Patagonia for Kayakers - 16 Days

Highlights

• Paddle along shimmering fjords and lakes in Chile's Los Lagos district
• Cruise up the Strait of Magellan on your way to a penguin island
• Explore the rivers of Chile's famed Torres del Paine National Park by kayak
• Glide up to the massive ice walls of Perito Moreno Glacier on a paddling tour

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Puerto Montt (Chile), Transfer to Puerto Varas 

Welcome to Chile! From its northern deserts to its southern Patagonia region, this South American nation is filled with natural wonders. Your itinerary focuses on the latter—specifically, kayaking in some of Patagonia's most scenic locales. Upon arrival at the airport in Santiago, you'll board a connecting flight south to Puerto Montt. Located in Chile's famous Lake District, this port city is the gateway to Patagonia.

At the airport, a driver will pick you up for the 30-minute ride north to Puerto Varas, a town of German heritage that sits on Lago Llanquihue in the shadow of the Osorno volcano. After checking into your hotel, you can have lunch at a restaurant in town followed by a walk around. Enjoy the beautiful lakeside scenery and the town's captivating mix of German architecture and Mapuche Indigenous heritage. 

Day 2: Kayak the Reloncaví Estuary (Day 1)

Meet your driver this morning and leave Puerto Varas on a 40-minute drive east along the shore of Lago Llanquihue to the town of Ensenada. This will be the base for today's kayaking excursion. Here, you'll pick up your gear and choose between a single or tandem expedition. Then, set off on a calm paddle along the lower part of the RÍo Petrohué. Eventually, you'll reach the small village of Ralun and transfer to the Reloncaví Estuary. This sparkling fjord is surrounded by snow-topped volcanoes and alerce forests that are thousands of years old.

Soon enough, it will be time for lunch, and there's a perfect spot on a peninsula with a small cove lined with green meadows. Here, Señora Yolanda will welcome you to her family farm, and everyone will share maté (an herbal tea beverage) around a wood stove. After enjoying a traditional lunch and some freshly brewed coffee, you'll take a short tour around the woods before settling to camp for the night on her plot of land.

Day 3: Kayak the Reloncaví Estuary (Day 2)

After breakfast with your host family, you'll hit the water once again for day two of your fjord adventure. In your kayak, you'll paddle to the small town of Cochamó. On the way, you'll enjoy the beautiful scenery and natural landmarks that include the Yates volcano and snow-covered mountains. After stopping for a walk around the fishing village of Cochamó, there will be the option to continue up the river into Cochamó Valley for a few miles before transferring by vehicle back to Puerto Varas. 

Day 4: Fly to Punta Arenas, Optional Activities

Say goodbye to the Lake District as you meet your driver in the morning for the transfer back to Puerto Montt and the airport. There, you'll catch a two-hour flight south to Punta Arenas, located in one of the most beautiful regions of Chilean Patagonia. Founded in 1848 on the eastern shore of the Brunswick Peninsula, Punta Arenas was a hub of high society in its heyday. Now, it's a popular tourist destination offering easy access to some of Patagonia's most impressive natural attractions, including Torres del Paine National Park and Isla Magdalena.

After getting settled at your hotel, stroll around town to see the sights. Plaza Muñoz Gamero is a leafy central square lined with French street lamps and surrounded by impressive architecture. Many of these grand neoclassical mansions were once owned by wealthy sheep-ranching families. Tour the Palacio Sara Braun to see just how much wealth the sheep trade generated in the 19th century. Explore the waterfront and watch the sun go down at Mirador Cerro de la Cruz. This viewpoint overlooks the city all the way out to the Strait of Magellan.

Day 5: Kayak the Strait of Magellan to Cabo San Isidro

Your kayaking guide will pick you up early for the hour's drive south of Punta Arenas to Cabo San Isidro. Here, enjoy a waterfront breakfast then embark on a full-day kayaking trip along the world-famous Strait of Magellan. Start by organizing your gear and listening to a short safety briefing from your guide. Then, hop in the kayak and embark down the strait, where you'll be treated to views of the surrounding mountains and forests.

First, paddle toward the San Isidro Lighthouse, disembarking to explore on land. You'll have many opportunities to observe the native birds and marine life, like sea lions and Peale's dolphins. After San Isidro, continue to Bahía del Águila, a serene bay where you'll break for a snack before making the return trip. Once back at the vehicle, stop for lunch and then return to Punta Arenas. 

