Discover Patagonia
Travel Destinations: Patagonia, Argentina, Chile
14 Day Itinerary | Buenos Aires, San Carlos de Bariloche, Puerto Varas, Torres del Paine, El Calafate, Ushuaia
Amid the pristine landscapes of southern Argentina and Chile, snowcapped volcanoes and sparkling lakes set the backdrop for an exhilarating adventure. Experience Patagonia’s rugged natural beauty by foot, boat, and private vehicle, journeying from the idyllic town of Bariloche to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Come face-to-face with the Perito Moreno Glacier, part of the world’s third largest ice cap; visit a penguin rookery in the Beagle Channel, looking out for seabirds and sea lions; and round off your trip with a tango lesson in bustling Buenos Aires.
• Bariloche Circuito Chico tour
• Scenic lake crossing aboard the “Cruce de Lagos”
• Excursion into Torres del Paine National Park
• Guided tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier
• Indigenous History Museum Experience
Small Group
Enjoy an intimate journey with a close-knit group, blending personalized experiences with social connections.
Adventure
Explore thrilling and challenging destinations, engaging in activities such as hiking, trekking, and adrenaline-pumping experiences.
Premium
Elevate your journey with style and sophistication, offering top-notch experiences without breaking the bank.
Pre-Set
Please reach out to us for an up-to-date list of start dates for this trip.
At A Glance
Day 1 – Buenos Aires
• Arrive at any time
• Buenos Aires airport transfer
• Meet and Greet with group
Day 2 – San Carlos de Bariloche
• Transfer to airport
• Flight to San Carlos de Bariloche
• Circuito Chico Tour
Day 3 – San Carlos de Bariloche
• Day at leisure
Day 4 – Puerto Varas
• Transfer to Puerto Varas
• Cruce de los Lagos Cruise
Day 5 – Puerto Varas
• Day at leisure
Day 6 – Torres del Paine
• Transfer to Puerto Montt airport
• Flight to Puerto Natales
• Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park
Day 7 – Torres del Paine
• Torres del Paine National Park Excursion
Day 8 – El Calafate
• Private transfer to El Calafate
• Afternoon at leisure
Day 9 – El Calafate
• Perito Moreno Glacier Tour
Day 10 – Ushuaia
• Transfer to El Calafate airport
• Flight to Ushuaia
• Transfer to Ushuaia hotel
• Indigenous History Museum Experience
Day 11 – Ushuaia
• Penguin Rookery Excursion
Day 12 – Buenos Aires
• Transfer to Ushuaia airport
• Flight to Buenos Aires
• Transfer to Buenos Aires hotel
• Local Tango Lesson
Day 13 – Buenos Aires
• Buenos Aires Guided City Tour
Day 14 – Buenos AIres
• Depart at any time
Itinerary
Day 1 – Buenos Aires
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the hotel. There are no planned activities, so check in and enjoy the city.
Arrive back at your hotel in time for the Meet and Greet with your tour leader and group.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 – San Carlos de Bariloche
Catch a flight to San Carlos de Bariloche in northern Patagonia, known as Argentina’s Lake District. Enjoy the highlights of this picturesque town on a half-day tour, driving along the edge of sapphire-hued Nahuel Huapi Lake, visiting scenic Bahía López, or López Bay, and ascending Cerro Campanario for panoramic views of the surrounding forests and snowcapped peaks.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 – San Carlos de Bariloche
Spend the day on your own in Bariloche, choosing from a range of outdoor activities. Set out on a hike amid luxuriant forests and glacial lakes; explore the Lake District’s dramatic landscapes on a mountain bike; or go white-water rafting near the Chilean border. You can also choose to relax and explore charming Bariloche, sampling some of the delicious chocolate for which the town is known.
Bariloche in many ways resembles the alpine resorts of Europe. Sample a beef parrillada, or a variety of fresh salmon or lake trout, then take a day hike around Cerro Catedral or enjoy some shopping. It’s also important to know that Bariloche is famous for its quality and quantity of chocolate!
After check in, meet with your guides to plan your excursions for the upcoming days.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Optional activities:
• Hiking
• Mountain Biking
Day 4 – Puerto Varas
Embark upon a Cruce de los Lagos cruise, the famed Andean Lakes Crossing, connecting Argentina and Chile through a network of volcano-lined, crystal-clear lakes. Board a catamaran from Bariloche and sail across the waters of Nahuel Huapi Lake, Lake Frías, and Todos los Santos Lake, experiencing one of the most breathtaking border crossings in the world. Arrive on the shores of Chile and transfer to your hotel in Puerto Varas.
There are few areas in the world that can match the Chilean Lake District for scenic grandeur. Enjoy picture-perfect views of snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, emerald lakes, smoking volcanoes, forests, and glaciers.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5 – Puerto Varas
Enjoy free time to explore this beautiful lakeside town. Opt to take a ferry to Chiloé Island, a fishing village known for its colourful wooden houses built on stilts, and pay a visit to the nearby penguin colony. Or, choose to venture into Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park—the oldest national park in Chile—to hike the Desolation Pass trail, climbing up the ice-clad slopes of Osorno Volcano.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Optional activities:
• Chiloé Island Excursion
• Paso Desolacion Trek
• Osorno Volcano Day Hike
Day 6 – Torres del Paine National Park
Catch a flight to Punta Arenas and transfer to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. One of the most spectacular parks in the Americas, Torres del Paine covers a sweeping expanse of glaciers, forests, and gem-coloured lagoons, crowned by the jagged pinnacles of the Torres del Paine mountains. Settle into your hotel and relax this evening.
