Patagonia (The Overview)

Published on by crobinson8

In November, I flew down to Patagonia to embark on what would be my first big solo hiking trip. Planning the trip took a lot of time! You have to make reservations months for campsites and buses months in advance for high season (November to March). I relied on numerous blogs to put my trip together. Below is an overview of transportation companies I used, hotels, campsites, etc. 

  • Day 0
    • Fly from Atlanta to Santiago (Delta Airlines)
  • Day 1
    • Arrived Santiago early morning – it took over 2 hours to get through passport control! Give yourself plenty of time! 
    • Fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas (Sky Airlines)
    • Take bus from Punta Arenas airport to Puerto Natales (Bus Sur – make sure you email them and tell them you want to be picked up at Airport and not at the main bus terminal in downtown Punta Arenas)
    • Walk from Puerto Natales bus terminal to hotel (stayed at Lady Florence Dixie)
  • Day 2 
    • Picked up some food (snickers, cashews, etc) at grocery store across street from Florence Dixie – WARNING: not all stores are open on Sundays, and those that are, do not open until 11ish 
    • 2:30 pm bus to Torres Del Paine (Buses María José) 
    • Paid park entrance fees, listened to safety brief, and then hopped on another bus which takes you further into the park (the second bus does not require reservations – just walk up and pay)
    • Camped at Camping Central Sitio Suelo – Fantastico Sur (campsite less than 1/4 mile from where bus drops you off)
  • Day 3 
    • Day hike Las Torres Base
    • Returned to Central Sitio Suelo – Fantastico Sur 
  • Day 4 
    • Hiked to Los Cuernos – Fantastico Sur – checked into cabin and dropped off stuff 
    • Day hiked to Britanico lookout (my original plan was to do this the next day, but the weather was great so I went ahead and did it – not for the faint of heart) 
    • Returned to Los Cuernos
  • Day 5
    • Hiked to Grande Sector – Vertice
  • Day 6 
    • Day hiked to 1st overlook for Grey Glacier 
    • Returned to Grande Sector and packed up stuff
    • Took midday ferry across lake Pehoe 
    • Bus back to Puerto Natales (Buses María José) 
    • Walk from bus terminal to hotel (stayed at Lady Florence Dixie again)
  • Day 7 
    • Bus picked me up from hotel and took me to Argentina. We went to Perito Moreno Glacier along the way (Bus TURISMO ZAAHJ) 
    • Bus dropped me off in downtown El Calafate 
    • Had dinner in town before walking to Cyan Calafate Hotel
  • Day 8
    • Walked to bus terminal (across the street from Cyan Calafate Hotel) and caught bus to El Chalten (booked bus through Bus TURISMO ZAAHJ, but ticket for Cal-Tur). I left one of my bags with one of the other bus companies. 
    • Hiked to Laguna Torre, and then to Camp Poincenot (camped at Poincenot)
  • Day 9
    • Hiked back to El Chalten
    • Took bus back to El Calafate (booked bus through Bus TURISMO ZAAHJ, but ticket for Cal-Tur) 
    • Walked from bus terminal to Lagos Del Calafate hotel. From there was able to walk into town and have dinner. 
  • Day 10
    • Hotel booked a shuttle to airport for me night before – I do not recall the name. You can also take a taxi
    • Flight from El Calafate to AEP BUENOS AIRES (AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS )
    • Had to take bus to get to main airport (do not recall bus company name, but you can walk up and buy a ticket in the airport – the buses run every ~ hour or so) 
    • Flight from Ministro Pistarini International Airport to Atlanta (Delta)
  • Day 11
    • Return to Atlanta