Day 6: Visit the Isla Magdalena Penguin Colony

This half-day tour begins bright and early in the morning. You'll transfer from downtown Punta Arenas by vehicle to a pier on the Strait of Magellan, at which point you'll board a vessel that will take you 18 miles (30 km) northeast to Isla Magdalena. On this island is Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, a protected area home to Chile's largest colony of penguins.

First, though, you'll visit Isla Marta, located in the middle of the strait. It's home to a large colony of Patagonian sea lions whose numbers top a thousand. These aren't the only residents on this rocky outpost—you'll also find a number of seabirds, which include cormorants, skuas, arctic pigeons, and more.

Afterward, you'll arrive at Isla Magdalena, where you'll disembark and spend one hour onshore. During this time, you'll follow a 2,624-foot (800 m) path to an old lighthouse that offers sweeping views of the Strait of Magellan. On your way, be sure to enjoy the company of the island's residents: a Magellanic penguin colony that can reach up to 170,000 in number. There's no experience on Earth quite like hiking alongside penguins near Patagonian waters first mapped by Magellan and made famous by Charles Darwin. Later, you'll return to Punta Arenas.

Day 7: Transfer to Puerto Natales

It's another early start as you hop aboard a bus for the three-hour drive north to Puerto Natales, a small port city that's far less touristic than many other Patagonian hubs and thus retains its air of small-town tranquility. It's also the main base for excursions into Torres del Paine National Park, a legendary protected area that covers 700 square miles (1,810 sq km) and is renowned for its circuit treks.

After checking into your hotel, you can enjoy the town's simple pleasures, like strolling its waterfront promenade on the Seno Última Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Facing north from here, you'll see the peaks of Cerro Benitez and Cerro Toro (the view is phenomenal at sunset). After your walk, check out one of the numerous restaurant options in town for dinner.

Day 8: Torres del Paine Full-Day Private Tour

Get ready for Torres del Paine! In the morning, your driver will pick you up for the two-hour ride into the park. Thus commences a full day of outdoor activities. The scenic hiking trails here are near limitless, and you can opt to trek between the park's famous lakes, like Pehoé and Nordenskjöld, or see more highlights at one time on a driving tour in a 4WD vehicle.

Probably the most famous day hike is the 11.2-mile (18 km) trek up to Mirador Base Torres. This self-guided adventure begins with an ascent along a trail up Mount Almirante Nieto, which features epic views of Lago Nordenskjöld and the Asencio Valley below. After two hours of hiking, you'll reach Refugio & Camping Chileno, where you'll break for lunch.

Day 9: Torres del Paine Kayaking Adventure: Lago & Río Grey

After breakfast, your kayak guide will pick you up for the transfer to the shores of Lago Grey in Torres del Paine. After gearing up, you'll paddle toward the mouth of the lake and an "iceberg graveyard" filled with chunks of ice that have broken off Grey Glacier. From here, enjoy spectacular views of the Paine massif and its western range, as well as the famous Cuernos del Paine granite peaks.

Then, leave the lake and continue down Río Grey. As you go, you'll brave some rapids as you meander between river canyons until you reach the famous viewpoint of Sierra Toro, where you'll enjoy grand vistas of the river and lake. Later, at Grey Bridge, stop for a picnic lunch, then continue paddling to the confluence of the Río Serrano. There, you'll meet the support vehicle and transfer to Serrano Village, where you'll overnight. 

Day 10: Torres del Paine Kayaking Adventure: Pueblo Serrano & Puerto Toro

After loading the kayaks and going through a safety check, begin today's kayaking adventure by paddling to Salto del Río, an impressive waterfall. Portage your kayaks around the falls, then continue paddling along the mighty river toward the Serrano Glacier. Stop for lunch with a spectacular view of Tyndall Glacier and the Geike Mountains. Following lunch, slowly make your way closer to Mount Balmaceda, where the river joins with the waters of the Seno Última Esperanza. Spend the night camping at Puerto Toro, where you'll enjoy a delicious dinner in the wild Patagonian forest.

