Home › Journeys › Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine & Los Glaciares › 8 days
Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine & Los Glaciares: 8-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
Last updated:
The 8-day version for January: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 8-day plan · best time to go.
Use this plan → Customize this plan →
8
days
1080 km
distance
26.5 h
in transit
23
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~16.5 hours of daylight in January — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- The reviewed eight-day public-road and border product operates only after dated border, vehicle, park, road, weather and lodging checks.
- Light days: day 4, day 8 have one stop and time left over. Local tours and day trips are the way to fill them — each day links to what is bookable in its own town.
Day 1 Punta Arenas public strait and civic-heritage day
- Transit
- 0h47
- Finish
- ~16:20
- Temperature
- 7.1°C–12.6°C 💨
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 16.2h
09:00
Punta Arenas public strait and civic-heritage circuit puntaarenas.cl map ↗
Use the public civic centre, Strait waterfront and outdoor heritage context with current local access checks; no penguin boat or private venue is assumed.
50 min · Punta Arenas public strait and civic-heritage day · Confirm current public access, admission, road, border, weather and safety conditions
10:00
11:00
Punta Arenas Cemetery puntaarenas.cl map ↗
Ornate mausoleums and shaped pine trees in an old cemetery.
50 min · Punta Arenas public strait and civic-heritage day
open: Daily 07:30-20:00
12:05
13:05
14:30
Museo del Recuerdo registromuseoschile.cl map ↗
Steam engines, horse carts, and vintage cars on display.
50 min · Punta Arenas public strait and civic-heritage day
open: Mon-Fri 08:30-11:00, 14:30-18:00
15:20
Dino's Pizza dinospizza.cl map ↗
Famous pizzas and sandwiches, plus refreshing rhubarb juice.
60 min · Punta Arenas public strait and civic-heritage day
open: Mon Wed Fri 12:00-23:00, Thu Fri 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:30-22:30
Overnight here
e.g. Hospedaje Costanera · Hostal Patagonia House
Day 2 Puerto Natales reserved road arrival and public waterfront day
- Transit
- 4h15
- Finish
- ~17:15
- Temperature
- 4.2°C–11.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~17
- Daylight
- 15.9h
12:55
Puerto Natales reserved road arrival and public waterfront circuit portal.muninatales.cl map ↗
Use the confirmed road arrival, public waterfront and bounded municipal heritage context. Remote fjord boats and private excursions remain separate.
50 min · Puerto Natales reserved road arrival and public waterfront day · Confirm current public access, admission, road, border, weather and safety conditions
14:00
Museo Histórico Municipal (The city museum) search
Discover local history, tribes, and development through artifacts and photos.
90 min · Puerto Natales reserved road arrival and public waterfront day · 500 pesos for Chileans, 1000 pesos for tourists
open: May-Nov: Mon-Thu 08:00-17:00, Fri 08:00-16:00; Dec-Apr: Mon-Thu 08:00-19:00, Sat 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-19:00
15:45
Walk to the boatyard search
Stroll past wooden fishing boats on shore, perfect for photography.
90 min · Puerto Natales reserved road arrival and public waterfront day
Overnight here
e.g. Pire Mapu Cottage bed and breakfast · Backpacker's El Refugio
Day 3 Torres del Paine confirmed public-road viewpoints day
- Transit
- 3h47
- Finish
- ~14:30
- Temperature
- 2.8°C–8.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~25
- Daylight
- 15.8h
11:45
Torres del Paine confirmed public-road viewpoints circuit parquetorresdelpaine.cl map ↗
Use only the dated park admission, confirmed-open public roads and safe signed viewpoints. No W or O circuit, Base Torres hike, refugio or wildlife sighting is included.
