Highlights
- Venture to one of Latin America's highest lookout points in Santiago
- Boat to the massive ice walls of Grey Glacier
- Enjoy several day hikes in Torres del Paine National Park
- Kayak on a pristine fjord while spotting rare birds
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Santiago | Santiago |
| Day 2 | Explore Santiago on a City Tour | Santiago |
| Day 3 | Fly to Punta Arenas, Transfer to Puerto Natales | Puerto Natales |
| Day 4 | Hike & Ride Horses at a Patagonian Estancia | Puerto Natales |
| Day 5 | Boat on Última Esperanza & Río Serrano | Torres del Paine |
| Day 6 | Explore Grey Glacier by Boat | Torres del Paine |
| Day 7 | Trek to Las Torres Lookout | Torres del Paine |
| Day 8 | Hike in the French Valley | Torres del Paine |
| Day 9 | Hike Along Lago Nordenskjöld | Torres del Paine |
| Day 10 | Tour the Park, Transfer to Puerto Natales | Puerto Natales |
| Day 11 | Kayak the Eberhard Fjord | Puerto Natales |
| Day 12 | Depart Patagonia |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Santiago
Welcome to Chile! A driver will meet you at Santiago's airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city. You'll take a guided tour tomorrow, so use today to take photos in front of the Palacio de la Moneda, Chile's opulent presidential palace, a short stroll from the Plaza de Armas. Then stroll the cobblestone streets of Barrio Bellavista to see colorful houses, vibrant street art, and an eclectic array of eateries and bars that are great for people-watching.
For dinner, enjoy a culinary adventure in the city. In recent years, Santiago has emerged as a global foodie destination as Chilean chefs reinvent traditional dishes, like empanadas and cazuelas (stews), with ingredients sourced from the Atacama Desert and the southern Patagonian region. You'll find great restaurants and wine bars in the Bellavista neighborhood and the revitalized historic districts of Yungay and Italia. Later on, head back to your hotel to get some rest.
Day 2: Explore Santiago on a City Tour
Today you'll discover the highlights of Santiago on a guided tour. Begin by wandering the aisles of Santiago's labyrinthine Mercado Central and Mercado La Vega. These markets are the beating heart of the city, overflowing with vendors and local residents eager to get their hands on the day's fresh produce. Then visit the Catedral Metropolitana, a neoclassical church dating to 1748.
In the afternoon, head to the glittering Costanera Center skyscraper. Offering one of the most impressive viewpoints in Latin America at nearly 1,000 feet (304 m) high, the top level features 360-degree views of the city and the surrounding Andes. For another unforgettable view, ride the aerial tramway to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal for sweeping views over the city and the Andes. You'll return to your hotel and have the evening to yourself.
Day 3: Fly to Punta Arenas, Transfer to Puerto Natales
A driver will meet you at your hotel today and transfer you to the airport to catch a flight to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. From there, you'll board a bus for a three-hour trip to Puerto Natales. When you arrive, you'll transfer to your hotel and have the rest of the evening to relax and explore the town.
This small port city is the main base for excursions into Torres del Paine National Park. It's far less touristy than many other Patagonian hubs and thus retains its air of small-town tranquility. Puerto Natales offers simple pleasures like strolling its waterfront promenade, which sits on the Seno Última Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Facing north from here, you'll see the peaks of Cerro Benitez and Cerro Toro, and the views at sunset are phenomenal.
Day 4: Hike & Ride Horses at a Patagonian Estancia
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll set off for the beautiful Estancia La Peninsula on the Antonio Veras Peninsula. This sprawling sheep and cattle ranch is surrounded by glaciers, mountains, beech forests, and the Seno Última Esperanza—a body of water you'll have to cross by boat on a scenic 40-minute trip.
When you arrive at this working wool farm, you'll get an overview of the grounds and choose your own adventure for the day. Possible activities include horseback riding, wildlife viewing, hiking, bird-watching, and more. Your schedule depends on your interests. In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional Patagonian asado (barbecue) prepared by the staff and attend the daily sheep-shearing demonstration. Return by boat to Puerto Natales in the evening.
Day 5: Boat on Última Esperanza & Río Serrano
Embark on an amazing boat adventure through the Seno Última Esperanza today. During the voyage, there will be opportunities to stop at many viewpoints for a chance to see glaciers, waterfalls, cliffs, and condors. Eventually, you will arrive at Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. Disembark for a short walk through the native forest toward the Serrano Glacier.
