Patagonia Runcation: Trail Running El Chaltén March 2024

El Chaltén, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina

RT
Runcation Travel
  • Email address verified
57 reviews
Feb 25 - Mar 3, 2024
Group size: 8 - 14
Patagonia Runcation: Trail Running El Chaltén March 2024
El Chaltén, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina

Runcation Travel
  • Email address verified
57 reviews

Feb 25 - Mar 3, 2024
Group size: 8 - 14

About this trip

If you've dreamt of exploring Patagonia by trail running while staying at a combination of comfortable and scenic hotels, this is the trip for you. Throughout the trip, we'll leave tour buses and crowds behind in order to facilitate pristine Patagonian trail running adventures on this running retreat. 


Our guided trail running trip will start in El Calafate, where we will begin our adventure with a visit to Patagonia’s most famous glacier and one of the world's only advancing glaciers. We’ll get up close and personal to El Perito Moreño with a boat tour to view this amazing glacier from the water! We'll then explore further south to our next destination of El Chaltén, home to Monte Fitzroy, Cerro Torre, craft breweries, pristine lakes, glaciers, rivers, grasslands, and some of the world's most spectacular mountain vistas. Our curated hotels offer the comforts of 3-star lodging with authentic Argentinian breakfasts and breathtaking lake and mountain views. In between we'll trail run through Los Glaciares National Park and visit unique Argentinian estancias and private nature reserves. We'll trail run from these base camps, where vistas of mountain spires, glaciers, and remote lakes are paired with mate, homemade pizza, typical Argentinian parrillas of roasted meat, ample Malbec, and artisanal beer brewed with special character and history unique to each location. Possible wildlife sightings range from Huemul (patagonian deer) to Condors and Pumas. 


This running retreat is the perfect mixture of comfort and exploring a mixture of perfectly runnable and more wild, off-the-beaten path trails of some of Patagonia's most spectacular sites. On this guided trail running tour with all logistics, lodging, and transport taken care of, enjoy a break from winter and enjoy a Patagonian summer on our running retreat.


Trip Difficulty: Level 2 

https://runcation.org/which-trip-is-right-for-me

Please note, this is a LEVEL 2 trip. Runners must be able to complete the full distance each day on the trip itinerary (7-15 miles) with significant amounts of elevation gain and loss (1,500-3,700 feet per day) in mountainous environments, on technical trails, and at times in unfavorable weather conditions in the mountains of Patagonia. It is expected that all participants will run whenever the guide determines is feasible (including downhill and flat sections). We cannot accommodate walkers or hikers on this particular adventure. 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! 


This trip requires a minimum of 8 to run. Please do not purchase flights until confirming with retreat organizer. 

What’s included

Entrance fees to National Parks

Perito Moreño Glacier tour, including gear, guide, entrance fee, boat tickets, and transport costs 

Transport between the different runs and lodging throughout the trip

Transfer to a remote, renovated Argentinian estancia including a guided trail run on private trails and a unique gastronomy experience with lunch and wine included

Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations

Double accommodation in 3-star hotels in El Calafate and El Chaltén

Knowledgable expert Patagonia mountain guide and running coach along the entire route

A 8:1 ratio of guide to participants

Not included

International airfare

Alcoholic beverages and lunch/snacks during the day

Travel Insurance

Dinners 

Extra expenses due to a change in itinerary or in case of you having to shorten the day or trip as a whole (including personal return trips to airport/next destination/etc. 

Before You Go

Before You Book:

This trip requires a minimum of 8 participants to run. After booking, please contact the trip organizer before booking your flights and other travel plans. 


Passport:

Must have a valid passport valid through 6 months upon date of travel.


Travel Insurance:

Must have travel insurance prior to start of trip. 

Weather:

Although this time of year is summer/fall in Patagonia, weather in the mountains, in Patagonia in particular, is variable and trail conditions are subject to change on an hourly basis! Patagonia is renown for its wind and changing weather in particular. Routes and itinerary subjective to change based on the safety of conditions and climate of the trail at the time of the trip. Please pack layers and options for multiple climates accordingly (a detailed packing list will be sent upon registration).


Trip Difficulty: Level 2 

https://runcation.org/which-trip-is-right-for-me


Visa Requirements:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Argentina.html


Current CDC Recommendations:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/argentina

Available Packages

Trip Price
$2,295
Deposit:$750

Available options

12-week training program for this hut-to-hut adventure
$195
8-week (shelby)
$130

Itinerary

Welcome to Patagonia!
Day 1

Day 1: Our trip will start in the afternoon at our hotel in El Calafate to check in and get settled followed by a meet-and-greet and orientation meeting to meet the guides and go over the logistics and itinerary of the upcoming week! We'll stay in a comfortable 3/4-star hotel 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. 


