New Hikes in Patagonia

Caviahue, Lake District & Tierra del Fuego

Discover more of the wide-open, mountain-studded landscapes of Patagonia in its less trammeled regions. In the far north, climb a steaming, snow-flecked volcano that punctuates the crest of the Andes. Hike through majestic stands of pehuén (“monkey puzzle” or “Araucaria” trees), discover hidden lakes, bubbling hot springs and picturesque streams where waterfalls plunge over brightly colored basalt cliffs. Further south, in an area we like to think of as the “Argentine Alps,” explore a glorious confusion of jagged peaks rising from a network of forest-cloaked valleys accented by cobalt blue lakes. And in the far south, at the fin del mundo (“end of the world”), follow trails into the mountainous wilderness heart of the island of Tierra del Fuego where seldom-seen views of an endless sea of ice-capped summits await you! Even if you’ve seen the peaks of Fitzroy and the Torres del Paine, Patagonia, vast and multi-faceted offers so much more! Join us for this trip and experience another side of these lands at the end of the earth.

Neuquen on the Argentine steppes.

Day 1
Overnight in Neuquen
Dinner included
Arrive in Neuquen, Argentina the capital of the province of the same name. Transfer on your own to the hotel by taxi. Meaning “strong waters” Neuquen is a rapidly growing city situated at the confluence of the Limay and Neuquen Rivers. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner to kick off your adventure in Patagonia!

One of many cascades along the Agrio River, Caviahue.

Day 2
Overnight in Caviahue
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
A morning transfer by private bus brings you to the small Andean town of Caviahue on the shores Lago Caviahue. After lunch, enjoy a warm-up hike along the Rio del Agrio past a series of waterfalls plunging over basalt cliffs. Spend the evening in a comfortable hotel near the lakeshore.

Volcán Copahue rises above Caviahue town on the shores of its namesake lake.

Crater lake at the summit of Volcan Copahue.

Day 3
Overnight in Caviahue
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
This morning travel by vehicle to the Salto del Agrio, an impressive waterfall that plunges over an orange-streaked columnar basalt cliff into a spectacular turquoise-colored pool. After the visit, continue by 4×4 vehicle up the slopes of Volcán Copahue to the trailhead from where you can hike to the top of the volcano and peer into its sometimes lake-filled crater. After the hike, return to Caviahue for the evening.

View toward Lago Caviahue from high on the slopes of Volcan Copahue.

A scene out of prehistory: Laguna Escondida.

Day 4
Overnight in Caviahue
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Today, enjoy a hike to Laguna Escondida (“Hidden Lake”), tucked into a small crater above Caviahue town. The lake is surrounded by beautiful stands of Araucaria (“monkey puzzle”) trees lending a bit of “prehistoric” ambiance to the scene! From the lake continue down into a valley and return to the hotel. For a longer hike, ascend to the Usina waterfalls. You can continue above the waterfall to the basalt cliffs (“farallones”) for long views toward Volcán Copahue and east over Lago Caviahue before hiking back to the hotel.

As advertised, this is definitely a trip about spending time hiking. There were no surprises but for the sheer, indescribable beauty and magnitude of Patagonia. The materials you provided ahead of time were excellent and extremely helpful in planning for the trip. And being able to contact Amy directly with any last minute queries or concerns was key; she was ‘spot on’ with all her thoughts and recommendations.

–KELLEY BISHOP

Hikers in a stand of Araucaria trees in Caviahue.

Looking across the steppe toward the Andes near La Rinconada.

Day 5
Overnight in San Nicolas de Bariloche
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Depart Caviahue today by private bus bound for the town of San Carlos de Bariloche (often called simply “Bariloche”) situated on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi. The ride to Bariloche is long but scenic and will give you a good sense of the vastness of Patagonia. About midway in the journey, views across the Patagonian steppe toward the conical, snow-capped Volcán Lanin start to appear. Later, as we begin to near Bariloche, the road follows the course of the Limay River through the Valle Encantada (“Enchanted Valley”) where rocky spires and pinnacles frame the river’s course. Upon arrival in Bariloche, settle in for a 3-night stay in a lakeshore hotel.

Sunset on Lake Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche.

Lago Nahuel Huapi.

Day 6
Overnight in San Nicolas de Bariloche
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
After breakfast, travel by vehicle along the Llao Llao circuit offering a sampling of the visual delights of Argentina’s Lake District. Enjoy a hike to the top of Cerro Llao Llao for glorious views north up the main stem of massive Lago Nahuel Huapi and east down the fjord-like Tristeza Arm. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Later, a cable car/chairlift ride to the mountain ridge above the ski area at Villa Catedral is a possibility this day, weather conditions permitting. From the ridge top, revel in long views north and south along the crest of the Andes and westward toward the volcanoes in Chile. If conditions don’t permit as ascent to the ridge crest, we’ll enjoy a hike to another viewpoint atop the peak of Cerro Campanario.

