Explore Santiago & Torres del Paine National Park - 10 Days

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago de Chile

Welcome to Chile! Upon arrival in Santiago, you'll be transferred to your hotel, where you can spend the rest of the day as you like. There's plenty to discover in this historic capital, and depending on when you arrive, you might like to get out and explore. Consider taking a stroll down the cobblestone streets of Bellavista, where you can seek out hearty, meat-focused Chilean dishes at one of the local restaurants.

Day 3: Visit Viña del Mar & Valparaíso

Chile's Pacific coast is dominated by two neighboring, though quite different, cities: Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. Valparaíso is famous for its more than 50 small hills, which are covered in quaint, colorful old houses. The hills are connected by an ingenious network of twisting streets, stairways, cable car lines, flower-filled balconies, and lookout platforms. One of the many sites you will visit here is the residence of Chilean Nobel Peace Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda at La Sebastiana.

Eat lunch overlooking the funicular railway below you, before driving 10 minutes north to Viña del Mar, commonly referred to as La Ciudad Jardín (The Garden City) due to its lavish gardens and subtropical atmosphere. Discover fabulous beaches and a bustling commercial sector in this coastal resort city.

Day 4: Fly to Punta Arenas, Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park

Bid Santiago farewell for now as you catch a 3.5-hour flight south to Punta Arenas, the gateway to southern Chilean Patagonia. Here you'll join your driver for the four-hour transfer to Torres del Paine National Park, then check into your hotel. Known for its rugged mountains, vast glaciers, and turquoise lakes, this spectacular 598,593-acre (242,242 ha) UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve is located between the Andes and the Patagonian steppe at the southern tip of South America, and is shared between Chile and Argentina. 

Day 5: Hike in the Valle Ascencio

Today's adventurous trek leads to the base of Torres del Paine's celebrated mountain torres (towers). Stand in front of the glacier-fed lagoon and admire the slender, jagged peaks that give the national park its name. You'll have the option of undertaking the trek in its entirety on foot, or partially on horseback.

Either way, the excursion begins from the hotel and climbs into the Valle Ascencio, rising through a beautiful lenga (a type of beech tree) forest to the stony heights above. This route crosses ice-cold mountain streams and threads along glacial moraines before reaching Base de las Torres. Enjoy a snack here, before returning to your hotel using the same route.

Day 6: Explore the Grey Glacier 

Today, you'll explore some of Torres del Paine's most iconic highlights. Your driver will take you into the heart of the park, where you can stop at scenic overlooks and take short hikes to natural landmarks. Enjoy an al fresco lunch, before opting to either hike along the southern shore of Lago Grey to see the icebergs, or take a narrated boat trip across the length of the lake to the impressive Grey Glacier, which stretches down from the massive Southern Patagonia Ice Field. 

Day 7: Visit the Laguna Azul

Follow in the footsteps of Lady Florence Dixie, the intrepid Victorian-era British traveler who was considered Patagonia's first foreign visitor. Stand where she stood and gaze upon the Laguna Azul. This half-day excursion—the best option to observe and photograph the Torres without all the hiking—starts with a short drive through the park's rugged terrain to Laguna Amarga. Drive on towards Laguna Azul, parking a 30-minute walk away, and admire the blend of wildlife and views of the Paine massif (the eastern spur of the Andes). Animals are abundant in this part of the park, especially guanacos and birds.

Day 8: Fly to Santiago, Transfer to Viña Matetic

After breakfast, you'll be escorted to the airport in Punta Arenas and fly back to Santiago, before being transferred to your accommodation at Viña Matetic. La Casona de Viña Matetic is a ten-room boutique hotel designed in a traditional 1900s colonial style, and located in the charming Chilean countryside. After a day of touring the vineyard and tasting the wines, relax in the tranquility of the Valle Rosario. 

Day 9: Tour Viña Matetic

Spend today savoring your final day in Chile. Tour the wine cellar at Viña Matetic, and taste four Ultra Premium EQ wines. Then enjoy a four-course lunch menu with wine pairing, followed by a guided excursion to the Valle Rosario for your choice of horseback riding, cycling, trekking, or a scenic drive.

Day 10: Depart Santiago 

Spend your last day in Chile at your leisure, before heading to the Santiago airport for your flight home. ¡Buen viaje!