Start A Conversation
Click here to chat with me!
Search our website now
Latest Posts
The Patagonia Circuit, frequently designated as ‘Circuit 0’, stands as an enthralling and extensive route, intricately weaving its way across the national borders of both Chile and Argentina. This highly acclaimed and internationally recognized journey meticulously guides adventurers through some of the most extraordinarily breathtaking and wonderfully untamed natural landscapes found anywhere in the entirety of South America. It consistently presents an absolutely unparalleled and deeply immersive experience of the raw, majestic Patagonian wilderness, allowing participants to truly connect with its pristine and awe-inspiring environment. This iconic traverse not only highlights the dramatic geological formations and diverse ecosystems of the region but also encapsulates the spirit of grand exploration within one of the planet’s last true frontiers.
Upon your arrival in Santiago, you will be met at the airport for a private transfer to your hotel, the Diego de Almagro Aeropuerto.
You will take a morning flight to Punta Arenas, the gateway to Southern Patagonia. Potential carriers include Latam, Sky Airlines, or Jet Smart. After landing, you will be transferred to the Diego de Almagro Punta Arenas hotel. The afternoon is free for you to explore this historic city on the Strait of Magellan at your own pace.
An early start between 7:00-7:30 a.m. begins your full-day excursion. The journey involves a 2-hour ferry crossing of the Magellan Strait to Bahía Chilota. You'll visit the southern city of Porvenir and take photos at ""Plaza Selknam"" before having lunch. The main event is a 1-hour stay at the King Penguin Park on the shore of Bahía Inútil (Useless Bay). The return trip may include a stop at the oil town of Cerro Sombrero (wind permitting) and the historic San Gregorio Estancia before you arrive back in Punta Arenas by 9:00 p.m.
You'll travel by bus from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales (7:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.) Upon arrival, you will have time to prepare your equipment and then be transferred to the Torres del Paine National Park to officially begin the 'O' Circuit trek, a private hike. This is the start of your multi-day adventure circumnavigating the iconic Paine Massif. Your entrance to the park will be through the Laguna Amarga Lodge, where you will show your ticket and then take the approach bus to the Welcome Center of the Cerro Paine Reserve where you can enjoy the impressive silhouettes of the Torres del Paine and the Almirante Nieto Massif. Once there, begin your first trekking adventure. This will lead you through a huge forest of lichens called ""old man's beard"". Once you have crossed the forest you will contemplate in the distance an extensive valley covered by margaritas flanked by the Paine River on the right, who will accompany you during the second half of your trek until you reach the Serón campsite, where you will dine and stay Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping Hiking distance: 9.6 miles (15.5 km) Hiking time: 6.5 hours
This will be a long and unforgettable day of trekking. The first part of the trail will take you up and down, surrounding the hillsides of Cerro Paine where you will feel the strength of the wind. There, you will begin to descend to continue bordering Lake Paine, which on clear days works as a mirror of the summits that surround it. If the weather is in your favor, you will be able to see the northeast summit of the Paine Massif, including silhouettes and peculiar shapes such as ""Cabeza del Indio"", ""Escudo"", ""Cube"" and Dickson. The night will be in the Dickson Sector, located next to the glacial lake at the edge of the Southern Ice Field that gives it its name to the sector. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping Hiking distance: 8.1 miles (13 km) Hiking time: 4 hrs
Today you will begin to move towards the south west. Along the way you will see the Dickson glacier falling into the lake of the same name. You will enter a beautiful lenga forest, where you will see Magellanic woodpeckers beating the lengas. In the middle of the forest you will find a clearing. Stop there to look forward and backward, because in front of you and behind you you can see glaciers, awesome! Further on, you will also pass through the Los Perros glacier, with incredible views towards its lake. Half an hour after the walk, you will arrive at Camp Los Perros, located in a quiet and ancient forest. In the Perros Sector the food service consists of rations of the trek, there is no restaurant service. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping or Refugio Hiking distance: 11.2 miles (18 km) Hiking time: 6 hrs
Today likely is the most exhausting and at the same time most spectacular day of your trip. Attention: there will be slippery roads, swampy terrain and steep climbs and descents. The departure from Los Perros must be very early. The first part of the way is through a swampy land and then start a steep and long climb to the windy Paso John Garner. Once up, the overwhelming view will make you feel very small. In front of you will have one of the huge tongues of the Southern Ice Field, full of cracks and ice of the strangest nuances of blue and green. A landscape in which you do not know where the glacier ends and where the clouds begin. Once you catch your breath, start the long descent between rocks, to continue skirting the Grey Glacier, which will accompany you all the way to Lake Grey. A few kilometers after arriving at the site ""El Paso"", you will cross two impressive suspension bridges over 50 meters long that pass over huge gorges with a fantastic view of the Grey glacier, an image that is hard to forget. Tonight we will stay in Sector Gray Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Refugio Hiking distance: 6.8 miles (11 km) Hiking time: 4.5 hrs
