Patagonia & Beyond: A 14-Day Chile and Argentina Expedition
For this 14-day journey through Chile and Argentina you will stay in the Andes and in South America’s most beautiful National Park. You will explore the granite peaks of the famous Torres del Paine and camp near the peaks of Fitz Roy. With your canoe you will explore the lakes and rivers of Tierra del Fuego in Ushuaia. Besides hiking, glacier exploration, horseback riding and a boat trip of unmatched beauty you will also experience the cultures of these two countries. The end of the journey will be in the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires.
What's included
Itinerary
Welcome to Patagonia! Upon arrival at Punta Arenas Airport, you will be greeted by your private guide and transferred to your hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring the city, visiting the Main Square, monuments dedicated to the native peoples, and the local museums, including exhibitions on Charles Darwin’s expeditions. End your day strolling along the coastal boardwalk, enjoying the endless southern sunset and the dramatic winds that sweep across the Magallanes Strait.
After breakfast, depart Punta Arenas for Agua Fresca Bay, 27 km south. Kayak along serene waters surrounded by forests and wildlife, guided by experts. Enjoy a homemade lunch highlighting local flavors, then set out for a horseback ride across the prairies and forested lands, culminating in a panoramic view of Tierra del Fuego. Return to Punta Arenas in the evening for an overnight stay.
Early morning, take a boat trip through the Magallanes Strait to Magdalena and Santa Marta Islands. Observe colonies of over 120,000 Magellanic penguins, sea lions and cormorants. Afterwards, transfer by bus to Puerto Natales, a charming gateway town to Torres del Paine National Park. Stroll along the lakefront and explore local shops and bakeries.
Begin your Torres del Paine adventure with a bus transfer from Puerto Natales. Enter the park and walk to your camp or lodge, choosing from rustic tents or the 5-star Hotel Las Torres. Hike to the Base of the Torres for a breathtaking view of the granite towers and glacier-fed lake. Return to your lodge for a warm dinner amidst the Patagonian wilderness.
Enjoy a breakfast at your lodge before embarking on optional day hikes. Take the ferry across Pehoe Lake to Paine Grande, admiring the W-Trekking route and the iconic Cuernos. Hike to Glacier Grey Lookout for an awe-inspiring view of the massive ice formations. Return by ferry and bus to Puerto Natales for overnight rest.
Drive from the Andes in Chile over to El Calafate in Argentina. The drive is stunning and along the way you can see lots of guanacos as well as other wildlife. The drive takes around 5 hours and you will arrive at your hotel in time for dinner.
Today, you set out for El Pilar trailhead very early in the morning to begin your 12km hike through the forest and alongside several glaciers to reach the Laguna de los Tres. You make a short stop at the viewpoint of Piedras Blancas to take in the breathtaking view of the hanging glaciers and then continue your hike to the Poincenot Camping, where you spend the night within the national park, in the midst of the highest peaks of the Andes.
Wake early to photograph Mount Fitz Roy at sunrise. Hike along lagoons Madre and Hija, descend into Torre Valley, and visit Laguna Torre and Mt Torre. Return to Chaltén in the evening to rest after a full day of trekking.
After breakfast, you go back to El Calafate to stroll through this so cute city. Originally it was called Calafate because of the amount of berries that used to grow here and now are sold in the markets. The hike takes a half day excursion to Glaciers National Park where you will walk through 3 km of paths to get close to the glaciers in a boat and watch the ice cracking.
Today, you depart for Ushuaia, “fin del mundo” (end of the world). This is the southernmost city in the world! After checking into your hotel, you take a hike to the Esmeralda Lagoon, situated at the bottom of the Ojo de Albino glacier. The trails follow partly forested paths and cross some rivers and streams on the way to this magnificent place. In the evening you stay in a small cabin in the Tierra Mayor valley and enjoy a local Patagonian dinner.
Get to know Tierra del Fuego National Park. This first day in Ushuaia will be a complete adventure: you will follow forest paths, canoe along the rivers and lagoons to arrive at Lapataia Bay. You will be able to see and learn about the native flora and fauna and the unique landscapes of this part of the world as well as the history of the Land of Fire.
Fly to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, and embark on a half-day city bike tour. This will take you through all the major sights of the area, as well as the historic buildings, the colorful streets, the local market stalls and the vibrant culture in between. In the afternoon you will return to your hotel to relax and to enjoy a dip in the pool. The rest of the day is at leisure.
On your last day in South America you will spend the whole day discovering the great city of Buenos Aires on foot or by bike again. You have plenty of time to visit new places or revisit an area you didn’t have enough time yesterday. Feel free to see great examples of architecture and the great culture of the city. In the evening we will see a traditional Tango show and have an Argentinian dinner.
After breakfast, your private transfer will take you to Buenos Aires Airport for your departure, concluding your unforgettable tailored Patagonian adventure.
