Gentle Family Tour of Chilean Patagonia: Santiago, Puerto Natales & Punta Arenas - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago, Visit Bicentenario Park

Welcome to Chile! Your flight arrives in Santiago, the country's capital and largest city. Your driver will meet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel. Once you've had a chance to rest and regroup, the kids might be eager to stretch their legs after the long plane ride, so start your exploration of the city with a visit to Bicentenario Park.

The park covers more than 66 acres (27 ha) and is one of Santiago's largest green spaces. Here, you'll find lagoons, walking paths, and beautiful gardens. Visit Laguna de las Aves, where you and the kids can see swans, ducks, and flamingoes, and you can even purchase food to feed them if you like! Stroll the peaceful grounds, take in the beauty of the river, or just relax on a bench and people-watch. Smaller children will also love the many child zones and playground areas. Stop by Casacostanera shopping mall on the way back to your hotel and pick up some souvenirs or grab a coffee. 

Day 2: Guided Family City Tour

Take a guided city tour around Santiago today, with activities specifically curated for the small folk in your group! You'll meet your guide and start with a walk through the Civic District, home to the presidential palace of La Moneda. From here, head to the Plaza de Armas, Santiago's main square that's considered the heart of the city. Sample local street food, listen to music, and let the kids enjoy performers and other entertainment before continuing on to the hills of Cerro Santa Lucia and Cerro San Cristóbal, which is home to the city's largest green space, Metropolitan Park.

Board the park's Teleférico, an aerial tramway that takes you from the base of the hill to a sanctuary at the top, taking in the incredible panoramic views of the city before riding the funicular back down. You'll also have the option of visiting the Santiago Zoo, or if you're there in the summer months, the kids can take advantage of the local swimming pool.

Afterward, head to the heart of Providencia where you'll find the mall at Costanera Center, as well as the Costanera Tower—the tallest building in South America. You can head up to the tower's 62nd floor to a lookout area that offers incredible city views. End the day at Araucano Park, a lovely green space and local hangout with rose gardens, tennis courts, and a skateboarding area. The kids can play while parents relax with a cup of coffee before returning to your hotel. 

Day 3: Fly to Punta Arenas, Bus to Puerto Natales, Visit an Ice Bar 

Your next destination is Puerto Natales, a southern Patagonia port town that sits on the Señoret Channel and is considered the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. After you check out of your Santiago hotel, you'll take a private transfer to the airport and catch a three-hour flight south to the city of Punta Arenas. From there, you'll transfer to a bus that will take you on a scenic 3.5-hour journey to Puerto Natales. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel, where you and the kids can rest for a bit before seeing more of the town. 

Start with an afternoon stroll along the town's waterfront, where you'll be treated to gorgeous views of the Seno Última Esperanza (Last Hope Sound), and the kids are likely to spot wildlife like sea lions or even dolphins. Puerto Natales is also home to several species of birds, and any birders in the family are sure to be entranced by sightings of Andean condors, swans, or flamingoes. Visit the Museum of Patagonia and see exhibits on the region's geology, flora and fauna, and Indigenous people, or head just outside town to Puerto Bories, a cultural center that showcases the town's history and heritage. 

Tonight, see what it might be like to go inside a glacier at the Go Bar de Hielo, Chilean Patagonia's first ice bar. This family-friendly space replicates a glacier ice cave, with a cold room where the walls and seats are made of ice, mood lighting, music, and beverages for both adults and kids. Don "cold suits" to stay warm in the bar, and try some of their specialty drinks (nonalcoholic options are available for the kids) while taking fun photos of the ice creations. 

Day 6: Family Tour of Torres del Paine National Park

Eat a hearty breakfast and don your comfortable walking shoes as you prepare for a family adventure into Torres del Paine National Park. Encompassing more than 700 square miles (1,800 sq km), the park is known for its endless hiking trails, pristine glaciers, and rugged mountains. You'll meet your guides in the morning and start with a visit to Paine Waterfall, whose turquoise waters come from the Río Paine. From here, you'll hike the Mirador Cuernos, named for the surrounding horn-shaped mountains, with possible sightings of condors and grazing sheep to keep the kids entertained along the way.