Continue the journey by boat up the Río Serrano, enjoying the region's remote location and natural beauty with few tourists around. After finishing a peaceful ride up the river, arrive in Pueblo Serrano, a village known as the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. A delicious meal (and your luggage) will be waiting for you. Then you'll head into the park and check into your lodging for the night.
Day 6: Explore Glacier Grey by Boat
Get ready for another boating excursion! This time, you'll board the Grey III catamaran and begin a journey toward Grey Glacier, a glacier in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field that feeds Lago Grey. You'll cruise across the lake until you get close to the glacier, at which point you'll have fantastic views of the glacier's massive ice walls. It's a prime photo opportunity.
Following the boat tour, you'll go on a short guided hike along a windswept beach and through the forest. You'll head back to your hotel and have the afternoon free to relax or go on another hike in the area. Have dinner and relax before tomorrow's excursion.
Day 7: Trek to Las Torres Lookout
After an energizing breakfast, transfer to Hotel Las Torres at the other end of the park, where you'll stay for the next three nights. Once you've settled into the hotel, start one of the most famous hikes in the park to Las Torres Lookout (about eight hours roundtrip). At the trailhead, start your walk up Almirante Nieto, a mountain with incredible views of Lago Nordenskjöld and the Asencio Valley. After two hours of steady climbing, you'll arrive at Refugio Chileno, a good opportunity to take a break and enjoy lunch with your fellow hikers.
From here, continue hiking for about an hour through a dense forest. Once you leave the forest, you'll approach a moraine and climb up to see amazing granite peaks. Admire the views, then return to the hotel for a relaxing evening—look out for shooting stars!
Day 8: Hike in the French Valley
This morning, get ready for another hike, this time to the heart of the park, where you'll trek on an iconic trail in the French Valley. Your guided trip starts with a transfer to Pudeto Ranger Station. From here, take a half-hour cruise across Lago Pehoe on a catamaran. On the other side, begin your trek. The first part of the trail is relatively flat, leading along the north side of Lago Skottsberg to the bottom of French Valley and Campamento Italiano, where you'll break for water and snacks.
You'll have the option to turn back or continue upward, heading deeper into the French Valley along a steep trail through the forest and a rocky moonscape above the treeline. Roughly 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from Campamento Italiano, you'll reach a viewpoint where you'll take in views of the French Glacier, Mount Paine Grande, the Cuernos del Paine peaks, and the valley ahead. Finally, make your way back to the hotel to relax after a full day of hiking.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 9: Hike Along Lago Nordenskjöld
Today, enjoy a day hike departing from Hotel Las Torres. Walk along the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld, admiring its stunning colors. You'll start on the same trailhead as yesterday but veer off toward the Cuernos for an entirely different view of the park. Along the way, you'll pass several rivers, catching glimpses of glaciers and the mountaintops above you. This hike can last between four and eight hours. Depending on the weather and your energy level, you'll turn back and return to Hotel Las Torres when you're ready.
Day 10: Tour the Park, Transfer to Puerto Natales
On this full-day guided tour, you'll explore Torres del Paine's unique ecosystem and impressive viewpoints at your own pace with a knowledgeable guide. Throughout the day, visit the park's four ecological zones, which include the Andean desert, Magellanic subpolar forest, pre-Andean shrubland, and Patagonian steppe. Along the way, you'll spot plenty of local wildlife, including cougars, foxes, guanacos, and birds of prey. Take in stunning landscapes, from the park's distinctive horn-shaped peaks to glacial lakes. Enjoy a few short hikes and a picnic lunch with a view.
You'll leave the park late in the afternoon and transfer back to Puerto Natales to spend the night. If there's time, you might stop at the Milodon Cave National Monument on the way back. This is one of the oldest and most important archaeological and paleontological sites in southern Patagonia, with evidence of human presence dating back to the 11th millenium BCE. Return to Puerto Natales, where you'll spend the night in a hotel.
Day 11: Kayak the Eberhard Fjord
This morning, you'll be picked up for a private half-hour transfer from your hotel in Puerto Natales to Estancia Puerto Consuelo, your base camp for today's outdoor adventure. Accompanied by a professional guide, you'll kayak in calm waters to historical sites along Eberhard Fjord.
Stops include Puerto Prat, founded in 1899, and Isla Krugger, known as the "Island of the Dead," home to an old cemetery where early settlers were buried. Keep your camera close as you're likely to see a variety of exotic birds, such as Andean condors, Chilean flamingoes, and black-necked swans. Return to Puerto Natales and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant on the last evening of the trip.
Day 12: Depart Patagonia
The adventure has come to an end. After breakfast, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport to catch your flight home. Safe travels!
More Great Patagonia Itineraries
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