Lighthouse in Patagonia
14-day adventure

Ultimate Patagonia

Argentina
  • Kandoo Ultimate

Code: ARLF

14 days
Easy

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our UK team

Kandoo's view

Meaning "The Land of Fire", Tierra del Fuego is renowned for its breath taking landscapes, snowy peaks and dramatic glaciers. The largest island, Isla Grande, is home to the Argentine town of Ushuaia, also known as "the end of the world" and the gateway to Antarctica.
 
This adventure will take us by boat into the Beagle channel to observe sea lions, penguins and cormorant. We will gaze southward over the ocean to the Antarctic Peninsular and walk through the forests of Tierra del Fuego National Park. We explore the savagely beautiful Torres del Paine with its iconic granite spires and journey north, crossing the Argentinian pampas to reach the famous peaks of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. 

Trip highlights

  • Enjoy a guided tour of Buenos Aires
  • Explore Tierra del Fuego by boat and on foot
  • Spend the night in a traditional estancia (sheep ranch)
  • Climb to the base of the legendary Torres del Paine

Experiences

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Itinerary

  • Day 1

    ARRIVE IN BUENOS AIRES

    Arriving in Buenos Aires early in the morning we transfer to the Hotel Dazzler Recoleta (1 hour transfer). After some time to settle in at the hotel we will meet our local guide and set off for a tour of the city. We visit the picturesque Boca district and tour the flea markets of San Telmo. Meals are not included today so you are free to grab a bite at the hotel or any of the local restaurants, a great opportunity to get a glimpse of local life in Argentina.

    • Transport: 1 hour, 33 km
    • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Day 2

    USHUAIA AND THE BEAGLE CHANNEL

    This morning after breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight down to Ushuaia where our guide will meet us at the airport.  On arrival we transfer to our hotel (20mins) and have lunch before heading to the tourist port for a 3 hour boat tour of the surrounding area. Heading first for the Beagle Channel, we have superb views of the city, coast line and surrounding mountains.  We sail south west to approach the island of Los Lobos, where we can observe sea lions in their natural environment and continue to Bird Island with its colonies of Magellan and Imperial Cormorants.  Passing by "the scouts" lighthouse, where the ship Monte Cervantes sank in 1930, we continue to Martillo Island where we can observe the penguin colony that visit between November and March. 

    • Transport: Flight (4 hours)
    • Activity time: 3 hours
    • Accomodation: Hotel
    • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
  • Day 3

    TIERRA DEL FUEGO NATIONAL PARK

    Today we have the whole day to explore and enjoy the magnificent Tierra del Fuego National Park. The park was created in 1960, offering protection to 68,909 hectares of marine, forest and mountain environments. The kelp geese are a symbol of the national park and can be found in the coastal areas along with albatross, oyster catchers and the flying steamer duck.  In the forests you can spot austral parakeets, woodpeckers and thorn-tailed rayadito.  In all there are over 90 different bird species in the park along with mammals such as guanaco and fuegian foxes.

    Leaving the hotel after breakfast, we head for Bahia Ensenada, the starting point of our trek along the Beagle Channel.  We pass through forests of Lengas, Guindos and Nires trees as we follow the coast line and gaze over the water to distant peaks.  Jumping back in the vehicle we continue to Lago Roca where we will have another short walk and lunch by the lake.  In the afternoon we will visit beaver dam and Lapataia Bay, located at the very end of National Road 3, 3063km from Buenos Aires.  We return to our hotel in Ushuaia in the late afternoon. 

    • Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
    • Ascent: 150 m
    • Descent: 150 m
    • Accomodation: Hotel
    • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
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Please note

The details in this programme are regularly updated but unforeseeable and unpredictable circumstances may result in inaccuracies. In order to provide the adventure which is best suited to your demands, the weather and the operational conditions, changes to the itinerary may be made. For safety reasons, we reserve the rights to interrupt your participation at any time if your technical level or fitness is deemed unsuitable or if you are seen as a danger to yourself or to those around you. Under no circumstances would this give rise to a refund or compensation.

