Brian_Brooklyn

Hello,
I'm sure this has been asked but I'd appreciate any thoughts or fresh intel: I'm planning an 8-9 day trip to Argentina in February. Along with 4-5 days in Buenos Aires, I'd like to take a few days to either see 1) the Bariloche area or 2) Southern Patagonia, including El Chalten and El Calafate.

I'm having a tough time deciding which of these two areas would make for a better short visit. I get the sense that the south is more rugged and spectacular whereas Bariloche might have more creature comforts (restaurants, hotels). My hope is to do some short group hikes and see some unique scenery, though nothing too intense. Also, I'd like to avoid massive tourist crowds (I know, always easier said than done).

Thank you in advance.

thursdaysd

I enjoyed both, but El Calafate and El Chalten are indeed more spectacular. I just loved the glaciers! El Chalten is certainly a frontier town, btu El Calafate is tourist central.

For photos of both, plus Bariloche, see: http://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/South-America-2012

Brian_Brooklyn

Thank you for this. I really enjoyed seeing your photos.

I should add, in case it's useful, I'll be traveling solo but hoping to meet up with a hiking group or two. Also, I'd rather not go anywhere too cold or blustery - I'm escaping that in New York!

thursdaysd

Well, out on the boats it was definitely cold and windy! After all, we're talking glaciers. But check wunderground.com for Feb temps.

yestravel

Didn't think much of Bariloche, but loved el Calafate. Treks on the glacier were wonderful, albeit cold. A few hours from Bariloche is SAN Martin which we loved. Click on my name and you can scroll thru the TR and read about the areas.

yestravel

Oops whole name doesn't show. It's San Martin de Los Andes

yestravel

While there are tourists for sure in El Calafate, it still was not crowded when we were there. We found it to be a relaxed small town with some good restaurants and nice hotels.

Brian_Brooklyn

Thanks for all your great feedback. I've been looking at San Martin de Los Andes (as opposed to Bariloche, which sounds a little more urban).

I'll have to chew on this a little more, as there are definite advantages to each places, but this definitely helps.

thursdaysd

I preferred Bariloche, which faces its lake, to San Martin, which is edge on. YMMV.

odie1

We didn't go to Bariloche or SMdlA but we did go to Chalten and Calafate in December. We absolutely LOVED Chalten. It is a laid back town with excellent restaurants and loads of scenery, hikes etc. This is a trekking town so not touristy at all. El Calafate on the other hand was far more touristy. We didn't care for the town and the town itself had no scenery, unlike Chalten which was gorgeous no matter what direction you looked in, but trekking on the glacier was fabulous.

I did a pretty detailed trip report that you can find by clicking on my screen name.

Cheweyhead

Question for those of you that hiked and visited El Calafate and Chalten - What types of hiking shoes did you take? I am thinking waterproof and ankle high? But want to be sure and not over do it. We will be going to Torres del Paine afterwards.

Thanks,
Keri

odie1

Chewey-I hiked in Merrell Moabs and my daughter hiked in Moab mids. The mids were not really necessary. My husband hiked in a light pair of Patagonia hikers. You definitely want waterproof. We also hiked Torres. I am sure you know that you will definitely want to break them in before you go. Surprisingly we had no blisters and we did two treks over 11 miles each. We did wear good hiking socks as well.

yestravel

i wore merrell low hiking shoes. As said, waterproof is key.

Brian_Brooklyn

Thanks again for the responses. My current thinking:

Wed: Early flight to El Calafate - arrives 9-ish. Drive to Perito Moreno National Park; spend the rest of the day there.
Thurs: Drive to El Chalten. Arrive by noon, do an afternoon hike.
Fri: Join a group hike by Fitz Roy.
Sat: Drive back to El Calafate, catch plane back to EZE and then on to NYC that night.

Does that seem reasonable? Or would it be better to shorten the trip a bit, stay an extra day in BA and just focus on El Calafate?

I get a sense that many folks here squeeze these excursions in - but I'd only do it within reason. Thank you!

PS - good to know about the footwear issue.

yestravel

i would go as you plan unless you have a trip planned to return to the area. we had way more time then you and skipped El Chalten which i regret.

odie1

I guess it all depends on what your desires are. We spent one day in BsAs and then headed south but we were interested in nature, stunning beauty, etc. If you are going to skip anything, I would skip BA, or Calafate and Perito Moreno (even though it was fantastic). You could drive straight to El Chalten on Wed and then do the Fitz Roy hike either Thurs or Fri, depending on weather, and plan a trek on the glacier in El Chalten the other day BUT you can do it all. The drive to Chalten is 4 hours.

thursdaysd

avrooster may shoot me, but I found that I much preferred the scenery to the cities on my South America trip. That sounds incredibly rushed to me, but if that's all the time you have....

avrooster

I also prefer the scenery, but, if you insist, I'll shoot you, thursdaysd. LOL!!!

Brian_Brooklyn

Thank you for the feedback. Yes, the perils of the American workplace: we don't get as much vacation time as we really should, thus things can feel rushed.

But yes, I'm really a fan of both cities and nature and would hate to squeeze BA too much. But I could also consider flying down the night before too. Will have to crunch the flight times and see what makes most sense.

Thanks again!