Who is this trip through Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia suited for?
Over 17 days, the trip combines four major natural destinations in southern Argentina and Chile: the Beagle Channel at Ushuaia, the Perito Moreno Glacier, Fitz Roy near El Chaltén, and Torres del Paine. It suits travelers who enjoy day hikes, don't mind wind and cold, and accept three domestic flights plus a long cross-border bus leg. The best months are November to March.
It's an active nature trip without camping: every night is spent in a town with hotels, and daytime hikes range from 1 to 20 km. The most demanding day is the hike to Laguna de los Tres at Fitz Roy, with 20 km and 750 m of elevation gain and loss each; every other day can be made shorter. Anyone wanting to do multi-day routes like the W in Torres del Paine needs reservations for refugios or campsites and would plan the Puerto Natales days differently.
Two countries mean two currencies and one border crossing. In Argentina you pay in Argentine pesos (ARS), in Chile in Chilean pesos (CLP). Swiss, German and Austrian nationals can enter both countries visa-free for up to 90 days; Argentina requires proof of health insurance (as of September 2026). Other nationalities are subject to their own rules. The FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office, Germany, the BMEIA and the representations of both countries are authoritative.
This route suits less well anyone seeking warmth, beach holidays or a lot of city life: even in high summer the south stays cool, and there's barely any mobile signal in the parks. Anyone who needs a fixed daily schedule will struggle with the weather; two buffer days in El Calafate and Puerto Natales give the program some breathing room.
Sources: Administración de Parques Nacionales · CONAF · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (CONAF Magallanes) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile (consulado.gob.cl) · Argentina.gob.ar, Información Legislativa
How is the route structured, and how do you travel between stages?
The route runs from Buenos Aires by flight to Ushuaia (roughly 3 h 40 min) and on to El Calafate (roughly 1 h 20 min), then by road to El Chaltén (213 km). By bus you cross the border to Puerto Natales and continue to Punta Arenas (3 h 15 min). From there you fly back via Santiago; only the road between El Chaltén and El Calafate is traveled twice.
| Route | Mode of transport | Duration or distance |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival – Buenos Aires (Ezeiza) | Flight from your own departure airport, nonstop or with a connection | from Madrid nonstop 12 h 45 min |
| Buenos Aires (Aeroparque) – Ushuaia | Flight, 16 per week | 3 h 40 min, 2,380 km |
| Ushuaia – El Calafate | Flight, 7 per week | 1 h 20 min, 566 km |
| El Calafate – El Chaltén and back | Bus or transfer | 215 km each way, roughly 3 h |
| El Calafate – Puerto Natales | Bus-Sur with border crossing, Tue, Thu, Sat 4:30 pm | arrival around 9:30 pm |
| Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine | Tour, bus or rental car | 80 km via the Y-290 |
| Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas | Bus, 7 am and 8:30 am | 3 h 15 min, 250 km |
| Punta Arenas – Santiago | Flight | roughly 3 h 20 min |
| Santiago – Return flight | Flight to your own departure airport, nonstop or with a connection | to Madrid roughly 12 h 40 min |
The order follows the flight connections: Ushuaia and El Calafate are directly linked, El Chaltén is reached via El Calafate, and Punta Arenas has direct flights to Santiago. This avoids the long overland route across Tierra del Fuego with two border crossings.
The critical point is the switch into Chile. From September to April, Bus-Sur departs El Calafate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 8 am (arriving around 2 pm) and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 4:30 pm. Those arriving from El Chaltén on the same day plan on the afternoon bus; day 11 must therefore fall on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, meaning the trip starts on a Saturday, Monday or Wednesday. After the domestic flights in Argentina, a half day without commitments follows each time, because according to the BMEIA these flights are often delayed by hours.
Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Bus-Sur · elchalten.com · Unidad de Pasos Fronterizos, Gobierno de Chile · Unidad de Pasos Fronterizos, Gobierno de Chile · CONAF · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · FlightConnections · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · FlightConnections
Day by day
- 01
Day 1 · Overnight: Buenos Aires
Arrival in Buenos Aires
Arrival → Buenos Aires
The destination of the journey is Ezeiza (EZE), Buenos Aires' international airport. According to FlightConnections, it has nonstop routes to 74 destinations in 21 countries, operated by 29 airlines (as of September 2026). Direct flights to Europe include Rome, Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt; to North America, New York, Miami and Houston; and within Latin America, Panama City, Bogotá, Lima and São Paulo are the major connecting points. From Madrid there are day flights that land in Ezeiza in the evening after 12 h 45 min. The airport lies roughly 35 km southwest of the city; a pre-booked transfer takes you to your hotel. Before boarding, airlines check proof of health insurance, which Argentina has required since Decree 366/2025. Buenos Aires is on UTC−3 year-round.
- 02
Day 2 · Overnight: Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo, La Boca and Recoleta
Buenos Aires
A full day in the capital. In the morning, Plaza de Mayo with the Casa Rosada, then through San Telmo to La Boca and the colorful Calle Museo Caminito; on Sundays the Feria de San Telmo fills Plaza Dorrego. In the afternoon, head to Recoleta, whose cemetery counts over 90 tombs with national monument status. For longer distances, take the Subte with its six lines, paid for with the SUBE card. In the evening, the Teatro Colón or a tango show: tango has been on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2009. Dinner is late, between 8 and 11 pm, often asado and empanadas. The German Federal Foreign Office warns of pickpockets in La Boca and San Telmo, so valuables stay at the hotel.
- 03
Day 3 · Overnight: Ushuaia
Flight to Ushuaia on the Beagle Channel
Buenos Aires (Aeroparque) → Ushuaia
The domestic flight to Tierra del Fuego departs from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery. Nonstop it's 2,380 km in roughly 3 h 40 min; according to the flight schedule there are 16 connections per week (as of September 2026). Because domestic flights are often delayed by several hours according to the BMEIA, nothing firm is planned for the afternoon. Ushuaia airport lies roughly 5 km from the city; there's no public bus, so it's taxi or transfer. Ushuaia is the capital of Tierra del Fuego province, recognized in 1991, and the only Argentine city on the other side of the Andes. For dinner, centolla (king crab) or merluza negra (Patagonian toothfish) are good choices.
- 04
Day 4 · Overnight: Ushuaia
Beagle Channel with lighthouse and penguin island
Ushuaia – Beagle Channel – Ushuaia
Today it's out on the water. Catamarans, yachts and sailboats depart from Ushuaia to small islands with cormorants, penguins and sea lions, and to the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, roughly 20 km offshore; the Yámana called the channel Onashaga. Those who want to walk among penguins book a landing on Isla Martillo: only Piratour offers landings, according to its own information from 1 October to 15 March. The tour takes about 7 h, with a bus ride on the Ruta J, 15 min in a Zodiac and an hour-long guided walk; the island is home to more than 10,000 Magellanic penguins and roughly 100 gentoo penguins. Admission to Estancia Harberton, founded in 1886 by missionary Thomas Bridges, is not included in the tour price.
- 05
Day 5 · Overnight: Ushuaia
Tierra del Fuego National Park
Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park – Ushuaia
The national park begins 12 km from Ushuaia and protects 68,909 ha of forest, lakes, peat bogs and coastline. You can get there on the Tren del Fin del Mundo, which runs from September to April at 9:30 am, noon and 3 pm on the route of the former prisoner railway; the park entry fee of 40,000 ARS (since 1 June 2026) is additional. A rewarding day hike is the Senda Costera: 8 km in roughly 4 h along the coast, from Ensenada Zaratiegui to the Alakush visitor center, open November to April. At Bahía Lapataia, Ruta 3 ends, 3,063 km from Buenos Aires. Open fires are banned in the park. In the evening, the Museo Marítimo y del Presidio in the former prison, whose ticket is valid for two days.
- 06
Day 6 · Overnight: El Calafate
Flight to the glaciers, El Calafate
Ushuaia → El Calafate
The morning is left for a last walk around Ushuaia's harbor. Then it's a 566-km flight to El Calafate, roughly 1 h 20 min; according to the flight schedule there are 7 flights per week (as of September 2026). El Calafate is the base for the southern part of Los Glaciares National Park, which covers over 726,000 ha, was established in 1937, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981. The afternoon is free for shopping and currency exchange: those bringing US dollars should exchange only at banks or official casas de cambio, since street changers are illegal and counterfeit notes circulate. According to the park administration, a hat, rain jacket, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen belong in the luggage for the park days.
