Spending 2 weeks in Patagonia was road tripping down long dusty dirt roads and across scenic country borders.
It was hiking up mountain ridges, kayaking through glacial lakes, and resting in flower fields. It was 70km/hr winds whipping through my hair, wind burn on my face, and the the greeting of many sunrises and sunsets. It was making new friends in tiny mountain side towns, and it was chasing down 10pm dinners with Patagonia beers. It was where hiking boots were fashionable to wear anywhere, and it was how I spent some of the best days of my life.
If you’re looking for a Patagonia 2 Week Itinerary, here is the most epic itinerary I could put together (and I know because I lived it):
This Patagonia 2 Week Itinerary Includes: Torres Del Paine, Calafate, and Chalten
The First Step is Getting There
If you haven’t noticed yet, Patagonia is enormous, which makes getting there interesting. There are a few airports to fly into (Bariloche, Trelew, and Calafate in Argentina and Punta Arenas in Chile). Which airport you want to fly into depends on your route through Patagonia, as well as where you can book a rental car.
I would recommend flying into one area of the park, and flying out from another. We started our 2 weeks in Patagonia by flying into Punta Arenas, since that’s where we found a rental car (and it’s the closest to Torres del Paine National Park).
Actually You Should Book a Car ASAP
Cars get booked quick in Patagonia (especially if you’re looking for an automatic). I actually had to book a car with only 2 weeks notice before my trip, which meant I spent some serious moolah for a automatic mini van.
Yes, you can also take buses around Patagonia if you’re trying to save money. My time was more important to me than saving money, and a car allows you way more freedom than bus routes.
When you get the rental car, make sure they know that you are crossing the border into Argentina. You will need paperwork with the car for going over the border.
Day 1: Fly into Punta Arenas
We started our Patagonia Itinerary off in Punta Arenas (and stayed there for the night since we arrived late). If you arrive earlier, you can start the drive right away if you’re up for it.
Day 2: Drive to Puerto Natales (3 hours)
On our second day, we picked up the rental car and headed to Puerto Natales. We found time to grab some groceries for the W trek and get dinner at Aldea. I highly recommend Aldea, it’s not a backpackers place but the menu is amazing and it has a lot of local food options (think items like guanaco and jack rabbit). Since this was our last meal before backpacking for four days, we splurged:
We stayed at Amerindia Hostel, which was the perfect place for our last night of sleep in a bed before the W Trek.
Day 3: Start the W Trek in Torres del Paine
The W trek in Torres del Paine is on every hiker’s bucket list and is a must do on ANY 2 week Patagonia itinerary. If you aren’t familiar with the W, it’s a 4-5 day through trek that combines the best of Torres del Paine National Park. Before you think this isn’t your cup of tea, just know that there are refugios to stay in instead of tents and real food and full bars at each pit stop. So even if you aren’t an avid hiker, you still can do this!
If you are unfamiliar, you can read more about the W Trek and how to book it here.
Drive your car to one of the car parks at near the W (either the Pudeto ferry station or the Torres campground). This depends on if you do the W in the original route or in reverse.
If you do start at the Pudeto Ferry Station, your first leg of the hike will be Paine Grande to Grey. If you start at Torres, your first leg will be up to the base of Las Torres.
Day 4: The W Trek
Continue on the W Trek (either Paine Grande to Frances or Torres to Frances/Italiano). Read this post for more information on the W Trek.
Day 5: The W Trek
Continue on the W Trek (either Frances/Italiano to Torres or Frances/Italiano to Paine Grande). Read this post for more information on the W Trek.
Day 6: The W Trek
Continue on the W Trek (either Paine Grande to Grey or from Torres camp to the base of Las Torres). Read this post for more information on the W Trek.
Day 7: Head to Calafate (4 hours)
After finishing the W, start your drive to Calafate. We stayed at America del Sur Hostel in Calafate, which was one of my favorite places I’ve ever stayed. They have a huge front porch over looking Calafate.
Day 8: Kayak Perito Moreno Glacier
Sign up the night before for a kayaking glacier tour of Perito Moreno. The Perito Moreno Glacier is 19 miles long and is the world’s third largest reserve of fresh water. It’s incredible to see this enormous chunk of ice by paddling through it’s turquoise blue water. Plus, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’m a fan of anything that involves goofy outfits 🙂
Day 9: Glacier Hike
This was something I really wanted to do but didn’t get the chance since I got injured beforehand 🙁 You can go hiking on the glacier with crampons and ice axes with a tour like this one.
Day 10: Drive to Chalten (4 hours)
Wake up and drive to Chalten, my favorite stop in our 2 week Patagonia itinerary! The drive into Chalten is magical…
Day 11: Hike to Cerro Torre
Start the day hike to Cerro Torre on the Laguna Torre Trek. This hike is relatively easy and gives you one of the best views in Chalten.
Distance: 24km
Time: 6h
Difficulty: Easy
If you’d like to know more about the Cerro Torre hike, here’s my post on it.
