You can have it all when exploring Chile and Argentina, each distinctive country brimming with unique cultures and charming historic cities while sharing the breathtaking landscape of Patagonia. Glaciers spill over the mountainside and touch the edges of pristine lakes. Granite pillars tower over the Patagonian plains. Sail along ancient fjords and find elephant seals sunbathing on the shores of a secluded island. Your Patagonia cruise and tour is custom tailored to your desires, combining luxury...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Santiago - Capital of Chilean Culture
Santiago is Chile’s capital of finance, business, and culture, filled with entertaining museums, vibrant art galleries, excellent shopping, and mouthwatering dining options. The Andes Mountains roll along the horizon and tower over the skyline of the city. The Spanish founded the capital in the 16th century. Your private transfer meets you at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport and escorts you into the heart of the city, where you find your luxurious accommodation. The Museum of pre-Columbian Art is dedicated to the study and display of pre-Columbian artifacts from all across Central and South America, located in the 19th-century Palacio de la Real Aduana. Statues line the wide galleries. The high ceilings create an atmosphere of distinction. In an exhibit dedicated to the Central Andes, you can find the oldest artifact in the museum, painted cloth almost 3,000 years old, which is attributed to the Chavin culture from a prehistoric civilization.
What's Included:
Day 2
Punta Arenas - Along the Senoret Channel
Day 3
Torres del Paine - The Wild World of Patagonia
Day 4
Torres del Paine - Horsing Around Torres del Paine
Day 5
Patagonia - The High Patagonian Seas
Day 6
Patagonia - Fjords and Colonies
Day 7
Patagonia - Touching the Ice
Day 8
Patagonia - Around the End
Day 9
Buenos Aires - To the End and Back
Day 10
Buenos Aires - Paris of South America
Day 11
Buenos Aires - A Day on the Pampas
Day 12
Buenos Aires - Leaving the Fjords Behind
Trip Highlights
- Discover glistening glacial lakes and dramatic granite peaks in Torres del Paine National Park
- Witness the stunning caves where ancient fossils were discovered, connoting a connection to human habitation and the extinct giant sloth
- Sail past magnificent icebergs and stunning glaciers in “Glacier Alley”
- Explore the grounds of a small island known for its remarkable penguin colony
- Horseback ride on the Patagonian plain in the shadows of enchanting mountaintops
- Indulge in a luxury cruise along the Patagonian channels and fjords that take you around captivating Cape Horn
- Relish the vibrant culture and historic architecture of the distinctive neighborhoods of Buenos Aires
Detailed Description
The wilderness meets the urban jungle on your 12-day Patagonia cruise and tour of Chile and Argentina. You arrive in Santiago, the capital of Chile. The city has a remarkable energy that embraces visitors and locals. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and takes you to the heart of the city to your luxury hotel, where you have the remainder of the day at your leisure. The next morning, your private transfer escorts you to the airport after breakfast for your flight to Punta Arenas, the southernmost Chilean city. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the avenues, coastline, and vibrant museums dedicated to the historic region.
The following day takes you northbound into the celebrated Torres del Paine National Park. On the way, your guide takes you to the Milodon Caves to explore the caverns, which houses remnants of extinct animals and ancient civilization. Continue out into the fabulous scenery of Torres del Paine National Park. Kayak down the rivers or hike up the mountains in search of the elusive Andean condor. Vacations in Patagonia aren't complete until you venture to the shores of Grey Lake to find the stunning Grey Glacier. Your private transfer escorts you to the port of Punta Arenas, where you board your luxury cruise.
The following day takes you on the Almirantazgo Sound and into Alberto do Agostini National Park. You can see glaciers hanging along the mountaintops and find a penguin colony on Tuckers Islet. Your cruise continues, traveling through Pia Fjord. You disembark the ship to explore the landscape and reach the edges of Pia Glacier before sailing through the remarkable Glacier Alley. The next adventure takes you through Nassau Bay and around the remarkable waters of Cape Horn National Park, where the Atlantic and Pacific meet. You can even find traces of the indigenous Yamana people inside the park.
