From the Andes to the Lakes: Trekking Adventures Across Patagonia - 21 Days

Day 2: Santiago Museum Tour

Chile's history runs deeper than even its Spanish colonial landmarks. This morning, take a deep dive into Chile's pre-Hispanic roots, plus its more recent political turmoil, on a private tour of two of Santiago's finest museums. First up is the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Museum of pre-Columbian Art), located in the historic center near the Plaza de Armas. This renowned institution preserves and showcases the diverse cultures of Indigenous Americans prior to European contact. Highlights include textiles and weavings, pottery and ceramics, ceremonial objects, sculptures, and mummies.

The next stop is the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights). This space was created to preserve the history and memories of human rights violations committed by Chile's military dictatorship, led by Augusto Pinochet, between 1973 and 1990. Through exhibits, testimony, and historical records, it gives voice to the thousands of victims and their families. It also promotes tolerance and human rights to ensure that this dark chapter of history never repeats itself.

Day 3: Day Trip to Valparaíso & Casablanca Valley

After breakfast, you'll meet a local guide and hit the road on a full-day tour. It's a 1.5-hour drive west from Santiago to Valparaíso, one of the most colorful coastal cities in the world. During this scenic journey, you'll pass the hills and vineyards of the fertile Casablanca Valley, home to many top wineries. During a stop here, you'll tour a vineyard and sample a few Chilean wines, like the famous carménère varietal.

Eventually, you'll reach the coast and the historic port city of Valparaíso. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its funky hillside neighborhoods, winding stairways, and abundance of street art. It's a well-preserved snapshot of a time when electric trolleys coasted through downtown in front of Art Nouveau buildings.

You'll visit famous landmarks, such as Plaza de la Victoria and the Naval Academy, and ride a rumbling funicular elevator up into the hills to enjoy panoramic vistas of the Pacific. A real highlight is visiting La Sebastiana, the coastal home (now a museum) of Pablo Neruda. Afterward, you'll return to Santiago.

Day 4: Fly to Puerto Varas & the Lake District

Say hasta luego to Santiago! This morning, your driver will transfer you to the airport for the two-hour flight to the port city of Puerto Montt in Chile's gorgeous Lake District, where snowcapped volcanoes meet forested islands dotted with shimmering lakes. From there, it's a 30-minute drive north to Puerto Varas, which sits on the vast shores of Lago Llanquihue. Known as "the City of Roses," Puerto Varas is home to elegant plazas full of roses (hence the nickname) and alpine-style architecture.

From its streets you can look out across the lake to the snowcapped cones of the nearby Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. The town is also a hub for Lake District adventures—from here, you can hike, ski, climb various volcanoes, fish, raft, and go horseback riding. Tonight, enjoy a fusion of traditional European-style cuisine and classic Chilean flavors at dinner, then turn in early to rest up for tomorrow's adventures.

Day 6: Day Trip to Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Falls

After breakfast at your hotel, a driver will pick you up for a full-day scenic tour of the area's famous volcanoes and waterfalls. The first part of the drive takes you along the shores of Lago Llanquihue, where it meets the mouth of the Río Pescado. After passing the charming villages of La Poza and Los Riscos, you'll arrive at Ensenada, a small town at the foot of Osorno. From a trailhead, you'll hike about halfway up the volcano to an impressive lookout at 4,068 feet (1,240 m) above sea level.

When the hike is complete, you'll break for lunch and continue to the famous Río Petrohué waterfall. Fed by the nearby Lago Todos Los Santos, Petrohué is famous for its electric blue waters and cascading falls that have carved a network of chutes into the surrounding basaltic lava rock. There are various pathways around here that offer different vantage points where you can observe these thundering falls in all their glory. The tour finishes with a visit to the turquoise waters of Todos los Santos before returning to Puerto Varas in time to enjoy dinner in town.

Day 7: Transfer to Bariloche (Argentina) by Boat & Bus

Wake up early and embark on a full-day excursion that will take you from Chile to Argentina. The trip involves boat rides across three lakes plus overland bus trips. Throughout the 12-hour journey, you'll enjoy views of glaciers, volcanic peaks, and alpine forests on your way to San Carlos de Bariloche.

This mountain resort destination is the largest city in Argentina's Lake District, a region home to some of the most impressive scenery in the entire country. Bariloche was founded in 1902 on the southeastern shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi, part of the larger Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi. The name comes from the Mapuche native people who once inhabited the area ("Nahuel Huapi" means "Jaguar Island"). Upon arrival, you'll check into your hotel and can unwind after the long day.

Day 8: Half-Day Circuito Chico Trek

In the morning, meet your guide and embark on a half-day excursion that follows the famous Circuito Chico (Short Circuit) tourist route. You'll follow the lakeshore west from the city to Playa Bonita, a tranquil pebble beach that looks out to Isla Huemul. Then, continue to some of the area's most famous viewpoints, like Cerro Campanario and the Llao Llao Peninsula. The former is a mountain offering panoramic views of Lago Nahuel Huapi from its summit, while the latter is the site of the most impressive hotel in the country, Hotel Llao Llao.

Continue over a bridge that crosses the Río Angostura, which joins the lakes of Moreno and Nahuel Huapi. You'll then stop at another fine lookout point to snap photos. Afterward, head to Laguna el Trebol, a small lagoon surrounded by woodlands. From there, you'll turn back toward Bariloche and complete the circuit. Throughout the tour, your guide will impart knowledge about the region's rich Indigenous history.

