Adventure in Chilean Patagonia: Torres del Paine, Strait of Magellan & Lake District - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago de Chile, Afternoon City Tour

Welcome to Chile! After transferring from the airport and settling in, you'll spend the rest of today getting to know the capital of Santiago de Chile on a half-day tour. Wander the aisles of Santiago's labyrinthine Mercado Central and Mercado La Vega before heading to Plaza de Armas, the city's historic center established back in 1541. Hop on a cable car to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal for panoramic views of the city, and enjoy dinner in the fashionably bohemian enclave of Barrio Bellavista. By the end of the day, you'll be an honorary Santiaguino.

Day 2: Fly to Puerto Natales

Today, fly to Puerto Natales, your home base for the next part of your trip. Sitting on the Señoret Channel, Puerto Natales is considered the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most iconic locations in Chilean Patagonia. A private transfer will take you to your accommodations in town, and then you'll have the rest of the day to yourself. Check out the Museo Histórico, head to a local brewery, or just admire the mountains in the distance as you gear up for tomorrow's adventure.

Day 3: Transfer to Torres del Paine, Full-Day Tour

This morning you'll head into Torres del Paine National Park for a full-day tour. Embark on a series of short hikes as you take in stunning landscapes and spot wildlife throughout different areas and ecosystems of the park—keep an eye out for native guanacos, rheas, and south Andean deer. You'll be sure to see glacial lakes, rivers, and, of course, the Torres del Paine themselves. Enjoy a picnic lunch against the backdrop of the park's distinctive horn-shaped peaks before being transferred to your nearby accommodations at the end of the day.

Day 4: Grey Glacier Boat Tour

Return to Torres del Paine National Park and board a catamaran for a tour of Grey Glacier, a glacier in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field which feeds Lago Grey. The boat travels across the lake and stops close to the glacier, so you can see—and take photos of—its massive ice walls. Once you're back ashore, take a short hike across the windswept beach and through the forest before returning to your hotel. Spend the afternoon relaxing or hike the nearby Mirador Ferrier for views of the park's many colored lakes.

Day 5: Photography Tour

Today is all about finding the perfect shot for a memorable photo of the national park. Your guide will take you via private vehicle to Torres del Paine National Park to explore wherever you'd like to go. Consider the Valle de Francés (French Valley) to see the granite arête called Aleta de Tiburón (Shark's Fin) and a collection of peaks, or visit one of the many glacial lakes colored by rock flour suspended in the water. No matter where you go in the Patagonian steppe, you'll be met with incredible views.

Day 6: Milodon Caves & Torres del Paine, Transfer to Puerto Natales

Early in the morning, you and your guide will visit Torres del Paine National Park one last time to check out any spots you missed. Shortly after lunch, you will stop at the Cueva del Milodón (Mylodon Cave), a natural monument where the remains of a mylodon, a giant herbivore that became extinct in the late Pleistocene era, were discovered over a century ago. Check out the replica in the largest cave and take in other sights like the Devil's Seat rock formation. At the end of the day, you will return to Puerto Natales.

Day 7: Visit a Patagonian Estancia

Today, set off to visit the beautiful Estancia La Peninsula for a full-day tour of a working Patagonian ranch. After a boat ride through the fjords to the ranch, you will have the chance to choose between a variety of activities, such as horseback riding, hiking, or taking a tour in a 4WD vehicle. You'll then enjoy a traditional barbecue followed by a demonstration of sheep shearing and wool classification. To top it off, you can meet the estancia's resident sheepdogs before heading back to Puerto Natales.

Day 8: Transfer to Punta Arenas

Transfer south to Punta Arenas, a major transport hub on the eastern shore of the Brunswick Peninsula. After arrival, spend your free time strolling the Plaza Muñoz Guerrero, a leafy plaza surrounded by grand neoclassical mansions once owned by the monied sheep-ranching families of the 19th century—you can even tour the Palacio Sara Braun to see how the wealthy residents used to live. Later on, watch the sun go down at Mirador Cerro de la Cruz and head out in the evening and enjoy a local dinner. 

Day 9: Meet the Wildlife of the Magellan Strait

Today's adventure will involve navigating the Magellan Strait in a zodiac boat! Journey to the San Isidro area in search of the beautiful Austral dolphin, a species native to the waters around southern Chile and known for its unusual black and gray coloring. Keep an eye out for sea lion colonies, as well as a variety of sea birds, such as albatross, petrels, and penguins as you hold tight and navigate the choppy seas on this exhilarating excursion.

Day 10: Kayak on the Magellan Strait

This morning after breakfast you'll be picked up by your kayaking guide and head roughly 17 miles (27 km) south of Punta Arenas to Agua Fresca Bay. Here you'll embark on your half-day kayaking trip, traveling through a shallow river to the beaches, mountains, and forests along the shores of the world-famous Magellan Strait. During this tour, you'll have the chance to admire pristine nature and there is a good chance that you will see plentiful local wildlife, including sea birds, sea lions, and dolphins.

Day 11: Visit the Isla Magdalena Penguin Colony, Transfer to Puerto Varas

Take a boat 18 miles (30 km) northeast of the Strait of Magellan to Isla Magdalena, home of Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, a protected area for Chile's largest colony of penguins. Along the way, make a pit stop on Marta Island to check out the colony of Patagonian sea lions and seabirds that live on this rocky outpost. Continue on to Isla Magdalena and follow a 2,624-foot (800 m) path accompanied by the island's resident Magellanic penguins to a lighthouse that offers sweeping views of the strait.

After the tour, you'll take a short flight north to Puerto Montt, a port city in southern Chile that's known as a gateway to the Andes Mountains and Patagonian fjords. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you and transport you via private vehicle to Puerto Varas, a city in Chile's Lake District. Known as la ciudad de las rosas ("the city of roses"), the city sits on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, the second-largest lake in the country.

Day 12: Osorno Volcano, Petrohué Falls & Todos los Santos Lake

After a leisurely morning in Puerto Varas, a driver will pick you up for a full-day scenic tour of the area. Pass by the Río Pescado (Fish River) and villages of La Poza and Los Riscos before reaching Ensenada, a small town that sits at the foot of Osorno Volcano. Here, you'll hike up the volcano and then head to the electric blue waterfalls of the Río Petrohué. Lastly, visit the turquoise waters of Lake Todos los Santos (All Saints Lake) before returning to Puerto Varas in time to enjoy dinner in town.

Day 13: Explore Chiloé Island & Puñihuil Natural Monument

Today, embark on a boat ride across Chacao Channel to Chiloé Island and visit Ancud, a town on the northern end of the island. Climb atop Huaihuen Hill to get the best views of landmarks like the Fuerte San Antonio, an early 19th-century Spanish colonial fort. Stop by the regional museum and municipal market as well as the Caulín Bird Sanctuary, which is a shelter for migratory birds like black-necked swans, flamingoes, and herons.

Later in the day, visit a penguin colony in nearby Puñihuil, a nearby group of islets. The area is filled with both Magellanic and Humboldt penguins—in fact, it's the only place in the world where these two species coexist. In the late afternoon, return to Puerto Varas and enjoy a relaxing evening in town. 

Day 14: Depart Puerto Varas 

It's hard to believe it, but it's time to say adios to Chile and head back home. You'll transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport, where you'll fly to Santiago and catch your international flight to your next adventure. Safe travels!

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