Highlights of Patagonia

Today you will depart from your selected airport, travelling to Chile with connecting flight(s) along the way.

Welcome to Santiago de Chile, Chile’s vibrant capital. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport by your guide, who will transfer you to your hotel. On the way, you’ll gain your first impressions of the city, beautifully set at the foot of the Andes. Your guide will go through the tour itinerary and answer any questions you may have, ensuring you feel fully prepared for the experiences ahead.

The rest of the day is at your leisure. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to begin exploring Santiago at your own pace. Stroll through the city streets, enjoy a coffee at one of the many cafés, or settle into a welcoming restaurant to sample Chilean cuisine. Alternatively, you may prefer to relax at the hotel and recharge ahead of the coming days’ adventures.

After breakfast, you’ll be collected from your hotel and head off on an exciting city tour of Chile’s vibrant capital, Santiago. The city offers a fascinating blend of historic neighbourhoods, leafy parks, and modern urban life, and on clear days, you can see the snow-capped Andes rising in the background.

The tour will begin in the historic city centre, where you’ll discover some of Santiago’s most important attractions. You’ll see the presidential palace, La Moneda, which has played a central role in Chile’s history, before continuing along charming pedestrian streets to Plaza de Armas – the city’s historic heart. Here you’ll find several of Santiago’s most iconic buildings, including the cathedral, the old post office, and City Hall.

You’ll then make your way up Cerro Santa Lucía, the historic hill where Santiago was founded in 1541. From the top, you can take in magnificent views across the city, with the Andes providing a truly spectacular backdrop.

The tour then continues past the green Parque Forestal and the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes), before visiting the charming Lastarria district, known for its cafés, restaurants, and independent boutiques. On the other side of the Mapocho River lies Bellavista, a colourful neighbourhood with a creative atmosphere, vibrant street art, and a thriving cultural scene.

The final part of the tour will take you to modern Santiago, where you’ll visit the districts of Providencia, Las Condes, and Vitacura. Here, you’ll experience wide boulevards, contemporary architecture, and Bicentenario Park – one of Santiago’s most popular green spaces among locals.

After a day filled with history, culture, and vibrant city life, you’ll be driven back to your hotel.

There’s nothing planned for today, so you’re free to decide how you’d like to spend your time in Santiago.

The Chilean capital offers plenty of exciting possibilities, whether you’d like to delve into the city’s history, savour the local cuisine, or simply soak up its distinctive urban atmosphere. Take a stroll through the charming neighbourhoods of Lastarria or Bellavista, where cafés, restaurants, art galleries, and colourful murals bring the streets to life. If shopping is on your agenda, you’ll find both exclusive boutiques and large shopping centres in the districts of Providencia and Las Condes.

If you’d like to see Santiago from above, take the funicular or cable car up to Cerro San Cristóbal. From the top, you’ll enjoy magnificent views across the city with the Andes rising in the background.

You can also visit one of the city’s many museums, stroll through its green parks, or settle down at one of the many cafés to enjoy a glass of Chilean wine or a delicious lunch.

If you’d like to experience more of the area around Santiago, you can join an exciting optional tour to the Pacific coast, including visits to the colourful port city of Valparaíso and the elegant seaside town of Viña del Mar.

It’s time to bid farewell to Chile’s capital and continue your tour south to Patagonia, more specifically to Puerto Natales.

You’ll be collected from your hotel in Santiago de Chile and driven to the airport. Upon arrival in Puerto Natales, your driver will meet you and take you to your hotel. Along the way, you’ll enjoy your first glimpses of Patagonia’s wild landscapes, a striking contrast to the bustling city and surroundings of Santiago.

Puerto Natales is a charming town, beautifully set on the shores of the Última Esperanza fjord, and serves as the gateway to some of South America’s most sought-after natural wonders.

Spend the rest of the day strolling along the harbour promenade, taking in the views across the fjord and the snow-capped peaks on the horizon, or settle down at one of the town’s cafés or restaurants to sample local specialities such as Patagonian lamb, fresh fish, and seafood.

Tomorrow brings one of the tour’s greatest natural highlights, as you set off to experience the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park.

