Patagonia Active Adventure
20 days from £6,056 pp
Our Patagonia Active Adventure is a 20-day tailor-made adventure holiday through Argentine and Chilean Patagonia: cycle through Buenos Aires, self-drive the Route of the Seven Lakes, kayak Lago Gutiérrez, cross the Andes by boat, hike the W Trek in Torres del Paine and trek towards the Perito Moreno Glacier. Prices start from £6,056 per person, including accommodation, flights within Argentina and Chile, car hire, small-group activities with expert guides and the guided W Trek with EcoCamp. It’s one of our most affordable ways to see Patagonia, for fit, adventurous travellers who like to keep moving.
Trip Highlights
- Cycle through Buenos Aires with a local guide
- Self-drive the Route of the Seven Lakes
- Cross the Andes from Argentina to Chile by boat
- Hike the W Trek in Torres del Paine with an expert guide
Our Expert Tip
”If time and energy allow, combine Cerro Campanario hike with Cerro Llao Llao hike in Bariloche, that way you get both the big-picture vista from Campanario and the up-close mountain and lake experience from Llao Llao”
Scarlett, Patagonia Expert
Patagonia Adventure Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1-2: Buenos Aires
Two nights at Palo Santo Hotel in Palermo, with its leafy vertical gardens, gives you time to adjust before the adventures begin. On your first full day, swap taxis for two wheels on a private bike tour with a local guide, from the grand mansions around Plaza San Martín to the tombs of Recoleta Cemetery and the tree-lined avenues of Palermo Chico. In the evening, it has to be steak and Malbec.
Day 3-4: San Martin de Los Andes
A short flight takes you to Chapelco airport, where your hire car is waiting for the first of your self-drive days. San Martín de los Andes, a small mountain town on Lake Lácar, is your base for two nights at Casona del Alto. Lanín National Park starts almost at the edge of town: spend a day on its trails, through forests of monkey-puzzle trees with the snow-capped cone of Lanín Volcano on the horizon.
Day 5-6: Bariloche
Today’s drive is one of the most beautiful in Argentina: the Route of the Seven Lakes, linking San Martín with Bariloche past one glassy lake after another. Take it slowly, with short walks and picnic stops on the way, then hand back the car in Bariloche and check in to Lirolay Suites for two nights.
Climb Cerro Campanario for the classic view over Nahuel Huapi National Park (see Scarlett’s tip), and next morning join a small group for a half-day kayak on Lago Gutiérrez, with forested mountains rising straight from the water.
Day 7-9: Puerto Varas
Few border crossings are as beautiful as this one. The Andean Lake Crossing takes a full day, linking three lakes by boat with short road sections between them and a lunch stop in the tiny village of Peulla, before you arrive in Puerto Varas on Lake Llanquihue.
Three nights at Hotel Cabaña del Lago give you time for a guided trip to the thundering Petrohué Falls and up the slopes of Osorno Volcano to around 1,240 metres, plus a gentler half-day with a naturalist in a nearby reserve of temperate rainforest and ancient alerce trees.
Day 10-13: Torres del Paine
This is the big one. Fly south to Puerto Natales, where our team collects you for four nights hiking the highlights of the W Trek with an expert guide. You’ll stay in EcoCamp’s domes, with a night at Paine Grande along the way, while porters carry your overnight bag.
Hike into the French Valley (about 25 km), walk to the viewpoints over Grey Glacier and sail back across the lake, then climb to the base of the granite towers (about 20 km return) for the view on every Patagonia poster. That’s around 38 miles in all, with dinners shared with your group.
Day 14-15: Puerto Natales
Back in Puerto Natales, rest your legs at Weskar Lodge, looking out over the fjord. Your boat leaves early next morning for Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, where a short trail leads to the foot of the Serrano Glacier before the boat continues to the Balmaceda Glacier, with a whisky over glacier ice on the way home.
Day 16-18: El Calafate
Hop on the public bus back across the border to El Calafate, on the shore of Lago Argentino, and settle into Kosten Aike Hotel for three nights. The Mayo Spirit trek is a full day away from the usual tourist trail, hiking with a small group towards the Cerro Mayo and Cerro Negro glaciers before ending at the face of the Perito Moreno Glacier.
On your final day, head out by 4×4 to a remote estancia on the Nativo Experience, learning about the Tehuelche people over a home-cooked lunch.
Day 19-20: Buenos Aires
A three-hour flight brings you back to Buenos Aires for a final night at Palo Santo Hotel. Catch a tango show, browse San Telmo’s antique stalls and raise a last glass of Malbec. Thinking of adding a few days in wine country? See our top wine destinations.
When to Go
Best time for an active Patagonia holiday
The best time for this trip is November to March, when the W Trek is in full swing, the days are long and the Lake District is warm enough for kayaking. December to February is busiest, so book EcoCamp early. October and April are quieter, with spring flowers or autumn colours, though Patagonia’s weather is famously changeable in any month. From May to September, many lodges and trails close.
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to
Need More Inspiration?
Want to combine multi-countries, take less flights, or include a hike in Patagonia? Thinking of a longer sabbatical holiday, or staying in some luxury yurts? It’s all possible; all our holidays are tailor-made with a focus on responsible travel. Take a look at more ideas below, and contact our experts.
