Getting around Patagonia.

Hey Everyone,
We are heading to Patagoina in November for 10 days.
The plan is to fly into El Calafate (arrive noon) then head straight up to El Chalten.
-3n El Chalten
back to El Calafate for 2n to see the glacier
then 4n TDP
Then back to El Calafate to fly to Ushuaia.

My problem at the moment is how to get from A-B. Ideally we would love to rent a car as we love the freedom plus we are into photography so would be great to stop for photos. I have read into it a lot and realise there is problems with the border crossing and petrol in TDP.
All the quotes I am finding are quite pricey thou- over $1000 for 10days.
Can anyone recommend a cheaper decent car hire place?

And I've been looking at buses but am struggling with the Websites- can you pre book them?

Thanks in advance,
Jenny.

That is one jam packed itinerary.

Buses from El Calafate to El Chalten and the Glaciar are easy and quite regular.

I think you don't need two nights in El Calafate - just one (to see the glacier).

Getting to TDP - you have a few options:
1) Bus to Puerto Natales then bus from there. And return the same way.
2) Tourist bus from El Calafate to the Park. Expensive.
3) Hire Car.

If you want to hire a car to get to TDP only (that will make it cheaper) - that might be possible. You don't really need that for El Chalten - as its day hikes.

I would factor in some slack time into that for flight delays.

Jenny,

I'm with you on the convenience of driving around the area. The following link (in Spanish) includes web and email links to many small rental agencies in Calafate: I can't recommend one since I drove my own car while visiting there. Some of these advertise their cars as "ready to cross into Chile".

http://www.interpatagonia.com/elcalafate/alquilerdeautos.html

Best of luck!

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

So I'm thinking we will catch the bus from el Calafate to El Chalten and back again.
I only factored in 2n in El Calafate to see the glacier as I figured we would need 1 full day? Or if we catch an early morning bus from El Chalten would we have time to see the glacier in the afternoon?

Then I'm planning on busing to Puerto Natales and then hiring a car to do TDP. Then return the Car to PN and then maybe bus down to Ushuaia instead of having to get back up to El Calafate to catch a flight.

To see the glacier, you really only need an afternoon or morning. Unless you choose to do an ice trekking tour - it takes a few hours to wander the platforms at the glacier....

Getting a car from PN is realistically, not great. Why? Buses leave regularly from PN to TDP (one morning/one afternoon in high season). SO getting the bus there in the morning, you should be able to get the bus that arvo to TdP. However, you'll still need to pick up supplies etc.

To get to Ushuaia from PN means going to Punta Arenas, and then another bus down. Most likely, you'll have to overnight in Arenas. Its probably easier to go to Calafate to get a flight back.

I don't think you have enough time to do Tdp and Chalten.....Pick one and do it. Otherwise, maybe add a few extra days.

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