You'll also visit the Lago Nordenskjöld viewpoint and Laguna Amarga, as well as the magnificent cascade of Salto Grande, then break for lunch at Hosteria Pehoe, a small inn that offers spectacular views of Lago Pehoé. After lunch, your family will have the option to take another trek to Mirador Condor, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) out-and-back hike with stunning panoramas of the lake and surrounding lagoons. 

Day 7: Transfer to Punta Arenas, Isla Magdalena Penguin Encounter

This morning your driver will take you on the three-hour drive back to Punta Arenas, then it's all aboard for a visit with penguins! Set sail on a comfortable catamaran bound for Isla Magdalena, a 1.5-hour cruise from Punta Arenas. This small island serves as a sanctuary to a large colony of Magellanic penguins, as well as a host of other wildlife. Your family will arrive at the island, and after your guide shares a quick briefing on safe interactions with the penguins, you'll set out on a one-hour walk. Don't be surprised if these curious creatures waddle along beside you, as they're quite used to visitors.

Along the way, you'll also see birds such as black-browed albatross, skuas, terns, and Dominican gulls, and there's a scenic lighthouse on the island that you and the kids can also visit. On the catamaran ride back to town, make sure the kids keep an eye out for the small black and white Commerson's dolphins or sei whales that frequent these waters. After a full of fresh sea air, the kids are sure to sleep well when you return to Punta Arenas and get settled into your hotel. 

Day 8: Dolphin Spotting on Agua Fresca Bay 

Get out on the water again today for an exciting dolphin-watching tour. Your day starts with a transfer of 16 miles (25 km south of Punta Arenas to the shores of the beautiful Agua Fresca Bay. Meet your guides at the beach and board a Zodiac boat, setting off along the coast in search of the small Peale's dolphin, also known as the black-chinned dolphin.

Always curious, the dolphins tend to reveal themselves quickly, interested in the sounds and movement of approaching boats. Spend time observing the dolphins in their natural habitat, and the kids will be delighted at their playful jumping and frolicking. Your guides will share information about the dolphin's behaviors, and you're also likely to see plenty of seabirds and playful sea lions along the way.

Day 9: Family Fun at Fort Bulnes 

Get a history lesson that's fun for the whole family at Fort Bulnes, a large wooden fortress and the first Chilean settlement in Patagonia. Founded in 1843 at Punta Santa Ana, the inclement weather faced by the settlers led to their eventual relocation to what is now Punta Arenas. The fort is remarkably well-preserved and is an interesting part of Patagonian history. Your guide will collect you from your hotel, making a stop at the Chilean Geographical Center, a landmark that shows the middle of the country and the Antarctic Territory.

From there, you'll enter the fort, starting at the visitor's center, to learn more about the fort's construction and the human history of the Strait of Magellan. Let the little ones run wild as they explore the towers, outbuildings, and lodges. There are a number of cannons still here, which the kids are sure to find entertaining, and a footpath takes you to a viewpoint that looks out across the water. Later in the day, return to Punta Arenas and enjoy your last evening with dinner at a local restaurant or a stroll around town.

Day 10: Visit the Nao Victoria Museum, Depart Punta Arenas

If you've got time before your departing flight this morning, visit the historical boat replicas at the Nao Victoria Museum. Located just a short taxi ride from the city center, the museum features an incredible display of hand-built replicas of the ships used by Patagonian explorers. See Magellan's Nao Victoria, the first ship to circumnavigate the Earth, as well as Darwin's HMS Beagle. The kids can let their imaginations run wild, imagining themselves as seafaring adventurers, while the adults learn more about the ships and how they were built.