Torres del Paine Relaxed Adventure - 6 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago de Chile, Explore

Welcome to Chile! Upon arrival at Santiago International Airport, a driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. You'll have the rest of the day to explore the city at your leisure. 

Suggested activities include:

• Hike to the top of Cerro San Cristobal, where you can get your bearings by surveying the area from a high vantage point. Pathways lead 2,788 feet (850 m) up this central hill to a series of lookouts that offer wraparound views of Santiago. If you're not the hiking type, don't worry: catch a scenic gondola instead.
  
  
• Stroll the cobblestone streets of Barrio Bellavista. On the north side of Santiago, you'll find this trendy enclave, at once fashionable and bohemian. Stroll past colorful houses adorned with graffiti art and choose between an eclectic array of eateries and bars—great for people-watching. 
  
  
• Visit the Plaza de Armas, a stone plaza in Santiago's historic center dating to 1541. There's also the impressive Catedral Metropolitana, a neoclassical church dating to 1748 whose towering twin bell towers dominate the north side of the plaza.
  
  
• Snap pics in front of the Palacio de la Moneda. Chile's opulent Presidential Palace (La Moneda) is a short stroll from the Plaza de Armas. It was here in 1973 that Chile's armed forces, backed by the US government, overthrew President Salvador Allende, kicking off a brutal right-wing military dictatorship that would last for 17 years. Visitors are welcome.

For dinner, leave the hotel and enjoy a culinary adventure in the city. In recent years, Santiago has emerged as a global foodie destination. Chilean chefs are reinventing traditional dishes like empanadas, cazuelas (stews), and seafood with ingredients harvested all the way from the northern deserts and southern Patagonian regions. You can find great restaurants and wine bars not only in the Bellavista neighborhood but also in the revitalized historic barrios of Yungay and Italia.

Day 2: Bus to Puerto Natales, Free Afternoon

After breakfast, a driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport, where you'll catch a flight to the city of Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, you'll hop on a bus for a three-hour trip north 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 touristic 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. Facing north from here, you'll see the peaks of Cerro Benitez and Cerro Toro, and the view at sunset is phenomenal.

Day 3: Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia

After breakfast at your hotel in Puerto Natales, you'll visit the beautiful Estancia La Peninsula. This full-day tour is the perfect way to learn about daily life at a working Patagonian ranch.

The adventure starts with a 30-minute boat ride through the fjords before arriving at the ranch for a welcome pastry and cup of coffee. From here, you'll have the chance to choose between a variety of activities, such as horseback riding, hiking, or taking a land tour in a 4WD vehicle. You'll then enjoy a traditional barbecue followed by a demonstration of sheep shearing and wool classification. You'll also have a chance to meet the estancia's resident sheepdogs. At the end of the tour, return by boat to Puerto Natales, where you'll have the rest of the evening to enjoy at leisure.

Days 4-5: Luxury Camp Experience in Torres del Paine

After breakfast in Puerto Natales, it's time to transfer to the eco-friendly and all-inclusive Patagonia Camp inside Torres del Paine National Park. Keep your camera close as you're likely to spot some of the local fauna, including many species of birds and the guanaco, a wild camelid related to the llama.

Once you arrive at camp—said to be the first luxury camp in South America—get ready to spend the next two days in a private yurt (depending on the availability). Once you check-in, you'll have the rest of the day to relax and explore the scenery at your leisure. The property is located on the shores of Lake Toro, the largest lake in the Magallanes region of Chile, with stunning views of the Macizo del Paine.

Each day of your stay, there will be excursion options for you, including different hikes and activities ranging in difficulty depending on your preference. In addition to a plethora of trails that lead to mountain views and waterfalls, you'll have the option to go standup paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, bird watching, or glacier cruising. Whether by foot, boat, horse, or vehicle, excursions are packed with adventure and interesting information about the park's flora, fauna, geology, and history.

All meals are served at the camp's restaurant—a warm and inviting space that features large windows overlooking the lake and mountains beyond. For dinner, cocktails and wine accompany some of Patagonia's finest cuisine options, including salmon, king crab, lamb, and produce from the local gardens.

Day 6: Return to Santiago, Depart

Today, you'll take a private transfer from Torres del Paine National Park to the Punta Arenas airport. You'll then hop on a domestic flight to Santiago. From there, you'll meet your connecting flight home. ¡Buen viaje!

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