Mileage: Optional shakeout run in the afternoon 4-6 miles along Lago Argentina

Double accommodation in 3/4-star hotel included

Your Organizer


RT
Runcation Travel
57 reviews
Runcation Travel creates international running adventures for runners. Instead of having to squeeze in a run on vacation, your run becomes the vehicle to explore and learn different cultures, countries, and landscapes. Our current runcations and trail running trips include hut-to-hut running adventures, retreats, training camps, and guided trail tours of the best trail running in the Italian Dolomites, Chamonix Mont Blanc, Patagonia, Peru, Slovenia, the Balkans, Pyrenees, California's Sierra Nevada, and more. Learn more at Runcation.org

Reviews

SH
The Runcation team were super smooth to communicate with, pulling together a plan that suited my solo run/hike plan for TMB in August. The organisation was easy, the program included all the necessary information, and the luggage service was incredible and made the fastpack fully possible. Coming from Australia and never been on these trails - Runcation took away all the ‘unknown’ in making this adventure epic. Gaia maps was very accurate and had no issues throughout the entire trip, and was easy to change trails to fit in all that I wanted to explore/see/do. Runcation team also emailed information re: major weather events, trail challenges to help preparation. Totally recommend this team for any adventure, the TMB was such a great adventure, will be doing more in the future. Thanks 🤩
By Sarns H for Sarnia's Custom Self-Guided TMB Aug 2-6, 2024 on Sep 07, 2024
This was a trip of a lifetime for us. As mountain runners, we couldn't have been in a better place. Our guide was so accommodating, fun, and knowledgable. We were so lucky to have such a wonderful group of runners who all seemed to be at the same level. The hotels were just incredible, the food so delicious, and because I've talked about this trip so much, I'm sure that some of my friends will be signing up. Thank you Runcation!! I'm not sure how we can ever top this trip. Freddi and Brian
By Freddi T for All Levels Cortina Runcation: Best Trail Runs in the Dolomites on Sep 05, 2024
Such an incredible time!! Great planning by Runcation, I had zero issues and everything went perfectly :) I felt safe traveling solo having the trip planned for me and would highly recommend!!
By Natalie M for Self-Guided Tour du Mont Blanc Trail Running Vacation on Aug 26, 2024
JS
As an older couple (in our mid-60s), we chose a self-guided Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) option to travel at our own pace. Given we only decided to book the tour relatively late, we knew accommodation along the route would be challenging to secure. So, we were delighted to leave all the planning logistics in the experienced hands of Runcation. The team devised an ideal schedule to suit our requirements, successfully booked all our accommodation and, most importantly, arranged the much-appreciated bag transfers. To ensure we stayed on track, Runcation provided detailed daily notes and colour-coded Gaia-friendly gpx files for each tour day, with options to make the route simpler or more challenging, depending on how we were travelling. They even provided suggested packing lists. When we hit an unexpected “road bump” (i.e. succumbed to traveller’s tummy), Runcation responded exceptionally quickly to our messages, providing solutions to the immediate issues. Despite the illness, we finished the TMB with huge smiles and memories for a lifetime. We highly recommend Runcation to anyone considering the TMB!
By Julie S for Julie's Custom Self-Guided TMB Aug 1-9. 2024 on Aug 21, 2024
RB
Absolutely stunning scenery and trails. Dario was amazing and we had a very lovely like minded and capability group. Dario was very accommodating for those with injuries and made sure everyone could take part without slowing others down or shorten routes for us who wanted to crack on. I only booked for the first 3 days which was really only 2 days of running, the last 3 days would have been preferred if an option. Hotel was lovely, clean, very spacious rooms, great location and epic breakfast. Definitely keen for another trip in the Dolomites or over to Slovenia. Fantastic trip. Rebecca (Bec)
By Rebecca B for All Levels Cortina Runcation: Best Trail Runs in the Dolomites on Aug 20, 2024
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References

Highest recommendation! So many memories and so many lifetime views! If you've never been on a run vacation, make this company the one you use! They've thought out the best routes, best lodging, and excellent food. Mega!!!
By 534mu5 D on 23 Jun, 2024
My husband and I went on the Hut to Hut run in the Dolomites, July 2022. What a luxury to have all accommodations booked and luggage transport taken care of, for us! The scenery was unimaginable, and you just can't imagine the beauty-you have to be there! We had 8-15 miles runs each day and felt challenged by the ascents and terrain, but not defeated. (We are from Ohio, NO moutains.) The runcation organizer, Liz and guide, Dario took care of all of the logistics and it was amazing to just have to cover ground an eat a bunch of great food! Thanks for a fantastic experience.
By Amanda F on 21 Jul, 2022
The tldr: Do it! This was an amazingly well planned trip (thoughtful planning, clearly),, the runs and views were unforgettable, and I'm already looking at the next one I can go on. The longer version: Runcation in Patagonia was amazing. Every thing was well-planned, the views were unforgettable, the crew was the best you could ask for, we stayed at nice spots with great staff...I could go on and on. Also, as someone who is super type-A, I really appreciate all of the early communication of expectations, what to pack, itineraries, and super quick responses from Liz.
By Marne P on 05 Jan, 2020