This trip offers the best of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia: explore breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park, explore El Calafate,and walk directly on a glacier! No vacation is truly complete without a bit of sun, so spend your last night in one of Chile’s most charming beach towns.
Day 1: SANTIAGO DE CHILE
Your private driver and English-speaking guide await you at the Santiago airport! After settling into your hotel in the heart of the Chilean capital, you’ll take a private tour of this beautiful city at the foot of the Andes with your English-speaking guide. A modern metropole, Santiago has preserved its historic neighborhoods – true artifacts of the city’s past. The visit begins in the Republica neighborhood, home to Chilean artistocrats until the end of the 20th century. You’ll make your way to the Palais de la Moneda, where you’ll wind through the charming pedestrian streets in the heart of the historic quarter to arrive at the Plaza de Armas. Next stop: the famous Mercado Central, a lively, traditional spot perfect for a midday lunch stop! After lunch you’ll go to the top of the Cerro San Cristobal for a panoramic view of the city before visiting the modern neighborhood El Bosque, home to the highest tower in Latin America.
After dinner, the evening is free for you to get settled in your accommodations and visit the neighborhood at your leisure.
Lunch at your leisure, dinner included. Night and breakfast at your four-star hotel in the heart of Santiago de Chile.
Day 2: SANTIAGO DE CHILE – PUNTA ARENAS – PUERTO NATALES: Patagonia
For your stay in Patagonia, we recommend that you bring warm clothing with you regardless of the season (fleece jacket, raincoat/windbreaker) – the region tends to be quite windy! Don’t forget your sunglasses and sunscreen as well!
Today your private driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas.
Welcome to Patagonia! In Punto Arenas, your private driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Puerto Natales, the small city that serves as the gateway to the heart of Chilean Patagonia.
The remainder of the day is free for you to explore as you wish!
Lunch at your leisure, dinner included. Night and breakfast at your cozy four-star lodge in Puerto Natales.
Day 3: PUERTO NATALES – ESTANCIA LA PENINSULA – PUERTO NATALES
After breakfast, you’ll head to the docks at Puerto Boris to cross the Fjord de Ultima Esperanza. You’ll arrive at the Estancia La Peninsula around 10 o’clock. After a presentation of the property, you’ll choose an activity between horseback riding, hiking, or a ride on quads – regardless of the activity you choose, you’ll be immersed in breathtaking beauty and calm!
A little after noon you’ll sit down to a typical lunch at the Estancia, followed by a demonstration by the herding dogs. You’ll also learn about sheep shearing methods; raising and sheering sheep is the main activity of the Estancia.
After a bit of free time to enjoy the Estancia you’ll return to Puerto Natales at the end of the afternoon.
Lunch and dinner included. Night and breakfast at your cozy four-star lodge in Puerto Natales.
Day 4: PUERTO NATALES – BALMACEDA and SERRANO GLACIERS – TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
This morning you’ll hop aboard a boat to visit gorgeous, imposing glaciers! You’ll navigate your way to Monte Balmaceda in O’Higgins Park. From the boat, you can admire the Coihue, Lenga and Canelo forest, as well as local sea lions! You’ll glide past the Balmaceda glacier before disembarking for an hour-long hike to admire the Serrano glacier.
After the hike you’ll leave the group to board a motor boat, disembarking at an Estancia for lunch before returning to the boat to glide up the Serrano river. Along the way, admire the beauty of the typical Patagonian landscapes and the icefield’s myriad glaciers, including the Tyndall glacier and various suspended glaciers. Little by little the famous “Cuernos del Paine” will come into view!
In the late afternoon, you’ll disembark and head to your hotel.
Lunch and dinner included. Night and breakfast at your hotel in Torres del Paine with breathtaking views.
Day 5: TORRES DEL PAINE – GREY GLACIER
Rendez-vous at your hotel’s reception desk to begin your glacier exploration! You’ll spend the morning aboard the Grey Lake II, navigating your way to the Grey glacier. You’ll enjoy an up-close and personal view of this breathtaking 65-foot tall block of ice. The Grey glacier is part of the southern icefield, the third largest ice cap in the world, after Antarctica and Greenland!
The rest of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy Torres del Paine Park at your leisure. Hikes are available for all levels, many lasting an hour and a half to four hours, so why not go lace up your shoes and explore?
Lunch at your leisure. Dinner included. Night and breakfast at your hotel in Torres del Paine with breathtaking views.
Day 6: TORRES DEL PAINE – EL CALFATE (Argentina)
This morning is free, so rest your feet or go for a lovely hike around Grey Lake before meeting your private English-speaking guide and private driver at noon for a visit of this famous park, truly a Patagonian gem!
The park is teeming with wildlife, and with a touch of luck you’ll see Darwin’s rheas, condors, southern crested caracaras and wolves!
