17-Day Off Road Adventure: Hike, Kayak and Discover Patagonia

Buenos Aires is a city that feels elegant and energetic with a culture that encapsulates the spirit of Argentina. Your private transfer will meet you at the airport upon your arrival and escort you to your accommodations in the heart of the city. As you settle into the exciting ambiance of the city, you can capture the heritage of the greater nation with a five-course dinner. The flavors of Argentina will burst to life with dishes focused on rich cheese, crumbly empanadas, and the essential Asado, grilled meats typical of the culinary culture across the country.

You will explore the remarkable cobbled lanes, grand boulevards, and glamorous architecture of Buenos Aires on a guided bike tour. The individual personalities of each neighborhood you visit will become clear as you travel through the neighborhood of San Telmo, where antique and vintage shops line the streets. The sound of tango and vivid colors combine in La Boca to create a captivating scene that feels like living pieces of art and local history, home to artists and the birthplace of tango. Near the Plaza de Mayo, you may find luxury boutiques in the arcades of Avenida Florida.

You will leave behind Buenos Aires for the Patagonian steppe at El Calafate. Your private driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. The aromas of chocolate and coffee may overtake the surrounding nature’s subtle aroma of pine. You can explore town or enjoy the short day hike to reach Los Condores Viewpoint for your introduction to the natural splendor of Patagonia. From the peak of the trail, you can watch the condors soar above the valley and glinting waters of Viedma lake.

You will travel to El Chalten in the morning to reach the heart of Patagonia in a town nestled into Mount Fitz Roy’s shadow. You will travel along the Laguna de los Tres trail in search of natural viewpoints closest to the imposing walls of Fitz Roy massif. As you ascend the steep trail, the native nires shrub will become more numerous. The rushing Blanco River will add to the natural ambiance as you continue towards the exceptional view of Fitz Roy’s looming granite wall at the moraine ridge. The shimmering lagoon and shining glacier will accentuate your view.

Your guide will take you along the Pliegue Tumbado trail to follow the only route that travels above the valley. The steep slope will take you through dense forest and high into the sky where the absence of trees exposes the landscape to the wind and snowfall, no matter the time of year. Along the way, you may find scrubby vegetation and remains of ancient marine fossils. The vision of the northwest landscape will unfold as you find views of Viedma Lake and the imposing jagged peaks of the Andes mountains crowned by Torre and Fitz Roy peaks.

You can take the classic trail to El Chalten in the morning at your leisure. The winding route will lead you into the valley of the Fitz Roy River where you can hear the water rushing from the snow and glacial meltwater. The crash of Margarita Waterfall may echo across the valley. You may find the view of the dramatic Adela peak and Torre hill framed by the surrounding granite needles before you reach the edge of Torre Lagoon. Icebergs float through the water and shine like guides to the massive ice wall of the Grande glacier.

Before you travel back to El Calafate, you will have a scenic route along the Las Vueltas River and the rapids that await. The calm and meandering waters will give you a stunning view of the untouched wilderness as you float away from the looming peak of Fitz Roy. Once in the canyon, the water will sweep the raft away as you descend between the rising walls and strengthening rapids. Your leader will guide you along the rushing whitewater and around the protruding rocks until the river once more calms and you make your way back to El Calafate.

The unique ways of discovering Patagonia will continue in the morning as you set out on a kayak tour of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Whether an experienced kayaker or a novice, you can embrace the serene ambiance of the scenery from a different perspective. The experience will take you along the crisp turquoise waters of Lake Argentino as you explore South America’s third-largest body of water. Your view from the kayak may sweep across the water and reach the edge of the glacier as you paddle within a safe distance of the mesmerizing power of the ice wall.

The thrilling wilds of the Patagonian landscape will once more become your playground as you traverse the trails on mountain bike. Follow your guide to the top of Huyliche HIll to reach more than 2,900 feet above sea level to explore the Balcony of El Calafate. Your guide may point out remnants of shark teeth leftover from the Cretaceous period. As you cycle the undulating hills and rockY terrain, you may take in the panoramic views of Lake Argentino, the expanding corners of El Calafate’s gildings, or the distant snow capped peak of Fitz Roy as the wind rushes past.

