12 Night Patagonia Itinerary: W Trek, El Calafate & El Chaltén OVO Pods Adventure
March 21 – April 2 | The Ultimate Patagonia Travel Guide
We planned this trip for late March (March 21–April 2), hoping for shoulder-season perks like fewer crowds and decent weather. What we got instead was every season imaginable. Sunshine, snow, ice, intense winds, and even blizzards that shut down parts of the W Trek. Patagonia weather is truly unpredictable, and you just have to roll with it.
Despite all of that (or maybe because of it), this trip turned into one of our favorite adventures ever. From hiking hut-to-hut in Torres del Paine National Park, to trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate, to literally sleeping on the side of a cliff in The Ovo Pods in El Chaltén, this itinerary is packed with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Here’s exactly how our 12-night Patagonia itinerary went—what we did, what we’d change, and everything you should know before planning your own trip.
Day 1: Travel Day (Getting to Patagonia)
This first day is all about getting there—and it’s a long one.
Most international flights route through Santiago, Chile, before heading down to Patagonia. You’ll likely have a full day (or more) of travel before arriving in southern Chile. We mentally counted this as a travel-only day because by the time you arrive, you’re exhausted.
Day 2: Arrive in Puerto Natales
We landed in Puerto Natales, the main gateway town to Torres del Paine.
We had our hotel arrange a pickup (~$25 cash), which made things easy after a long travel day. That said, we later realized Uber is available and would have been cheaper—so keep that in mind.
We stayed at Hotel Vendaval, which ended up being the perfect first-night stay:
- Great location (walkable to everything)
- Free breakfast included
- Rooftop with views to hangout
- Clean and cozy rooms
After checking in, we kept things simple:
- Walked to a nearby restaurant called Nandu for burgers and beers
- Picked up a few souvenirs
- Headed back early to organize our trekking gear
This part is key—before the W Trek, we went through everything and removed anything we didn’t need. Since we had a rental car, we left extra items there. If you’re not renting a car, most hotels will store luggage while you’re trekking.
We went to bed very early. Travel fatigue hit hard.
Day 3: Drive to Torres del Paine + Grey Glacier + Camp Grey
We started the day with the hotel’s free breakfast (actually pretty solid), then walked about 5 minutes to pick up our rental car from Sixt.
A few helpful tips:
- If you plan to cross into Argentina later, you must request a border permit in advance
- We declined rental insurance because we used a credit card that covers it (Capital One Venture X)
The drive to Torres del Paine National Park took about 2.5 hours, and the roads were rough. Expect long stretches of dirt roads, lots of bumps, and strong winds pushing your car around.
Once inside the park (you’ll need your pre-purchased entrance ticket), we drove to Pudeto to leave our rental car. From there:
- Took a private transfer to Hotel Lago Grey (we used Stomping Ground Car Transfer)
- Grabbed food and pisco sours while waiting (highly recommend leaning into the pisco sour era here)
At 3 PM, we checked in for the catamaran and walked about 30 minutes to the catamaran which was waiting for us on a beach.
We booked the 4pm departure time on the Grey III catamaran, which takes you right up close to Grey Glacier. Seeing massive chunks of ice floating in the water while glaciers tower in the background was surreal.
We arrived at Camp Grey around 5:45 PM and walked about 10 minutes to the refugio. First night down—and officially the start of our trek.
Day 4: Camp Grey to Paine Grande (First Hike)
This was our first real hiking day:
- Distance: ~6.8 miles
- Time: ~4.5 hours
The trail itself was beautiful but also a good wake-up call. Patagonia hiking is no joke—wind, uneven terrain, and constantly changing weather kept things interesting.
We arrived at Paine Grande around 2:30 PM:
- Checked into the hostel
- Immediately went to the upstairs bar for pizza, wine, and lake views
That night we had the buffet dinner (which is included if you book it), and honestly, after a long hike, anything warm tastes amazing.
Here is more information on the the W Trek refugios and how to book them.
Day 5: EcoCamp Switch Up
This is where Patagonia reminded us who’s in charge.
A blizzard rolled in overnight and shut down key parts of the W Trek, including:
- French Valley
- Base Torres access (temporarily)
We made the call to modify our route into what we jokingly called the “U Trek.”
Instead of continuing:
- Took the catamaran from Paine Grande back to Pudeto
- Picked up our rental car
- Drove 45 minutes to EcoCamp
EcoCamp ended up being one of the best decisions of the trip. It’s a luxury dome-style stay right in the park, and after roughing it a bit, it felt like a full reset:
- Cozy heated domes
- 3-course dinner
- Buffet breakfast
- Views of the towers from our dome
It was the perfect mix of comfort and still feeling immersed in nature.
Day 6: Hike to Chileno
We woke up to much better weather (finally).
- Drove a few minutes to the Welcome Center
- Left the car
- Hiked about 2.5 hours to Camp Chileno
This hike was shorter but still steady uphill. Chileno is a great base for the Base Torres hike because it cuts down your distance the next morning.
Day 7: Sunrise Hike to Base Torres + Argentina Drive
This was one of the most intense—and rewarding—days of the trip.
We woke up at 3:45 AM, left our big packs behind, and started hiking with just small backpacks and headlamps.
The hike to Base Torres:
- Took about 2.5 hours
- Was steep, icy, and dark
- Definitely one of the harder hikes we’ve done
We really wished we had crampons here. The ice made parts of the trail feel sketchy, especially in the dark.
But when we got to the top? Completely worth it.
Watching the sun hit the towers with only 3 other people around was one of those moments you don’t forget.
After spending about 2 hours up there:
- Hiked back to Chileno (quick pizza stop)
- Continued down to the Welcome Center
Then came the long travel stretch:
- Drove the 4.5 hours to El Calafate (ended up taking us closer to 6 hours with the border crossing and gas/bathroom stop)
- Crossed the border (have paperwork ready- border permit for rental car, passport and PDI ticket from customs at airport)
Important tips for this drive:
- Add “Esperanza” into Google Maps to avoid a very rough gravel road (route 7 is all gravel, you’ll want to stay on route 40).
- Fill up gas at Esperanza which is the first gas station after leaving Torres Del Paine Park.
- We read that travel health insurance is mandatory to enter Argentina even though no one actually checked for it (we used Tin Leg—cheap and easy).
Day 8: Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek
We visited Perito Moreno Glacier for a mini trekking tour.
Even though we had a rental car, we chose the shuttle provided by the tour company—which was worth it for convenience since they pick you up close to your hotel.
The experience included:
- A boat ride up to the glacier
- Strapping on crampons
- Walking directly on the glacier
- Ending with whiskey and chocolate
It ran from about 8:30 AM to 6 PM and cost around $350—and I would 100% do it again.
After, we had dinner at Pura Vida (super unique, artsy vibe—beef stew in a pumpkin was a highlight).
Also worth noting: El Calafate has tons of free-roaming dogs, and they are all incredibly friendly. It adds to the charm of the town.
We stayed the next 2 nights at Aparts Calafate Suites. This had more of an Airbnb vibe then a hotel vibe and it was nice having the extra living room and kitchen space after sleeping in hostels and tents.
Day 9: Drive to El Chaltén
We grabbed breakfast at Pietros (omelets + fries) and some souvenir shopping before heading out.
The drive to El Chaltén took about 2.5 hours and was pouring down rain the last hour of the drive.
Once there:
- Checked into Pudu Lodge
- Walked to dinner at Litos (steak, ravioli, wine—no complaints)
El Chaltén has a completely different vibe—more laid-back, very hiking-focused, and surrounded by wild mountain scenery.
Day 10: OVO Pods (Most Unique Cliffside Stay Ever)
We had a slow morning, grabbed the hotels free breakfast, and explored the town before heading out for one of the most unique experiences of the trip.
About 45 minutes outside of town, we started our journey to the OVO Pods.
To get there:
- You’ll do a 45 minute hike up the mountain
- Followed by a via ferrata with a guide
- Traverse along the side of a mountain
- Arrive at a pod literally hanging off a cliff
- For more information on the OVO pods read here.
There are only 4 pods, and you can only stay one night—so it feels very exclusive.
It was equal parts thrilling and surreal. Definitely not your average hotel stay.
Day 11: Return to Puerto Natales
We climbed back out via ferrata, hiked down, and grabbed our car.
Stopped in town for lunch at B Fitz, then made sure to fill up gas before leaving El Chalten! (very important before leaving).
The drive back:
- Took about 5–6 hours
- Included another border crossing
We checked into Hotel Capitán, grabbed dinner at El Brisket, and called it a night.
Day 12: Head Home
Our last morning was slow and simple:
- Free breakfast at the hotel
- Returned the rental car
- Tried mate tea at a local café called Nuestros
Mate is a traditional drink you’ll see everywhere—it’s loose tea that you drink through a filtered straw. Definitely a cool cultural experience.
We Ubered to the airport and barely made our flight thanks to a long baggage line—but somehow it all worked out. Its a tiny airport but you still need to get there early, we arrived one hour before our departure time but I would recommend arriving at least 1.5 hours early if you have to check bags.
Day 13: Back Home (With a Plot Twist)
We landed in LAX at 7 AM, completely exhausted but so happy.
Then… our car battery was dead after sitting for 12 days.
AAA came to the rescue, and we were finally on our way home.
First meal back? McDonald’s. No hesitation.
Also—never appreciated being able to flush toilet paper more in my life.
Total Trip Cost
💰 ~$4,500 per person included:
- Flights
- Rental car + border permit
- W Trek accommodations + meals
- EcoCamp Pod
- Glacier trekking
- OVO Pods
- Hotels
- Catamarans
- Private car transfer
Not included:
- Restaurants
- Gas
- Souvenirs
Final Thoughts: Is Patagonia Worth It?
Absolutely.
This trip pushed us, surprised us, and gave us so many first-time experiences:
- Hut-to-hut trekking
- Glacier hiking
- Via ferrata climbing
- Staying in a cliffside pod
- Seeing some of the most unreal landscapes
Even with unpredictable weather, Patagonia delivered in every way.
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