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Patagonia on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Patagonia on a budget is possible at about US$100 per person per day, using hostels, buses and free hikes. The glacier excursions are the main splurge, so choose them carefully.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | US$30 | US$70 | US$180 |
| Food & drink | US$30 | US$55 | US$100 |
| Sights & tickets | US$25 | US$80 | US$150 |
| Local transport | US$15 | US$30 | US$70 |
| Per person, per day | US$100 | US$235 | US$500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Patagonia day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The hike to Laguna de los Tres below Mount Fitz Roy (El Chaltén)
- The Laguna Torre trail (El Chaltén)
- Mirador de los Cóndores and Mirador de las Águilas above El Chaltén
- The Chorrillo del Salto waterfall near El Chaltén
- The Costanera lakeshore in El Calafate
- Long summer evenings with light until after 22:00
Cheap eats
- Empanadas: about US$1.50–3 each
- Supermarket picnic for the trail: about US$8–12
- Choripán (sausage sandwich): about US$4–6
- Pizza or milanesa in a casual restaurant: about US$10–15
- Craft beer in El Chaltén: about US$4–6
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels in central El Calafate and El Chaltén, with dorm beds and simple rooms at about US$25–60. Campsites in El Chaltén are cheaper still; book ahead for January and February.
Getting around cheaply
Buses link El Calafate with El Chaltén (about 3 hours) and Perito Moreno (about 1h20). In El Chaltén, every trailhead is a walk from town. Shuttles meet flights at El Calafate airport.
A sample budget day
- Morning: start early on the Laguna Torre trail (free)
- Lunch: picnic from the supermarket by the lake
- Afternoon: return to El Chaltén and the Mirador de los Cóndores
- Evening: empanadas and a craft beer
- Total: about US$100 including a hostel bed and food
More ways to save
- Pack layers and a windproof jacket rather than buying gear locally.
- Bring a refillable bottle; streams near El Chaltén are often drinkable.
- Cook in hostel kitchens.
- Book buses and boats a day or two ahead to adjust to the weather.
- Check the current national park fee before you go; it changes often.
- Travel in the shoulder season for lower rates.
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Common questions
Can you visit Patagonia on a budget?
Yes, at about US$100 a day per person with hostels, buses and free hikes around El Chaltén.
Are the hikes in El Chaltén free?
Yes. The trails to Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre start in the village and cost nothing.
How do I get from El Calafate to El Chaltén?
By bus, about 3 hours, several times a day in season.