Day 11: Torres del Paine Kayaking Adventure: Serrano Glacier & Estancia Perales

Early in the morning, after a hearty camp breakfast, portage your kayaks about 100 feet (30 m) from the Laguna Serrano, where the Serrano Glacier ends. Then, spend the morning paddling alongside the blue icebergs broken off from the glacier.

At midday, embark on a larger boat that will take you back to Puerto Natales through the Seno Última Esperanza. During this journey, you'll enjoy incredible views of the Balmaceda Glacier before stopping at Estancia Perales. At this waterfront ranch, you'll sit down for a traditional meal of Patagonian roasted lamb. Arrive back at Puerto Natales around 6 pm and spend the evening relaxing. 

Day 12: Transfer to El Calafate (Argentina), Optional Activities

Time to hop the border as you board a bus this morning for the ride north to El Calafate. It's a five-hour drive, and along the way, you'll stop for a customs check at the border crossing into Argentina. Eventually, you'll arrive at the scenic town of El Calafate. Sitting on the shores of Lago Argentino, this is the main base for trips into the famous Los Glaciares National Park and one of its star attractions, Perito Moreno Glacier.

Upon arrival at El Calafate, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing or venture out and enjoy the quaint cafés and shops around town. Maybe prime yourself with information on the nearby glaciers by visiting the Glaciarium. This multimedia center has an ice museum, various interactive displays, and educational information regarding glaciers. For fun, it even has a bar made totally of ice.

Day 13: Kayak at Perito Moreno Glacier

This morning, you'll venture to the southwestern end of Lago Argentino to see Perito Moreno in all its glory. But you won't merely view the glacier from far-off observation platforms—you'll hop in a kayak and paddle toward it. First, transfer by vehicle from your hotel to the group meeting point. There, you'll meet an expert kayaking guide offering a safety briefing.

Then the adventure begins as you put in at "Iceberg Beach." From there, paddle across the teal waters of Lago Argentino until you're about 1,968 feet (600 m) out from the glacier. At this distance, you'll not only see the awe-inspiring site of "calving"—ice breaking off Perito Moreno's massive walls—but you'll also feel its full reverberating force as the crumbling blocks hit the icy waters.

After enjoying this spectacle of Mother Nature, return to the beach and take a break to enjoy a box lunch. Later, there will be free time to hike the wooden boardwalks to different points where you can snap photos of the glacier. At the end of the day, you'll transfer back to your accommodation in El Calafate. 

Day 14: Transfer to El Chaltén, Raft the Río de las Vueltas

Leave El Calafate this morning on a three-hour drive north to El Chaltén. Nicknamed "the trekking capital of Argentina," this town lies on the Río Las Vueltas. Like El Calafate, it's a gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, with towering peaks rising 10,000 feet (3,048 m) above the windswept landscape. If the skies are clear during the drive, you'll have incredible views of the granite massif of Mount Fitz Roy.

After checking into your hotel, you'll make a beeline for the river and embark on an adrenaline-pumping adventure down the Río de las Vueltas. The three-hour excursion starts at the rafting base camp, where you'll learn the basics of team paddling and how to use a dry suit. Once everyone is comfortable and properly equipped, you'll hop in the raft and descend the Las Vueltas on a route that covers about 10 miles (16 km).

Day 15: Kayak on Lago del Desierto

Hit the Patagonian waters one last time this morning. After a pickup at your hotel, you and your guide will set out along a scenic route toward one of the region's highlights, Lago del Desierto. Its name means "lake of the desert," and the trip takes about two hours each way. On arrival, you'll learn the basics of kayaking in this area and get outfitted with the necessary equipment.

Then, you'll push off onto the lake's calm, glassy water and begin your paddling adventure, enjoying views of beautiful forests and impressive peaks in the distance. Take a break at Bahía Tranquila, a section of the lake protected from the wind. Since the water is shallow here, it's a nice place to hop off the kayak and enjoy your surroundings. After a 2.5-hour trip around the lake, return to shore. Take some free time to explore the nearby trails or visit the viewpoint of the nearby Huemul Glacier before returning to town for the evening.

Day 16: Transfer to El Calafate, Depart

It's been a bucket-list adventure kayaking around the highlights of Patagonia. Now, it's time to leave the paddle behind and say goodbye. After breakfast, you'll hit the road with your driver back to El Calafate and the airport. There, you'll board a plane to Buenos Aires and meet your connecting flight home. Safe travels!

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