Words cannot describe the majesty and beauty of this national park in Chilean Patagonia. The lucky people have the opportunity to see this area and those who do will find it difficult to forget its vivid colours and tranquility. Once a large sheep estancia, the park was established in 1959 as the Parque Nacional Lago Grey. Prior to this, “baqueanos” (cowboys) grazed their flocks here and fires occasionally burnt out of control. More land was added to the park in 1962 and the name was changed to its present one. The “Torre” (Tower) Sur rises 2,900m (9,512 ft) above sea level, the Torre Central is 2,850m (9,348 ft) high, and the Torre Norte measures 2,600m (8,528 ft). The “Cuernos” (Horns) del Paine, massive blocks of various rock layers visible from great distances, are as spectacular as the towers themselves.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 – Torres del Paine National Park
Embark on a full-day exploration of Torres del Paine National Park with an expert guide. Travel by van across the rugged, windswept landscape and set out on short walks to discover some of the park’s most majestic features, including Grey Lake, Grey Glacier, Lake Sarmiento, Azul Lagoon, and more. Along the way, keep a lookout for the park’s resident creatures—eagles, condors, foxes, armadillos, as well as an indigenous type of ostrich.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – El Calafate
Enjoy a scenic drive to El Calafate, Argentina, your base for exploring Los Glaciares National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site makes up part of South America’s largest ice field; it is also home to the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier.
Drive towards lofty peaks to the dynamic Moreno Glacier in Glacier National Park. Spot condors, rheas, eagles or flamingos en route, but the real star of the day is the glacier itself, located at the southern terminus of Glacier National Park.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9 – El Calafate
This morning, hear a talk by a local glacier expert before venturing into Los Glaciares National Park to view the Perito Moreno Glacier, an active glacier on the southern arm of Lake Argentino. Witness this continually advancing mass calve great chunks of ice into the lake; and opt to take a boat ride along the glacier’s front wall, where most of the calving takes place.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Optional activities:
• Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Tour
Day 10 – Ushuaia
Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city on Earth, soaring above the jaw-dropping landscapes of Patagonia. Upon arrival, enjoy a visit to the Museum at the End of the World with a local guide, and learn more about the Indigenous history of the entire region of Tierra del Fuego and of Patagonia. Later, choose to visit the Maritime Museum, housed in a former prison, and learn about the stories of seafarers and captives at the “end of the world”, opt to navigate the Beagle Channel, or explore the pristine Tierra del Fuego National Park, one of Patagonia’s crown jewels.
Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Optional activities:
• The Maritime Museum and Prison at the End of the World Museum
• Tierra del Fuego National Park Visit
• Beagle Channel navigation
Day 11 – Ushuaia
Travel to Martillo Island to get up close with the gentoo and Magellanic penguins that reside here part of the year, and learn about their habits and behaviour from a naturalist guide.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 12 – Buenos Aires
Fly back to Buenos Aires and take time to explore this vibrant metropolis on your own, visiting some of the city’s galleries, museums, and cafés. This evening, enjoy a private tango lesson at a personal studio; then practice your moves alongside other students and teachers during a milonga, a social dancing event.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13 – Buenos Aires
Discover the charms of Buenos Aires on a city tour. Visit key landmarks such as Plaza de Mayo and the pink balcony made famous by Argentina’s iconic first lady Eva Perón; and see the Recoleta Cemetery, where Perón is buried. Explore the city’s most interesting neighbourhoods, including San Telmo and the colourful artist’s quarter of La Boca. This evening, consider catching a tango show at one of the many famous tanguerías in the area, or wander the pedestrian walkways and see some dancing in the streets as you search for places to try the succulent and deliciously tender steak that Argentina is known for.
Known as the “Paris of the Americas”, Buenos Aires is a vibrant city full of life. Visit the districts of La Boca, Recoleta, and San Telmo. Consider catching a tango show at one of the many famous tanguerías or wander the pedestrian walkways and see some dancing in the streets.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Optional activities:
• Teatro Colón Tour
Day 14 – Buenos Aires
Depart at any time.
Meals included: Breakfast
Captivating Moments
Get captivated by a stunning collection of sample images from this trip.
Additional Information
This sample itinerary is meant to inspire your next trip. It is ready to be booked pending dates and availability. Itinerary details and availability are subject to change, please inquire for up-to-date information and pricing.
What’s Included
• All accommodation stays, tours and transfers for scheduled (not optional) activities are covered, unless otherwise listed in the itinerary
• All meals listed on each day of the itinerary
• Two local guides that accompany you throughout your whole trip
• One suitcase and one carry-on per person for trip transfers
What’s Not Included
• Your international airfare – please do let your expert know if you’d like to receive pricing from our Air Team
• Travel insurance, which we offer and can be purchased after you’ve booked your tour
• Visas (unless noted)
• Excess baggage charges, and where applicable, baggage not included in your fare
• Early check-in or late check-out from hotels (unless otherwise specified)
• Optional enhancements like room or flight upgrades, optional tours, or local camera or video fees
• Passport fees, immunization costs, and local departure taxes (when applicable)
Book This Trip
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