Today’s journey takes you to Torres del Paine National Park – one of Patagonia’s most iconic natural areas.

Covering around 2,400 km² in the southern Andes, the national park impresses with its dramatic mountain massifs, mighty glaciers, turquoise lakes, thundering waterfalls, and lush valleys. It is best known for the distinctive granite towers, Torres del Paine, which have given the park its name.

From Puerto Natales, you’ll travel north through the open Patagonian landscape. Along the way, you’ll pass lakes, forests, and vast plains, and on clear days, there is a good chance of spotting condors soaring high above the mountains. Your first stop is the viewpoint at Lago Sarmiento, where you can take in sweeping panoramic views of the national park. You’ll then continue to Laguna Amarga, renowned for its beautiful setting and often visited by flamingos. The area around Laguna Amarga and Lago Sarmiento is also one of the best places in the park to catch sight of the elusive puma – if luck is on your side.

You’ll then continue to Lake Nordenskjöld and the viewpoint at Salto Grande, where vast volumes of water thunder through a narrow gorge, linking Lakes Nordenskjöld and Pehoé. At Lake Pehoé, you’ll be treated to magnificent views of the distinctive Cuernos del Paine, beautifully reflected in the turquoise waters.

At Lake Grey, there is time for a lunch break at a hotel overlooking the lake and the impressive Grey Glacier. You can choose to purchase lunch (at your own expense) or explore the lakeside surroundings before the tour continues.

Torres del Paine is home to abundant wildlife, and along the way you may be lucky enough to spot guanacos, rheas, foxes, and condors in their natural habitat.

On your way back to Puerto Natales, you’ll visit the Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument, an impressive cave complex of great archaeological and palaeontological importance. In the late 19th century, remains of the extinct giant ground sloth, Mylodon darwinii, were discovered here, and today a statue of the animal stands at the entrance to the largest cave. The cave is around 30 metres high, 50 metres wide, and extends nearly 200 metres into the rock.

After a day filled with unforgettable experiences in Patagonia’s wild landscapes, you’ll return to your hotel in Puerto Natales.

Today is yours to enjoy at your leisure in Puerto Natales.

The area around Puerto Natales is renowned for its unspoilt natural beauty, so if you’re tempted by even more outdoor adventures, this is the perfect opportunity to explore further. You may also choose one of our exciting optional tours.

If you enjoy hiking, we highly recommend the popular Base Torres hike in Torres del Paine National Park. This challenging full-day trek takes you through valleys and forests and across rushing rivers, before the final steep ascent rewards you with breathtaking views of the three majestic granite towers of Torres del Paine, rising dramatically above a turquoise glacial lake – an experience you’ll never forget.

If you prefer a more relaxed pace, join a boat trip to the impressive Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers. As you sail through beautiful fjord landscapes framed by forests and mountains, you may even be lucky enough to spot seals, cormorants, and other birdlife along the way.

You may also choose to stay in Puerto Natales and take a stroll along the charming waterfront promenade, where you can soak up views of the fjord and the surrounding mountains. In the town centre, you’ll find small shops, cafés, and restaurants, and you can also visit one of the local museums to gain an insight into the region’s history, its indigenous peoples, and the early explorers who ventured into this rugged landscape.

Whether you opt for a relaxing day in Puerto Natales or another adventure in the spectacular wilderness of Patagonia, more unforgettable experiences await.

It’s time to bid farewell to Chile and continue your journey to Argentina. Early in the morning, you’ll be collected from your hotel and driven to the bus station in Puerto Natales, where your bus to El Calafate departs. Remember to keep your passport handy, as there will be border control along the way.

The bus journey takes around 5–6 hours, so sit back and enjoy the sweeping views of Patagonia’s magnificent landscapes. The final stretch follows the iconic Ruta 40, which runs through much of Argentina along the Andes and passes some of South America’s most breathtaking scenery.

Look forward to discovering one of Argentina’s greatest natural wonders on a full-day excursion to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park.

After breakfast, you’ll be collected from your hotel and travel through the vast, open landscapes of Patagonia towards the national park. Along the way, your guide will share fascinating insights into the region’s nature and history, while you sit back and take in sweeping views of endless plains with mountains rising on the horizon.