Trip information

Difficulty

This adventure is rated as easy. The distances covered each day on foot are relatively short and the amount of ascent and descent in a single day does not exceed 700m. There is one exception, which is day 7 in Torres del Paine National Park. To reach the Mirador las Torres viewpoint requires an ascent of  1200m and the final section of the route is on very steep and rocky terrain.  This hike is optional and a walk on the shores of Lake Saramiento is provided as an alternative. Although not as demanding as many of our other adventures, in order to get the most out of the tour you need to be fit and healthy with recent experience of long walks in mountainous terrain. The weather in Patagonia can be unpredictable and you should be prepared to walk in heavy rain and strong winds. Trails can be steep in places with loose rocks and care should be taken to avoid slips and trips. If you have any questions about your suitability for this tour, please feel free to get in touch. 

Food & drink

Argentine cuisine consists mainly of meat. More precisely, beef.  Argentina is renowned for the quality of its steak and it is a meat lovers paradise.  You will find grilled meats available everywhere including tripe, intestines and even udders.  Meat aside, the cuisine is a mix of Spanish, native American and Italian influences so vegetarians can always fall back on dishes like gnocchi, pasta and pizza.  In the large towns and cities, you will find all dietary requirements are catered for.  You may also have the opportunity to sample “Mate”, a Paraguayan tea made from a variety of holly and typically drank from a “bombilla”.


If you have special dietary requirements please inform us when booking your adventure. We can cater for vegetarian and gluten free diets and you are welcome to bring along your own gluten free produce.  Please be aware that while hiking, you will need to carry any special food items yourself.


Boiled and filtered water is available every morning for you to fill your bottles or bladder. We recommend you also bring a water filter or purification system to allow you to refill at refuges or springs. All drinks, including water, are your own responsibility through out the trip.  We don’t recommend the use of plastic bottles which will need to be carried out and recycled.

Accommodation

This adventure has been designed with your comfort in mind.  On 11 of the nights you will be staying in comfortable 3-star hotels in either a twin or double room with en-suite facilities.  The names of your hotels will be updated on your itinerary at 12 weeks before departure. 


We will also spend one night in a mountain refuge in Torres del Paine National Park on Day 6.  The refuge will be either Refugio Torre Central or Refugio Torre Norte, depending on availability.  Accommodation will be in dormitories of between 4 and 8 beds with shared bathroom facilities. Wifi will be available in this refuge on a pre-paid card which can be purchased in the refuge. 


On day 11, we will be staying in Estancia Galpon del Glaciar.  This former sheep ranch provides double or twin, en-suite rooms with complimentary toiletries, private seating areas and beautiful views.

Luggage

Bag Weight: 15kg


Your main bag should be a flexible duffel bag or backpack of roughly 100 litres. We request that you do not bring a rigid suitcase as they are more difficult to transport. In addition, you will need a daypack of roughly 40 litres to carry with you each day. This can be used as your hand luggage on international and domestic flights. Whilst trekking we will leave our main bags in secure storage and carry with us only what we need during the trek.


Please be aware that on domestic flights in Argentina and Chile there is a maximum weight of 15kg on all checked luggage. If your main bag weighs more than 15kg you may be asked to pay excess luggage fees which will be your own responsibility.

How do I get there?

Your international flight will need to arrive at Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport (EZE). From the UK, British Airways have direct flights departing from Heathrow at 22.10 and arriving at 09.10 the next day (local time). The flight time is 14hrs. Lufthansa offer flights from Manchester with a 1hrs 30min stop in Frankfurt. KLM have flights from Edinburgh with a stop of 1hrs 45min in Amsterdam. Indirect flights have a total travel time of roughly 17 hours.

For travellers from the USA, American Airlines have a direct flight from New York departing at 21.55 and arriving the next morning at 09.40 (local time). The flight time is 10hrs 45min. American Airlines also offer direct flights from Miami and Dallas with similar times. Indirect flights are available from Los Angeles and San Francisco with Latam, United and American Airlines.

On arrival in Buenos Aires, after clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, please look out for a member of our team in the arrivals area. They will be holding a large KANDOO sign. Airport transfers are included and the journey to our hotel will take around one hour (34km). Depending on the arrival time of the other members of your group you may be required to wait a short period of time before departure. Fights to Buenos Aires from the USA and Europe all tend to arrive between 7am and 9.30am.

If you are changing airlines or re-checking your luggage at an airport on route, please ensure you leave a minimum of 3 hours between flights. This will account for any delays on arrival, travel time across airports (this can take longer than you think) and time taken to re-check baggage.

