TRAIL RUNNING IN PATAGONIA

What level of running is this trip suitable for?

This running retreat adventure is open to ages 15 and up of any pace or level of runner. Must be able to complete 7-15 miles/day of hiking/running, including 1,000-3,500 feet of elevation gain per day. Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you’re trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime!

Are there any alternatives for non-runners?

Dietary Accommodation

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Dairy-free
• Gluten-free

ITINERARY

DAY 1 | Welcome to Patagonia!

Our trip will start midday with a meet-and-greet and orientation meeting to meet the guides and go over the logistics and itinerary of the upcoming week! After meeting at the airport at the scheduled departure time, we’ll catch transport to our comfortable hotel in a lakeside town with a view of Argentina’s largest freshwater lake, Lago Argentina. That afternoon, we’ll enjoy dinner and refreshments to go over the week ahead.

DAY 2 | Perito Moreno Glacier!

After a quick optional morning shakeout run, we’ll return to a breakfast spread of homemade Argentinian jams, coffees, teas and baked goods. Our day’s adventure will take us to a mini trekking tour of the Perito Moreño Glacier, one of the highlights of Argentinian Patagonia and one of the world’s only advancing glaciers. This spectacular glacier spans approximately 252 square km – 30 kilometers in length, about 5 km wide, and from the water to the top of the glacier the average height is a 73 meters! It is fed by the Southern Patagonia Ice Field and we’ll get the chance to see some glacier calving before a mini trek on the ice itself! We’ll enjoy private transport and a guided tour on the glacier, where we’ll get up close and personal with a knowledgable guide and catered lunch. Afterwards, we’ll return for dinner to celebrate our final evening in El Calafate.

DAY 3 | To El Chaltén!

Today we wake up for a final morning at our hotel and set off for El Chaltén, one of Patagonia’s most spectacular mountain towns. After views of mountains roll by on the Patagonian highway, we check in to our comfortable and private scenic cabañas, a staple of Argentinian Patagonia, before setting off for an afternoon adventure run straight from our front door. We’ll head up following a trail alongside the river of the valley as views begin to unfold of Cerro Solo, the Adela range, Cerro Torre and the Mount Fitzroy. That evening you’re free to explore the restaurants in town, or sip a glass of Malbec and watch the golden hour over the nearby mountains. 11.8 miles, 1,000 feet elevation gain.

DAY 4 | Summits of Chaltén

After a spread of a delicious breakfasts of granola, yogurt, juices, homemade breads and eggs, we’ll head out on another adventure run for the day. The trail starts in the lower, rocky hills and shrublands with views of Cerro Torre and Fitzroy. We’ll wind through a forest of lenga before our steepest climb of the trip. From the summit you can see both Cerro Torre and Fitzroy to the north and the Río Túnel Valley to the south. For those wanting a rest day, you’re welcome to skip the run and take a short hike to a nearby lagoon, or explore town. Treat yourself to an artesanal aprés at a famous cerveceria, or brewery in town, before enjoying a meal of tender Argentinian steaks, fresh trout from the local Lago del Desierto, and Malbec glasses as big as your head. 12 miles, 3,200 feet elevation gain

DAY 5 | Private Nature Reserves

After another delicious breakfast at our cabañas, we’ll head out the front door to an epic three days of adventuring off-the-beaten path trails into the Patagonian wilderness. We’ll enjoy a relaxing pace of run/hiking, with plenty of time to stop and admire the settings as we carve through mountains, passing waterfalls, rivers, and alpine lakes. We’ll arrive to our comfortable mountain lodge sitting alongside an alpine lake and glacier on a private nature reserve with 13,000 acres of forests, ice, lakes and rivers. Baggage transport is included, so you only need to carry some hydration and a camera to capture the views of today! Afternoon activities are plentiful, ranging from exploring the estancia, exploring nearby mountain lagoons and vistas, or relaxing in the tranquil setting of our home for the evening. We’ll enjoy a local and nutritious Argentinian Patagonian meal mountainside with our hosts for the evening! 7-11.5 miles, 1,200 feet elevation gain.

DAY 6 | Refugios and Rivers

After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll continue to head deeper into Los Glaciares National Park. Our destination is a trail alongside the Eléctrico valley to catch views of the north face of the Mount Chaltén and the Mermoz and Guillaumet needles. On the way back we’ll stop for a break, lunch, and refreshments at a unique Argentinian refugio before returning to our mountain lodge for a celebratory dinner at our final night in this paradise. Mileage options from 7-11 miles or a rest day hike. 500-1,000 feet elevation gain.

DAY 7 |Searching for Fitz Roy

After waking up for a sunrise from our mountain lodge, we’ll hit the trails for our longest day on the trails as we wind back towards El Chaltén, passing as many lakes as we can, including the legendary Lago de Los Tres with a front and center view to Monte Fitz Roy. We’ll stop for snacks and photo ops and enjoy our final day on the trails in Patagonia. We’ll catch transport to El Calafate before our final celebratory dinner of the trip! 14.9 miles, 2,900 feet elevation gain

DAY 8 | Final Day in Paradise

We’ll depart in the morning from El Calafate airport by private transfer with new friends and tons of memories!

*Please note itinerary subject to change slightly based on environmental, weather and trail conditions and safety.

What’s Included in the Price?