Mesmerizing Patagonia and Antarctica Trip of a Lifetime

In the morning, the aroma of strong coffee with milk will drift out of the local cafes in the Lastarria neighborhood. The artistic allure of the city is on display as locals hustle to the metro, passing the famous murals of the Universidad de Chile Station. After breakfast, your private driver will meet you at your hotel for a day exploring the charms the Casablanca Valley, Vina del Mar, and Valparaiso. As you reach the Casablanca Valley, you will find a panorama of vineyards, citrus orchards, and olive groves. The aroma of oranges will pass through the winery as you stop for a tour of the local wines that have permeated the globe with celebrated flavors. You can enjoy the view of the vast vineyards as you sample the wines and find citrus notes of lime and tangerine from the sauvignon blanc and hints of raspberries and cherries from the Pinot Noir.

In Vina del Mar, you will quickly understand its nickname as the “Garden City.” Flowers bloom along the streets, the parks remain flush with greenery, and gardens blend the floral aromas with the sea breeze. Palm trees line the boulevards embodying the colonial foundations in view of the water. The sister-city of Valparaiso will reveal a bohemian charm in contrast to Vina del Mar’s elegant facade. Valparaiso will captivate you with funiculars rising the hills to reach the elevated suburbs among the maze of streets and stairways overlooking the antique mansions and the coastline. You can spend time exploring La Sebastiana, the seaside home of Pablo Neruda that offers a breathtaking view of the harbor. The house is preserved in its 1950s charm with period furniture touched with a nautical flair that celebrates both the setting and the poet’s love of the sea.

After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the airport for your flight south to Punta Arenas. The sprawling city acts as the gateway to Patagonia as it edges the Strait of Magellan and into the pampas. The regal facade of the Casa Braun-Menendez overlooks the bustling central Plaza Munoz Gamero referencing the prestige from the former wool-boom. You will make your way through the wilderness with your driver to travel over the borders of Torres del Paine National Park.

The scenic drive will take you along the infamous pampas of Patagonia, where expansive fields lead to the foothills of the surrounding mountains. Your driver may point out foxes leaping through the grasses or South American ostrich known as choique grazing in the open space before you arrive at your exclusive resort, Tierra Patagonia. The luxury estate weaves into the untamed landscape to create an adventurous spa and hotel overlooking the glassy emerald lakes and breathtaking mountains that have shaped the allure of the national park.

After breakfast, the day will be yours to discover the marvels of Torres del Paine National Park at your preferred pace. For an immersive introduction to the area, you can enjoy a kayaking excursion on Grey Lake. Your guide will take you onto the glacial waters for a tranquil time spent surrounded by the untouched landscape. You can bask in the unique views of the wilderness as the sunlight pierces the ice blocks.

The chill will fill the air and nip at your nose as you paddle across the waters finding a range of colors shifting from gray to deep blue contrasting the sparkling white from the sporadic icebergs. Your guide will give you information about the lake as you explore a portion of the surface area’s more than 12 square miles. The unique color stems from the sedimentary runoff from the Paine Mountain shaping the background. You may notice the unique contours of the icebergs that have calved from the nearby glacier and later molded by the wind and rain.

You can once more take to the landscape at your own pace with a cycling tour or a full-day hike along the little-known trail of the Paseo de Agostini. Your guide will take you far from the typical crowds eager to see the Paine Massif as you set out on trails leading from Laguna Verde. The scenery may inspire you along the open stretch green water. The scent of pine will derive from the lenga forest as you follow the twisting paths in search of the panoramic views sweeping across the lakes and mountains.

The sound of Huemul deer grazing on the grass may fill the air as your guide finds condors swooping around rocky precipices. The Huemul deer has a stocky body and can weigh nearly 200 pounds. As you ascend the slopes of leading into the mountains, the flora will change from lush to stark with trails careening through native forest. Rugged rocks will scramble along the hillsides above meandering rivers before your sever ascent to the plateau. From the top of the hill, you will have a secluded view of the famous Towers of Torres del Paine for a sense of perspective on the fascinating scenery. The tallest tower soars up to 8,204 feet above sea level for an impressive display of nature.

