r/HikingEssential

Planning an 11-day Patagonia hiking trip covering El Chaltén, El Calafate, Torres del Paine, and Puerto Natales. Would love feedback on the itinerary, pacing, and whether we’re missing anything major.

Day 1 – El Calafate → El Chaltén
Arrive El Calafate
Transfer to El Chaltén
Overnight: El Chaltén

Day 2 – El Chaltén
Laguna Torre hike
Overnight: El Chaltén

Day 3 – El Chaltén
Laguna de los Tres / Fitz Roy hike
Overnight: El Chaltén

Day 4 – El Chaltén
Loma del Pliegue Tumbado hike
Overnight: El Chaltén

Day 5 – El Chaltén → El Calafate
Los Cóndores & Las Águilas viewpoints
Transfer to El Calafate
Overnight: El Calafate

Day 6 – El Calafate
Perito Moreno Glacier
Boat / nautical safari
Overnight: El Calafate

Day 7 – Argentina → Chile
Transfer from El Calafate to Torres del Paine
Overnight: Torres del Paine

Day 8 – Torres del Paine
French Valley hike
Overnight: Torres del Paine

Day 9 – Torres del Paine
Grey Glacier hike
Boat/navigation on Lake Grey
Overnight: Torres del Paine

Day 10 – Torres del Paine → Puerto Natales
Base of the Towers / Mirador Las Torres hike
Transfer to Puerto Natales
Overnight: Puerto Natales

Day 11 – Puerto Natales
Depart

Main hikes are therefore:
Laguna Torre
Laguna de los Tres / Fitz Roy
Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
Los Cóndores & Las Águilas
French Valley
Grey Glacier
Base of the Towers

Curious in particular whether three big hiking days back-to-back in El Chaltén and then French Valley + Grey Glacier + Base Torres on consecutive days feels reasonable, or whether you’d build in more weather/rest flexibility.

Also, if anyone is interested in joining, that would be amazing!

Me and my friends are going to visit Rocky Mountains the second week of September as a girls trip. We plan to go the morning of 9/11. We are visiting Denver for a concert at Red Rock and figured we’d go since we are so close. I’ve never hiked before so I’m lost as to what types of clothes and or items I would need. We are just going to be hiking for the day and will be leaving by night fall.

Is it cold that time of year? Do I need a jacket or a coat? And should I get hiking boots or hiking shoes? Do I need hiking poles? Should I bring a small backpack, snacks, gloves, meds? I have no idea lol. Any suggestions or advice would be great.

We did already secure our entry time and a parking pass.

Hi all, I am planning to go on a 9 day hiking trip, covering about 100km. I will be staying in guesthouses along the way (no camping gear needed) and will be picking food up at the start of each day. What size backpack would you recommend? I was thinking 30-35L? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks