Overview
From the rolling hills of wine country around Santiago, fly to the southern reaches of Patagonia to explore the majestic beauty of Torres del Paine National Park—a land of soaring peaks, glaciers, and windswept plains. Cross the border into Argentina and trek across the Perito Moreno Glacier in Calafate, hike to the glacial lakes of El Chaltén, visit the immense Iguazú Falls, and experience the art and elegance of Buenos Aires.
Days: 14
Best time to visit: October-April
Ideal for: Active Couples and Families
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Santiago
Arrive in Santiago de Chile, the nation’s vibrant capital, and settle into your hotel in the heart of the city. Relax after a long day of travel, or take a stroll around the neighborhood—home to museums, parks, and a wealth of cafés and restaurants.
Day 2 – Santiago & Winery Tours
Set off on a private, full-day city tour of Santiago, including visits to nearby vineyards. Begin the day in the old quarter of Santiago, visiting the Supreme Court, the Cathedral, and the Plaza de Armas. Stop into the Pre-Columbian Art Museum and drive to the top of San Cristobal Hill for views over the city. Continue your journey out of town to the River Maipo Canyon to visit the Concha y Toro vineyard for a wine-tasting and a tour of the estate’s ancient cellars.
Day 3 – Santiago to Torres del Paine
Transfer to the Santiago airport for your flight to the southern tip of Chilean Patagonia, Punta Arenas. Arriving in Punta Arenas, you will be met and driven north—about 4 hours—to the Hotel Las Torres Patagonia lodge in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. The hotel offers a rustic-chic experience with an elegant restaurant, horseback riding, and a luxurious spa. Spend three relaxing nights surrounded by incredible wilderness.
Days 4 & 5 – Torres del Paine National Park
Enjoy two full days to explore the wild beauty of Torres del Paine National Park on guided hiking and horseback excursions. Drive to Lake Grey and walk its shores before boarding a boat to get up close to the Grey Glacier; trek up the Asencio Valley to view the three towers the park is named for; or tour the Enchanted Valley on horseback—just a few of the possibilities to discover the wonders of Torres del Paine.
Days 6 – Explore El Calafate
Leave Torres del Paine behind and transfer overland to El Calafate, Argentina. Settle into your hotel overlooking the waters of Lago Argentino, with the remainder of the day free to explore El Calafate. The town is a bustling outdoors-hub but maintains a low-key atmosphere, which makes it a great base to explore Argentine Patagonia.
Day 7 – Perito Moreno Minitrekking
This morning you will be picked up at your hotel for a full-day, small group tour of Los Glaciares National Park, a landscape dominated ancient icefields. Get a sense of the massive scale of the Perito Moreno Glacier on a boat tour along the advancing wall of ice in Lago Rico. You will land on beach next to the glacier for a 2-hour minitrekking adventure onto the ice, led by experienced guides. Return through Magellan forest and then hike along the boardwalks of the park to enjoy different views over this surreal landscape.
Day 8 – River Tour or Hiking in El Chaltén
Explore the La Leona River on a full-day, small group kayaking and hiking tour from El Calafate, starting with an hour’s paddle down this pristine river. Disembark and spend the next few hours hiking through a petrified forest—where you can see ancient dinosaur bones—and learn about the local flora, fauna, and unique geology of the Patagonian steppe. Return to your kayaks for another hour of paddling before transferring back to El Calafate.
Or experience the majesty of the Andes on a full-day, small-group trekking tour in Los Glaciares National Park in El Chaltén—about a 3-hour drive from El Calafate along Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma.. Enjoy a day of independent hiking on one of the park’s many trails in the shadow of Mount Fitz Roy, or walk with your guide to learn more about the geology, flora, and fauna of the region. Return to El Calafate in the late afternoon.
Day 9 – Fly to Buenos Aires
Transfer to El Calafate Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. You will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in the upscale residential area of Recoleta, a downtown neighborhood of parks, cafés, and restaurants.
Day 10 – Four Balconies Tour
Get to know Buenos Aires on a half-day, private tour that centers on four of the city’s dynamic parks and plazas—Plaza de Mayo, Parque Lezama and La Boca, Plaza San Martin, and Recoleta. As you travel across this boisterous city, you will learn about the nation’s history, culture, and the distinctive districts of Buenos Aires.
Day 11 – Discover Buenos Aires
Today is yours to explore Buenos Aires. Visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes or browse the shops of Calle Florida or the bustling Avenida Santa Fe. Consider taking a cycling tour or a small-group boat and walking tour of historic San Isidro and the Tigre Delta. In the evening, don’t miss the chance to see a Tango show in San Telmo, or perhaps take a class and try a few steps yourself.
Day 12 – Puerto Iguazú
Transfer to the Buenos Aires airport for your flight to Iguazú Falls International Airport, where you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel in Puerto Iguazú.
Day 13 – Full Day at the Falls
You will be picked up at your hotel in the morning for a full-day tour on the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls, where there are three different forested trails along the waterfalls. Visit the overlook above the mighty Devil’s Throat, explore the paths along the upper and lower falls, and make your way to San Martin Island by way of catwalks on the lower circuit. Add on a boat trip to the base of the falls for an exhilarating vantage of the most powerful series of waterfalls in the world.
Day 14 – Departure
Return to Iguazú Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, connecting to your international flight home.
Remarkable Journeys has partnered with Lost World Adventures to create this journey. We partnered with Lost World due to their well-mannered relationships with tour guides, hotellers, airlines, and ground management services in the region. In our opinion, they offer the best value and experience in the region.
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