- 07
Day 7 · Overnight: El Calafate
Perito Moreno Glacier
El Calafate – Perito Moreno Glacier – El Calafate
The 80 km to the Perito Moreno Glacier are paved: first roughly 40 km of steppe, then Magellanic forest. The Los Glaciares park entry applies, 50,000 ARS per day for foreign adults (as of September 2026). The face stands roughly 70 m above Lago Argentino, and the ice surface, at 254 km², is somewhat larger than the city of Buenos Aires. Several viewing platforms, including a wheelchair-accessible section, lead close to the calving edge; there's a restaurant, parking and first aid at the glacier. Plan on several hours on the walkways. Operators at the glacier also offer boat excursions and kayak tours. Drones are banned throughout the park.
- 08
Day 8 · Overnight: El Calafate
Ice trek or buffer day
El Calafate
The second full day is deliberately left open. Those who want to walk on the glacier book an ice trek with an operator: the 'Minitrekking' spends roughly ninety minutes on the ice, while the 'Big Ice' tour lasts about five hours; operators provide crampons. Those who return to the park a second time within 72 hours pay only half the entry fee, according to the park administration. Besides Perito Moreno, the glaciers Upsala, Spegazzini and Viedma also lie within the park; Viedma is Argentina's largest. If rain or storm spoiled the platform visit the day before, catch up on it today. That way, the plan stays complete even in bad weather.
- 09
Day 9 · Overnight: El Chaltén
To El Chaltén beneath Fitz Roy
El Calafate → El Chaltén
Transfer or bus over 213 km north, the last stretch on Ruta 23 into the village. El Chaltén was founded in 1985, has 1,861 residents (2022), and calls itself the 'Capital Nacional del Trekking'. The first stop is the Ceferino Fonzo visitor center run by the national park administration, with trail and weather information; anyone planning climbing or trekking trips into remote areas must register there. In the afternoon, head up to the Mirador de los Cóndores, 1 km and 45 min with 100 m of elevation gain, with a view of the village and the Torre and Fitz Roy ranges. The Mirador de las Águilas branches off the same path, 2 km and 1 h, with views over the steppe and part of Lago Viedma.
- 10
Day 10 · Overnight: El Chaltén
Hike to Laguna de los Tres at Fitz Roy
El Chaltén – Laguna de los Tres – El Chaltén
The trip's longest hiking day starts right in the village. According to the park administration, the trail to Laguna de los Tres measures 10 km and 750 m of elevation gain each way; allow 5 h for the way up. After 4 km you reach Laguna Capri with a view of the massif, after 8 km the Poincenot camp in the forest; the final stretch is very steep and tricky in rain and wind. At the top, the lake sits right beneath the 3,405-m Fitz Roy. Those who want to walk less turn back at Mirador Fitz Roy, 4 km and 1 h 30 min from the trailhead. Start early, pack water, food, a rain jacket and gloves, and time it so you don't return in the dark. There's no cell signal on the trails.
- 11
Day 11 · Overnight: Puerto Natales
Across the border to Puerto Natales
El Chaltén → El Calafate → Puerto Natales
A long travel day. In the morning, a transfer covers the 213 km back to El Calafate. There, Bus-Sur departs for Puerto Natales on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 4:30 pm, arriving around 9:30 pm according to the schedule; this line runs from September to April. At the border you exit Argentina and enter Chile; on the Chilean side, near Puerto Natales, the checkpoints are Río Don Guillermo near Villa Cerro Castillo and Dorotea. Fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products and sausage may not enter Chile, and all food must be declared to SAG, the agricultural service, so any provisions get eaten beforehand. The clock stays the same: Argentina and the Magallanes region are both on UTC−3.
