About this tour
When Noah from our team ran this two-day private tour, we saw why Patagonia stops people in their tracks. You're driven south from El Calafate to Perito Moreno Glacier—a wall of ice that calves into a glacial lake—then onwards to El Chaltén, a mountain village ringed by granite peaks. The whole thing feels properly remote despite the comfort: air-con vehicle, local driver handling the route knowledge, and time to actually absorb the scale of the landscape instead of herding through a coach tour. It's scenery-heavy and paced to let you breathe.
Highlights
- Perito Moreno Glacier viewed from accessible walkways without the rush.
- Private vehicle means stops when the light's good or wildlife appears.
- El Chaltén hikes range from short waterfall walks to full-day ridge treks.
- Mount Fitz Roy's reflection in Laguna Capri—genuinely jaw-dropping light.
- Trekking poles and binoculars included; gear doesn't come out of pocket.
- Driver doubles as local context; beats a generic commentary system.
- Flexibility to pick your own hike level, not locked to group pace.
What to expect
Day one is the glacier circuit. You'll drive to Los Glaciares National Park, hit the walkways, and honestly spend as long as you want watching ice chunks tumble. The scale doesn't hit until you're standing there. If you're keen, a separate boat ticket gets you closer to the action (not included, so budget that separately). The drive's long but the vehicle's comfortable and the country's hypnotic—steppe, scattered guanacos, distant Andean wall.
Day two pivots to El Chaltén. Noah and the team tried a mix: the short Chorillo del Salto waterfall trail (easy, 45 min), then a longer push to Laguna Capri for Mount Fitz Roy views. The town itself is tiny, quirky, full of climbers and hikers, but feels genuine rather than theme-park. Trails are well-marked and your driver knows which one suits your legs. You're not fighting crowds like you would on a big group tour.
Good to know
This is proper Patagonia without feeling rushed or diluted. Private transport means you set the rhythm. Gear's included (poles, binoculars), which saves fiddling. The hike options genuinely suit all fitness levels—you can do an easy 90-minute loop or a six-hour alpine slog, your call. Kids are welcome and catered for (pram space, infant seats). Photographers will dig the flexibility to linger when light's gold.
Los Glaciares entry fee isn't included—factor that in. The glacier boat tour is extra too, which most people do. Two days is tight; three would be better. Weather can swing hard in Patagonia; pack layers and waterproofs even if it looks fine. The Chaltén hikes involve elevation gain and exposed ridges—not technical, but a decent walk. No meals included, though El Chaltén has decent cafés. Peak season (December–February) books fast. Gratuities aren't included in the quoted price.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.