For your three days in Patagonia, it is best to stay on the Argentinian side and visit a glacier and go for a hike. Three days is not really enough time in such a huge area such as Patagonia but if you visit the glacier and see the peaks of Fitzroy, then you will still have a trip of a lifetime.
Our 3-day itinerary starts in “El Calafate” which is easily accessible by flying from Buenos Aires. Check out our 2-day Buenos Aires itinerary for ideas for when you are in Buenos Aires.
3 Days in Patagonia
If you have 3 days in Patagonia, then I recommend checking out the glacier “El Perito Moreno” and some hiking near “El Chaltén”.
Day 1
On Day One of your Argentina trip you can fly from Buenos Aires to El Calfate. If you can get there the day before that would be great so you can spend the whole day at the glacier for your first day.
You will need to book a tour to get to the glacier as it is a one and a half hour drive from “El Calafate”.
👉 We recommend this tour that includes walking on the ice.
Ok, so we haven’t really talked about what “El Perito Moreno” is. “Perito Moreno” is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world and you can get gorgeous views from boat/kayak tours and they even give you a chance to walk on the ice!
I went into this tour without expectations and I can honestly say that it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It was just incredible to see a glacier up close.
Where to stay in El Calafate
You will only stay in El Calafate for one night and so we highly recommend staying near the main street. Calafate Hostel is a good option as it is comfortable and close to the main street. Most tours pick you up from your hotel but if you want something more luxurious that includes a spa, check out Imago Hotel.
Day 2
On Day 2, you can head towards El Chaltén. You take the bus from El Calafate and you get stunning landscapes on the journey. The bus takes about three hours.
After your journey, you can rest and have lunch near your hotel and in the afternoon/evening you can do the Cóndores y Águilas Trek. This is a short, relatively easy hike that should take no more than 3 hours.
There are 2 lookout points “Mirador de Los Condóres” (The Condor lookout point) and “Mirador de Las Águilas” (The Eagle lookout point) The “Las Aguilas” is a bit further so depending on how you feel you might want to walk to the second lookout point.
Dinner in El Chaltén
Make sure you eat something super nutritious as the following day will be the big hike. We recommend “Cúrcuma” for vegetarians and “El Parador” if you want to eat meat.
Where to stay in El Chalten
Accommodation can be pretty expensive in all of Patagonia but it can sometimes be worth it to stay near the center of town so you have a short walk to restaurants. Check out Senderos Apartments for a mid-range option and Destino Sur Hotel if you want something a bit more upmarket with a spa. (Those legs will thank you for the massage after those long hikes!)
Day 3
Day 3 is when you will do your big hike. We chose to do the Laguna de Los Tres Trek because you get a variety of different landscapes and it is achievable for most people as you do not need to do any rock climbing.
The route is relatively flat (there are some uphill parts at the beginning) but you will be tired after the hike as it takes around 8-9 hours. It took us around 11 hours because we needed many breaks (for rest and for photos!)
It is definitely a good idea to bring a packed lunch with you and plenty of water and sunscreen as you will be outdoors all day,
You can do the trip without a guide or you can book a tour here if you feel more comfortable going with a group.
Time to Move On
The following day you can drag your achy legs to the bus stop and head back to El Calafate. From there you can stay a few days in El Calafate or return to Buenos Aires to finish off your trip.
Optional added days in El Calafate or El Chaltén
We actually stayed in El Calafate for 3 weeks which is much more than necessary but there are some extra things to do there if you want to spend a bit more time there.
📌 Estancia Cristina Estancia Cristina is one of the must do things in El Calafate. There you can also see a different glacier called Upsala
📌 Hike Cerro Torre – This is another hike that you can do from El Chaltén which you can see some waterfalls
📌 Las Vueltas Kayak Trip What better way to explore than in a kayak, this trip also goes from El Chaltén
📌 Off Road Trip This off-road trip lets you discover about the art of the native people in Patagonia.
Recommended Tours in Patagonia