Budget & change

In Chile the currency is the Chilean Peso (CLP). In Argentina the currency is the Argentine Peso (ARS). For the latest exchange rates please visit www.xe.com

We do not recommend the use of traveller’s cheques as they are often impractical.  Bank cards are widely used for most things but it is best to use Visa as Mastercard is not commonly accepted.  Your guide will show you the best places to change currency at the best rate.  The official exchange rate offered by banks and ATMs is not good as these are controlled by the government and reflect the poor rate of the Argentinian peso. You will therefore find that it is best to take Euros or Dollars with you and exchange locally with "arbolitos" or use specific banks that offer 'Blue Dollar' exchange. See our Argentina Travel Guide for more information on this. 


In Buenos Aires, an average meal for 2 will be around $30 in a mid range restaurant or $7 in a fast food restaurant. A 15 minute taxi ride will cost around $24. If you want to spend less and travel by public transport then this costs roughly $0.35 per journey, however cash isn't accepted on buses or trains so you will need to buy a SUBE card and top it up with money. SUBE cards are available from the metro station, kiosko or train station and cost $1.60. 
In Puerto Natales,  an average meal for 2 will be around $50 and a 5km taxi ride around $8. Taxis are plentiful and most drivers should have a meter, however if they don't, always remember to settle on a price before leaving. If you prefer to do it a bit cheaper then take to the streets, pretty much everywhere in Puerto Natales is less than a 20 minute walk from the town centre.
In Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego, an average meal for 2 will cost around $13. 
In El Calafate and El Chalten, an average meal for 2 will cost around $80.

Expected budget for meals out on your trip (per person): $250

Our recommended guidance for spending budget per person in Patagonia would be between $300-350 on top of your tips. This will give you ample souvenir spending money. 

Tips

Tipping is common but not mandatory and should be based on the level of service you feel you have received. 


The amounts below will give you an indication of how much to tip. Please note that these amounts are for the entire group, therefore you should divide them by the total number of people in your party. You will be provided with a Tip Recommendation three weeks prior to departure with recommended tips based on the number of people in your group. 


Guide: $20 US Dollars per day

Driver: $5 – $10 US Dollars per day

Buenos Aires Tour Guide: $10 (Peaks of Patagonia and Land of Fire only)


As an example: a guide may receive $20 per day x 17 days = $340.  Divided by 10 people in the group = $34 per person.

Formalities & health

Passport

As soon as possible after booking your tour, please provide Kandoo Adventures with your passport details (first name, last name, date of birth, passport number, issue date, expiry date) along with a photocopy of the photo page. We need this information in order to book your domestic flights (where applicable) and hotels.

Your passport must be valid for 6 months after your departure date.

Visa

United States and UK passport holders do not require a visa to enter Argentina. On arrival you will be granted a maximum 90 day stay in the country. The same applies in Chile.

This information may be subject to change, without notice, by the local authorities. It is your responsibility to check the latest travel requirements and information before departure.

Vaccinations

The World Health Organisation recommend the following vaccinations for travel to Argentina:

Tetanus
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Diphtheria
Typhoid
Yellow Fever

It is your responsibility to check the latest health information before travelling.

Insurance

Before you can join any Kandoo Adventures trek, you will need to insure yourself against accident, injury, and illness.

Your insurance must cover the cost of helicopter evacuation and repatriation if necessary. Make sure your insurer knows of your travel plans, and verify that your policy fully covers your trek, climb, and any other activities you will participate in. Specifically, for all our adventures in Patagonia, you need to be covered for trekking above 2000m. If you are climbing Aconcagua, you need to be covered for climbing up to 7000m. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully and adequately insured for the duration of your trip. Please ensure that all activities, excursions and destinations in your itinerary are included in your travel insurance policy, in addition to your regular cover for cancellation and medical expenses.

We ask that you keep a copy of your policy summary (containing policy number and the emergency contact number for your insurer) in your day sack at all times, so that we can access this information should we need to contact the insurer on your behalf. You will also need to bring details of your insurance cover to the pre-trek briefing.

We recommend the global supplier of travel insurance, World Nomads. Make sure to choose the correct policy for the altitude you are trekking to. Be sure to read the small print carefully for any policy you are considering - different policies provide different levels of cover, so make sure you understand what is and isn't included in your policy.