As you choose your last adventure in Torres del Paine, you can explore the surrounding pampas on horseback or relax in the comforts of your resort in the expansive views of the surrounding beauty. You may choose to take a full-day hike on the legendary route that reveals the iconic panorama at the base of the three towers. You can follow the trail along the winding route as you cross the hanging bridge crossing the Ascencio River.

You can zigzag through the scarce vegetation during your ascent before reaching the spiced aroma and comfortable shade of the lenga forest ascending to nearly 2,297 feet above sea level. The rough surface of the rocks will highlight the elevation as you climb the steep slopes of the final mountain that brings you to the edge of the eastern lake. The stoic water will reflect the three breathtaking towers crowning the impressive massive for an unforgettable reward at the end of your trek. When you return to the hotel, you can bask in the warm and soothing comforts in view of the quiet pampas and lakes outside.

At breakfast, you may find the aromas of mate tea brewing in the dining room before your private transfer meets you in the hotel lobby. You will travel across the border into Argentina on a scenic drive through the Torres del Paine National Park. As you pass through the remote and winding road, you may find vicunas grazing on the open plains. The wild cousin of the llama lives at high altitudes up to 15,700 feet above sea levels and can grow up to five feet tall. They nearly blend in with the pale color of the grass as you reach the border with Argentina.

You will reach the comforts of your luxury resort, Eolo, as it nestles into the Patagonian steppe near the gateway to Glaciers National Park. The spirit of adventure surrounds the resort featured in the landscape spanning 10,000 acres while the boutique interior exposes the luxuries of seclusion with unfettered views accentuated by the cozy ambiance and attentive service. You can enjoy the extreme scenery through the windowpanes giving way to the nearly 300 glaciers scattered across the neighboring national park revealing the unparalleled beauty of the location.

In the morning, you will board a boat bound for Estancia Cristina. The scenic route will take you around shimmering icebergs for views of the dramatic mountains that frame the lake's edge, feeding into Glaciers National Park. The western edge of the mountains glint with Upsala Glacier, the largest ice feature in the South. When you reach the Estancia, you will find the aroma of mate tea awaiting your arrival. The secluded setting reveals how the inhospitable landscape of Patagonia is also a serene and luxurious escape. Surrounded by a series of snowcapped mountains, winding rivers, and dramatic hanging glaciers viewed from the banks of Lake Argentino, you will find refreshment as you take it all in.

With the afternoon at your leisure, you can follow your guide on a hike to Canadon de los Foslies for an introduction to Patagonia in Argentina. A 4WD vehicle will take you along the mountainous road zigzagging around tightly wound boulders and rough edges once covered by glaciers. The views will open to images of the Upsala Glacier and Lake Guillermo. As you descend into the fields, you can trek the grasses in search of remnants of marine life found in the fossils that add distinctive character to the region. The colorful striations of the rocks will contrast the snowcapped peak you have seen around the landscape leading to hidden imprints and cavities that reveal the former life shaped by the glaciers.

You have your choice of a variety of excursions for the day ahead as the dining room fills with the aromas of frothy cappuccino and semi-sweet medialunas. You can venture into the wilds of Patagonia with a guided horseback ride through the Cristina Valley, and the gentle terrain will welcome you to the surrounding grandeur of Argentina’s famous pampas. Uncover a replica of an original water-powered wheel along the water as it gives way to the blossoming lupines coloring the Patagonian steppe.

Loose stones and mosses blanket the landscape around the trails as you search for Royal Goose and Black Necked Swan near the waterways. The Coscoroba swan will shimmer with white plumage along the edge of the water with a wingspan growing up to 45 inches wide. The picturesque mixture of rippling rivers and quiet lakeshores accentuates the charm of the local avifauna. You may feel like a Patagonian pioneer as you immerse yourself in the untouched grandeur of the scenery with your horse trotting through high altitude grassland.