You arrive in the world’s southernmost city of Ushuaia. Your private transfer takes you from the harbor to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Once there, your guide leads you on a magnificent tour of Buenos Aires’s neighborhoods, known as barrios, each one known for its unique character. You venture outside of the city to experience the cowboy life at a celebrated ranch, known as an estancia. On your final day, your private transfer meets you after breakfast. You make your way to the airport, but instead of heading home, you could always extend your time in South America and visit Iguazu Falls or Cusco.
Starting Price
$15,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.83 stars based on 354 reviews.
I have already mentioned Zicasso to many others for planning their future trips.
Reviewed By Mark L.
We just returned from a spectacular three-week journey through South America (Peru, Chile, and Argentina) and, once again, Zicasso, along with our trip planner, delivered an unforgettable experience. This was our second time using Zicasso and it’s clear why we keep coming back.
From the very beginning, our trip planner was a true partner in planning. He listened closely to our interests, helped shape an itinerary that perfectly balanced adventure, culture, and relaxation, and offered thoughtful insights that only someone deeply familiar with the region could provide. His attention to detail in the pre-trip phase was impeccable. We felt fully prepared and taken care of before we even left home.
Once on the ground, everything ran like clockwork. The in-country communication was seamless. Our agent and his team were always just a message away and incredibly responsive. Every driver was prompt, professional, and personable. The tours were consistently outstanding, with guides who were knowledgeable, passionate, and genuinely engaging. The accommodations were beautiful, comfortable, and perfectly situated, offering unique charm and excellent service at every stop.
It’s not easy to plan a multi-country trip with so many moving parts, but Zicasso and our agent made it look effortless. We came away with lifelong memories and we’re already dreaming about our next adventure. Zicasso continues to exceed our expectations and we wouldn’t hesitate to use them again.
Reviewed By Devon R.
Zicasso travel agents surpassed all expectations. They were responsive, dedicated professionals. From initial planning to the actual implementation, they were there every minute. This was the most worry-free three-week trip I have ever done. The itinerary and planning suggestions were spot-on, which meant there was very little help required. However, when there was, it was immediate. Using this travel agency has changed the way I will travel in the future. Using experts can make travel almost stress-free. Thank you.
Reviewed By John M.
Our two-week trip to Patagonia was exceptional. We enjoyed a variety of experiences, from hiking and kayaking to staying on an estancia, visiting glaciers, and horseback riding. Our guides were excellent and the accommodations were amazing. Zicasso's trip planner was available to answer any questions we had throughout the trip. It was very reassuring to have him in-country as a resource when needed. He always responded promptly and checked in with us throughout the trip.
Reviewed By Susan C.
Zicasso's travel agent was always vigilant in ensuring the trip went well. He added many special touches.
Reviewed By Marty H.
As we had already committed to an Antarctica cruise, we contacted Zicasso's travel agency to extend the trip to include Patagonia and other parts of South America. From our first conversation with our agent, we felt as though he immediately understood what we wanted to do, asked pertinent questions to assess our interest, and listened to our responses. In essence, he "got it.” He developed an itinerary that seamlessly integrated into our existing trip, extending the front and back ends of our planned adventure.
Our trip began in Santiago, where he incorporated the cruise portion of our trip. From there, he added in the rest of the itinerary to begin after the Antarctica cruise. This part included Patagonia (the Chilean and Argentina sides), Buenos Aires, and Iguazú Falls. Overall, we traveled for 31 days.
The hand-offs were smooth and the properties in which we stayed exceeded our expectations. The guides who cared for us were spot-on and accommodated any requests on our behalf.
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Our only “take-away” was we wished we had built in a few extra days at each location to simply enjoy the fantastic properties and amenities in both areas of Patagonia and Iguazú.
We wholeheartedly recommend our agent and his team!
Reviewed By Marilyn W.