- 12
Day 12 · Overnight: Puerto Natales
Torres del Paine: hike to Base Torres
Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales
Today, the park's classic day hike. It's 80 km to Torres del Paine on the paved Y-290. The simplest option is a guided day tour with transport, since CONAF advises against going alone; scheduled buses depart Puerto Natales at 7:30 am via Laguna Amarga and Pudeto to the park administration. From the trailhead in the Las Torres sector, the trail runs 9.4 km to the Mirador Base Torres beneath the granite towers, roughly 4 h 30 min each way; the final stretch over a moraine is demanding. Hiking is only done in daylight; in summer the park is open from 7 am to 9 pm. The ticket is only available online through Pases Parques, at least 24 h in advance. There's no ATM in the park, and mobile signal only in Villa Monzino.
- 13
Day 13 · Overnight: Puerto Natales
Torres del Paine: lakes, viewpoints and Grey Glacier
Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales
The second park day is dedicated to the south and west of the massif, which rises to 3,050 m. By tour or rental car, you drive via the Laguna Amarga or Lago Sarmiento park entrances to the Pudeto sector, where there's a cafeteria. Licensed concessionaires offer boat trips on Lago Pehoé and Lago Grey, and the Grey Glacier is one of the park's well-known destinations. Those who prefer walking choose short trails near the road rather than the long stages of the W. Drivers should fill up in Puerto Natales, since there's no gas station in or around the park. Any heat source outside marked cooking areas is banned, including cigarettes; CONAF threatens fines of up to 2,000,000 CLP. Because of pumas, even short walks are done in pairs.
- 14
Day 14 · Overnight: Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales and buffer day
Puerto Natales
A day without a fixed excursion, planned on purpose: if one of the park days was rained out or too stormy, catch up on Base Torres today. Otherwise, the Cueva del Milodón is worthwhile, named after the giant mammal that lived there in prehistoric times, or a hike up Cerro Dorotea. In the evening, the Costanera Pedro Montt runs along the water, with views over the Seno Última Esperanza and the Patagonian Andes. From Puerto Natales you can also visit Bernardo O'Higgins National Park and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. As a farewell, try the town's two specialties, lamb and king crab. Those still paying in cash withdraw Chilean pesos here.
- 15
Day 15 · Overnight: Punta Arenas
To the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas
Puerto Natales → Punta Arenas
Bus-Sur buses leave Puerto Natales at 7 am and 8:30 am and take roughly 3 h 15 min for the 250 km on Ruta 9. Punta Arenas lies on the Strait of Magellan, from where ships head toward Tierra del Fuego. In the afternoon, the Museo Nao Victoria, roughly 7 km north of the center, is worthwhile, with full-scale replicas of historic ships, including Magellan's. If the departure times line up, take a boat trip to Isla Magdalena and its Magellanic penguin colony instead: the tours run from October to mid-April, must be registered with Sernatur, and visitors stay on the island with a certified guide for at most 1 h. Warm, waterproof clothing, a hat and gloves belong on board.
- 16
Day 16
Return flight via Santiago de Chile
Punta Arenas → Santiago → Return flight
Punta Arenas airport lies 20 km from the center. It's a nonstop flight of roughly 3 h 20 min to Santiago de Chile. According to FlightConnections, Punta Arenas currently only flies nonstop to destinations in Chile and the Falkland Islands, so the return flight goes via Santiago. From there, nonstop flights reach every world region, for instance Miami (roughly 8 h 30 min), Madrid (roughly 12 h 40 min), Sydney (roughly 15 h 20 min) or Auckland, and within South America Lima or Bogotá (as of September 2026). The Tarjeta Única Migratoria received on entry is handed back on departure. Allow enough time when connecting in Santiago, since baggage and exit control take time.
- 17
Day 17
Arrival after the return flight
Return flight → Arrival
Those living in South America have usually already arrived the evening before; after a long haul from Santiago with a connection, arrival is only later this day. Magallanes and Argentina are on UTC−3; how much the clock then jumps depends on where you live.
When is the best time to travel this route?
Best from November to March. That's when the buses between El Calafate and Puerto Natales run (September to April), the Senda Costera in Tierra del Fuego National Park is open (November to April), and the Isla Martillo walks run until 15 March. January and February are the busiest; October and April are quieter, but colder and with fewer services.