After breakfast, you can stand at the edges of Lake Argentino for a view of the northern arm of Patagonia’s biggest waterway with a surface of 546 square miles. You will have passed the soaring face of Upsala Glacier on your way to the estancia and may hear the thunderous crack of a glacier calving away from the cliff before plummeting into waiting water below. Your guide will meet you at your resort and can take you along the classic trek through the surrounding valley to reveal the semi-arid scenery that is captured in the native shrubs and grasses.

The trail will weave through the plains with a gradual ascent leading to a private vista overtaking the valley, Lake Argentino, and Lake Pearson with the Andean peaks capping the horizon. The gentle hills brighten as you hear the crashing sound of Los Perros River Waterfall. The unique terrain will provide a gorgeous view of the cascade spilling over the rocks and into the waiting pool and provide access to the surprising population of orchids growing in the damp soil and scrub.

In the morning, you will have an early transfer into Glaciers National Park for an excursion onto the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. A scenic boat ride will navigate the Rico Arm of the lake for exceptional views of the glacier’s face reaching an average of 180 feet above the water and descending up to 393 feet below the surface. You will disembark at the opposite shore, and your guide will provide insight into the region’s natural history and the unique characteristics of the glacier, including its growth as opposed to retreating.

Once on the ice with crampons and protected gear, you will follow a circuit on the icy surface rounding the small lagoons and streams shaping crevices and frozen waves accentuated by breathtaking blue hues. You will find the glacier's surface is not a uniform sheet and instead contains breaks, crevices, and peaks that feel as though you are walking on a frozen planet as the sound of crunching ice echoes through the air.

The sunlight will wash over the beauty of the isolated landscape in the morning as the aromas of mate tea and alfajores drift from the kitchen. Your private transfer will meet you at the hotel after breakfast and escort you away from the charms of Cristina Estancia to reach the secluded marvels of El Chalten located 150 miles north.

As you enter the valley, the Explora El Chaltén resort will nearly blend into the trees wedged between the framing mountain slopes. The luxury escape focuses on the majesty of the surrounding mountains, lakes, and glaciers, and rivers with endless exploration and immersive views. Each room pays special attention to the remote region to give every angle a spectacular panorama and access to the unique wilderness of the isolated El Chalten region known for possessing 2,236 miles of trails.

The remote scenery of El Chalten will become your playground as you venture with your guide deep into the stunning landscape. Take your choice of either a hike taking you around Chorillo del Salto or along the challenging Glacier Calgiero. For a mixture of exciting landscapes and captivating wildlife, you can trek to Condor and Eagle viewpoint to spot the elegant avifauna that decorates the Patagonian skies. The footpath is well marked and leads to a view where condors frequently fly between the De Las Vueltas and Fitz Roy rivers.

The panorama suspends the surrounding granite peaks, and glinting glaciers dominate the horizon as you search for the condors swooping overhead. The condor is the largest flying bird in the world with a wingspan reach over 10 feet wide with white patches interspersed among the black wings. They often nest in elevations up to 16,000 feet above sea level easily seen from the pathway soaring above the tufts of grass and arid plain spreading to the edge of Lake Viedma.

After breakfast, you will have a scenic drive back to El Calafate to reach the Comandante Armando Tola International Airport for your flight to Ushuaia. Upon your arrival in the city at the end of the world, you will continue by private transfer to your luxury hotel, Arakur, that overlooks the Beagle Channel. You will have unobstructed views of the waters lapping against the shoreline and the island chain leading into Tierra del Fuego in the foreground and the edge of the Andean mountains in the background.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to bask in the comforts of your hotel or explore Ushuaia at your leisure to experience the city. Located at the southern tip of the South American continent and nestled between the Beagle Channel and the snowcapped mountains of the Martial Range, you may wish to visit the Museo Maritimo & Museo del Presidio to view an early 20th-century structure built as a prison. The galleries highlight the former life in the Patagonian colony with a glimpse of the region's maritime history, including images focused on the timeline of Antarctic exploration.