View from the high ridges above Bariloche.

Laguna Toneck and Cerro Catedral.

Day 7
Overnight in San Nicolas de Bariloche
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
From the settlement of Villa Catedral, hike through lovely southern beech woodlands following the course of the Arroyo van Titter to the curious Refugio Piedritas tucked under the overhang of a large boulder. Continue ascending to the Refugio Frey situated on the shores of the beautiful Laguna Tonchek. The spiky mountain ramparts of the Cerro Catedral form an impressive backdrop to a classically “alpine” landscape! A shorter hiking option proceeds to a viewpoint on the shoulder of a rocky rampart that offers views of Lago Gutierrez as well as a distant view of the principal tower of Cerro Catedral.

Refugio Frey.

El Calafate lies on the shores of Lago Argentino, here backed by the snow-capped peaks of the Patagonian Andes.

Day 8
Overnight in Ushuaia
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Transfer this morning to Bariloche Airport for the flight to El Calafate. Upon arrival transfer by bus into El Calafate town for lunch. Later, return to the airport to continue the air journey to Ushuaia on the large, mountainous island of Tierra del Fuego. A short transfer from the airport brings you to a lovely hotel perched directly on the shore of the Beagle Channel with unobstructed views across the water toward the mountains on Chile’s Hoste Island.

On the shores of the Beagle Channel looking toward the peaks on Isla Hoste.

A high country lake in Tierra del Fuego.

Day 9
Overnight in Ushuaia
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Transfer by vehicle to the valley of the Arroyo Grande for the hike to Laguna de los Tempanos. The trail starts in open meadows and peatbogs (tuberas) along the Arroyo Grande (stream). The area is a protected wetland under the Ramsar Convention. The trail then begins a steady ascent through southern beech (Nothofagus) woods into a glacially-carved basin cupping lovely Laguna de los Tempanos (“Lake of the Icebergs”). Across the milky blue waters of the lake, the Vinciguerra Glacier drapes the surrounding peaks, perfect backdrop to this “alpine” scene!

Typical Fuegian forest stream flowing through a southern beech woodland.

An Andean condor graces the Patagonian skies.

The gray summit ridge of Cerro Guanaco (left of center) rises above Lapataia Bay.

Day 10
Overnight in Ushuaia
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Explore more of Tierra del Fuego with a choice of hikes in the Tierra del Fuego National Park west of Ushuaia town. Enjoy a hike along the shores of lovely Ensenada Bay. Along the way, the twisted branches of southern beech trees frame a multitude of picturesque views across the waters of the bay to the mountains beyond. For more of a challenge, a steep trail leads up the slopes of Cerro Guanaco (peak) following the course of a stream through a typical Fuegian forest. The trail emerges into a high valley before continuing in open country to gain the summit of the peak. Exceptional vistas over Tierra del Fugeo are the reward for the effort. Enjoy uncommon views westward toward the icy Cordillera Darwin in Chile. To the south, views extend over Lapataia Bay, the Beagle Channel, and the Chilean islands of Navarino and Hoste. A farewell dinner this evening caps off your Patagonian adventure.

The frosty, untrammeled peaks of Tierra del Fuego.

Leucheria hahnii in the windswept highlands of Tierra del Fuego.

View across the Beagle Channel toward Isla Navarino in Chile.

The Plaza de Armas, Buenos Aires.

Seeing Buenos Aires

Please note that because this trip officially starts in Neuquen, Argentina, an overview tour of Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, is not included as part of this trip. If you wish to experience Argentina’s vibrant and delightful capital, we suggest you plan to arrive in Buenos Aires two days before the start of the trip. Some Buenos Aires highlights include a visit to the cemetery of La Recoleta (where Eva Peron is buried) and a visit to the lively San Telmo barrio (“neighborhood”) full of antique shops, cafes and tango clubs. You might also want to consider a trip across the Rio de la Plata by fast boat to visit the lovely town of Colonia del Sacramento (a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site) in the neighboring country of Uruguay. For accommodations in Buenos Aires, we suggest the Palo Santo Hotel, or the Fierro Hotel. Both of these properties are in the city’s Palermo district.

What About Monte Fitzroy and Cerro Torre?

A visit to two of Patagonia’s iconic peaks—Monte Fitzroy and Cerro Torre—is not included as part of this tour. However, at the end of this trip on March 4, you can catch a direct flight from Ushuaia to El Calafate (airport code FTE). From El Calafate Airport, you can rent a car and drive via a high standard paved highway to the town of El Chalten (about 3 hours). Excellent views of Cerro Torre and the Fitzroy massif are available just outside of town! For accommodations in El Chalten, we suggest the Hotel Destino Sur. If you book a stay at this property, you can inquire about private transfers from the El Calafate Airport to the hotel. They may also be able to help you book a hiking guide in El Chalten, if you desire one.

Monte Fitzroy as seen from El Chalten.

Printable version of trip itinerary

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New Hikes in Patagonia video