Perito Moreno is one of the world’s most renowned glaciers – and with good reason. It forms part of Los Glaciares National Park, which is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list. The glacier stretches for around 30 kilometres and is up to 5 kilometres wide, while its immense ice wall towers more than 70 metres above Lago Argentino in places. Beneath the surface of the water, the ice continues for a further 100 metres, highlighting the glacier’s extraordinary scale. For many years, Perito Moreno was regarded as one of the world’s most stable glaciers, but like many others, it is now affected by climate change.

Upon arrival at the National Park, the day’s first experience begins with a boat trip on Lago Argentino, taking you right up close to the impressive wall of ice. From the water, you’ll truly appreciate its immense scale, and if you’re lucky, you may even witness the spectacular calving, where vast blocks of ice break free and crash into the lake with a thunderous roar.

After the boat trip, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the area at your own pace along the National Park’s well-maintained walkways, which lead to a series of viewpoints offering panoramic views of the glacier from different angles. At the visitor centre, you can buy lunch (not included) to take with you onto the walkways and enjoy while gazing out at the mighty wall of ice.

After a few hours at Perito Moreno, the tour returns to El Calafate, where you’ll have the rest of the day at your leisure.

You’ll decide how to spend your day in El Calafate.

After yesterday’s unforgettable experience at the Perito Moreno glacier, you may wish to slow the pace and soak up the relaxed atmosphere of this charming town. Settle into a cosy café, take a stroll along the shores of Lago Argentino, or browse the small shops where you’ll find local handicrafts, products made from Patagonian wool, and delicacies crafted from the region’s calafate berries. The town is named after the calafate bush, and according to an old Patagonian legend, anyone who tastes the berries will one day return to Patagonia.

If you’re curious about the region’s fascinating natural landscapes, you can visit Glaciarium – a modern museum where you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Patagonia’s glaciers, their development, and their significance to the surrounding scenery. You may also choose to visit a traditional estancia to experience life on the vast steppe and learn about the proud traditions that still shape this part of Argentina.

However you decide to spend your day, El Calafate is the perfect place to soak up the unique tranquillity and dramatic natural beauty that define Patagonia.

This morning, you’ll be collected from your hotel and continue your tour through the Patagonian landscape to the small mountain village of El Chaltén, beautifully set at the foot of the Andes.

The journey takes around three hours, passing through the endless Patagonian steppe where guanacos, rheas, and foxes are often spotted, while the jagged silhouettes of the Andes gradually draw closer. On clear days, the iconic Mount Fitz Roy appears on the horizon. Part of the route once again follows the legendary Ruta 40, so sit back and take in the sweeping views of these vast, open landscapes along the way.

Upon arrival in El Chaltén, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Founded in 1985, the town is Argentina’s youngest. Today, it’s known as the country’s hiking capital, and most visitors come here to experience the breathtaking scenery of Los Glaciares National Park.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Take the opportunity to stroll through the charming town or simply soak up the views of the dramatic mountain peaks ahead of tomorrow’s adventures.

You’ll have the day at your leisure in El Chaltén. Although the town itself is small, the surrounding area offers some of Patagonia’s most spectacular natural experiences and hiking trails, with plenty of opportunities to explore dramatic mountain landscapes, glaciers, and turquoise alpine lakes.

Depending on your fitness level, you can set off independently along one of the many well-marked trails or choose a guided optional tour. You might hike to the beautiful Laguna Capri, where Mount Fitz Roy is reflected in the lagoon’s calm waters, or take on the more challenging full-day trek to Laguna de los Tres, rewarded with the iconic view of the turquoise mountain lake at the foot of majestic Fitz Roy. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an excursion to Lago del Desierto, where a boat trip is combined with a short hike through magnificent natural surroundings.

If you fancy a more relaxed day, you can simply soak up the laid-back atmosphere in El Chaltén. The town’s cosy cafés, restaurants, and small shops invite you to slow down and unwind, all set against a backdrop of striking mountain peaks.

Please note: If you choose to explore any of the surrounding hiking trails, you will need to purchase an entrance ticket to Los Glaciares National Park. Tickets can be bought at the entrance to the national park or online.

It’s time to bid farewell to Patagonia and continue your journey to Argentina’s vibrant capital.

You will be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport in El Calafate. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, your driver will be waiting to take you to your centrally located hotel.

You’ll have the rest of the day at your leisure in Buenos Aires.

Today, some of Buenos Aires’ most iconic attractions await.

After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and taken on an exciting city tour through Argentina’s lively capital.

The tour will begin at Plaza de Mayo, the city’s historic and political heart, which for centuries has been the setting for some of Argentina’s most significant events. Here, you’ll see, among other landmarks, the iconic pink presidential palace, Casa Rosada.

From here, you’ll continue to the charming district of San Telmo, renowned for its cobbled streets, historic buildings, and authentic atmosphere. This is also where you’ll find the famous San Telmo Market, where local delicacies, handicrafts, and antiques create a wonderfully lively setting.

The tour then moves on to La Boca, where the colourful houses lining the famous Caminito street create a truly distinctive atmosphere. Once a bustling port district, the area was home to immigrants who built their houses from leftover materials and painted them with spare paint from the ships. As there was rarely enough paint to cover an entire house, the neighbourhood developed its characteristic patchwork of bright colours. Today, La Boca is alive with energy, music, and local culture, and you’ll clearly sense the city’s deep passion for tango.

The city tour then continues through Puerto Madero, the city’s former docklands, now transformed into a modern district filled with elegant buildings, stylish restaurants, and pleasant promenades along the waterfront.

You will also drive through the leafy neighbourhood of Palermo, passing some of the city’s most famous parks and attractions, including the Botanical Garden, the Planetarium, the racecourse, and Argentina’s renowned polo ground.

The day’s final stop is the elegant Recoleta district, one of Buenos Aires’ most exclusive areas. Its impressive mansions, wide boulevards, and French-inspired architecture reflect the prosperity that earned the city the nickname “Paris of South America”. Here, you will visit the famous cemetery where many notable Argentinians are buried, including Eva Perón – the nation’s much-loved First Lady, better known as Evita.

The city tour takes place by minibus, with stops along the way.

In the afternoon, you will return to your hotel, and the rest of the day is at your leisure, giving you the freedom to explore the city at your own pace.

You’ll have the next few days at your leisure to explore Buenos Aires and experience the city’s many different sides. Perhaps your city tour inspired you to return to one of the neighbourhoods, or maybe you’re tempted by entirely new experiences? Why not take a look at our optional tours and make the most of your stay.

Buenos Aires offers a wealth of cultural experiences, striking architecture, and a truly distinctive atmosphere. Wander through the city’s diverse neighbourhoods, pause at one of its charming cafés, or relax in the green parks and gardens that provide welcome respite from the buzz of city life.

If you’re interested in art and culture, you can visit some of the city’s many museums, including the renowned MALBA, dedicated to Latin American art, the impressive Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, or Museo Evita, which tells the story of Argentina’s iconic First Lady, Eva Perón.

Buenos Aires is also a true mecca for food lovers. Sample classic Argentine specialities such as empanadas, milanesas, and the famous Argentine steaks at a local parrilla (steakhouse), ideally accompanied by a glass of wine from the Mendoza region. Don’t forget to try the popular alfajores – biscuits filled with dulce de leche that can quickly become rather addictive – or taste the traditional herbal drink mate, which you’ll almost certainly spot in the hands of the local porteños.

It’s almost impossible to think of Argentina without thinking of tango, and Buenos Aires is the perfect place to experience an authentic tango show, where talented musicians and dancers bring this passionate dance to life.

If you’re tempted by even more experiences, you can choose from our exciting optional tours. For example, head to the historic town of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, visit a traditional estancia and meet the Argentine gauchos, sail through the lush waterways of the Tigre Delta, discover the city from the saddle on a guided cycling tour, or join a foodie tour or an Argentine cookery class.

It’s time to say adiós to South America and head home with your suitcase full of unforgettable memories.

You’ll be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport, where your journey home begins.

You’ll arrive home after an unforgettable tour of Chile and Argentina.