50 min · Torres del Paine confirmed public-road viewpoints day · Confirm current public access, admission, road, border, weather and safety conditions
13:40
Day 4 Puerto Natales confirmed return and border-preparation day
- Transit
- 2h45
- Finish
- ~14:00
- Temperature
- 4.2°C–11.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~17
- Daylight
- 15.9h
11:45
Puerto Natales confirmed return and border-preparation circuit pasosfronterizos.gov.cl map ↗
Return on confirmed roads and keep a bounded public Natales afternoon for fuel, documents and live border checks. No same-day international rush is assumed.
50 min · Puerto Natales confirmed return and border-preparation day · Confirm current public access, admission, road, border, weather and safety conditions
13:00
Baguales Brewery cervezabaguales.cl
Taste fantastic local beer paired with delicious food.
60 min · Puerto Natales confirmed return and border-preparation day
open: Dec-Feb: Mon-Sat 13:00-02:00
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 5 El Calafate reserved cross-border arrival and public town day
- Transit
- 6h48
- Finish
- ~17:35
- Temperature
- 2.0°C–10.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 15.7h
15:40
El Calafate reserved cross-border arrival and public town circuit argentina.gob.ar map ↗
Use the lawful confirmed border transfer and a bounded public El Calafate arrival. Customs, agricultural controls and severe-weather delays keep this day deliberately light.
50 min · El Calafate reserved cross-border arrival and public town day · Confirm current public access, admission, road, border, weather and safety conditions
16:45
Glaciarium glaciarium.com read more
Explore glacier exhibits and learn about icy Patagonia's history.
50 min · El Calafate reserved cross-border arrival and public town day · AR$20,000 for either the museum or the glaciobar (as of January 2025), or 35,000 for a combined entrance to both, with 2 drinks in the ice bar included
open: 12:00–20:00
Day 6 Perito Moreno Glacier confirmed public-walkway day
- Transit
- 3h30
- Finish
- ~15:15
- Temperature
- 1.2°C–5.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~19
- Daylight
- 15.8h
12:20
Perito Moreno Glacier confirmed public-walkway circuit argentina.gob.ar map ↗
Use the confirmed public road and signed Perito Moreno walkways only. Glacier calving and views are not guaranteed; boats and ice trekking require separate operators.
50 min · Perito Moreno Glacier confirmed public-walkway day · Confirm current public access, admission, road, border, weather and safety conditions
13:25
Centro de Interpretación Histórica Calafate search
Discover local history from dinosaurs to indigenous cultures.
50 min · Perito Moreno Glacier confirmed public-walkway day
open: 10:00-20:00
14:15
La Toldería bar search
Savor pizza and empanadas, then dance to lively disco beats.
60 min · Perito Moreno Glacier confirmed public-walkway day
Day 7 El Chaltén reserved paved-road arrival and public village day
- Transit
- 4h36
- Finish
- ~17:35
- Temperature
- 0.9°C–6.1°C ❄ 💨
- Rainy days
- ~22
- Daylight
- 15.6h
13:25
El Chaltén reserved paved-road arrival and public village circuit argentina.gob.ar map ↗
Use the confirmed paved road and a bounded public El Chaltén village orientation. Do not add a long trail after the transfer.
50 min · El Chaltén reserved paved-road arrival and public village day · Confirm current public access, admission, road, border, weather and safety conditions
14:25
16:05
Overnight here
e.g. Cabañas Arco Iris · Hostal Las Cuatro Estaciones
Day 8 El Chaltén public valley and short-open-trail day
- Transit
- 0h01
- Finish
- ~09:55
- Temperature
- 0.9°C–6.1°C ❄ 💨
- Rainy days
- ~22
- Daylight
- 15.6h
09:05
El Chaltén public valley and short-open-trail circuit argentina.gob.ar map ↗
Use public village viewpoints and only a short currently open signed trail within conditions. Remote treks, Laguna de los Tres and guaranteed Fitz Roy views are not included.
50 min · El Chaltén public valley and short-open-trail day · Confirm current public access, admission, road, border, weather and safety conditions
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.