Patagonia Hiking Adventure: An Active Journey

Fly overnight to Santiago and transfer to your hotel in the city center upon arrival. This evening, meet your trip leader and fellow hikers for an orientation followed by a welcome dinner. (D)

Set out on a full-day excursion to the Maipo Valley, an area just south of Santiago where rich red wines have been produced since the 19th century. Drive to the town of Isla de Maipo and stop in at an art gallery to see the works of Constanza Mayo and other well-known local artists. Head out on a bike tour through wine country, pedaling to several wineries for tastings on your way to a farm where a typical Chilean lunch awaits. Make a final stop at a winery for a vineyard tour and wine tasting, and learn about the production process from the vine to the bottle. Return to Santiago in the late afternoon and enjoy an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Biking: 14 miles total on mostly flat roads and trails, with visits to an art gallery, lunch at a local restaurant, and several wineries. This is a full-day cycling excursion that begins at 9am and ends around 6pm. A support vehicle will be available for those who do not wish to bike the entire length.

Transfer to the airport and catch a morning flight to the Patagonian town of Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. After a short orientation walk, the rest of the day is yours to discover the quaint shops, cafes, and restaurants of this port town. Meet your mountain guide in the evening for a briefing about the next few days of hiking. (B)

After an early breakfast, journey to Torres del Paine National Park, the crown jewel of Chilean Patagonia. Here, the Torres del Paine massif juts out of the landscape, its burnished granite pinnacles twisting toward the sky. During your time in the park, hike several portions of the famous W Trek, which links some of the park’s most spectacular sites. Today, set off with mountain guides on a hike through the extraordinary French Valley, which passes behind Cordillera del Paine and into an amphitheater of vertical peaks. Take a short catamaran ride to the trailhead and then set off into the narrow valley, trekking uphill to one breathtaking viewpoint after another. Stop for a picnic and time to relax and soak up the majesty of your surroundings. Return on the same path and transfer by catamaran and van to your hotel. (B,L,D)

Hiking: Full hike, up to 14 miles on moderate or challenging trails through valleys and beech forests with a final, mile-long ascent over steep and rocky terrain; 2510 feet of elevation gain. Those who prefer a less strenuous hike may stop at the approximate halfway point and descend with one of the hiking guides to the lakeside Paine Grande campsite, where there are basic facilities and areas to relax or explore. Alternatively, guests may choose to hike on various trails accessible from the hotel.

Walk or ride a Zodiac (depending on conditions) to a sightseeing ferry and set sail on a 3-hour cruise on Lago Grey. Get up close to Grey Glacier, the largest ice cap in Torres del Paine National Park. The glacier stretches for miles and flows right into the lake, ending in a wall that towers up to 100 feet over the water. Take in incredible views of the iridescent blue-gray ice as the boat maneuvers as close as safely possible to the glacier’s face. Disembark and return to the hotel for lunch. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax, or strike out on your own to explore the trails around the hotel. Gather for dinner together tonight.(B,L,D)

Walking/Hiking: 1-2 miles walk to and from the ferry, free time in afternoon to hike local trails.

Complete another leg of the W trek today, hiking through thick forests and along mountain trails on your way to the base of Las Torres, iconic vertical towers that shelter a dazzling turquoise lagoon. Linger at this magnificent spot to enjoy a picnic and take in the views. On your descent, keep an eye out for guanacos on the slopes and Andean condors soaring above. Alternatively, set out on the Aonikenk Trail, passing ancient pictographs on a gentle journey across the Patagonian steppe to reach an alternate viewpoint for the Paine Massif. A scenic drive brings you to your hotel on the shores of Lago Grey in time for a well-deserved dinner with the group. (B,L,D)

Hiking Option 1: Full hike to the base of Las Torres, up to 12 miles on moderate or challenging trails through valleys and beech forests. This strenuous hike includes a final, mile-long ascent over steep and rocky glacial moraine, with 2,625 feet of total elevation gain.

Hiking Option 2: Full hike on the Aonikenk Trail, up to 5 miles on moderate trails, varied terrain with undulating hills and 994 feet of elevation gain. This less strenuous hike traverses the open prairie and provides wildlife spotting opportunities along the trail.

This morning, journey east across the border into Argentina to the town of El Calafate. Check in to your hotel, and enjoy free time to get acquainted with this lively town on the shores of Lake Argentino. In the late afternoon, meet a glacier expert for a guided visit to the Glaciarium, a stunning museum dedicated to the science of glaciers and the history of glacial exploration. The evening is yours to discover one of the excellent restaurants near the hotel. (B,L)

Depart by late morning for Los Glaciares National Park, a World Heritage site named for its vast glaciers, which cover half the park. If you wish, opt for a boat trip to the foot of the glacier (at additional cost) before continuing to the viewing platforms. In the company of a local expert, admire the superb Perito Moreno Glacier from a series of walkways and viewpoints. Watch for ice calving off the 200-foot-high face of the glacier into the water below. After lunch on your own, continue to an estancia, or working ranch, set in the countryside near Lake Argentino. Get acquainted with the history and culture of Patagonia’s gauchos, or cowboys, on a tour of the ranch. Watch a sheep shearing demonstration and learn how fleece is transformed into usable wool. This evening, sit down to a traditional barbecue dinner, known as an asado. (B,D)

Walking: 3 miles, over metal walkways, mostly flat with up and down steps.

Travel to El Chaltén, a town at the northern edge of Los Glaciares National Park, and stop at a historic ranch along the way. You’ll have a free afternoon to relax at the hotel or explore this quaint frontier town. Or choose to join your trip leader for a hike to a lookout with beautiful views of the famous Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre peaks when the skies are clear. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B)

Optional hiking: 2 miles on moderate trail with ascents and descents, elevations gain of 475 feet.

Head out from the hotel on foot for your final hike: an exhilarating trek to Laguna de los Tres. Ascend steadily up the rocky mountainside, passing viewpoints and campsites along the way. After a vigorous climb up the last section of the trail, arrive at the iconic glacial lagoon, encircled by rugged peaks including the sawtooth summit of Mount Fitz Roy. If weather permits, enjoy a picnic at the edge of the lagoon before beginning the descent back to El Chaltén. In the evening, celebrate your adventure amid Patagonian peaks at a farewell dinner at a restaurant in town. (B,L,D)

Hiking: Up to 14 miles on moderate or challenging trails with steep ascents and descents; 2700 feet of elevation gain. Those who prefer a less strenuous hike will stop at Capri Lake and hike back down with a hiking guide (5 miles roundtrip). Alternatively, guests may choose to hike on various trails accessible from the hotel.

Travel back to El Calafate after breakfast and transfer directly to the airport for outbound flights, arriving home the following day. (B)