Four stage locations: average daily highs and lows and monthly precipitation
| Ushuaia | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 |
| Low °C | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | -0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Rainfall mm | 78 | 70 | 65 | 67 | 53 | 58 | 51 | 46 | 44 | 44 | 62 | 73 |
| El Calafate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 20 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 19 |
| Low °C | 8 | 7 | 5 | 0 | -2 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -1 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Rainfall mm | 71 | 62 | 75 | 71 | 71 | 68 | 61 | 63 | 51 | 54 | 57 | 68 |
| Puerto Natales (Torres del Paine) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Low °C | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 2 | -0 | -0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Rainfall mm | 119 | 98 | 110 | 110 | 97 | 101 | 85 | 86 | 77 | 82 | 95 | 108 |
| Punta Arenas | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Low °C | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Rainfall mm | 57 | 45 | 58 | 60 | 52 | 49 | 45 | 44 | 35 | 38 | 43 | 51 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station USHUAIA MALVINAS ARGENTINAS (5 km, 22 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station EL CALAFATE AERO (17 km, 199 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station TENIENTE JULIO GALLARDO (7 km, 66 m), auf 10 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station CARLOS IBANEZ DEL CAMPO INTL (18 km, 42 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
The southern summer brings long days — according to Las Torres, more than 16 hours of light — but also the strongest wind; in Torres del Paine gusts of up to 110 km/h are possible. The park is open from 7 am to 9 pm from October to April, and only from 8 am to 6:30 pm from May to September.
Several building blocks of the route are seasonal: Estancia Harberton opened for the 2025/26 season on 11 October, and the penguin tours to Isla Magdalena run from October to mid-April. In winter 2026, CONAF required an accredited guide for the W and Base Torres from 27 April to 15 September. This route therefore excludes the southern winter from May to August.
Sources: Bus-Sur · Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina.gob.ar · Piratour Travel · Las Torres Patagonia · Las Torres Patagonia · Pases Parques (offizieller Ticketverkauf) · Estancia Harberton · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF)
Where do you stay overnight across the six stages?
Accommodation is in hotels in towns, not mountain huts: two nights in Buenos Aires, three each in Ushuaia and El Calafate, two in El Chaltén, four in Puerto Natales and one in Punta Arenas. Puerto Natales is the base for Torres del Paine, 80 km from the park. Beds are tightest in El Chaltén and Puerto Natales, so book early there for December to March.
- Buenos Aires: centrally located, so that Plaza de Mayo, Recoleta and Aeroparque for the onward flight are all nearby; Ezeiza lies roughly 35 km outside.
- Ushuaia: according to the city, there are more than 100 licensed properties, including hotels of all classes, cabañas, apartments and hostels. Those staying near the harbor can walk to the boats on the Beagle Channel.
- El Calafate: hotels in town, from where agencies and regular connections run to the glacier 80 km away.
- El Chaltén: the village of 1,861 residents has limited options. The hiking trails start in town, so exact location matters little.
- Puerto Natales: four nights in the same place keep the park days and buffer day flexible. Chile's tourism board advises booking early in high season.
- Punta Arenas: one night near the center; the airport lies 20 km outside.
Those who want to experience Torres del Paine more intensely can shift two of the four nights into the park. Refugios and campsites along the trails are then accessible only with a confirmed reservation, booked through the concessionaires Vértice Patagonia and Las Torres Patagonia; park rangers check the confirmations.
For the hiking days in El Chaltén and Torres del Paine, it's worth asking the evening before about an early breakfast or a packed lunch.
Sources: Secretaría de Turismo, Municipalidad de Ushuaia · Wikipedia · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · CONAF · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (CONAF Magallanes) · Argentina.gob.ar, Ministerio de Transporte · chile.travel (Sernatur)
What variants exist: shorter, with the Carretera Austral, or with the Falkland Islands?
Without Tierra del Fuego, the trip shrinks to 14 days with a direct flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate. With the Carretera Austral, add 10 to 12 days; with a week on the Falkland Islands, add a good week plus waiting days for the Saturday flight. In other months and with children, the route needs adjustments.
