The Patagonia & Mythical Route 40 itinerary takes you on an unforgettable journey through Patagonia’s stunning landscapes from north to south. Explore Bariloche and the picturesque Lake District, where turquoise lakes, lush forests, and majestic mountains create breathtaking scenery. Visit Los Antiguos and the Marble Cathedrals, then discover the iconic Cueva de las Manos, featuring rock paintings over 9,000 years old. Continue south to El Chaltén for world-class trekking among mountains and forests, and El Calafate for incredible glacier tours. Finally, reach the End of the World in Ushuaia and sail the Beagle Channel. All trips are fully customizable to match your interests, preferred activities, travel dates, and destinations.
Boat trip on Lake Nahuel Huapi and the Arrayanes Forest.
Adventure day in Bariloche with kayaking or mountain biking.
Visit to Los Alerces National Park near Esquel.
Crossing into Chile to see the stunning Marble Cathedrals.
Exploration of the ancient Cueva de las Manos archaeological site.
Trekking to Laguna de los Tres and Mount Fitz Roy in El Chaltén.
Visit to the world-famous Perito Moreno Glacier.
Gourmet navigation among glaciers on Lake Argentino.
Trekking and canoeing in Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Navigation along the Beagle Channel and penguin encounter on Martillo Island.
Begin the Patagonia & Mythical Route 40 itinerary in Bariloche, where your private guide will welcome you and transfer you to your first-class hotel on the lakefront with stunning views. In the afternoon, explore the charms of the area on a private tour of the Circuito Chico, including Nahuel Huapi Lake, Llao Llao Peninsula viewpoint, the Swiss Colony, and Cerro Campanario. Combine the main attractions with less-visited spots and scenic trekking trails. The tour is fully flexible, allowing stops and detours based on your interests. In the evening, relax, stroll through the city center, and savor delicious local chocolate while soaking in Bariloche’s unique ambiance.
On the second day of the Patagonia & Mythical Route 40 itinerary in Bariloche, explore Isla Victoria and its remarkable Arrayanes Forest. Depart from Puerto Pañuelo, 25 km from Bariloche, and sail across the crystal-clear waters of Nahuel Huapi Lake to reach Victoria Island and the famous Arrayanes Forest—one of the area’s top tours. During the boat ride, admire the lake’s intense colors, the reflections of lush vegetation, and the snow-capped mountains in the background. Discover the island’s stunning landscapes, pristine forests, and unique natural beauty. This unforgettable excursion offers a perfect blend of nature, serenity, and breathtaking scenery, creating an experience to fully savor.
On the third day of the Patagonia & Mythical Route 40 itinerary, choose between an active adventure or a quieter day.
Kayaking in Lago Mascardi: Paddle along the Tronador Arm of Lake Mascardi in Nahuel Huapi National Park, surrounded by turquoise waters, lush forests, and views of Tronador and Bonete Hills. Stop at a remote beach for lunch and relaxation. Basic kayaking instructions are provided.
Cerro Catedral Mountain Biking: Explore the Bike Park at Cerro Catedral with guided routes suitable for all levels. Enjoy thrilling descents, panoramic views of Lake Gutiérrez and Lake Moreno, and the surrounding mountains. Transfers from your hotel to the resort are included.
Is time to start rolling the Patagonia & Mythical Route 40 itinerary. You will leave the city of Bariloche to travel by land to Esquel the next point of this exciting trip. After travel for around three hours you will arrive to Esquel. In the afternoon you will visit Los Alerces National Park with your local guide. The tour is flexible so you can make stops, suggestions to the guide, and detours according to your interests.
Los Antiguos is a charming town on the southern shore of Lake Buenos Aires, framed by the Andes and their snow-capped peaks. The lake, shared with Chile where it is called General Carrera Lake, covers 2,240 km²—over ten times the size of Buenos Aires city—and is South America’s second-largest lake after Lake Titicaca. Los Antiguos is both a tourist and agricultural hub, renowned as the southernmost producer and exporter of red fruits, earning the title of National Cherry Capital.
Travel south from Esquel to Los Antiguos in about seven hours. Spend the afternoon exploring the town at your leisure, enjoying local cuisine, and taking in the beautiful lakeside and mountain scenery.
Experience an unforgettable adventure to the Marble Cathedrals across the Andes. Travel along the southern shore of the lake, at the foot of Patagonia’s highest peaks and near the Northern Ice Field. Crossing into Chile, you’ll enter lush, rainy areas with dense forest vegetation.
The scenic winding road leads to the Austral Route, and after two hours, you reach Puerto Río Tranquilo. From here, take a boat to explore the Marble Cathedrals, stunning calcium carbonate formations sculpted by the lake’s waters into cave-like structures resembling religious architecture. Boats allow close-up views and entry into several caverns, offering a unique, immersive experience in this Chilean natural sanctuary.
Continue south on the Patagonia & Mythical Route 40 itinerary to the Cueva de las Manos (Hands Cave) via RN40, enjoying the vibrant landscapes and spotting wildlife like guanacos and choiques. Cross the scenic Caracoles Canyon to reach the Visitors and Interpretation Center.
Cueva de las Manos, perched 88 meters above the Pinturas River, is one of Patagonia’s most important archaeological sites. Explore its caves with a guide, admiring over 9,000 years of cave paintings, including hands, animals, and symbols, along a 2 km round-trip route.
