Chile's Ultimate Outdoor Attractions: Santiago, Aysén Region & Patagonia - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago (Chile), Explore the Capital at Leisure

Welcome to Chile's vibrant capital, Santiago! Meet your driver in the arrivals hall and transfer to your hotel to check in. The rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish, and a good place to start is Furnicular de Santiago for a ride up Cerro San Cristóbal. Ride the historic funicular from the bohemian neighborhood of Bellavista up the hill, passing lush greenery and scenic vistas along the way. At the top, enjoy panoramic views of the sprawling cityscape framed by the towering Andes in the distance. Then, discover the 72-foot-tall (22 m) statue of the Virgin Mary, built in 1908. 

When you're ready, ride the funicular back down the hill and wander through Bellavista to admire the colorful street art and La Chascona, one of Pablo Neruda's houses. Step inside to learn more about Chile's Nobel Prize-winning poet as you peruse his eclectic collection of art, books, and maritime artifacts. As darkness falls, make your way to Pío Nono, a bustling street lined with restaurants, bars, and food stands. Sit down at a local restaurant or grab an empanada (pastry stuffed with various fillings like meat, cheese, or seafood) before returning to your hotel.

Day 2: Guided Tour of Santiago's Parks, Float Session

Take a break from Santiago's bustling streets and set off on a tour of its green spaces, starting at Parque Forestal, set along the banks of the Río Mapocho. Follow your guide down the tree-lined walkways, passing manicured gardens and sculptures before continuing to Bellavista for another look at the bohemian neighborhood. Then, ride the Teleférico Santiago, a cable car that's part of the city's public transport system, to the Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, Chile's largest urban park and the fourth largest worldwide as it spans over 1,729 acres (700 ha).

Inside the park, you'll find the Zoológico Nacional de Chile, a charming Japanese garden, and numerous viewpoints overlooking the city. Your final stop is Parque Bicentenario, home to a number of art installations and monuments, such as Monumento a Los Heroes, honoring those who fought in the War of the Pacific. After all that walking, unwind with a float session, where you immerse yourself in a specially designed pod filled with water and buoyant epsom salt so you float effortlessly. Spend one uninterrupted hour in the private chamber, enjoying a meditative state to release any tension you have.

Day 3: Wine Tour of Viñedos Veramonte & Matetic Vineyards

Leave the city behind today as you join your guide on a wine tour in the lush Casablanca Valley, renowned for its rolling hills, temperate climate, and fertile soil, which contributes to the unique flavor profiles of each varietal. Start with a one-hour transfer to Viñedos Veramonte to participate in the Casona Veramonte Experience, which begins with a guided tour of the casona, a beautifully restored colonial house that serves as the centerpiece of the winery. Learn about the winery's rich history and sustainable practices as you visit the vineyards and soil pits that showcase the valley's terroir.

Continue to the cellar to learn about the winemaking process and the posterior storage as you sample three premium wines. Then, head to the neighboring Rosario Valley to visit Matetic Vineyards. Tour the manor and surrounding park, featuring lush gardens and walking paths, before sitting down for lunch at the on-site Restaurante Equilibrio. After a delicious farm-to-table meal featuring local ingredients and seasonal produce, make your way to the cellar to learn more about the winemaking process. Finish with a wine tasting, including some of the vineyard's cool-climate varietals, then return to your hotel in Santiago.

Day 4: Fly to Balmaceda, Transfer to Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa

Say goodbye to Santiago this morning as you transfer to the airport for a 2.5-hour flight to Balmaceda. There, you'll meet your driver and transfer four hours to Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa, situated on the shores of the Puyuhuapi Fjord. The lodge offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and lush forests, creating an idyllic backdrop for relaxation and adventure.

Check in, then head straight to thermal pools, fed by natural hot springs, to unwind. You can also opt for a spa treatment, such as an aromatherapy massage, body scrub, or facial. For dinner, visit the on-site restaurant and choose from two starters, main dishes, and desserts that change daily, highlighting local ingredients and traditional Chilean flavors. While you eat, enjoy uninterrupted views of the fjord from the large windows. 