You will follow your guide through the wilderness of Tierra del Fuego National Park for an immersive exploration of the native lenga and nire trees. The spiced aroma of juniper will fill the air as you step onto the trails as you learn about the history and geology of the ancient region. The dramatic landscape envelopes the sparse steppe, steep mountains, and lush valleys spanning the shores of the Beagle Channel. A brief hike through the terrain will take you along the De la Isla trail following the contours of the Comroanes Archipelago.

A small fjord carves through the landscape and gives way to colonies of wildfowl such as geese and steamer ducks. The secluded views over the shores may also provide images of diving petrels, which can grow up to nine inches tall with shiny black plumage on their back. The black-browed albatross will use the breeze to carry itself over the water in search of food, revealing its enormous wingspan reaching an average of 94 inches wide.

In the morning, the aroma of mate tea will fill the dining room once again. The bustling ambiance of the city at the end of the world will return with ships passing through the Beagle Channel bound for the Pacific, ready to reach Chilean Patagonia or weighing anchor on an adventure for Antarctica. The Museo del Fin del Mundo will open its doors with galleries displaying the diverse history of the region from the natural wildlife to photos of natives and documents regarding the early regional penal colony.

When you are ready, your private transfer will escort you to the port to board the Quark Expedition Vessel that will take you through the Drake Passage and around the shores of Antarctica on a thrill expedition to the remote white continent. You will rise in anticipation as your boat disembarks from Ushuaia as you realize that the next time you touch land, you will be on the most remote southern continent in the world.

You will spend the next two days cruising the ocean from Ushuaia and across the Drake Passage. The luxuries of your ship bring you across the open water in comfort while also providing insight into the diverse wonders of Antarctica. Specialists on wildlife, glaciology, and the natural history of the world’s most southern continent are available to engage your interests as you sail. You might also choose to indulge in the soothing waters of an outdoor jacuzzi or take to the scenic decks for views of the open ocean as before you reach the infamous Drake Passage.

The passage that separates the South Shetland Islands from Chile’s Cape Horn spans 620 miles with an average depth of 11,150 feet. You may wish to attend informative lectures on the incredible wildlife with a resident conservationist devoted to protecting the wildlife along the Patagonian Sea and the Southern Ocean or listen to the research of an environmentalist focused on the geophysical impact of climate change on the region. It is also common to spot whales when making your way through the Drake Passage, which acts as a network through which whales travel when migrating south to feed or breed. From the observation deck, you may see humpback whales breach the water and splash back down or perform hauntingly mesmeric songs that can last up to 20 minutes.

In the morning, you will get your first glimpse of the shores of Antarctica as your cruise ship reaches the southern continent. The ship will weigh anchor and allow you to climb into a zodiac boat for a closer exploration of the land and sea. As your guide takes you through the water, you will have the cold air nip at your face while the zodiac speeds past icebergs at close range. The sound of seal colonies will fill the air as you pull onto a shore lined with black pebbles. The seals will bicker and bark as you exit the boat.

The Antarctic fur seal can grow up to over six feet long and weight nearly 293 pounds. They may dive in the water looking for squid or fish but often laze on the shore huddled among the colony. As you wander the landscape with your guide, you will learn about the local habitat and unique characteristics of the scenery before finding Adelie penguins on a distant rocky shoreline. They can grow up to 28 inches tall and have distinctive black plumage with a slightly red bill.

You will venture out into the wonders of the Antarctic waters on a kayak with your guide, coming closer to the passing icebergs as the blue shines beneath the ice. The dynamic shoreline will guide you to the marvelous wildlife as you reach out and touch the solid surface of the ice boulders rising out of the water. The thrill of discovery will reveal more of the region’s untamed beauty as you search for a penguin rookery wedged along the edge of a cliff protecting the birds from the elements.