Day 9: Sailing Trip to Blest Port & Los Cantaros 

Return to the water this morning as you sail across Nahuel Huapi on a full-day boat tour. It starts with an overland transfer to Puerto Pañuelo, where you'll board the boat and set off along a far-eastern arm of the lake. Highlights include visiting the enchanting island of Centinela, marveling at the terraced falls of Cascada de los Cántaros, and hiking through temperate rainforest. You can opt to finish in the charming lakeside town of Puerto Blest or continue on to the emerald waters of Lago Frías before returning to Bariloche for the evening.

Day 10: Day Trip to San Martín de los Andes

In the morning, you'll meet your driver for a full-day road trip to experience the majesty of the Lake District. You'll follow the scenic Seven Lakes Road: a 66-mile (107 km) route that connects the lake towns of San Martín de Los Andes and Villa La Angostura. On this jaw-dropping journey, you'll see magnificent landscapes as you pass through two national parks. These include rich coihue forests and azure lakes like Falkner, Escondido, and Nahuel Huapi.

As you pass one such lake, Correntoso, you'll arrive in the small town of Ruca Malén. Then, continue to San Martín de los Andes, a charming town located on the shores of Lago Lacar. After visiting the town and snapping photos around the impressive waterfront, you'll return to Bariloche in the afternoon.

Days 12-14: Self-Guided Hikes in El Chaltén

The next three days are free for you to choose your own adventures in the Patagonian wilderness. The area surrounding El Chaltén offers a wide range of hiking paths with varying levels of difficulty, all of which are maintained and well-marked. One easy option from town includes a 1.9-mile (3 km) walk to Cerro Torre viewpoint, where you can enjoy views of the Río Las Vueltas, lenga beech forests, and plentiful birdlife, including woodpeckers. You can also extend the hike from Cerro to other impressive viewpoints around Mount Fitz Roy and the emerald waters of Laguna de los Tres. 

Day 15: Transfer to El Calafate, Gateway to Glaciers

Day 16: Day Trip to Perito Moreno Glacier & Boat Tour

Meet your driver this morning and head out on a tour of Los Glaciares National Park. The ride there takes about an hour, and as you enter the park, you'll catch your first glimpse of the mighty Perito Moreno. This expansive glacier flows down from the Andes over the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, ending in a great wall that curves around the lake. You can enjoy views of this marvel of Mother Nature via a network of wooden boardwalks on the waterfront (be sure to take plenty of photos).

Then, you'll head over to the port at Bajo de Las Sombras and board a boat for a one-hour tour of the glacier's southern face. The first 20 minutes of the trip will take you past icebergs floating on the lake. These are the result of "calving," a periodic occurrence when ice breaks off the face of the glacier. Eventually, you'll get up close with Perito Moreno's massive ice wall reaching 230 feet (70 m). After the hourlong tour, you'll return to the port and transfer back to El Calafate.

Day 17: Transfer to Puerto Natales (Chile)

In the morning, you'll board a bus for the six-hour transfer south out of Argentina and back into Chile and Puerto Natales. This small port city on the Seno Última Esperanza (Last Hope Sound) is famous as a base for nature excursions in Torres del Paine, the crown jewel of Chile's national parks. This legendary protected area covers 700 square miles (1,810 sq km) and is renowned for its circuit treks. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to your hotel and can relax as you prepare for tomorrow's adventure in Torres del Paine.

Day 18: Full-Day Exploration of Torres del Paine National Park

Set out on an action-packed day exploring Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO-listed gem that's one of Chile's most-visited parks. After a pickup at your hotel, your first stop will be near the park at the Milodón Cave. In 1895, an explorer found fragments of a giant extinct mylodon here—an extinct bear-like creature from 10,000 years ago (there's a replica of the giant mylodon in the cave). En route, you can also snap pics of the Silla del Diablo (Devil's Chair) rock formation nearby.

Once you've looked around the cave, continue north along the road to Torres del Paine National Park to reach Lago Grey, where you can walk to the scenic viewpoint. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then head to the park's Salto Grande sector, where the beautiful Lago Nordenskjöld and thundering Paine Waterfall await. On the way back to Puerto Natales, stop at the Lago Sarmiento viewpoint to grab some epic photos with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains.

Day 19: Full-Day Lago Sarmiento Hike

Return to Torres del Paine this morning on a full-day, 4.3-mile (7 km) hike around the east side of the park. First, you'll arrive at a viewpoint looking out over Lago Sarmiento, the second-largest lake in Torres del Paine. It's the perfect spot to snap epic photos of the mountain landscapes as well as the guanacos that live in the area.

Continue to Laguna Amarga, notable for the alkaline waters that result in its glassy, shimmering surface. There's another stop nearby at Laguna Blanquillos, a lagoon and haven for endemic birds like black-necked swans. The hike continues to a rocky outcropping adorned with 20 cave paintings that date back about 6,000 years. Follow the path up to the Sarmiento Lake gatehouse, where you'll enjoy a box lunch and a peaceful respite before making the return journey to Puerto Natales.

Day 20: Fly to Santiago, Free Afternoon 

Day 21: Depart Santiago