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Heart of Patagonia

12 daysArgentina, Chile

Travel through South America on this Patagonia guided tour, crossing Chile and Argentina to experience one of the world’s most remote and striking regions. Visit Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares national parks, cruise past towering icebergs and walk beneath the peaks of the Andes. Learn about traditional ranch life at an estancia, meet a glacier expert and discover how climate change is shaping the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Along the way, explore Santiago and Buenos Aires, gaining insight into the political and cultural histories of South America’s southern capitals.

Length
12 days
Route
Santiago to Buenos Aires
Meals
11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
Style
Regional
Group size
24

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Highlights

  • Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
  • From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with a local specialty representing the destination
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Top-rated dining, from farm-to-table to local restaurants
  • 4 & 5-star stays
  • Deluxe coach travel and select flights

Itinerary

  1. SantiagoDays 1–2
  2. Puerto NatalesDays 3–4
  3. Torres del Paine National ParkDays 5–6
  4. El CalafateDays 7–9
  5. Buenos AiresDays 10–12
Day 1Touchdown in ChileSantiago

Welcome to Santiago, Chile’s cosmopolitan capital framed by the snow-capped Andes and the Pacific coast. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Upon arrival, settle in, and meet your Travel Director and fellow guests. Enjoy a relaxed dinner together, it’s a chance to get to know your traveling companions and look ahead to the experiences that await.

  • Dinner in Santiago

Meals: Dinner

Stay: NOI Vitacura, Santiago, Santiago

Day 2Sights of SantiagoSantiago

Explore Santiago with your Local Specialist, uncovering stories etched into its neoclassical landmarks. Admire the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, a symbol of colonial endurance, and browse the bustling Central Market, renowned for its ironwork and seafood heritage. Take in panoramic views from Parque Bicentenario. At Pueblito Los Dominicos, meet artisans from southern Chile who transform horsehair into traditional crafts inspired by the nation’s heritage on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience. Learn about their techniques, try your hand at the delicate weaving process and support a community keeping this rare tradition alive.

  • Santiago City Tour with Local Specialist
  • Visit Pueblito Los Dominicos

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: NOI Vitacura, Santiago, Santiago

Day 3On to Puerto NatalesSantiago · Puerto Natales

Fly south to Punta Arenas, a historic port once vital to Antarctic exploration. From here, journey across the windswept Patagonian steppe to Puerto Natales, a quiet frontier town on the fjord-like Seno Última Esperanza. With its glacier-fed waters and distant granite peaks, this remote outpost offers your first glimpse of Patagonia’s awe-inspiring scale and solitude.

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Costa Australis, Puerto Natales, Puerto Natales

Day 4Última Esperanza FjordPuerto Natales

Cross the waters of Última Esperanza Fjord by boat, arriving at Estancia La Península: a working Patagonian ranch set amidst breathtaking southern scenery. You're welcomed with traditional sopaipillas, crispy fried pumpkin dough, served with homemade jam before choosing your own way to explore the landscape. Ride horseback along trails once used by gauchos or join a guided hike through wetlands and evergreen forest, rich in birdlife and native flora. Later, gather for a slow-roasted lamb barbecue, then watch skilled sheepdogs at work and learn about shearing techniques that have shaped rural life in Patagonia for generations.

  • Estancia La Peninsula
  • Horseback Riding
  • Patagonia Hike

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Stay: Costa Australis, Puerto Natales, Puerto Natales

Day 5Puerto Natales to Torres del PaineTorres del Paine National Park

Journey through the Patagonian steppe toward Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where granite peaks, glacial rivers and sweeping plains define the landscape. As you arrive at Hotel Las Torres Patagonia, the scenery shifts to towering spires and wind-brushed grasslands. You may wish to discover the traditions of Patagonian horsemen, whose bond with the land and their horses is central to life in the south, or explore the hotel’s organic gardens and learn how sustainable practices support the fragile local ecosystem. Both experiences offer a unique window into the spirit of Patagonia.

  • Torres del Paine National Park Scenic Drive
  • Patagonian Cultural Experience
  • Tour Reserva Cerro Paine

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: Hotel Las Torres Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Torres del Paine National Park

Sightseeing Torres Del Paine, Chile
Day 6Torres del Paine National ParkTorres del Paine National Park

Explore the contrasting landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park. Visit panoramic lookouts at Puente Negro, Nordenskjöld, Sarmiento and Lake Pehoé, and witness the force of Salto Grande waterfall. Learn how the park’s unique geology and ecosystems have evolved over millennia. Pause for a gourmet al fresco lunch set against jagged peaks and open steppe. Later, follow the trail along the southern shore of Lago Gray, where calving icebergs drift from the glacier into the lake. In the evening, gather for dinner and reflect on a day immersed in Patagonia’s raw, elemental beauty.

  • Visit Torres del Paine National Park
  • Dinner in Torres del Paine

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: Hotel Las Torres Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Torres del Paine National Park

National Park Torres Del Paine Chile
Day 7El Calafate and Los Glaciares National ParkTorres del Paine National Park · El Calafate

Travel across the vast Patagonian landscapes as you journey from Chile into Argentina, heading toward the frontier town of El Calafate. Named after the native Calafate berry – a small, dark blue fruit said to ensure your return to Patagonia – this town is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. Along the way, watch the scenery shift from windswept steppe to glacial lakes and rolling hills, revealing the scale and solitude that define this southern region. With the Andes behind you and new landscapes ahead, the journey offers a striking transition between two of South America’s most remarkable wildernesses.

