New Year Nature & Adventure in Patagonia - 10 Days

Highlights

• Enjoy dinner and a tango show in Buenos Aires
• See awe-inspiring Patagonian glaciers in Los Glaciares National Park
• Embark on exhilarating outdoor adventures in Torres del Paine
• Explore Patagonia on foot, by boat, and in a 4WD vehicle
• Tour the wine country of the Maipo Valley outside Santiago

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Dinner & Tango Show

Welcome to Argentina! The lower half of both this country and neighboring Chile comprise Patagonia, one of the world's last unspoiled wilderness frontiers. During this 10-day adventure, you'll see highlights in both countries, but the grand tour begins with your arrival in Buenos Aires. With its captivating mix of Latin heritage and European influences seen in its neoclassical/Baroque architecture, Argentina's capital is a romantic metropolis unlike any other. It's even affectionately known as the "Paris of the South."

Upon arrival at Ezeiza International Airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to the heart of the city and The Four Seasons. Set in an early-20th-century mansion, the first name in Buenos Aires luxury accommodation doesn't disappoint. Its grand reception hall, spacious suites, and elegant guest rooms are the model of luxury and class. Upon arrival, feel free to take the edge off the flight with a hot-stone massage at the spa or enjoy a handcrafted cocktail at the polo-inspired Pony Lounge. You can also kick back and relax at the outdoor pool.

Later, get dressed up for a night out on the town. You'll transfer to San Telmo, the city's oldest neighborhood, and visit Gala Tango. The opulent design of this famous dinner theater venue is steeped in French decor, with crystal chandeliers, red velvet curtains, and brass fixtures. It's like stepping back into 1930s Buenos Aires. Enjoy a gourmet meal and selections from the extensive wine list as the lights dim, and you enjoy a sultry tango show—the most quintessentially Argentine of dances. Before returning to the hotel, you can even participate in a tango lesson!

Day 2: Fly to El Calafate, Nativo 4WD Tour

In the morning, your driver will pick you up for the ride to the airport, where you'll catch a three-hour flight south to El Calafate. This town sits on the shores of Lago Argentino, at the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, home to Los Glaciares National Park. The most famous landmark in this protected area is Perito Moreno, a massive ice flow and one of the few advancing glaciers in the world.

Upon arrival at El Calafate, a driver will meet you and take you to your hotel, Xelena Hotel & Suites. Sitting on the lakeshore, this elegant 5-star hotel offers well-appointed rooms and suites that take advantage of the incredible lake views. After checking in, you can relax with massages, aroma therapies, or beauty treatments at the hotel spa. There's also an indoor pool and Jacuzzi to enjoy a nice long soak. 

Later on, you'll head out for an introduction to Patagonia in a 4WD vehicle. However, this exciting ride along the shores of Lago Argentino isn't merely a road trip—it's an anthropological deep-dive in which your guide will reveal the human history of these lands. This three-hour trip showcases the region's natural beauty while also highlighting the point in history when first contact was made between explorers like O'Higgins and Darwin and the Indigenous Tehuelche people. You'll also stop at ancient caves where Indigenous peoples lived for thousands of years—and dinner will even be served at one.

Day 3: Southern Glaciers Full-Day Tour

After breakfast, you'll hop back in a vehicle and head out for your first full-day tour to see the Southern Patagonian Ice Field glaciers. First, you'll travel along rural Route 15 to the Lake Roca area of Los Glaciares National Park. Continue across a valley toward the border with Chile. In this area, you'll witness glacial activity spanning the ages, some formations dating back 20,000 years while others are a mere decade old. Eventually, you'll reach Nibepo Aike, an early-20th-century lakeside estancia (ranch).

There, you'll leave the car behind and board a boat to explore the southern arm of Lago Argentino. Travel across the water to a secluded area on the lakeshore. Disembark and, after a short hike, reach a smaller lake and spot some of the massive glaciers straddling the border between Argentina and Chile. These include Cubo, Grande, and Dickson. This route is far off the tourist trail, so you can bet you'll see some of the region's most remote and unspoiled scenery. After lunch on the lakeshore, you'll begin the return trek/boat ride back to the waiting vehicle. 

Day 4: Full-Day Spegazzini Glacier Tour

Wake up early for another full-day tour, this time to some of the most famous glaciers in the region. The 10-hour excursion begins in the morning with a transfer east to Punta Bandera Harbor, where you'll board a catamaran and embark on your journey. As you travel north along the frozen waters of Lago Argentino, you'll weave between icebergs on your way to the first site: Upsala Glacier. After crossing the Boca del Diablo (the narrowest part of the lake), you'll enter the Upsala Channel and shortly afterward reach the glacier.

The next stop is the towering Spegazzini Glacier. However, as you enter the Spegazzini Channel, you'll first see Seco Glacier, a wall of ice perpetually retreating from the lakeshore. Finally, you'll reach Spegazzini. With ice walls 442 feet (135 m) tall, just being near this towering behemoth is enough to make you shiver.

