Ultimate Luxury Exploration of Patagonia: Chile to Argentina - 10 Days

Highlights

• Hit the highlights of Buenos Aires and Santiago on food and culture tours
• Keep your carbon footprint light at South America's first luxury eco-camp
• Embark on hiking, horseback riding, and kayaking adventures in Torres del Paine
• Stay at a remote wilderness lodge on the shores of Lago del Desierto
• Visit Perito Moreno Glacier and hit the trail in the "Trekking Capital of Argentina"

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago, City Highlights Tour

Welcome to Chile! This is one of two countries that claim the bottom cone of South America, a region known as Patagonia. You'll arrive in Santiago, a historic city and capital of the country. During the landing, look out the window and notice the towering Andean peaks surrounding the city—there's much more of that to come shortly.

Your driver will be waiting at the terminal to transfer you to your hotel in the city. Get ready for the good life because you'll be staying at the Mandarin Oriental, a 5-star glimmering high-rise renowned for opulent accommodations and top-notch amenities. After checking in, relax and unwind at the sun deck by the Polynesian-style lagoon pool, or book a service at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental. Here, you can enjoy aroma stone therapies and "diamond cocoon" facials amid stunning city views.

Now that you're reinvigorated, it's time to discover Santiago's highlights. Meet your personal guide and head out on a private three-hour tour around the city. It begins in the historic center and the Plaza de Armas, Santiago's main square. It's home to the Palacio de la Real Audiencia (Palace of the Royal Court) and the Catedral Metropolitana, an impressive neoclassical building dating to 1753. Also nearby is the Palacio de la Moneda, Chile's opulent presidential palace. To cap the day, hike (or ride a gondola) up Cerro San Cristóbal, a 984-foot (300 m) hill that offers exceptional panoramic views.

Day 2: Fly to Puerto Natales, Transfer to Torres del Paine

Rise and shine because you're off to Patagonia! Leave the capital behind this morning as you transfer to the airport for the three-hour flight south to Puerto Natales. This small port city on the Seno Última Esperanza (Last Hope Sound) is famous as a base for nature excursions. At the airport, another driver will take you 1.5 hours north to Torres del Paine, the crown jewel of Chile's national parks. This legendary protected area covers 700 square miles (1,810 sq km) and is renowned for its circuit treks.

Your accommodation is located just a few miles outside of the park. Perched above the shore of Lago del Toro, Patagonia Camp offers a glamorous camping experience that immerses you in the beauty of Patagonia. Not only was this the first luxury camp in South America, but its eco-friendly yurts integrate seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, leaving almost no carbon footprint. The yurts are equipped with comfy beds, central heating, and en suite baths; but the best part is that the camp lies right on the doorstep of Torres del Paine, offering quick access to park activities and adventures.

Day 3: Torres del Paine Activities: Mirador Base Torres Trek

After an early camp breakfast, you'll head out for a full day of adventures in Torres del Paine. During your time here, Patagonia Camp will organize each day's activities according to your interests. 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 stunning 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.

Then it's another hour of hiking past ancient lenga forests until you arrive at a moraine. The next part is a 45-minute hard scramble to the top and 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. The trek ends when you hike back down the mountain.

Day 4: Torres del Paine Activities: Glaciers, Valleys & Lakes

If you like, spend today visiting the park's famous glaciers. One option is a hike to the French Valley—look up, and you'll see its famous hanging glacier overhead. Another option is a trip to Lago Grey. Here, you'll board a catamaran to Grey Glacier, a massive ice floe in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Cruise across the lake until you get close to the glacier, where you'll have fantastic views of its massive ice walls (a prime photo opportunity!). Following the boat tour, you'll take a short guided hike along a windswept beach and through the forest. Then, return to the camp in time for dinner.

Day 5: Torres del Paine Activities: Horseback Rides, Kayaking & Hiking

For your last day in Torres del Paine, you'll again have your choice of activities. If you haven't done so, hop in the saddle for a horseback ride or hit the water on a kayak tour. There's also the option for a half-day trek to Salto Grande, a raging aquamarine waterfall. The rest of the tour involves a 3.7-mile (6 km) hike around a great panorama of landscapes featuring the peaks of Los Cuernos and Paine Grande with its French Glacier hanging down.

Day 6: Transfer to El Calafate, Dinner at Rancho Aparte

Say goodbye to Chilean Patagonia as you break camp this morning and head north with your driver to El Calafate. It's a five-hour journey, 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.