Health

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) or hypobaropathy, is an illness caused by exposure to low air pressure, especially low partial pressure of oxygen, which many climbers experience at high altitudes. AMS is caused by exerting yourself at high altitudes, especially if you have not been properly acclimatised. It is most common at altitudes above 2400m. Our routes have been designed to aid your acclimatisation wherever possible, but the following will also help your body adjust:

Slow and steady. You need to keep your respiration rate low enough to maintain a normal conversation. If you are panting or breathing hard, you must slow down. There is no pressure on you to keep up with other members of your group.

Drink much more water than you think you need. Proper hydration helps acclimatisation dramatically. You need to drink at least three litres each day.

Diamox

There has been a lot of research on Diamox that shows is that it has been reasonably well proven to be helpful in avoiding AMS by speeding up the acclimatisation process. In the UK it is a prescription drug which must be prescribed by a doctor, but some doctors are reluctant to prescribe it. The concern is that by taking Diamox, people believe that they are immune from AMS and can ignore the symptoms. In reality, although Diamox can help prevent the symptoms, should symptoms still develop it means that you are not acclimatising and you have to take notice. Diamox is taken before you start the trek to prevent altitude sickness, not once symptoms have developed.

Malaria

There is no risk of malaria in any of the regions of Argentina we operate in. However, malaria is present in some parts of Argentina so if you intend to go travelling before or after your tour, please check the specific health risks for the areas you will be visiting.

Dehydration

You can easily become dehydrated at high altitudes. The lower air pressure forces you to breathe more quickly and deeply, and you lose a lot of water through your lungs. You will also be exerting yourself, and sweating, and may even suffer from diarrhoea. As a result, you will have to drink much more water than you normally would and you should drink at least 3 litres of fluids every day while trekking. Even when you do not feel thirsty you have to drink this amount as a minimum, preferably more. Stay on the look-out for signs of dehydration in yourself and your fellow trekkers. The most common symptoms include thirst, dry lips, nose or mouth, headache and feeling fatigued or lethargic.

Medication

Your guide carries a first aid kit at all times. However, we recommend bringing any medicine you feel you may need. This could include:PainkillersAnti-diarrhoea tabletsHigh factor sunscreen for lips and skinMoisturising cream (for sunburn)Elastic bandage, regular bandages and Blister bandagesSanitary productsWater purifying tablets or filtersMosquito repellent

Equipment & clothing

Clothing to bring

  • Warm hat and gloves
  • Buff / gaiter
  • Sunglasses
  • T-shirts (short and long sleeve)
  • Thermal long sleeve shirt
  • Thermal leggings in case of cold nights
  • 2 sweaters - 1 light/1 warm
  • Soft shell or fleece jacket
  • Waterproof and windproof hard shell jacket
  • Waterproof and windproof hard shell trousers
  • Breathable fast drying underwear
  • Comfortable long trousers (fast drying)
  • Shorts for trekking in warm weather if desired
  • Comfy trainers/shoes for evenings
  • Wool and cotton socks
  • Hiking boots (with ankle support and a slightly ridged sole)

Equipment to bring

  • 2 water bottles (minimum 1 litre or a water bladder)
  • Walking poles (recommended)
  • 1 head torch with spare batteries and bulb
  • 1 duffel bag - 80 to 100 litres (flexible and water resistant)
  • 1 daypack - 30 to 40 liters to carry with you each day
  • Water purification system (charcoal filter, chlorine tablets or similar)
  • Quick drying towel
  • Dry bags – for packing your kit into if your bag is not waterproof
  • Toiletries (including wet wipes)

Dates & prices

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19/10/2024 01/11/2024 £5,249 $6,825
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23/11/2024 06/12/2024 £5,249 $6,825
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14/12/2024 27/12/2024 £5,249 $6,825
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11/01/2025 24/01/2025 £5,249 $6,825
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22/02/2025 07/03/2025 £5,249 $6,825
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05/04/2025 18/04/2025 £5,249 $6,825
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18/10/2025 31/10/2025 £5,599 $7,275
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22/11/2025 05/12/2025 £5,599 $7,275
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Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!

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Price includes

  • Airport transfers
  • Domestic flights
  • All ground transportation as detailed above
  • All accommodation as detailed above
  • 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 3 dinners
  • Guided tour of Buenos Aires
  • All national park entrance fees
  • Tierra del Fuego boat tour
  • Perito Moreno Glacier boat tour
  • A professional Kandoo Adventures guide

Price does not include

  • International flights and Visas
  • Drinks, tips and personal expenses
  • Travel Insurance
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary

Options

  • Additional hotel nights before or after your tour