The boat will stop at the base of Spegazzini, and from there, you'll embark on a brisk hike along a 984-foot (300 m) trail through native forest. Along this route are many lookouts offering fantastic vantage points to spy the glacier, so don't forget your camera! The trail eventually leads to Refugio Spegazzini, a lodge where you'll have lunch. Afterward, you'll begin the trek back to the boat, and from there make the journey back to El Calafate. 

Day 5: Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park (Chile)

In the morning, meet your driver at the hotel and leave on a four-hour transfer south into Chile and Torres del Paine National Park. This legendary protected area covers 700 square miles (1,810 sq km) in Chilean Patagonia and is renowned for its circuit treks. These day hikes and multi-day excursions take visitors around stunning mountains, lakes, glaciers, valleys, and more.

Upon arrival in the park, you'll check into Hotel Las Torres Patagonia. This 4-star wilderness lodge is set against the backdrop of the iconic Paine massif and is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. While the lodge's 85 rooms are spacious and well-appointed, travelers come here to take advantage of all the excursions, guided hikes, horseback rides, and tours on offer.

After checking in, you can take it easy for the rest of the day. Perhaps visit the lodge's spa for a massage before dining at the world-class restaurant, which offers regional dishes using ingredients fresh from its own garden. If you like, have a signature cocktail from the bar before retiring early. You'll need the rest because you'll embark on active daily adventures for the rest of your time in Torres del Paine.

Day 6: Base Torres Combined Horseback Riding & Hiking

You're in for a treat, as this morning, you'll embark on a full-day combined horseback riding/trekking adventure. Start the day in the stables at Hotel Las Torres. There, you'll receive a safety briefing, hop in the saddle, and hit the trail. The start of this 5.7-mile (9.2 km ride) ride will take you through the Patagonian flatlands and prairies of the Ascencio Valley. Then you'll follow the trail up the mountain to Refugio & Camping Chileno.

You'll leave the horses behind at the camping lodge and continue on a 6-mile (9.6 km) hike up the mountain. The last leg of this trek is a 45-minute hard scramble to the top and Mirador 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. Here, you'll be able to take a break and enjoy lunch amid the ice-blue lagoon at the base of the towers. Afterward, you'll hike back down the mountain to the hotel.

Day 7: Full-Day Lakes Trail Hike

Wake early and strap on your hiking boots because you're off on a 9.3-mile (15 km) trek around the park's famous lakes. It begins with a 2.5-hour transfer by van to Sarmiento, the second-largest lake in Torres del Paine. From there, you'll embark on the full-day hike, during which you'll pass through native lenga forests, walk along shimmering lagoons, and even stop at a local estancia for a break.

As you continue hiking, you'll be amid exotic Patagonian flora and fauna. Be on the lookout for guanacos, orchids, owls, woodpeckers, and other wildlife. The last leg of the hike will take you up to a summit offering panoramic views of the Paine massif to the north and Lago del Toro and prairies to the southwest. At the end of the day, you'll return to the vehicle and transfer back to your hotel.

Day 8: Optional Activities: Rock Climbing & Waterfall Hike

Today you can choose between a couple of half-day activities/tours. The first is a rock-climbing adventure at Puma Cave, a large rock formation with routes for beginner, experienced, and expert climbers. For aspiring climbers (or those who just want to brush up on their skills), the day starts with an in-depth tutorial followed by some time on one of the many beginner routes. Once you get the hang of things, you can move up in classes of difficulty. 

Or, if you can't wait to explore more of the park, opt for a half-day trek around some of the most stunning landscapes in Torres del Paine. This excursion beings early with a 1.5-hour transfer by van to Pudeto, located in the heart of the park's lake district. From there, it's a short walk to Salto Grande, a raging aquamarine cascade that channels water between the lakes of Nordenskjöld and Pehoé. The rest of the tour involves a 3.7-mile (6 km) hike around a great panorama of landscapes featuring the mountains of Los Cuernos and Paine Grande with its French Glacier hanging down.

Day 9: Fly to Santiago, Optional Activities

Your driver will pick you up in the morning for the one-hour drive south to the airport in Puerto Natales. There, you'll board a three-hour flight north to the capital of Santiago. Upon arrival at the airport, another driver will meet you for the ride to your hotel, The Singular. This 5-star luxury hotel is in the heart of Santiago's historic Lastarria neighborhood, close to the city's major attractions.

When you arrive, you can relax in your spacious suite and enjoy a massage at the hotel's spa. Or perhaps kick back beside the rooftop pool and admire views of the surrounding Andes. For dinner, try The Singular Restaurant, where the executive chef uses French techniques to elevate local produce. 

Day 10: Half-Day Maipo Valley Tour, Depart Santiago

Before departing Chile, spend some time in the fertile wine country just south of Santiago. A driver will pick you up in the morning for the 30-minute drive outside the city to the famous Maipo Valley, one of Chile's most famous viticulture regions.

Once here, you'll stop at Viña Undurraga, a famous winery dating back to 1885. On an hour-long tour, you'll stroll the vineyard, visit the barrel room, and enjoy a tasting. You'll also visit a small Indigenous heritage site called Aliwen to learn about the history of Chile's native Mapuche people. After the half-day tour, your driver will transfer you to the airport in Santiago, where you'll catch your flight home. ¡Adiós!

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