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Has anyone taken a bus from El Calafate to Torres de Paine? How many hours? Is it advisable if just for a day trip?
We are 4 nights in El Calafate in January and plan to visit Perito Moreno and Upsala.
Any other suggestions?
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El Calafate to Torres de Paine
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There are no buses from El calafate direct to TdP except for tours. Buses go to Puerto Natales. Chalten Travel does a day tour but I believe you can go one day and back the next. I don't think it is worth it for just the day.
Chalten will take you one-way in either direction on their tour bus. From El Calafate it leaves early am; the other direction gets back late at night.
Yuo also can hire private drivers for $300 - $400 one way.
You can get a bus ticket at the station in El Calafate to Puerto Natales. Try to buy it the day before , the bus is comfortable and cheap. Then a separate bus to TDP. It is about 5 hours to puerto natales from El calafate. TDP is a trip in itself requiring several days, not a one day trip. I don't know what you are going to do for four days in El Calafate. The two glaciers you mentioned are very good but that's about it. Maybe you can go to El Chalten if your time is tight. TDP is incredible but don't think you can rush there and back, it is vast.
I do not speak spanish.
Will it be difficult to hire a private driver?
There are three of us and I think it would be a good alternative to go from El Calafate to TDP and not have to back track from Natales. Would you find the driver through your hotel?
It might be a good alternative but it would be expensive. The last time I saw a post about it, it was US$280 for a car and driver. Yes, your hotel could find someone for you. Always Glaciers and Chalten Travel tours would take you straight to TdP and back a different day if you wanted.
it is very expensive to hire a driver.
Both All Glacier and El Chalten tours offer one day trips (a lot of driving) leaving at 5:30 am - at least 8 hours in the bus plus getting through customs. Not much time to see or hike in the park.
you can also rent a car if you had longer to stay.
both tour companies offer one way trips. $75 to 110 going and $45 to come back on a different day