Luxury Tour of Patagonia's National Parks: From Argentina to Chile - 10 Days

Day 2: Fly to Ushuaia, Tour the World's Southernmost City

Rise and shine because this morning, you're off to Patagonia! Leave the hotel early and transfer back to the airport for the 1.5-hour flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Located on a bay in the Patagonian region of Tierra del Fuego, the city lies between the jagged peaks of the Martial Mountains and the silver waters of the Beagle Channel. This is the same waterway where Charles Darwin sailed the HMS Beagle almost 200 years ago.

A driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you just south of town to your hotel, Los Cauquenes Resort + Spa. This 5-star gem enjoys a privileged location near Tierra del Fuego National Park on the Beagle's windswept shores. Besides the scenic channel views in your luxurious suite, you can also take advantage of the hotel's heated indoor and outdoor pools.

After checking in, you'll meet a local guide for a private walking tour around Ushuaia's compact city center. Highlights include the Maritime Museum, housed in a building that was once a prison, or the Museo del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Museum). Located on the waterfront, this small museum features fascinating exhibits on the region's natural and Indigenous history. There will be ample opportunity to do some shopping on Avenida San Martín, plus you can stop in at a local seafood restaurant—be sure to try the centolla (king crab). 

Day 3: Cruise the Beagle Channel to Isla Martillo

Today's excursion is a dream for wildlife lovers. After breakfast, you'll board a private boat and set sail along the Beagle Channel to view some of the region's most exotic animals. Enjoy the mountain and coastal views as you pass Isla de los Lobos, a rocky islet that's home to large herds of sea lions. You'll have ample opportunity to view these creatures and take plenty of photos.

Continue to Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island), a natural seabird habitat home to cormorants and imperial shags. It's a birder's dream, so keep your binoculars close. The furthest you'll venture is Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, located on the northernmost chain of islands of the same name. Here, you can see the Monte Cervantes, an ocean liner that sank in 1930. There are also views across the channel to Estancia Remolino (a remote ranch), Isla Gable, and the naval base at Puerto Williams (located on Isla Navarino, Chile).

Eventually, you'll reach Isla Martillo, where you can observe large colonies of gentoo and Magellanic penguins. Witness these flightless birds in their natural habitat while your guide shares information about their habits and nesting areas. Keep in mind that visitors are not allowed to approach or feed the penguins, and silence is encouraged in order to prevent any disturbance to the bird's nesting habits or daily activities. At the end of the day, you'll cruise back to the port and return to your hotel.

Day 4: Off-Roading & Trekking in Tierra del Fuego National Park 

More outdoor adventures await today as you travel to the hinterlands outside Ushuaia. Specifically, you'll venture into nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park. Within this protected area's 243 square miles (630 sq km) are some of the wildest and most rugged landscapes in Patagonia.

Meet your private driver/guide and hop in a specially outfitted 4WD vehicle durable enough to handle the park's back roads. Then, drive into the park to a trailhead. There, you'll embark on a brisk hike through sub-Antarctic forests to landmarks like the Río Lapataia. After a few hours, you'll arrive at Lapataia Bay. Located in the Beagle Channel, this bay sits at the end of the Pan-American Highway and National Route No. 3. Here, get back in the vehicle for the ride back to Ushuaia. 

Day 5: Fly to El Calafate, Dinner at Rancho Aparte

Return to the airport in Ushuaia this morning and board a 1.5-hour flight north to El Calafate. Sitting on the shores of Lago Argentino, El Calafate is the main base for trips into the famous Los Glaciares National Park and one of its star attractions, Perito Moreno Glacier.

Your driver will take you to the eastern outskirts of town and Xelena Hotel & Suites. This 5-star hotel sits right on the lakeshore and features comfortable, quiet, and well-equipped rooms overlooking the water. Other welcome amenities include an indoor pool and a heated outdoor pool with lake views, plus a Jacuzzi, sauna, and a luxury spa offering beauty treatments and aromatic therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind.

Later, return to town for a dining experience that celebrates rustic, gourmet Patagonian cuisine. Take a seat at Rancho Aparte, a ranch home converted into a closed-door restaurant serving home-cooked meals from fixed menus. Highlights include regional specialties like roast Patagonian lamb and goulash with gnocchi pasta, all prepared with organic ingredients from local farms. Of course, the menu is paired with some of the finest wines in Patagonia and throughout Argentina.

Day 7: Transfer to Torres del Paine (Chile) 

Say goodbye to Argentina as you meet your driver this morning for the five-hour ride south into Chile. It's a scenic drive that passes along the vast Patagonian steppe, and there will be stops to eat and pass through customs. Your destination is 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 granite peaks, glassy lakes, and various circuit treks.

Upon arrival in the park, you'll check into the Explora Torres del Paine, a 5-star luxury wilderness lodge set amid breathtaking scenery, including Lago Pehoé and the iconic Paine massif. This chic hotel (it opened in 2007) features a modern design that blends with the natural scenery, which complements Explora's commitment to sustainable tourism. Each class of room has wide windows offering park views, and the on-site gourmet restaurant serves locally sourced cuisine paired with fine Chilean wines.

After checking in, you can relax in the sauna, soak in the open-air Jacuzzi, or opt for an activity like a horseback ride. Otherwise, try to rest up—your multiday adventure in Torres del Paine begins bright and early tomorrow morning.

Then it's another hour of hiking past ancient lenga forests until you arrive at a moraine. The next part is a 45-minute hard scramble to the top and Base Torres. In this spot, three granite pillars jut out of the ground over a silver lagoon and make for the best view in the park. You'll also see the towering peaks of nearby Torre Sur, Torre Central, Torre Norte, Condor's Nest, and Glacier Torre. The trek ends when you hike back down the mountain.

Day 9: Torres del Paine Custom Activities, Fly to Santiago

Before leaving Patagonia, you'll again have your choice of activities. If you haven't done so already, hop in the saddle for a horseback ride or hit the water on a kayak tour. There's also the option for a half-day trek to Salto Grande, a raging aquamarine waterfall that channels water between lakes Nordenskjöld and Pehoé. The rest of the tour involves a 3.7-mile (6 km) hike around a great panorama of landscapes featuring the peaks of Los Cuernos and Paine Grande with its French Glacier hanging down.

Afterward, you'll transfer about 1.5 hours to the port city of Puerto Natales, where you'll catch a flight (likely connecting) to Santiago. Welcome to Chile's capital! This grand metropolis is nestled in a valley surrounded by towering Andes peaks. With its captivating mix of historical landmarks and great food scene, this is the perfect place to end any South American adventure.

Upon arrival at the airport, your personal driver will meet you for the ride to your hotel, The Singular. This 5-star luxury hotel lies in Santiago's historic Lastarria neighborhood, close to the city's major attractions. When you arrive, you can relax in your spacious suite, enjoy a massage at the hotel's spa and wellness center, or perhaps kick back beside the rooftop pool and admire views of the surrounding Andes.

Day 10: Colchagua Valley Wine Tour, Depart Santiago

Chile is just as famous for its fine wines as it is for its spectacular scenery. For your last day in the country, you'll enjoy the mother of all wine tours. Leave in the morning on a two-hour transfer south to the Colchagua Valley, one of the most prestigious wine regions in the country. The area is most famous for producing syrah and carménère, the latter of which is a bold, fruit-forward wine originally from the Bordeaux region of France.

Over the course of the day, you'll visit three world-class wineries and enjoy private tastings at each. Not only that, but there will be a break around midday for lunch at a local restaurant. At the end of the afternoon, you'll transfer back to Santiago and the airport, where you'll board your flight home. ¡Buen viaje!

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