Day 5: Full-Day Trek to Laguna Los Pumas in Parque Nacional Queulat

Lace up your hiking boots and get ready to explore the northern sector of Parque Nacional Queulat, known for its lush temperate rainforests, towering peaks, and sparkling glaciers. Follow your guide down the 3.4-mile (5.6 km) trail to Laguna Los Pumas, passing through the lush Valdivian Rainforest. As you ascend past trees draped in moss and vibrant ferns, you'll get glimpses of Lago Risopatrón's tranquil waters. At its highest point, 3,477 feet (1,060 m), the route crosses a vast plateau offering uninterrupted panoramas of Ventisquero Sound and the surrounding mountains.

When you arrive at the lagoon, you'll be greeted by turquoise waters and snowcapped peaks. The area is rich in wildlife, offering opportunities to spot various bird species and perhaps even a glimpse of the elusive puma, after which the lagoon is named. Once you've absorbed the view, trek back along the same path and return to the lodge to unwind in the thermal pools.

Day 6: Kayak Excursion in the Puyuhuapi Fjord

Start your day with a kayaking excursion on the Puyuhuapi Fjord, believed to have been shaped by two Mapuche mythological serpents, Cai-Cai and Tentenvilú, engaging in a great battle. As they fought, their movements carved out the Patagonian corridors and fjords you'll see today. Jump in your kayak and start paddling through the tranquil waters surrounded by dramatic cliffs, lush forests, and snowcapped mountains.

If you're lucky, you may observe sea lions basking on rocks, playful dolphins swimming alongside you, and a variety of bird species soaring overhead, including black-necked swans, Andean condors, and Patagonian mockingbirds. After an hour or two on the water, transfer back to your lodge and enjoy a free afternoon.

Day 7: Road Trip on the Carretera Austral or Visit the Puyuhuapi Hot Springs

Join your guide on a drive along the Carretera Austral, a 745-mile (1,200 km) scenic route from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins. The highway takes you past lush forests, towering mountains, and picturesque fjords, offering breathtaking views at every turn. The dramatic peaks of the Andes rise over the horizon while cascading waterfalls and pristine rivers add to the natural beauty of the journey. Each bend in the road reveals a new panorama, inviting you to stop and take in the scenery. 

If you're not interested in a road trip, opt for some free time at the Puyuhuapi Hot Springs or ask your driver to stop, as it's just a 15-minute boat ride from the Carretera Austral. The hot springs, set within lush forests and flanked by towering mountains, feature various pools at different temperatures. The hot springs are rich in minerals like sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and sodium, believed to have several health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory properties and calming effects.

Day 8: Hike the Ventisquero Colgante Trail to Laguna Témpanos 

Hop on a boat and cross the Puyuhuapi Fjord to get to the Carretera Austral, where you can meet your driver for a 15-minute transfer south to the starting point of the Ventisquero Colgante Trail. This flat trail is suitable for all ages and fitness levels and leads to the Glaciar Colgante (Hanging Glacier). As you walk, your guide will teach you about the area's flora, fauna, and geology so you understand how the glacier was formed through glaciation and erosion.

After just 1,960 feet (600 m), you'll come to the shores of Laguna Témpanos, offering uninterrupted views of the glacier that appears to cling to the rock face as it melts and calves into the lagoon below. If you're lucky, you may get to witness a piece of the glacier breaking off, especially during warmer months, accompanied by a thunderous crack or rumble as the ice falls into the lagoon.

Day 9: Transfer to Balmaceda, Fly to Punta Arenas, Board a Cruise to Ushuaia 

Trade the Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa for five days aboard an Australis Cruise Ship, setting sail for Ushuaia in Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. Start with a four-hour transfer back to the airport in Balmaceda, where you'll catch a 1.5-hour flight to Punta Arenas. Meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to the cruise ship to check in, then board in the early evening. Enjoy a welcome toast and presentation by the captain and crew before exploring the ship.

Your stay is all-inclusive, so you can take advantage of unlimited wine, liquor, nonalcoholic beverages, and food 24/7. There are plenty of lounge areas with panoramic windows for enjoying the scenery, as well as an observation deck if you don't mind the cold. Today's journey will take you along the picturesque Strait of Magellan toward the Beagle Channel, giving you the chance to see fjords, islands, and even wildlife like sea lions and various bird species.

Day 10: Hike in the Subantarctic Magellanic Forest, Cruise to the Tuckers Islets

Wake to the gentle sway of the ship and the sound of water lapping against the hull as you cruise through Almirantazgo Sound. Enjoy breakfast on board while you approach Marinelli Glacier in Ainsworth Bay. Disembark and set off on a hike through the subantarctic Magellanic forest to get to a beaver dam. Trek through the dense forest showcasing the rich biodiversity of the area, including native plants and wildlife, such as Patagonian deer, black-crowned night herons, and guanacos. When you reach the dam, you can watch the beavers gnawing on trees, swimming, or foraging for food.

