Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Argentina – Chile – Buenos Aires - El Calafate - Ushuaia - Stella Australis Cruise - Torres del Paine - Santiago
100% customisable for you
Your 18-day trip to Patagonia begins today with a flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s exciting capital. The flight takes around 14 hours, so you’ll arrive in the city the following morning.
After landing, you’ll be privately transferred to your hotel, where you’ll be staying for two nights. When you’ve settled in, check out a rooftop bar before lunch in one of the many fabulous restaurants – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend the best in town. You then have the rest of the day to relax at your hotel or begin exploring this incredible city.
Get to know the city today with a friendly expat who knows Buenos Aires like the back of their hand. After discussing your interests and requests with your guide, you’ll be whisked away on a tailored tour of the city, spending a few hours immersing yourself in local culture, visiting secret spots and learning about the daily life of portenos (port city residents).
After the tour, spend the rest of the day at your leisure. After a spot of art and architecture? Head to the colourful La Boca neighbourhood to explore the Caminito street art museum, marvel at the Haussmannian French-style architecture in the chic Recoleta district or visit the fantastic Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts). If you start feeling peckish, sink your teeth into some incredible meat at a friendly parilla (steakhouse) or quench your thirst with an Argentinian wine tasting. Come evening, do as the locals do and spend an evening in the trendy Palermo district.
If you like, we can also arrange dinner at a milonga, a traditional tango venue frequented by locals.
It’s time to begin your adventure in Patagonia, beginning on the Argentine side. This morning, you’ll be privately transferred to the airport for your three-hour flight to El Calafate, one of the region’s must-sees.
When you land, pick up your hire car and drive to your charming hotel, which will be your cosy retreat for the next three nights. Spend the rest of the day relaxing after your journey before enjoying a tasty dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Set in the Santa Cruz province, El Calafate is an enchanting small town bursting with picturesque wooden houses and cultural heritage. It’s also the gateway to the magnificent Los Glaciares National Park, so hop in your car and drive 40 minutes towards its turquoise lakes and snow-capped peaks.
The park’s biggest attraction is the Perito Moreno glacier, a majestic iceberg that’s 550ft thick in places, and this morning is all about discovering it. The best vantage points for your photos can be reached by hiking along footbridges and pathways, keeping your eyes peeled for a Magellanic fox, Patagonian hare or southern Andean deer.
So you can focus on exploring, we’ll take care of lunch: a typical Argentinian ‘picada’ picnic of meat, cheese, bread and, of course, Malbec. Tuck into this feast as you gaze in wonder over Perito Moreno.
Fancy a little more adventure? We can also arrange a horse-riding trip or boat cruise around the lake, followed by a jaunt across the plains in a comfortable 4x4.
Spend today exploring Los Glaciares again at your own pace. Lago Roca, at the southern end of the Argentino Lake, is a must-see, and the journey to this picturesque lake leads you between majestic peaks and lush forests. When you arrive, spend some time enjoying your surroundings, whether you’d rather hike, horse-ride or look out for local birds including condors, Darwin's rheas and southern oystercatchers. Keen hikers might also want to tackle Cerro de los Cristales, a 4,220ft peak that, on clear days, offers panoramic views of Perito Moreno and the Torres del Paine.
For lunch, we’ve got something special planned: a barbecue in a traditional estancia (ranch) nestled in the heart of the park. Against a backdrop of mountains and lakes, you’ll experience the art of asado, a typical Argentinian barbecue that includes beef, lamb, morcilla (black pudding) and chorizo cooked on an open fire.
Today, return your hire car to the airport before flying to Ushuaia, which takes around one hour and 20 minutes from El Calafete. This pretty resort town is located on the southernmost tip of Argentina, nicknamed ‘the end of the world’, and you’ll stay here for the night in a beautiful hotel. Spend the rest of today relaxing in your comfortable room, enjoying incredible views over the water.
Today marks a pretty big day of your Patagonian adventure: a cruise at across the end of the world. This morning, you’ll be privately transferred to Ushuaia port, where you’ll board the Stella Australis for the first of four-and-a-half days at sea. The cruise takes you along the southern archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, which straddles Chile and Argentina, between fjords, canals and craggy peaks. After leaving Ushuaia, it sails along the Beagle Channel, followed by the Strait of Magellan, where you’ll say hasta luego to Argentina and hola to Chile.
The Stella Australis is built to handle the complex manoeuvres required to navigate the region's waterways, allowing you to take in incredible landscapes along the way. The ship also boasts cosy lounges, where you can relax and enjoy the view, and an outdoor deck at the very top, where you can experience the magic of this region in the fresh air.
