althom1122

My husband and I are planning an April trip to Patagonia and are struggling with an itinerary. This is probably crazy, but here's what we're thinking:

April 1 - depart USA (flights booked using FF miles)
April 2 - arrive Buenos Aires
April 3 - tour BA
April 4 - Fly (early) to Ushuaia - Beagle cruise?
April 5 - Tierra del Fuego day trip
April 6 - Bus to Punta Arenas
April 7 - Bus to Puerto Natales, rent car and drive to Torres del Paine (spend night in park - reservations made)
April 8 - Torres del Paine (stay in park)
April 9 - Torres del Paine, drive back to Puerto Natales
April 10 - bus to El Calafate, rent car, drive to El Chalten
April 11 - El Chalten - day hike
April 12 - El Chalten - day hike
April 13 - Drive back to El Calafate
April 14 - Perito Merino tour
April 15 - Fly back to BA
April 16 - Fly home

We have reservations most night via Booking.com - with free cancellation, so we can rearrange. The flight is booked and we really can't take more time off work. We know this is really hectic - any suggestions for what to cut? Or how to make this more doable?

Thanks,
Karen

odie1

I am not sure how the weather in April will be. Not the best time to visit, I think.

This is really crazy as you are traveling vast distances. Personally, I would cut Ushuai (though I have not been there). Consider flying into Calafate, and driving straight to Chalten. staying four nights. Then Calafate for two nights. Take the bus to Natales, rent a car and do TdP for four nights then drive to Arenas (drop off car) and fly home next day.

althom1122

Thanks, odie1. Yes, I think it may be too much driving between places for the amount of time we have. I'd really like to get to Ushuaia but maybe we should cut it. I'd almost rather cut El Chalten than Ushuaia because I think the latter is very different, where El Chalten is maybe more similar to Torres del Paine. Thoughts on that?

Anyone else?

odie1

Chalten is similar in some respects I suppose. We have been twice now and will gladly return again and again. We love the vibe of the town especially. The views of the Torres and of Fitz Roy, both with the glacial lakes at their bases are similar but both took our breath away and the photos of both places still haunt us with their raw, rugged beauty.

We spent two nights in Punta Arenas and felt like we got a good feeling of the end of the world but we would also go to Ushuaia. A difficult choice for sure but I think I would cut something out because it really is very rushed for such an immense area.

I think you can fly from Ushuaia to El Calafate. You could cut TdP out and focus on the less traveled to Chalten.

althom1122

Yes, I've just checked into flying from Ushuaia to El Calafate. If we do that, we could add a day to Ushuaia, maybe do a one-day bus trip to TdP (not much, I know, but a sample) and then spend an extra day or two in El Chalten. We'll continue to mull it over, but not too long because we'd like to nail down reservations. Thanks!

thursdaysd

Do you mean a one day trip from El Calafate to TDP? I wouldn't consider that. Long drive, indeterminate length of time at the border both ways, and no guarantee the day will be clear when you get there.

althom1122

I did briefly consider a one-day trip, but we've nixed that. Definitely want at least 2-3 days in TDP. We're all over the place with what we want! It's hard to decide. This morning we were discussing whether to rework the itinerary to include Iguazu Falls (and drop Ushuaia). Still mulling it over. We know we're trying to do a lot - but it's pretty typical of how we travel. We like to move around quite a bit, but we don't want to underestimate the toll it will take on us given the distances involved. TDP is a definite. Perito Moreno is a definite. And El Calafate is a definite.

I was just looking into whether we could change our flight and fly back from Punta Arenas to Santiago. If we did that, we could fly from Ushuaia to El Calafate, go to El Chalten, and then take the bus to Puerto Natales - spend 2-3 days in Torres and fly out from PA. That would eliminate the 14+ hour bus ride from Ushuaia to PA and might make it more doable to include Ushuaia. So many decisions.

thursdaysd

" whether to rework the itinerary to include Iguazu Falls (and drop Ushuaia)."

I went to Iguazu and didn't go to Ushuaia and have no regrets. Iguazu was spectacular, and I figured I'd save Ushuaia for an Antarctic cruise, if I ever did that.

yestravel

IF is fabulous, but I don't see how you would fit it in on this trip. I would save it for another time.
When we were doing our trip to this area I ended cutting out Ushuaia - it was just too far. (We had 6 weeks or so.) Haven't been to el Chatlen and I regret missing it.