Return to the ship for lunch, then switch to a Zodiac boat to reach the Tuckers Islets. As the boat skims across the sparkling waters, look out at the towering cliffs and dramatic landscapes surrounding you. The journey is often accompanied by the sight of playful sea lions basking on the rocks and seabirds soaring overhead. When you reach the islets, you'll be greeted by cormorants and curious Magellanic penguins nesting, foraging for food, and interacting with each other. After snapping some photos of the penguins, return to the ship and continue the cruise.

Day 11: Hike to Pía Glacier, Cruise the Avenue of Glaciers

Enjoy another delicious breakfast on board while the captain navigates through the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel, where you can enter Pía Fjord. Look out at the towering mountains and steep cliffs towering over the ship on both sides before disembarking to hike to a viewpoint overlooking Pía Glacier. As you walk, listen to the sound of cascading ice and feel the crisp mountain air on your face. When you arrive, look out at the massive glacier, its blue ice glistening in the sunlight, contrasting with the rugged mountains surrounding it.

After admiring the glacier and its sheer size return to the ship and grab a window seat as you'll be gliding through the Avenue of Glaciers, a series of glaciers that have detached from the giant Darwin ice field. Along the way, you may spot Upsala Glacier, known for its vast ice field and sparkling blue hues, and Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the few glaciers in the world that's still advancing.

Day 12: Explore Parque Nacional Cabo de Hornos & Bahía Wulaia

Today, you'll cruise through Murray Canal and Nassau Bay to get to Parque Nacional Cabo de Hornos, where you'll disembark if weather conditions allow. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, where rugged cliffs meet the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. As you explore the park, enjoy panoramic views of the rocky coastline, lush vegetation, and a rich array of wildlife, including seabirds, seals, and even the occasional whale. 

Back on board, continue to Bahía Wulaia, once home to one of the largest settlements of the Indigenous Yámana people. Disembark and explore the remnants of their settlements while learning about their way of life as skilled canoeists. You can also enjoy views of the surrounding forests and lush vegetation before returning to the cruise ship.

Day 13: Arrive in Ushuaia (Argentina), Tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park

After four days of cruising, you'll arrive in Ushuaia in the morning. Explore the city at your own pace or opt for a half-day tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park, which spans rugged mountains, lush forests, and serene coastlines. Choose whether to enter the national park in style aboard the Tren del Fin del Mundo. Although it was once used to transport prisoners to the Ushuaia penal colony, it now offers a scenic, one-hour transfer through dense forests, alongside rivers, and past snowcapped mountains. Those who don't take the train can go on a leisurely walk in the Fuegian forest before meeting the group inside the park.

Once everyone is back together, you'll continue to Bahía Ensenada, a serene bay located along the Beagle Channel. In this area of the park, you'll find archaeological sites where the Yámana people lived for thousands of years. You'll also visit Corazón de la Isla, the southernmost post office in the world, where you can send postcards to your friends and family back home. Then, head to Lago Acigami, renowned for its turquoise waters fed by the melting ice of the Acigami Glacier, followed by Baie Lapataia, a picturesque bay surrounded by a backdrop of rugged mountains and lush forests.

Day 14: Explore Ushuaia at Leisure, Depart

After two weeks of exploring Chile and cruising to the world's southernmost city, it's time to head home today. You can discover more of Ushuaia on your own if you have a later flight. Those who want to learn more about the region can visit the Museo del Fin del Mundo, housed in a former bank building. Peruse the exhibits that explore the lives of the Yámana people, early European explorers, and the region's rich maritime heritage. You'll also find plenty of relics from shipwrecks, Indigenous artifacts, and local wildlife.

If you aren't into museums, consider a 5.6-mile (9 km) hike to Laguna Esmeralda instead. The trail winds through lush forests, peat bogs, and rugged mountain terrain, providing glimpses of the surrounding glaciers and snowcapped peaks. When you arrive at the lagoon, look out at the emerald-green water against towering mountains. Keep an eye out for wildlife like beavers, Andean foxes, and native birds. Then, return to your hotel to grab your bags, meet your driver, and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!

More Great Chile Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Chile? Check out these other Chile itineraries, explore different ways to spend two weeks in Chile, or discover the best time to visit Chile.