Peaks and Glaciers of Patagonia: A Tailor-Made Journey

Fly into Santiago and meet your private guide for the transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, or, if you’re ready to start exploring, head out on a city tour with your guide. Get a sense of local life while strolling the bustling pedestrian streets of Paseo Huérfanos and Paseo Ahumada, then head to the main square of Plaza de Armas, the center of public life since the 16th century. End the tour on Cerro Santa Lucía, a rocky hill covered in parks and gardens on the edge of city center. From the top, enjoy a panoramic view of Santiago.

This morning, your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. On arrival, a guide from your lodge will meet you for the drive to Torres de Paine National Park—a four-hour journey into the heart of Patagonia. Settle into the lodge and hear from your guide about the activities that are possible during your stay. (B,D)

You’ll have two full days to discover the majestic landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park on a variety of guided excursions that suit your pace and interests. You could go horseback riding or fishing, or explore the park by 4x4. If you wish to hike, we recommend the hike to the mirador (viewpoint) over the twisted peaks of Torres del Paine, a demanding uphill walk with great rewards, as the view includes the cyan lagoon at the towers' base.. If you wish to hike, you might want to visit Sarmiento Lake, the largest lake in this nature reserve, bordered to the east by Estancia Cerro Guida. This hike takes place near the base of Sierra del Toro, from where you'll descend slowly through the steppe for great panoramic views of the Paine Massif. (2B,2L,2D)

Travel by coach across the border into Argentina, arriving in the fronter town of El Calafate in the mid-afternoon. Your private driver meets you on arrival for the transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore the town’s lively main street. (B)

Set out on a full-day excursion into Los Glaciares National Park to witness the incomparable Perito Moreno glacier. Considered one of the world’s few “stable” glaciers—neither shrinking nor expanding—the glacier ends in a vertical ice wall that stretches nearly 15,000 feet across and almost 200 feet high. Your driver will drop you off on the shores of Lago Argentino for a shared boat ride to the glacier face. As you cruise among the icebergs, keep your eye on the glacier to see it calving. We can arrange for a guided trek on the glacier that will give you a close-up view of the constantly changing ice—and a sense of the glacier’s scale. (B)

Set out this morning to visit an estancia, or ranch, and learn about the culture of the gauchos, Argentina's cowboys. Spend time with the gauchos, go horseback riding, and learn about life on the Patagonian frontier. Then sit down to a traditional barbecue. Return to El Calafate for free time in the afternoon. We recommend a walk or bike ride around Lago Argentino to observe birdlife. If you follow the path north to Laguna Nimez or to Bahía Redonda, you'll find lookouts, hides, and recommended circuits where you can spot black-necked swans, coots, ibis and (at certain times of the year) Chilean flamingos. (B,L)

Fly to Buenos Aires, where your private guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Relax after your journey or head out for a walk in the area around your hotel. (B)

Discover the highlights of the Argentinian capital during a shared guided tour this morning. Stroll across the Plaza de Mayo to see the Casa Rosada, where Eva Perón famously addressed the crowds from a balcony. Visit the Recoleta neighborhood, home to leafy boulevards and elegant mansions. Venture into some of the city's more modern quarters to get a sense of contemporary life. Soak up the ambiance of San Telmo, the city’s tango district. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. (B)

Enjoy a free day to explore this dynamic city as you wish. Return to some of the neighborhoods you visited on your city tour to experience them more in depth. Tour some of the city’s fabulous museums—they range from a museum dedicated to the life of Evita Péron to the MALBA, which showcases great Latin American artists including Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Or simply settle into a café as the local Porteños do, and watch the world go by. In the evening, you'll be picked up and taken by shared transfer to the Carlos Cardel Tango show, which includes dinner. (B,D)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport by coach to catch your flight home. (B)