The first part of the road will be between many ups and downs. Crossing forests of ñirres, cohigues and notros, and with the majestic Cerro Paine Grande (the highest summit of the Massif with 3050 masl) and its hanging glaciers on your left, you will reach the Paine Grande Refuge. There you can stop for a while to have lunch and enjoy the amazing view from the place to the Cuernos del Paine. Then, you will continue your way towards the French Sector now with horns in front, Lake Pehoé on your right and another face of Cerro Paine Grande on your left. After a quiet but long walk you will reach the French Sector where you will dine and sleep. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Refugio Hiking distance: 13.7 miles (22 km) Hiking time: 11 hrs
Today you will visit another of the most emblematic and magical places of the Park, the impressive Valle del Francés. The trek will begin with a gentle walk towards the Italian camp. Here, you will start to climb the valley and after an hour and a half of ascent, you will reach the ""French Lookout"". Here you will see very closely one of the hanging glaciers of Cerro Paine Grande and, with some luck, you will be able to witness an ice fall (avalanche). With that impressive sight circling in your head you will continue advancing through a forest of lengas, up to the British sector. Get ready, it is probably the only time in your life that you see such a show: the magnificent Valley of the French, floated by its colossal mountains and granite walls whose unique shapes and colors will leave you breathless. The return will be by the same path, passing through the Italian Camp, until reaching the French Sector. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Refugio Hiking distance: 6.8 miles (11 km) Hiking time: 3.5-4 hrs
With the spectacular Cuernos del Paine on the left, and the colors of Lake Nordenskjöld on the right, you will walk towards the Central sector. This day the walk will be calmer, there will be no big slopes and the journey will be shorter and faster than the previous days. A few kilometers to reach the Central Sector, you will have left behind the Cuernos to skirt Mount Almirante Nieto (2,670 masl), a massif with a temperamental climate. At night, and as in the rest of your adventure, you can live the relaxed and cosmopolitan atmosphere in the Central Sector; Take a well deserved beer and share with other hikers experiences and anecdotes. If you feel tired after so many days of hard walking, you can stop by the Hotel Las Torres Spa to get a well-deserved massage, or try a roast lamb on the stick (these activities are not included in the program) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Refugio Hiking distance: 10.7 miles (17.3 km) Hiking time: 7 hrs
Today you'll be up early to visit one of the most famous landmarks of the park, the Mirador Base Torres. During the first part you'll walk through the pampas, crossing the Ascencio River and then climb about 3 km until you reach the 'paso del vientos'. Here you'll enjoy incredible views of the valley, lakes and glaciers that surround. Continuing until you reach the Chilean Refuge and then enter a forest of lengas and reach “La Morrena”, where the hardest part of the trekking begins. After 45 minutes of arduous ascent along a rocky path, you'll reach the spectacular Mirador Base Torres, where you can enjoy the majesty of the South Towers (2,850 masl), Central (2,800 masl), and North (2,600 masl). After contemplating the spectacular scenery, you'll return to the Central Sector where at 7:00 p.m you'll take the bus that will take you back to Puerto Natales.. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hiking distance: 7.5 miles (12 km) Hiking time: 4.5 hrs Accommodation. Hotel Big Sur
A 6-hour bus journey takes you across the border to El Calafate, Argentina. You will be transferred to the Patagonia Suits hotel, and the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy.
You will participate in a group minitrekking tour on the world-famous Perito Moreno Glacier. This unforgettable experience typically involves a boat ride to get up close to the glacier's massive ice walls, followed by a guided walk on the ice itself using crampons.
You will take a bus to El Chaltén, Argentina's trekking capital. After checking into the Confing Patagonico, you have a free day to explore the charming mountain town on your own.
Today you will embark on a full-day private trek to the base of the iconic Mount Fitz Roy. This is one of the most famous hikes in Patagonia, culminating in a steep climb to Laguna de los Tres, a turquoise lake sitting at the foot of the mountain's granite spires. Trek Length: The round-trip distance is approximately 20-22 km (about 12.5-13.5 miles). Timings & Duration: This is a full-day commitment, typically taking 8 to 10 hours to complete, including breaks. Start early in the morning (e.g., 8:00 AM) and return to El Chaltén in the late afternoon or early evening. Difficulty & Terrain: The trek is considered challenging. While much of the trail has a gradual, moderate incline, the final kilometer is a very steep and rocky ascent that requires significant effort. The reward is an absolutely breathtaking, close-up view of the Fitz Roy massif rising above the turquoise glacial lake.
An early morning bus will take you from El Chaltén to the El Calafate airport for your flight to Buenos Aires.
Immerse yourself in Argentina's capital with a private city tour, likely exploring vibrant neighborhoods like La Boca and historic Recoleta. In the evening, you'll experience the passion of a professional Tango Show. You will stay at the Grand Hotel.
You'll take a Buquebus ferry across the Rio de la Plata for a full-day tour of Colonia del Sacramento, a beautiful colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage site. You will return to the Grand Hotel in Buenos Aires for the night.
Your trip concludes with a transfer to the airport for your flight home
Be the first to review “Patagonia: Circuito ‘0’ Trek & Argentina”