Instead of penguins, you may find blue-eyed shag populating the rocks. The birds are named for the color around their eyes and can stand 31 inches tall. They can dive into the water nearly 82 feet deep when hunting for fish, crustaceans, or octopuses. You may find them sharing their breeding grounds with southern rockhopper penguins known for their feathered crest and ability to dive nearly 328 feet deep when hunting.

You may search for more penguins during your exploration of Antarctica. The diverse assortment of penguins scattered around the landscape embodies the untamed charisma of the secluded continent. Your guide will take you once more around the gorgeous blue features of icebergs in search of a penguin colony to find new species yet seen during your tour.

Along water’s edge, you may find a colony of Gentoo penguins populating the pebbled coastline. They can grow up to 30 inches tall and reveal flamboyant beaks that shine red and orange, contrasting with their white-feather heads and feet the color of peaches. They prefer areas free of ice and can populate coastal plains and sheltered valleys. Their awkward waddle on land can turn into a graceful streamlined swim underwater as they use their flippers to propel themselves up to 22 miles an hour when hunting.

In the morning, you can stand on the observation deck before venturing out on another icy excursion to explore the landscape shaped by sea ice and frozen tundras. The surface of the coastline may glint with ice or fade to a black shoreline lined with polished cliffs highlighting the surprising diversity of the landscape. The ship will navigate around giant icebergs and narrow passageways shaped by converging ice formations.

You can take the zodiac boat once more onto the land for your final day of exploration in search of near-vertical glaciers spanning the mountains or panoramic views of endless plains of ice. A leopard seal may appear on the shore lounging in the cold air after hunting in the frigid water. They can grow up to 11.5 feet long and weigh around 840 pounds. They search for fish and squid, as well as smaller seals in the water, but can also wait in the water for hunting birds revealing their keen and tenacious ability.

You can wake to enjoy the captivating lectures of aboard your ship learning more about the distinctive wonders of the white continent, its landscape, and diverse wildlife. You might also opt to take to the observation deck to watch for whales and dolphins as the day begins. Orcas often pass through the Drake Passage, with over 75 percent of the world’s orca population crossing into Antarctic waters. They travel in large pods, making it easy to spot a group moving through the waters in view of the boat. You may spot their dorsal fins protruding from the water as they grow up to 26 feet long with a dorsal fin standing six feet tall.

In the morning, your ship will weigh anchor in Ushuaia's harbor, where your private transfer will meet you as you disembark. Travel to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, and then continue with your private driver to the comforts of Legado Mitico. Your fashionable boutique hotel will highlight the elegant aesthetic of Buenos Aires with an exclusive experience steeped in intimacy and spectacular service.

The rest of the day will be at your leisure to discover the beauty and spirit of the city at your pace. The surrounding neighborhood will shine with a Botanical Garden featuring more than 5,500 plants and boutique shops lining the bustling Plaza Serrano showcasing artisanal crafts. You can venture into the Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires for a glimpse of Latin American artwork spanning the 20th century or visit the stunning Colon Theater at the heart of the city where the remarkable acoustics reveal why the theater was one of the most celebrated opera houses in the world.

The early part of the day is yours to bask in the aromas of freshly brewed cappuccino and semi-sweet medialunas. Your guide will meet you at your hotel for a half-day tour to explore the politics of Argentina and Buenos Aires capturing the days of Eva and Juan Peron and the various coups d’etat that have occurred over the decades. In the Plaza de Mayo, you will find the pink facade of the presidential palace known as the Casa Rosada crowning the central plaza. The elegant square dates back to the 16th century established among the foundations of the city and remains an important political center as mothers impacted by the dictatorship of the 1970s and 1980s continue holding vigils for their disappeared children. In the afternoon, your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby to escort you to Ministro Pistarini International Airport to catch your flight home bringing your adventurous trip of a lifetime to an end.