After lunch, you’ll finish your exploration at Laguna Amarga, before boarding a bus in the late afternoon. Next stop: El Calafate, the heart of Argentine Patagonia!
Lunch included, dinner at your leisure. Night and breakfast at your cozy four-star hotel in El Calafate.
Day 7: EL CALAFATE
Adventure awaits! Today you’ll have a chance to walk on the Perito Moreno glacier, perhaps the most famous and grandiose in all of Patagonia!
A transfer will bring you to the Los Glaciares National Park. You’ll then make your way to the glacier on foot. Your guide will help you put on your crampons, permitting you to walk directly on the ice. You’ll discover the cracks, streams and small lagoons embedded in in the imposing glacier’s surface as you walk on the crackling ice for an hour and a half! While the surface of the glacier is irregular, rest assured that it is firm and safe, and the trek itself is of moderate difficulty.
After this unique glacier experience, your driver will take you back to your hotel in El Calafate. Put up your feet and enjoy the view!
Meals at your leisure. Night and breakfast at your cozy four-star hotel in El Calafate.
Day 8: EL CALAFATE – Gourmet Glaciers Cruise
Get ready to enjoy the impressive view of Los Glaciares National Park from a unique angle – on a gourmet cruise!
A transfer will bring you to the port of La Soledad to embark on the Maria Turquesa Cruiser, where you’ll enjoy the best views – and meal! – from the boat’s Premium deck. The day begins on the beautiful waters of Lago Argentino. The boat will then take you towards Punto Avellaneda, Boca del Diablo and the Spegazzini Glacier. Here you’ll stop for a short trek to observe the flora and fauna, with a view of the old Settlers’ Station. Next, you’ll visit the Upsala Canal and navigate to the Herminita Peninsula for a panoramic view of the glacier.
After a delicious, six-course gourmet lunch on the deck, you’ll navigate to the Canal de los Tempanos, seeing the famous Perito Moreno glacier from a new angle. Enjoy alcoholic beverages with lunch, as well as tea, herbal infusions and other non-alcoholic beverages throughout the cruise.
Lunch included, dinner at your leisure. Night and breakfast at your cozy four-star hotel in El Calafate.
Day 9: EL CALAFATE – PUERTO NATALES – PUNTA ARENAS
This morning a transfer will take you to the bus terminal in El Calafate for your return to Puerto Natales in Chile. You’ll be greeted by your private driver upon arrival in Puerto Natales, who will take you to your hotel in Punto Arenas.
Lunch included, dinner at your leisure. Night and breakfast at your charming boutique hotel in Punto Arenas.
Day 10: PUNTO ARENAS – SANTIAGO
After breakfast, your private driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Santiago de Chile.
When you arrive in Santiago, simply cross the street from the airport and rest up in your hotel!
Lunch and dinner at your leisure. Night and breakfast at your conveniently located, four-star hotel in Santiago.
Day 11: SANTIAGO DE CHILE – VALPARAISO AND VINA DEL MAR
After breakfast, your private English-speaking guide and driver will take you to the gorgeous Pacific port city of Valparaiso. En route, you’ll discover the agricultural Curacavi Valley and the wine-producing Casablanca Valley. In Valparaiso, you’ll see the Congreso, the Plaza O’Higgins and the Plaza Italia. You’ll visit la Sebastiana, home of 1971 Nobel Laureate for literature, Pablo Neruda. You’ll take a stroll around the Cerro Concepcion to see the Paseo Atkinson, Paseo Gervasoni and the Paseo Yougoslavo. Don’t forget to charge your camera – the walk is picturesque! The funicular will take you down to the Plaza Sotomayor, and you’ll then head to the Muelle Prat port. Another funicular will take you to the Paseo 21 de Mayo. Perched up high you’ll have a breathtaking view of the city, including the Iglesia Matriz de Valparaiso, the stock exchange, the Mercurio building, and the Plaza Victoria.
Next stop: Viña del Mar, a charming neighboring city, where you’ll discover the Avenida Peru and Acapulco beach. You’ll return to Valparaiso with your driver this evening.
Meals at your leisure. Night and breakfast at your boutique hotel in Cerro Alegre, with fantastic views of Valparaiso.
Day 12: VALPARAISO – SANTIAGO DE CHILE AIRPORT
Your private driver will take you to the Santiago de Chile airport for your return flight.
Classic Chile and Stunning Patagonia
From $5,135/person
Rate based on double occupancy
Included
• Domestic airfare (Santiago – Punto Arenas and Punto Arenas – Santiago)
• Hotels with breakfast
• Meals as indicated
• Transport as indicated
• Activities as indicated
• Entry tickets for sights and activities as indicated
Not included
• International airfare
• Meals, unless indicated
• Beverages, unless indicated
• National Park entrance fees: $36/person
• Gratuities
• Personal insurance
• Personal expenses