How about flying from BA to el Calafate and visit Perito Moreno. From there go to El Chalten. Take bus to Puerto Natales. Got to Tdp. I would try to fly home from Santiago. And for 16 days that would be plenty. And while I love the nature and hiking I think you are shortchanging BA -- its a huge, great city.

Also agree that you need to find out what the weather will be like when you plan to go. That could make a big difference as to where you visit.

althom1122

I've done a fair amount of checking on the weather. The good news is the winds will be less than during the peak summer months. Also, the fall colors will be beautiful - although not quite New England.

The downside is the temperatures will obviously be cooler and there's a greater chance of rain. I've read many blogs/articles, though, that show gorgeous autumn pictures with blue skies - so we'll be keeping our fingers crossed. We went to Iceland in November and in spite of the short, gray days and lots of rain, we had a wonderful time (even saw the Northern Lights). We'll be well-prepared with layers and waterproof outerwear. The days will also be shorter than during summer, but... there will be considerably fewer crowds as well.

I'm kind of liking the idea of flying from BA straight to El Calafate for Perito Moreno and El Chalten, followed by the bus to PN and TdP. And yes, we're going to check into switching our return flight to Santiago so we could go from Punta Arenas rather than back to El Calafate for the flight to BA.

Haven't totally given up on one more destination (I eat too much at buffets, too) but we'll see. Thanks - will keep you posted.

yestravel

It's nice to have so many choices! If you do fly back from Santiago, it would be nice and a change of pace from the rest of the trip to see Valparaiso-I really liked the city.

Lucky you seeing the Northern Lights. We were in Iceland this past late Nov and had hoped to see them, but no luck. Trips didn't even go out the 4 nights we could have gone. I agree if you plan for the weather you will be fine.

odie1

If you arrive in PA early enough and drive all the way down to Fort Bulnes, you will at least get on the Straight of Magellan and see the end of the continent. Not quite the same as Ushuaia but close.

althom1122

We've significantly revised the itinerary. We're backtracking between El Calafate and PN, but this avoids the 15 hour bus ride from Ushuaia to PA. The flight back from Santiago didn't work for us with United. Thoughts?

Day 1 - arrive Buenos Aires - quick nap - then short city tour (more in BA at the end of the trip)
Day 2 - fly to Ushuaia in the morning - p.m. Beagle cruise
Day 3 - Tierra del Fuego
Day 4 - fly to El Calafate
Day 5 - Perito Merino
Day 6 - Morning bus to El Chalten - short afternoon hike
Day 7 - Day hike
Day 8 - Morning hike then bus back to El Calafate
Day 9 - morning bus to Puerto Natales, pick up car and drive back to TDP
Day 10 - TDP
Day 11 - TDP
Day 12 - TDP in morning, then drive to PN for night
Day 13 - bus to El Calafate - spend night
Day 14 - fly to BA - rest of day in BA
Day 15 - day in BA - flight home at 9 p.m.

odie1

Maybe...

I would look into taking a late bus or rent a car in Calafate:

Day 4-fly to El Calafate (late bus or rent a car)
Day 5-El Chalten
Day 6-Chalten
Day 7-Chalten morning hike Calafate
Day 8-Perito Moreno
Day 9-bus to Natales

This way you will get two full days in El Chalten-you won't regret it!

thursdaysd

Have your hotel buy the bus ticket to El Chalten ahead of time. You will have to buy the ticket to PN in person, but do it the day you arrive in El Calafate.

althom1122

odie1- yes, that makes perfect sense. In fact, about an hour after I posted, it occurred to me it would be more efficient to try catching the bus straight to El Calafate. Will definitely plan on that. Our flight arrives at 10:20 - I wonder if we'll be able to get the noon bus. Seems tight, but maybe?

Thursdaysd - Ok, will do. Thanks.

mlgb

I was in Ushuaia/Tierra del Fuego the third week of March 2016, which was fantastic because the trees had started to change color and there was a dusting of snow.

althom1122

Yes, mlgb, I'm hoping for beautiful fall colors!

odie1

If the times are really tight for the bus, I might rent a car. You can always book one and then not pick it up if you don't need it. There are frequent delays due to winds and weather into Patagonia.