tour begins in the hull of the stay and, after an initial walk, we arrive at the Woodsman's Refuge, where the ancient farmhands collected firewood at the beginning of the 20th century. The trail then enters the lengas forest and, after a challenging ascent of an hour and a half, the landscape opens up to offer views of the Cordon de los Cristales, the valley of the Sentinel River and, hopefully, the Torres del Paine. At 1,095 meters above sea level, the summit gives a 360° panoramic view: Lake Argentino, the Andes Mountains, Cordon de los Baguales and, on clear days, the Fitz Roy on the horizon. The descent along alternative paths reveals new perspectives of the hill and allows you to stop at historical refuges to enjoy a Patagonian life. The experience culminates in the hull of the stay, where a traditional snack brings the end to an epic day in the middle of Patagonia. Distance: 13 km

Discover Chilean Patagonia without worrying about crossing the border between countries alone on a tour of Torres del Paine National Park from El Calafate. Take in the park’s magnificent scenery of alpine lakes, rugged peaks, and glaciers without having to worry about navigating. See the spectacular Grey Glacier and Grey Lake, and hike to the Salto Grande waterfall. Round-trip transportion from your El Calafate hotel and lunch are included.

In this full day adventure through Chilean lands you will have as main attractions the Sarmiento de Gambia Lake Viewpoint, the Paine River Falls, the upper viewpoint of Almirante Nieto Hill / Cuernos del Paine, and the entrance to Laguna Amarga. The tour starts at 6:30 A.M. where you will be picked up at the Hotel. Then you will go to the border crossing "Cancha Carrera" through a gravel road to enter the Republic of Chile. Once inside the Torres del Paine National Park, you will be able to follow the different trekking trails, where, accompanied by local experts, you will be provided with a snack for lunch. Please note that there will be several hikes, the longest being approximately 1 hour and a half. It is recommended to be in good physical condition.

Discover Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, one of the wonders of the world, on a full-day excursion from El Calafate. 300 km to the south, this park in Southern Patagonia dazzles with mountains, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls and unique fauna. We will travel along Route 11 to the Cancha Carrera border crossing (3.5 h approx.) and enter the park, whose name Tehuelche means "blue" for its predominant colors. We will make stops to admire lakes, waterfalls and spot foxes, guanacos and perhaps cougars. From viewpoints such as Bitter Lagoon, Swan Lagoon and Nordenskjold, we will look at the Paine Towers. We will walk from Puerto Pudeto to Salto Grande and, weather permitting, we will skirt Lake Pehoe to the Mirador de los Hornos del Paine (low difficulty). We will enjoy iconic views of the Horns, the French Valley and Mount Paine Grande. The return to El Calafate will be at approximately 10 pm, subject to border procedures and weather conditions.