After breakfast, the day will be yours to enjoy the quiet charms or distinct adventures of El Calafate at your pace. Spend time exploring town to indulge in chocolates and half-timber architecture or once more step out into the wilderness for a view of Patagonia’s epic nature. At Laguna Nimez Reserve, you can find flocks of flamingos grazing in the reflective cobalt waters. Sparrow hawks and black-necked swans relax in the cool air and protected lagoon. In the late afternoon, you can watch the sunset over Lake Argentino to see the vibrant sky melt into the water.

Ushuaia has reached near myth as it sits at the edge of the South American continent. Your flight will take you from El Calafate to Ushuaia’s Malvinas Argentinas International Airport, where your private transfer will greet you upon arrival. The remainder of the day will be at your pace to explore and enjoy the city bordered by the snowcapped Martial Range and waters of the Beagle Channel. For a brief history, you can visit Museo del Fin del Mundo for exhibits on Fuegian natural history and bird exhibits that capture the essence of native avifauna.

Immerse yourself in nature on a tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park as you explore the Coastal Path as it borders the Beagle Channel. With archeological remnants of the Yamana culture and observation points to find thriving avifauna, you can listen for rushing waters, twittering birds, and or the sound of wind rushing through the trees shaped by the elements. Continue onto the freshwaters of Lapataia and Ovando rivers that flow into the sea. The open views of the mountains in the distance and forested foreground will guide you to the edge of the Pan-American Highway.

You will once again have the opportunity to explore the water as you kayak along Beagle Channel, a waterway explored by different civilizations for more than seven millennia. The serene ambiance will make you feel as though you have reached the remotest corners of the earth as you paddle past uninhabited beaches and rising hillsides that feed into the Martial Mountains. Yamana women would dive into the waters to collect mussels and the men would sharpen their spears waiting for sea lions to approach. As you glide along the waters, you may hear sea lions bark in the distance.

The day will be at your leisure to relax and recuperate after the series of exciting activities. With the city at the end of the world at your whim, you could visit the oldest ranch in the region that covers approximately 50,000 acres or venture to the top of Cerro Castor for the views over the lengas forest and powerful Andean peaks. For more connection with nature, you can enjoy a day-tour of Isla Martillo to view the landscape that protects a penguin colony that features Magellanic, Gentoo, and possibly King penguins.

You will begin your trek to Vinciguerra Glacier by following the edge of the meltwater feeding peat bog around the valley before you reach the soothing aromas of the forest. The dense treeline will hide the view but once free of the forest, you will find views of craggy mountain peaks that enclose the valley. The sound of a trickling stream may guide you to the glacial lagoon fed by melting ice. The crisp air and unobstructed views of the ice wall will give way to promises of ice caves and the breathtaking view of the valley floor.

After breakfast, your private transfer will take you to the airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires. Once in the capital, the remainder of the day will be yours to enjoy the bustling pace, the charming neighborhoods, or the relaxing ambiance of the Rosedal rose garden. You can also take the evening to indulge in a tango performance. The rhythm may captivate you as the dancers create the image of passion on stage amid other patrons who sip wine, bask in the flavor of traditional Asado, or simply enjoy the mixture of music, dance, and unforgettable ambiance.

The morning in Buenos Aires may be filled with the aromas of medialunas and fresh cappuccinos. Cafes and bakeries open to locals and life returns to the familiar enticing pace. You could spend your morning visiting the antique shops in San Telmo, explore the shops along the arcades of Avenida Florida, or pass the time watching the city move by while sipping a coffee at an outdoor cafe table. Your private transfer will meet you at the hotel when you are ready and escort you to the airport for your flight home to reach the end of your Patagonia exploration trail.