Shorter: 14 days without Tierra del Fuego
Skip the three nights in Ushuaia and fly directly from Aeroparque to El Calafate on day three: 2,066 km in roughly 3 h 20 min, with 12 flights per week according to the schedule (as of September 2026). That leaves 12 nights: Buenos Aires 2, El Calafate 3, El Chaltén 2, Puerto Natales 4, Punta Arenas 1. The Beagle Channel is dropped; penguins are then seen near Punta Arenas on Isla Magdalena.
Longer: with the Carretera Austral
Ruta 7 runs 1,247 km from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins, partly on gravel, partly by ferry. Chile Travel estimates 10 to 12 days, recommends December to March and a 4x4 vehicle. The simplest way to add it is after Punta Arenas: fly to Santiago and on to Balmaceda near Coyhaique (roughly 2 h 20 min) or to Puerto Montt (1 h 45 min), then drive a rental car past Lago General Carrera with the Capillas de Mármol, and fly home from the other airport. Ferries through the channels also run between Puerto Natales and Puerto Montt.
Longer: with the Falkland Islands
LATAM flies every Saturday from Santiago via Punta Arenas to Mount Pleasant Airport on East Falkland and back the same day, once a month with a stop in Río Gallegos. Accommodation and transfers on the islands must be booked before arrival, and the immigration authority requires health insurance covering an air ambulance flight of at least 2 million US dollars (as of September 2026). If the trip starts on a Wednesday, the border bus falls on a Saturday, and Punta Arenas gets two extra nights until the flight; with a week on the islands, the trip then takes just under four weeks.
The extra days in Punta Arenas suit the ferry to Porvenir, roughly 2 h across the Strait of Magellan, and the king penguins of the Reserva Natural Pingüino Rey on Bahía Inútil, open October to May and by reservation only.
Different season and with children
October and April are quieter, but the Martillo walks end on 15 March and the Senda Costera doesn't open until November. With children, replace Laguna de los Tres with the Mirador de los Cóndores or the 20-m Chorrillo del Salto waterfall, 3 km with no incline. In Torres del Paine, children under 12 pay no entry fee; in the Argentine national parks, children up to age 6.
Sources: FlightConnections · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · FlightConnections · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government, Customs & Immigration · Transbordadora Austral Broom (TABSA) · Reserva Natural Pingüino Rey · Bus-Sur · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Pases Parques (offizieller Ticketverkauf) · Piratour Travel · Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina.gob.ar · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF)
What does TalkTravel book, and what do you pay locally?
Booked are the flights from your departure airport to Buenos Aires and back from Santiago, the three flights Buenos Aires–Ushuaia, Ushuaia–El Calafate and Punta Arenas–Santiago, 15 hotel nights with breakfast, and the transfers including bus legs to Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas. Park entry fees, most meals and excursions such as boat trips or ice treks are paid locally, unless included as a ticket in the offer.
| Park | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tierra del Fuego (Ushuaia) | 40,000 ARS | since 1 June 2026; free for children up to age 6 |
| Los Glaciares (Perito Moreno, El Chaltén) | 50,000 ARS per day | second visit within 72 hours at half price |
| Torres del Paine | 32,400 CLP (1 day), 48,500 CLP (pass up to 10 days) | online only via Pases Parques, at least 24 h in advance; free under 12 |
Paid locally: lunch and dinner, tips and taxis, plus excursions such as the Tren del Fin del Mundo, where the park entry fee is not included, the Perito Moreno ice trek, or the penguin tour. In Argentina, ATM withdrawals carry high fees, and US dollars can be exchanged throughout the country; in Chile you can pay by card almost everywhere, though there's no ATM in Torres del Paine.
Travel documents and insurance are not part of the booking. Argentina requires proof of health insurance for emergencies, hospital care and repatriation; without it, according to the Federal Foreign Office, Germany, airlines won't let anyone board. The Torres del Paine ticket is bought independently once the park days are fixed.
Sources: Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina.gob.ar · Administración de Parques Nacionales · Pases Parques (offizieller Ticketverkauf) · Tren del Fin del Mundo · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Argentina.gob.ar, Información Legislativa · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Chile Travel (Sernatur)