Patagonia Wild Luxury Hotel, Enjoy a Family Hiking and Photography Trip
Traveling to Patagonia with kids, this flexible 7-day self-driving hiking route balances magnificent scenery and family-friendliness. Without intense rushing, you can immerse yourself in the wild romance at the end of the world and unlock multiple joys of hiking, photography, and glacier wonders.
📅 7-Day Family Itinerary
Day 1 Buenos Aires - El Calafate - El Chalten
Take a morning flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate, arrive at the airport around 3 PM, pick up the car and drive to El Chalten. The drive takes about 2 hours. Arriving just in time for sunset, you can stop along the way to take photos and let the kids immerse themselves in the romantic South American sunset. The whole trip is relaxed without rushing.
Day 2 Fitz Roy Family-Friendly Hike
We chose the Laguna de Los Tres via Monte Fitz Roy Trail from AllTrails. To capture the sunrise at the classic waterfall spot Cascada Escondida, we started from the trailhead in Chalten town at 5:30 AM and arrived around 7:15 AM, allowing plenty of time for the kids to rest, adjust, and take photos. After the sunrise shoot, continue hiking. The one-way route is about 11 km, with clear signs every kilometer. The waterfall is at 5.5 km, and from there to the Poincenot campsite at 8 km is the most beautiful autumn section of the trail. It’s perfect for kids to walk and play while learning about local vegetation and nature. The last 2 km is a steep rocky uphill with about 500 meters of elevation gain, which is quite physically demanding. You can turn back flexibly depending on the kids’ stamina without forcing to finish. The scenery along the way is equally stunning.
Day 3 Rest and Recovery Day
After the previous day’s hike, it’s perfect to rest and recover at the hotel, relieve hiking fatigue, enjoy the scenery with the kids, and take photos to fully relax. If the weather was bad the day before, you can also try to catch the golden sunlight on the mountain again. The itinerary is flexible and not tight, especially suitable for family travel.
Day 4 El Chalten - El Calafate - Moreno Glacier
In the morning, you can visit a nearby viewpoint to see the golden sunlight on the mountain once more, then head back to Calafate. In the afternoon, drive to Moreno Glacier, which takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. You can drive directly to the parking lot in front of the boardwalk, then walk onto the boardwalk to see the glacier. Let the kids experience the grandeur of the glacier up close, see the blue ice, and hear the sound of ice cracking—a truly immersive and breathtaking experience.
Day 5 El Calafate - Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine National Park
Take the 8 AM cross-border bus from Calafate to Puerto Natales, Chile, arriving around 2 PM. After landing, pick up the car and drive to Torres del Paine National Park. The drive takes just over an hour on smooth roads, making it completely stress-free for traveling with kids.
Day 6 Torres del Paine National Park Easy Hike
In the morning, view Pehoe Lake and the Cuernos del Paine bathed in golden sunlight from the boardwalk near the hotel. During the day, hike the Cuernos Lookout trail, which takes about 2 hours. The trail is gentle without steep slopes, making it easy for kids. If the kids have good stamina, you can also try the easier short hike to the Three Towers.
Day 7 Depending on your schedule, take the bus from Puerto Natales back to Calafate or head to Santiago to start another trip, flexibly adjusting your return pace.
Accommodation
🏨Hotel El Calafate
A star-rated scenic hotel in El Calafate with panoramic views of Lake Argentina, featuring family pools and a kids’ playground, the top choice for family trips.
🏨Singular Patagonia El Chalten
A boutique hotel in El Chalten town, close to the hiking trailhead, with spacious rooms offering panoramic views of Mount Fitz Roy.
🏨Patagonia Puerto Natales
A wild luxury hotel in the heart of Puerto Natales, fully equipped and adjacent to Torres del Paine National Park, super convenient for traveling with kids.
🏨Torres Hotel Torres del Paine National Park
A boutique hotel inside Torres del Paine Park, with views of the Three Towers right from the window, offering family hiking services and an immersive wilderness vacation experience.
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