Argentina, Chile · National Parks

Torres del Paine Day Trip from El Calafate

14 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in El Calafate. Moderate pace

View all 11 photos

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Full-day excursion from El Calafate to Torres del Paine National Park
02 Cross the Patagonian steppe and the Argentina–Chile border
03 See scenic highlights such as Sarmiento Lake, Amarga Lagoon, and Pehoé Lake
04 Enjoy views of the Cuernos del Paine and French Valley
05 Visit Salto Grande and other panoramic viewpoints inside the park
06 Choose between sightseeing by bus or trekking with 4x4 riding
07 Boxed lunch and bottled water included
08 Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels

Discover the dramatic landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park on a full-day adventure from El Calafate. Designed for travellers who want to experience one of Patagonia’s most iconic national parks without an overnight stay, this journey crosses the Patagonian steppe into Chile and showcases a series of scenic viewpoints, lakes, waterfalls, and mountain panoramas.

Along the way, you may visit highlights such as Sarmiento de Gamboa Lake, Amarga Lagoon, the Paine River waterfalls, Nordenskjold Lake, Salto Grande, and Pehoé Lake, with views of the Cuernos del Paine and French Valley. A boxed lunch is included, and hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels make the day as smooth as possible.

Discover the dramatic landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park on a full-day adventure from El Calafate.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 14 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities El Calafate, Torres del Paine National Park

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

El Calafate

We begin our Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park by picking you up directly from your hotel in El Calafate at 6:45 am. Take into account that this is an adventure excursion with the purpose of getting to know the mountainous region of Torres del Paine National Park in one day. We will travel a total of 700 km. The trip to the park takes 3.5 hours one way and 3.5 hours back plus border customs. The estimated time touring inside the Park is 6 hours. Crossing the Patagonian Steppe from North to South, we arrive at the border pass of Cancha Carrera (2,20 hours of traveling), from where we start visiting the beautiful South of Chile until we get into Torres del Paine National Park (“Azules” according to the Tehuelche language, which refers to its predominant colour)

Torres del Paine National Park

From the moment you get to the Park, we offer you two options: visit by bus or go trekking and riding in 4x4 vehicles. Among the possible centres of attraction and lookouts than can be visited, we can find: - Sarmiento de Gamboa Lake (lookout) - Amarga Lagoon - Paine River waterfalls - Panoramic stop with descent of 15 minutes in Superior Viewpoint of Nordenskjold Lake (Panoramic of the Horns) - Salto Grande (50 minute walk), if the weather permitting, we will continue with the longest walk of 1 hour more towards Lake Nordenskjold to appreciate the Cuernos del Paine very closely. - Pehoé Lake, panoramic view of the horns

Lake Pehoe

Here we can see the French Valley and the Cuernos del Paine in the background; where at midday you will enjoy a picnic in the mountain. The lunch is included and you can choose one of this options: Standard menu: Meat, cheese and onion sandwich, meat empanada, dulce de leche alfajor, sweet pudding, nougat, fruit juice, water, candies. Vegetarian menu: Sautéed vegetable sandwich, vegetable empanada, dulce de leche alfajor, sweet pudding, nougat, fruit juice, water, candies. Celiac menu: Meat tray with sautéed vegetables and chips, rice alfajor, nougat, fruit juice, water, candies. We start our return to El Calafate around 5-6 pm

Return to El Calafate

We will be arriving at El Calafate around 22 pm, and leaving you at your hotel.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Pickup service provided in El Calafate. 2 cities · 14 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Bottled water
Boxed Lunch
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
Air-conditioned vehicle

What's Not Included

National Park Entrance fees
Gratuities

Know before you go

The pick up transfer is only from selected centrally located hotels. If your hotel is outside the geographic area, we will confirm you the closest meeting point. Indicate the name and address of your hotel.
We suggest you to confirm the booking details with us prior to travel, or upon arrival at your destination. Please note that departure times and locations may vary slightly.
Not recommended for people with back problems / pregnant travelers / people with heart conditions.
In the event of extreme weather conditions that prevent passengers from exiting the vehicle, the guide reserves the right to modify the itinerary. Lunch is normally served outdoors; however, in case of bad weather, it will be served inside the vehicle.
You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to border crossing. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveler. Border crossing times may vary depending on current traffic.
Tickets to Torres del Paine National Park must be purchased in advance.
A moderate amount of walking is involved.

Logistics