Day 11: Hike to the Fitz Roy
If you do one hike in Patagonia, the hike to the Fitz Roy should be it. This is one of the prettiest views in all of Patagonia (probably why it’s the Patagonia clothing brands logo). The trek that takes you here is called “Laguna de los Tres” and these are the stats:
Distance: 26km
Difficulty: This hike is rated medium, I would say it’s easy except for the very last mile which has very steep and rocky switchbacks.
Elevation Gain: 3159 ft
For more info on the hike, here’s my post on hiking to the Fitz Roy.
FYI this is probably the most difficult hike in the entire Patagonia Itinerary.
After you’re finished, celebrate with a few beers at Humo Smokehouse 🙂
Day 13-14: Drive to the Airport
The remaining time you have will depend on which airport you’re flying out of.
If this is Calafate, then you will have more time. The drive to Calafate is a little over 3 hours.
If it is any other airport, you will probably need to split the drive into 2 days.
If you have an extra day in Chalten, I’d recommend checking out the spa which is the perfect ending to a hiking trip 🙂
Packing List for 2 weeks in Patagonia:
Here’s a list of everything I brought for 2 weeks in Patagonia:
Waterproof/windproof coat (this is the one I used)
Neck warmer (trust me you’ll need this)
A great pair of hiking boots, the ones I wore on this trip were discontinued but I have since moved onto these Merrel boots.
Hiking socks, I only wear Darn Tough.
2 Sports Bras
3 Long Sleeve Shirts
3 Tshirts
2 tank tops
Makeup Wipes (to shower with on the W)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Sunscreen
If you’re not renting a tent, lightweight tent, lightweight sleeping bag, lightweight sleeping pad
Sunglasses
Kneebrace (if you need any sort of brace, it may be impossible to find on the trail)
Credit card
Hat
Daypack if you’re renting camping gear, lightweight backpacking pack if you aren’t. I love the Osprey Eja pack.
Snacks (I brought granola bars, almonds, and energy gels)
Iphone
Camera (I have this one, it’s great and lightweight)
Have any questions about my itinerary for 2 weeks in Patagonia? Feel free to comment below!
And if you’re looking for other articles on Argentina or the rest of Patagonia, you may find these helpful:
The W Trek: Everything You Need to Know (I Promise)
Thanks for your replies. In regards to the car rental, did you make arrangements to cross the border in advance and have the needed documents, or did you do that at the time of the rental? We are driving from Calafate to Torres del Paine and I am concerned about gas. Can you elaborate on where you got gas? And did you have plenty. We are NOT planning to drive to Puerto Natales to get gas but rather, straight back from the park to el Calafate. This is why I worry about gas to get back.
Hi Tracy,
No problem! Yes, we told the rental car company that we planned on crossing the border in advance and they gave us the required paperwork. Make sure to do this, if you don’t get the paperwork then you won’t be able to cross the border in your rental car. If you wait until you arrive, they may not have it ready for you. As for the gas stations, we never had issues getting gas, I just wouldn’t wait until your on E to look for gas stations. Fill up when you are under half a tank and you should be fine.
Have fun!
Marteen
Did you fly to Buenos Aires first and then you purchase tickets to get to Puntas Arenas or was all this planned ahead of time? Also, what rental car service did you use? What was the total amount per person you would say? I’m planning a 4 person sibiling trip in December of 2020 for 2 weeks and basically want to do the same thing that you guys did and crushing the W-Treck.
Hi Zack,
We flew to Buenos Aires first because we wanted to spend New Years there, then a few days after we flew to Punta Arenas with a layover in Santiago. Pretty much any flight into the Chilean side of Patagonia will require a layover in Santiago. So if you are looking at flights and don’t want to visit Buenos Aires, you may want to looking into flying to Santiago instead. We got the rental in Punta Arenas and then had to return it to Punta Arenas, meaning we had to drive in a loop. However, it would save a lot of time if you could return the car somewhere else. Also, make sure to tell the rental company that you will be crossing the border into Argentina so they can give you the proper paper work! Money per person is tricky, you can do Patagonia cheaper by camping more and cooking your own food, or you can go the more expensive route of staying in huts and hostels and going out to eat a lot. On the W you can bring your own camping gear to save money or you can rent gear there or you can stay in huts which will definitely drive the price point up. Our rental car was also pretty pricey since we only booked it a month out. I would say book the car asap to make sure that you can reserve one and get the best price!
Let me know if you have any other questions, jealous you’re going, the W is incredible. I’d like to go back and take on the O.
Thanks,
Marteen
One more question, can you tell me the dates of your trip?
Hi Tracy,
We went last January, I believe we were in Patagonia the second and third week of January.
Thanks!
Marteen
Love the blog and very thorough! My husband and I are planning a similiar trip. Can you tell me how you flew in to Punta Arenas? from Where?
Hi Tracy,
Glad you liked the post, thanks for reading 🙂 We flew to Punta Arenas from Mendoza, Argentina and had a layover in Santiago Chile. Almost all of the flights go through Santiago so you will most likely have a layover there. I started in Buenos Aires for this trip, then flew to Mendoza and then to Punta Arenas to do Patagonia. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks!
Marteen