For your second day on board, the ship will make its way through the Murray Channel, which separates the Chilean islands of Hoste and Navarino, before heading into Nassau Bay to Cape Horn National Park. Here, you’re officially at the southernmost point of continental America, and (if the weather allows) you’ll stop to experience these dramatic and beautiful landscapes up close.
Next, your journey continues north to Wulaia Bay, where the Yaghan people lived around 10,000 years ago. Once you’ve anchored, disembark the ship for an active afternoon hiking through the Patagonian forests. As you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the bay and the sprawling southern horizon.
Your third day at sea transports you from watery horizons to frozen landscapes. In the morning, the ship will take you to the north-eastern arm of the Beagle Channel to reach the Pia Fjord. Once on land, you’ll hike a short distance to absorb the beauty of the fjord’s eponymous glacier. This gigantic natural structure rises between mountain peaks and seems to flow into the sea, and we think it’s well worth the journey.
This afternoon, head to the Garibaldi Fjord for another hike to a glacial waterfall (cameras at the ready…).
Today begins in the Cockburn Canal, which grants you access to the Agostini Fjord. From the comfort of the ship, you can admire the majestic glaciers that decorate the Darwin Mountain Range.
Later, take an exhilarating Zodiac boat trip from the ship to the shore before heading out on a hike around a sparkling lagoon formed by the melting of the Aguila Glacier. The rest of the day will be spent at the Condor Glacier, with another speedy Zodiac trip bringing you up close and personal with this icy giant.
It’s your last morning aboard the ship today (boo), so spend some final moments enjoying its rhythm as it winds through glaciers, fjords and canals to the islands of Tierra del Fuego. Depending on the season and climate, you might have one last stopover on Magdalena Island, which is populated by an impressive colony of Magellanic penguins, or on Isla Marta, home to around 1,000 sea lions.
You’ll arrive in Punta Arenas around lunchtime, but don’t worry: this might be the end of the cruise, but your holiday isn’t over just yet. After disembarking, you’ll be privately transferred to a hire car pick-up location before driving on to Puerto Natales, about three hours away. Check into your hotel, your home for the night, and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on solid ground.
Your journey today takes you north to the Torres del Paine National Park, about an hour and a half away. As you leave the banks of the Ultima Esperanza fjord behind, you’ll be treated to even more magnificent landscapes, punctuated by the three peaks of the ‘torres’.
Your next three nights will be spent in a lodge in the heart of the park, allowing you to feel at one with the surrounding nature.
Classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Torres del Paine National Park has been ranked among the top five most beautiful places on the planet. Infinite deep blue lakes, lofty peaks marbled with snow and majestic glaciers are just some of the things you’ll see as you explore over the next couple of days, and your trusty hire car allows you to discover the park with ease.
Haven’t had enough of hiking just yet? There are several trails leading to lakes Sarmiento, Pehoe, Grey, Toro and Nordenskjold. In the distance, the granite peaks of the Cuernos del Paine tower over the park, and you can hike to Lake Pehoe or the Nordenskjold viewpoint to see them up close. If you’re not a keen walker, don’t worry – the park has trails of varying difficulty and length, so there’s something to suit everyone.
If you like, we can also arrange horse riding in the Patagonian Pampas, or a cruise on the Grey Lake followed by a hike to the eponymous Glacier Grey.
Today, drive four hours back to Punta Arenas to return your hire car and board your three-and-a-half-hour flight to Santiago. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your central hotel by private transfer.
After all that adventuring, it’s time to relax, so spend the rest of today lounging at your hotel. Come evening, don’t forget to raise a toast to your trip before heading out to try one of the capital’s many restaurants. If you’re still raring to go, we can also arrange for you to see Santiago by night with a friendly local.
Santiago is steeped in history, and the ghosts of its past are still present throughout the streets, which are spattered with graffiti and artwork depicting Salvador Allende, the socialist president overthrown by dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1973. In the company of a private guide this morning, dive headfirst into this history, learning about the events that triggered the 1973 coup d'etat. Along the way, you’ll discover a number of historic sites, including the Plaza de Armas, the Former National Congress Building, the Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda, Constitution Square and Londres 38. Each of these places tells part of the story of Santiago’s turbulent history.
This afternoon, it’s sadly time to begin your journey home. After one last Chilean lunch, you’ll be privately transferred to the airport for your 14-hour, overnight flight back to the UK, which lands the following day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
