PERITO MORENO NATIONAL PARK
Not the glacier. This is the Patagonia almost no one knows.
Introduction
It shares its name with the glacier near El Calafate, after the same historical figure, Francisco "Perito" Moreno, but it's a different place: 127,000 hectares of steppe and cordillera in western Santa Cruz, one of the least visited parks in the country. Turquoise lakes connected by fast-flowing rivers, Patagonian wildlife —guanacos, pumas, huemuls, Darwin's rheas— and trails with almost no traffic.
This six-day journey crosses that park on foot, guided, sleeping in mountain huts and at a countryside estancia. It starts on the Atlantic coast, at Monte León National Park, and ends in El Calafate, after three days of trekking through the heart of the park.
Small groups: each departure has room for 3 travelers.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 – Río Gallegos and Monte León National Park · See detail
We'll pick you up at the airport or your hotel in Río Gallegos and start with a guided visit to Monte León National Park: cliffs over the sea, penguin colonies, and Patagonia's Atlantic coast at its least crowded. In the afternoon, transfer by private 4x4 pickup to Gobernador Gregores, where you'll spend the first night at the municipal hostería.
Day 2 – Entering Perito Moreno National Park, Belgrano Peninsula · See detail
We enter the park and start the longest trek of the journey: up to 16.8 km around the Belgrano Peninsula, with constant views of Lago Belgrano, alternating patches of forest and open steppe. Guanaco sightings are common, and with some luck, puma. Night at a mountain hut.
Day 3 – Río Lácteo Valley · See detail
An 11.5 km trek along the hillside, following the Río Lácteo, up to the refuge or the Kris & Doug Tompkins dome, where you'll spend the night.
Day 4 – Laguna de los Témpanos · See detail
From the refuge, we wade across the river to reach Laguna de los Témpanos, 5.2 km away, at the foot of Cerro San Lorenzo, the highest peak in Santa Cruz. We return to the same refuge for the night.
Day 5 – Descent and Estancia La Oriental · See detail
Descent through the Río Lácteo Valley —the same 11.5 km, in reverse— and transfer to Estancia La Oriental, closing the trekking part of the trip with a countryside dinner and a night at the estancia.
Day 6 – Return to El Calafate · See detail
Final transfer to El Calafate, where the experience ends.
Highlights
The Belgrano Peninsula and its views of Lago Belgrano. The Río Lácteo Valley up to the Tompkins refuge. Laguna de los Témpanos, at the foot of Cerro San Lorenzo and one of the least accessible spots in the park. The countryside dinner at Estancia La Oriental, closing out the journey. And, before entering the park, the visit to the cliffs and penguins of Monte León.
Accommodation and inclusions
The route combines three types of accommodation: one night at the municipal hostería in Gobernador Gregores, three nights at a mountain hut inside Perito Moreno National Park, and one night at Estancia La Oriental.
Includes: mountain guide, internal transfers in a private 4x4 pickup, all meals —except drinks in Gobernador Gregores and at Estancia La Oriental—, the accommodation described above, and traveler assistance.
Not included: porterage. Flights or bus transportation to Río Gallegos.
Price and payment
USD 1,790 per person. Ask about financing.
Closing
Departures December 14–19, 2026 and February 3–8, 2027, with room for 3 travelers per group. You can also request custom dates. To book or ask a question, get in touch.
FAQ
What level of physical fitness is required?
Moderate to high difficulty: about 45 km are walked in total over the six days, without major elevation changes, but with a demanding stretch of up to 16.8 km (Day 2).
Is the flight to Río Gallegos included?
No. The meeting point is Río Gallegos, and travelers make their own way there.
Can I pay in installments?
Ask about financing.
What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate during the trek?
We try an alternative itinerary to make the most of the days, always in accordance with the safety guidance issued by Argentina's National Parks Administration.
Do you have other dates?
We depart December 14–19, 2026 and February 3–8, 2027. Ask us about custom departures.