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Mirador del Lago, El Calafate, El Calafate

Main Avenue Of El Calafate Argentina
Day 8Glaciers of PatagoniaEl Calafate

Set out on a cruise across the glacial waters of Lake Argentino, where icebergs, mountain views and the scale of Los Glaciares National Park begin to define the day. Continue to Perito Moreno Glacier, where panoramic boardwalks reveal the full sweep of its ice front above the lake. As you explore, watch the shifting surface of the glacier and, with luck, witness a calving event as ice breaks into the water below. Return to El Calafate later in the day, with the evening free to settle back in and enjoy the town at a gentler pace.

  • Los Glaciares National Park Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Stay: Mirador del Lago, El Calafate, El Calafate

Glacier 2 El Calafate Argentina
Day 9Perito Moreno GlacierEl Calafate

Enjoy a full day at leisure in El Calafate to stroll along the shores of Lago Argentino, browse the town’s shops and cafes, or simply relax and take in the Patagonian setting at your own pace. This evening, visit Chacra Las Moras for a closer look at farming on the edge of Patagonia. Learn about the area’s productive history and join in seasonal tasks before sitting down to dinner beneath the poplars, prepared with local ingredients.

  • Farm Tour and Dinner at Finca Las Moras

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Stay: Mirador del Lago, El Calafate, El Calafate

El Calafate Argentina
Day 10Off to Buenos AiresEl Calafate · Buenos Aires

Fly north from the wilds of Patagonia to Argentina’s vibrant capital, Buenos Aires. As you leave behind the glaciers and open steppe, the landscape shifts to leafy boulevards, grand architecture and the energetic rhythms of city life – a striking contrast that highlights the diversity of Argentina’s cultural and natural landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast

Stay: Sofitel Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Sightseeing Buenos Aires, Argentina
Day 11Explore Buenos AiresBuenos Aires

Take a deep dive into Buenos Aires on a city tour that reveals the capital’s layered history and cultural contrasts. Travel along Avenida 9 de Julio past the Teatro Colón, then visit Plaza de Mayo and see Casa Rosada before stepping inside the Metropolitan Cathedral, resting place of independence hero General San Martín. Continue to the colorful streets of La Boca, then head north through Palermo to Recoleta, where the cemetery’s elaborate mausoleums house notable figures including Eva Perón. This evening, gather with your Travel Director and fellow guests for a farewell dinner at El Viejo Almacén in San Telmo. Enjoy traditional cuisine and an evocative tango show in one of the city’s most iconic venues – a fitting finale to your South American adventure.

  • Buenos Aires City Tour
  • Tango and Dinner Show

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Stay: Sofitel Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Return to Buenos Aires, Argentina
Day 12Depart Buenos AiresBuenos Aires

Your journey comes to an end as you bid farewell to your Travel Director and fellow guests before your transfer to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Walking Tour To Avenida Corrientes, Beunos Aires, Argentina

Hotels

Santiago, Chile

2 nights

NOI Vitacura, Santiago

Contemporary

Set in the upscale Vitacura district, NOI Vitacura offers sleek, contemporary comfort with views of the Andes. Close to art galleries, boutiques and restaurants, the hotel features a rooftop pool, spa and refined design – a sophisticated base for exploring Chile’s capital.

Hotel and room features

Hotel Restaurant, Bar, Pool, Room Service, Spa, Gym

Room Air Conditioning, Mini fridge, Bathrobes and Slippers, Telephone, TV, Mini Bar

Puerto Natales, Chile

2 nights

Costa Australis, Puerto Natales

Traditional

Overlooking the waters of Seno Última Esperanza, Hotel Costaustralis offers sweeping fjord views and comfortable, modern interiors. Located near the town’s waterfront promenade, it’s a convenient and scenic base for excursions to Torres del Paine and surrounding Patagonian landscapes.

Hotel and room features

Hotel Restaurant, Laundry

Room TV, Safe, Telephone, Hairdryer, Wi-Fi

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

2 nights

Hotel Las Torres Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park

TripAdvisor 4.5Traditional

Nestled at the foot of the Torres del Paine massif, Hotel Las Torres Patagonia offers unmatched access to the national park’s iconic trails. With rustic-chic rooms, on-site stables and an organic garden, the hotel blends sustainability and tradition in a dramatic setting deep within the Patagonian wilderness.

Hotel and room features

Hotel Restaurant, Spa, Bar, Room Service

Room Safe, Telephone, Wi-Fi

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Río Serrano Hotel + Spa

Contemporary

Set in the heart of Patagonia’s spellbinding landscapes, Hotel Río Serrano offers a refined retreat where contemporary comfort meets breathtaking views of Torres del Paine.

Hotel and room features

Hotel Restaurant, Spa, Pool, Gym, Bar

Room Wi-Fi

El Calafate, Argentina

3 nights

Mirador del Lago, El Calafate

Overlooking Lake Argentino and just a short walk from El Calafate’s centre, Hotel Mirador del Lago offers a comfortable stay amid Patagonia’s striking landscapes. With warm, inviting rooms, lake‑view lounges and a restaurant serving regional cuisine, it’s an ideal base for exploring nearby glaciers.

Hotel and room features

Hotel Room Service, 24-hour Front Desk

Room Mini fridge, TV, Telephone, Safe, Wi-Fi

Buenos Aires, Argentina

2 nights

Sofitel Recoleta

Contemporary

Stay at Sofitel Recoleta, a refined hotel blending French style with Argentine elegance in one of Buenos Aires’ most prestigious neighbourhoods. Located opposite Patio Bullrich and close to Recoleta’s cultural landmarks, it offers contemporary comforts, excellent dining and polished five‑star service.

Hotel and room features

Hotel Pool, Restaurant, Bar, Gym, Room Service

Room TV, Air Conditioning, Non smoking, Mini fridge, Telephone, Wi-Fi

What’s included

Optional experiences
  • Dinner at Fogón Asado

    2 hours

    $152

Dates and prices

Per person, twin share

From, per person$8,717

Choose a departure