Your driver will take you to the eastern outskirts of town and Xelena Hotel & Suites. This 5-star hotel sits right on the lakeshore and features comfortable, quiet and well-equipped rooms overlooking the water. Other welcome amenities include an indoor pool as well as a heated outdoor pool with lake views, plus a Jacuzzi, sauna, and a luxury spa offering beauty treatments and aromatic therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind.

You can spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing by the pool and enjoying a massage. Dinner will be a special affair at Rancho Aparte, a ranch home converted into a restaurant where guests are treated to home-cooked meals from fixed menus. Highlights include regional specialties like roast Patagonian lamb and goulash with gnocchi pasta, all prepared with organic ingredients from local farms. Of course, the menu is paired with some of the finest wines in Patagonia and throughout Argentina.

Day 7: Day Trip to Perito Moreno & Nautical Safari

Today, you'll enjoy a memorable adventure into Los Glaciares National Park. Meet your driver in the morning and transfer about west to Perito Moreno. It's a scenic 1.5-hour drive during which you'll pass natural landmarks like Redonda Bay, home to a variety of exotic waterbirds, including black-necked swans and flamingoes.

Continue cruising across the vast Patagonian steppe until you reach the national park's entrance, surrounded by beech and oak forests. Here, amid a network of boardwalks and viewpoints, you'll be treated to your first glimpses of Perito Moreno. This expansive glacier flows down from the Andes over the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, ending in a great wall that curves around the lake. At points, these walls reach 230 feet (70 m) high.

After marveling at the glacier from the boardwalks, you'll hop on a boat to see it up close. This nautical safari departs from the Puerto Bajo Las Sombras on the Rico arm of Lago Argentino. As you cruise toward the southern side of the glacier, you'll pass by icebergs floating in the water. Keep your camera ready, as once you get near the walls, you might see a chunk of ice breaking off and crashing into the water below (a process known as "calving"). At the end of the day, you'll transfer back to your hotel.

Day 8: Transfer to El Chaltén, Laguna Torre Hike

Leave El Calafate this morning on a three-hour transfer 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. And though it's filled with cool cafés and craft beer bars, El Chaltén often feels overcrowded with travelers and trekkers. That's why you'll stay 23 miles (37 km) north of town at Aguas Arriba.

This expansive lodge sits on Lago del Desierto and occupies 1,700 acres (688 ha) of pristine Patagonian wilderness. The cozy rooms with lake views are spacious and well-equipped, but the real star is its proximity to Los Glaciares National Park, featuring southern beech forests that are ideal for nature hikes. The lodge serves gourmet meals in its elegant dining room with wraparound windows overlooking the water, and when the sun is out, you can also dine on the lakefront terrace.

After dropping off your bags, you'll hit the trail with a local guide on a private trek up to Laguna Torre. This relatively short route (3-4 hours) will take you along the river, through lush green lenga forests, and around blue lagoons until you reach the lakeshore. Sitting at the foot of Cerro Torre and fed by glacial meltwater, the views of the surrounding peaks are incredible. After a break to relax and snap photos, you'll begin the hike back down to the trailhead and return to your hotel.

Day 9: Full-Day Hike to Laguna de Los Tres

Wake up early and meet your private guide once again for a full-day trek. The route you'll follow today covers 12 miles (20 km) and takes 8-9 hours to complete. Your destination is Laguna de los Tres, a gorgeous lagoon from which you'll enjoy panoramic views of three peaks: Fitz Roy, Poincenot, and Torre. During the hike, you'll also stop at incredible viewpoints looking out to the Piedras Blancas Glacier. When you arrive at the lagoon, you'll break for lunch and have time to relax before descending back to El Chaltén.

Day 10: Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentine Foodie Experience, Depart

Bid a fond farewell to Patagonia as you transfer back to El Calafate and the airport this morning for the three-hour flight to Buenos Aires. Argentina's chic capital is known as the "Paris of the South" due to its abundance of Baroque and neoclassical architecture. You'll discover these romantic streets over a couple of days of city tours and cultural activities. Though you won't have much time left on the itinerary, you'll make the most of it.

Cap the trip with a one-of-a-kind Argentine culinary experience. Join a local chef to learn how to make the country's signature dishes, from empanadas (savory pastries) to maté (the national tea). Round out your culinary adventure with a tasting of robust malbec wine and snacking on tantalizing alfajores, a famous Argentine cookie filled with dulce de leche (salted caramel). Afterward, you'll transfer to the airport and catch your flight home. Until next time!

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