Experience Patagonia by land and by sea, exploring the majestic Chilean fjords and the twisted peaks and glaciers of Torres del Paine on a journey that begins and ends in some of South America’s most appealing cities.
Patagonian Explorer
Argentina and Chile by Land and Sea Featuring a Four-night Cruise
16 days from $10,182 | includes airfare, taxes and all fees
Experience Patagonia by land and by sea, exploring the majestic Chilean fjords and the twisted peaks and glaciers of Torres del Paine on a journey that begins and ends in some of South America’s most appealing cities.
Tour Details
WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
- Jane V.Patagonia was life-changing; unlike any other place on earth.
- Lynn and Tim P.The Patagonian Explorer was all that we had envisioned and more! Amazing natural beauty, extremely well educated, enlightening lectures. We will travel with Smithsonian Journeys again.
JOURNEYS DISPATCHES
Overview

Activity Level 3: Moderate / Active
Expectations: This Classic Land journey feature long touring days, many full-day excursions, and a full and active itinerary with a faster pace and longer distances. Some tours may have activities with higher intensity and more active options. Excursions require standing and walking for extended periods of time, sometimes over difficult terrain (cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, limited or no access to elevators, muddy/slippery walking/hiking trails), and walking to city centers where coaches are prohibited. Certain excursions feature hiking, use of Zodiac crafts or other smaller ship conveyances, and multiple internal plane rides. Some days may require early morning departures and later evening returns. Travelers will be in remote and/or rugged regions and may be touring at higher altitudes with steep ascents/descents. Leisure time is built in throughout the itinerary. Certain tours feature options for more active excursions (such as moderate hiking, swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, bicycling, rafting, or kayaking), though another choice may be offered for an alternate skill level.
Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, lead active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities, and expect some physical exertion.
- Jane V.Patagonia was life-changing; unlike any other place on earth.
- Lynn and Tim P.The Patagonian Explorer was all that we had envisioned and more! Amazing natural beauty, extremely well educated, enlightening lectures. We will travel with Smithsonian Journeys again.
To see itinerary, please click on an option below.
Patagonian Explorer
Days 1 & 2 — Depart the U.S. for Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fly overnight to Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel upon arrival. You’ll be able to check in early and enjoy time to relax before this afternoon's welcome briefing. Gather for a welcome dinner tonight. (1D)
Days 3 — Buenos Aires
Discover this dynamic city on a tour that includes the captivating neighborhoods of Palermo, La Boca, and San Telmo. In elegant Recoleta, see the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace from which Eva Perón famously addressed the masses, and stroll through the cemetery where she and other prominent Argentinians lie buried. Tonight, head to the legendary Esquina Carlos Gardel, one of the city’s premier tango houses, for dinner and a performance. (1B, 1D)
Day 4 — Buenos Aires
Experience one of the most exquisite opera houses in the world on backstage tour of the Teatro Colón. This seven-story theater opened in its present form in 1908 and has hosted great composers from Arturo Toscanini and Leonard Bernstein to Zubin Mehta. The remainder of the day is yours to discover Buenos Aires as you wish. (1B)
Day 5 —Ushuaia
Fly south to Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost city, set on the shores of Tierra del Fuego. After lunch at leisure and time to take a walk in the city center, embark your comfortable expedition ship. Set sail on the storied Beagle Channel late this afternoon. (B,D)
Day 6 — Cruising: Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay, Chile
Sail through the narrow Murray Channel to Nassau Bay, passing snowcapped peaks and remote islands on the way to Cape Horn National Park, a World-Heritage Biosphere Reserve. Keep your eye out for sea lions, Magellanic penguins, and Antarctic fur seals as you cruise. At Wulaia Bay, go ashore for a guided walk through native forests that Charles Darwin once explored. (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Cruising: Pia Glacier / Garibaldi Glacier
Awaken this morning in Pia Fjord, home of the stunning Pia Glacier. Ride inflatable Zodiacs up close to the glacier for a breathtaking perspective of this wall of ice that extends from the mountaintops down to sea level.
After lunch on board, drop anchor in a nearby fjord for a shore excursion to Garibaldi Glacier, one of only three glaciers in Patagonia that is gaining mass. Set out on a hike through the Magellanic forest, passing glacial waterfalls and viewpoints overlooking the glacier and fjord. (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Cruising: Agostini Sound / Aguila Glacier
Cruise through narrow channels to enter the spectacular Agostini Sound, where massive glaciers flow down the mountainside to the water. Land on shore for a walk along the lagoon to Aguila Glacier and learn how glaciers shaped the rugged islands of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. (B,L,D)
Days 9 — Cruising: Magdalena Island, Punta Arenas / Torres del Paine
Early this morning, visit Magdalena Island to observe an immense colony of more than 120,000 Magellanic penguins. End your cruise at Punta Arenas, and board your motorcoach for the journey to Torres del Paine National Park. (B,L,D)
Day 10 - 11 — Torres del Paine National Park
Immerse yourself in the astonishing scenery of Torres del Paine, a 700-square-mile stretch of craggy peaks, turquoise lakes, and glaciers that is one of the most unspoiled and beautiful nature preserves on Earth. Discover waterfalls and lush forests as you explore the park, and enjoy lunch at magnificent Lago Grey. The next day, take an excursion to Laguna Amarga, Laguna Azul, and Cascade Rio Paine. Keep your eye out for some of the park’s only permanent residents: 106 species of birds and 26 species of mammals, including the iconic guanaco, a relative of the llama. (2B,2L,2D)
Days 12— Punta Arenas
Travel by coach to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel in the city center and have dinner together. (B,L,D)
Day 13 —Santiago
Fly today to Santiago, the sophisticated capital of Chile. This afternoon, take a city tour featuring the Plaza de Armas and the traditional city center. Tonight, enjoy dinner together at the hotel. (B,D)
Day 14 — Valparaiso
Travel through lovely, vineyard covered hills to the port city of Valparaiso. En route, stop at a renowned winery for a private tour and tasting. On a tour of Valparaiso’s historic center, now a World Heritage site, meander along narrow streets past colorful wooden houses that recall Chile’s third largest city’s origins as a fishing village. Return to Santiago for a celebratory farewell dinner at a restaurant in town. (B,D)
Day 15 -16— Santiago/Return to the U.S.
After a leisurely morning, pay an afternoon visit to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, which showcases indigenous art and artifacts from Chile and across the Americas. After free time, transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to the U.S. and connect with your flights home the next morning. (1B)
Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)