After the visit, resume your journey to El Chaltén, arriving around 9:00 p.m., ready for the next stage of your Patagonian adventure.
Arrive at the base of Mount Fitz Roy and hike through lenga and ñire forests, crossing streams and rivers while admiring hanging glaciers. Your guide will transfer you by car to the trailhead at El Pilar Hotel, where an 8-hour trek begins. Along the way, observe the Piedras Blancas Hanging Glacier, diverse local flora and fauna, and stunning views of Fitz Roy, which gradually comes closer as you approach its base at Laguna de los Tres. The final hour involves a steep ascent, and your guide will help you decide how far to go. Descend along the Laguna Capri Trail, returning to El Chaltén with unforgettable memories of this iconic Patagonian landscape.
Spend another day hikking and discover this amazing area, probably you would like to take one more of the many trekking trails. You can take a self-guided path by your own, hiking trails are well-marked and easy to follow, or if you prefer, arrange another day with your local guide. Of course, if you don’t want to spend an active day, you can also choose to spend the day at town or relaxing at hotel.
Take the transfer from El Chalten to El Calafate while you enjoy the spectacular Patagonian landscape. Once in the city you can enjoy it by your own and visit one of the typical restaurants to taste local food
Visit one of the world’s natural wonders, the Perito Moreno Glacier, flowing from the Southern Patagonian Icefield, the third-largest glacier in the world. Travel by road to reach the glacier’s front, just meters away, and take a catamaran to navigate along its towering 70-meter-high ice walls. A private guide will accompany you through the national park, ensuring a flexible tour with stops and detours based on your interests. After exploring this spectacular natural wonder, return to El Calafate and your hotel to relax and enjoy a traditional Patagonian dinner, savoring the flavors of the region while reflecting on an unforgettable day immersed in the grandeur of one of Patagonia’s most iconic landscapes.
Enjoy MarPatag Gourmmet Glaciers excursion, the most exclusive full day navigation in the Los Glaciares National Park, offering saling through the waters of Argentino Lake on the ship Maria Turquesa, visiting Upsala and Spegazzini Glacier, navigating between huge ice floes, in it exclusive Cruise.
Take your flight to Ushuaia Airport where the local guide will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel while you take some time to see to the city during the way. So once you arrive you can enjoy the rest of the day by your own, visiting the downtown or relaxing at the hotel.
Visit Tierra del Fuego National Park in an unconventional way, and combine two activities inside an amazing natural environment. It includes a trekking through the coastal path, ideal for watching wildlife, and a canoeing tour down the Lapataia River up to the Lapataia Bay, the endpoint of the National Route Nº 3. While the journey you will probably see aquatic birds and sometimes, even sea mammals. Once the trekking starts, you walk through archaeological sites, the famous shellfish fossils piles-souvenirs from the old inhabitants of the region, the Yamanas. These were sea nomads who are almost entirely gone today. After 3-4 hours trekking you will reach Lake Roca, where you will stop to enjoy a country style lunch and then, start the canoe/ duckies trip down the Lapataia River.
Combine the visit to the historic Estancia Harberton with the navigation through the Beagle Channel to the see a penguins colony. This Ranch, considered of high historical value, was founded in 1886 by the Anglican missionary Thomas Bridges and his wife Mary Ann Varder. It is the oldest “estancia” of Tierra del Fuego, and keeps its original construction of wood and corrugated sheet, it quay and terraces of native stone. There you can visit the museum “ACATUSHUN” of birds and marine mammals. From the estancia you will cross the Beagle Channel in zoodiac to the Martillo island or Yecapasela. During the navigation we can see typical seabirds such as petrels, skuas, cormorants, seagulls and albatrosses. Once in Martillo Island you will make a short walk to the colony of penguins where you share with these birds in their natural habitat.
Say goodbye to the wonderful Patagonia. Your local driver will take you to the Ushuaia airport to catch your flight to the next destination.
Transportation throughout the trip
Accommodation
Expert local guides
Full support from your Travel Agent before, during, and after the trip
International or domestic flights
National Park Tickets
Personal expenses and optional activities
To start this journey, travelers will need to fly into El Calafate Airport Aeropuerto Internacional Comandante Tola (FTE), located just outside El Calafate City. This airport receives domestic flights from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque Jorge Newbery – AEP) and international connections via Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).
Arrival Flight: Traveler flies from origin city to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) or Aeroparque (AEP), then connects with a domestic flight to El Calafate Airport (FTE).
Departure Flight: At the end of the itinerary, travelers will take a domestic flight from Ushuaia Airport (USH) back to Buenos Aires (EZE/AEP) for onward international connections.
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Contact a destination specialist, who will take the time to fully understand your preferences and ideas and turn them into the perfect itinerary for you according to your budget. The itinerary can be modified as many times as you want until you are completely happy with the result.
All Southwind Experience journeys are 100% tailor-made.
Add an extra night in El Chaltén to enjoy additional trekking routes such as Loma del Pliegue Tumbado or Laguna Torre.
Extend your stay in El Calafate with a night at a traditional Patagonian Estancia, including horseback riding and a classic lamb barbecue.
Include a few days in Torres del Paine National Park (Chile) for one of the world’s most breathtaking trekking experiences.
Add leisure or spa days at any point in the trip to relax and recharge after several days of adventure.
Your dedicated travel specialist will help you adapt the itinerary according to your interests, travel style, and preferred dates — ensuring your Patagonia journey is exactly as you imagine it.
