Im arriving in Punta arenas in late september and need some help
I have 3/4 days before flying out and in that time I want to see jagged peaks of the Torres del Paine and also the glacier near El Calafate.
Im guessing with the limited time my best option is to hire a car, however I need some advice:
- LP guidebook says taking a hire car cross border to Argentina can add massive costs insurance wise - how much extra will this be approx and bearing in mind my time constraints do i have any other choice?
- My idea is to drive early in the morning from Punta Arenas to TDP and spend the day in the park, then stay in Puerto Natales. The following day either drive to the glacier direct or take a tour from Puerto Natales and come back the following day.
How easy is it to drive around this region , would i be able to drive to the middle of the TDP without going through argentina?
Does any one have any other suggestions?
Cheers
the road P. Arenas-Natales is all paved and Natales-TDP (the old road) 50% paved, the rest gravel, the road to Calafate (from Cerro Castillo, at the frontier) 40% asphalted
a precision when you go TDP, you must pass by Natales, then I think your ideal track is
P.Arenas-Natales-TDP-Calafate
I don't think that there's any realistic way to do this unless you rent a car. But even then I think you might be too ambitious. If you have cloudy weather you may not see the jagged peaks of TdP. If you get a flat on the way to El Calafate (not uncommon on the ripio roads) you'll start to feel even much more rushed and might even have a tough time getting back in time for your flight.
If you're up for the drive and the added rental cost, Fernando is right - there's no need to backtrack to Puerto Natales since there is a cut off road from TdP to the road to El Calafate. If you've simply got to see Perito Moreno, consider starting with your longest drive - go to Perito Moreno first. That way if you do have problems you have more time to recover, plus you'll have a better sense of how long to allow for the ride back.
You could also do a loop where you go anti-clockwise, driving to Rio Gallegos and then up to El Calafate, see Perito Moreno, then drive to TdP and back to Punta Arenas.
Day 1 - drive to El Calafate vis Rio Gallegos.
Day 2 - tour Perito Moreno Glacier and spend the night in El Calafate.
Day 3 - get up early and drive to TdP.
Day 4 - explore TdP and drive back to Puna Arenas.
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