From decadent chocolates to isolated granite towers and from icy blue glacial lakes to rugged glacial walls, this 14-day Patagonia tour for seniors immerses you in the marvels of the natural scenery and local culture. Discover the rewards of scaling steep slopes and delight in a balance between pristine wilderness and captivating traditions, from Santiago to Buenos Aires and from Torres del Paine to El Calafate.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Santiago – The Day at Your Leisure
The vibrant city of Santiago spreads along the foothills of the Andes Mountains with an array of lush parks, public art, and high-rises. Your flight will land at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, where your private transfer will greet you upon your arrival and escort you to the luxuries of your centrally located hotel. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to uncover the charms of the city at your preferred pace. The peaceful beauty of lush trees, tasteful sculptures, and flamingos as they lounge in the lake at Bicentenary Park will quickly endear you to Santiago.
What's Included:
Day 2
Santiago – Culture and Neighborhoods
Day 3
Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales
Day 4
Torres del Paine – Torres del Paine National Park
Day 5
Torres del Paine – Trek to the French Valley
Day 6
Torres del Paine – Mirador las Torres
Day 7
Torres del Paine – Los Cuernos Lookout Trail
Day 8
El Calafate – Scenic Drive to El Calafate
Day 9
El Calafate – Exciting Glacier Walk
Day 10
Bariloche – Chocolate Tour of Bariloche
Day 11
Bariloche – Explore the Enchanting Scenery
Day 12
Buenos Aires – Private Tango Lesson
Day 13
Buenos Aires – Immersive Tour of Buenos Aires
Day 14
Buenos Aires – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Search for wild guanacos and fascinating Andean condors when trekking to view the towering ice wall of Grey Glacier
- Discover the grandeur of nature when witnessing the panoramic view of Mt. Paine’s pillars
- Delight in a delicious chocolate tour in Bariloche, which is a northern Patagonian town with a vibrant European aesthetic and culture
- Walk along the icy surface of the Perito Moreno Glacier and step on the undulating landscape with crevices, lakes, and hidden ice tunnels
- Learn the encouraging rhythms and unique traditions of tango during a private lesson
- Trek a portion of the W trail at the famous French Valley to majestic views and possible sightings of wildlife, such as guanacos and condors
- Revel in a catamaran tour across Grey Lake when adventuring to the rugged ice wall of Grey Glacier
- Experience the local culture of Santiago when visiting the neighborhoods of La Vega Central Market in La Chimba district
Detailed Description
Your active 14-day seniors tour of Patagonia allows you to embrace the marvels of the wilderness by taking you from Chile to Argentina. Your immersive excursions will be led by specialist guides and provide you with insight into the natural history of the region. You will also uncover the splendor of glaciers, soaring mountain peaks, and pristine lakes from Torres del Paine National Park to the emerald forest within Nahuel Huapi National Park. You will set your own pace and enjoy the beauty with rewarding hikes, wildlife expeditions, and cultural excursions.
Your senior adventure of Patagonia will begin with your arrival in Santiago, Chile. Your private transfer will meet you at the airport and escort you to the heart of the city. You will have a private tour of Santiago with a guide that will help you uncover the distinctive culture of each neighborhood. You will travel to Punta Arenas before having an immersive exploration of Torres del Paine National Park. During your time within the park, you will have a series of guided treks that will offer you different perspectives of the landscape and wildlife. You will then visit the French Valley for views of a hanging glacier and to witness the shimmering water of Lake Nordenskjold.
You will then return to Punta Arenas by private transfer for a flight to El Calafate, Argentina. Here, you will spend two nights. Your distinctive tours of Patagonia will include images of lounging flamingos in Lake Argentino and walking along platforms that feature the ice walls of Perito Moreno Glacier. You will continue to the town of Bariloche, which is considered to be the chocolate capital of Argentina. You can settle into the beauty of the Alpine town with a delicious chocolate tour. During your time here, you will also have a guided tour that will lead you to the heart of Nahuel Huapi National Park. Once in Buenos Aires, you will have two nights to embrace the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Argentina’s capital city. A tango lesson will teach you the passion of the dance’s infamous movements, and a city tour will reveal the connection to European aesthetics and South American spirit.
Starting Price
$5,700 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
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.86 stars based on 1065 reviews.
My wife and I recently embarked on a breathtaking journey through South America, visiting Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Iguazú Falls in Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. We entrusted Zicasso's tour agency with planning our trip and it turned out to be one of the best travel decisions we've ever made.
From the very beginning, the team at the tour company was attentive and responsive, taking the time to understand our preferences and interests. They crafted a personalized itinerary that perfectly balanced adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration.
Buenos Aires: Our adventure began in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires. The agency arranged for a knowledgeable local guide who took us through the historic neighborhoods, tango shows, and culinary delights. The accommodations were centrally located, allowing us to explore the city with ease.
Mendoza: Next, we traveled to Mendoza, where we were immersed in the world of wine. The tour agency organized exclusive vineyard tours and tastings, providing us with a unique insight into the region's winemaking traditions. The picturesque landscapes and charming boutique hotel made our stay unforgettable.
Iguazú Falls: The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls. The agency ensured we had the best vantage points and arranged for a thrilling boat ride that brought us up close to the cascading waters. Their attention to detail and seamless logistics made this experience truly magical.
Rio de Janeiro: Our journey concluded in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro. The travel company curated a perfect blend of iconic sights like Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, along with hidden gems that showcased the city's unique culture. The beachfront hotel provided stunning views and a relaxing end to our adventure.
Throughout the trip, the tour company was always available to assist with any questions or adjustments, ensuring a stress-free experience. Their expertise and dedication to customer satisfaction were evident in every aspect of our journey.
We wholeheartedly recommend this company to anyone seeking a well-organized and memorable travel experience. We look forward to planning our next adventure with them!
Reviewed By Nathan P.
Zicasso's travel specialist was absolutely the best to work with in planning a trip to Argentina for 11 family members, with ages from 10 to 73.
We were not sure if we could take a family trip this summer due to work schedules, but we were able to make something work around the third week in May for an early July trip. In a short period of time, our specialist gained an understanding of what our family was looking for and put together a memorable trip. He was very responsive, open to our ideas, and when we suggested an idea, he made it happen. Throughout our trip, he and his team were just a WhatsApp message away, supporting our trip, including getting our boarding passes for domestic flights.
We saw that his company can arrange trips to other areas in South America and hope to work with him and his team in the future.
Reviewed By Marlene A.
When my wife and I first considered a trip to Argentina, there were many unknowns. Neither of us had ever been to South America, so everything from transportation, possible language barriers, and deciding which attractions we would enjoy most felt like a challenge. We then decided to contact several travel agencies, but one quickly stood out. Our Zicasso travel agent made a strong, welcoming first impression.
She was always prompt, helpful, and thoughtful with every interaction. It was abundantly clear how much she cared about her clients and her commitment to creating a truly personalized Argentine experience for them. She was patient, flexible, and attentive with every email and video call exchange in order to create an itinerary that matched our interests and needs. Her support continued well beyond the planning stage. She would regularly check in to make sure we were prepared for the trip. She also connected us with their 24-hour emergency assistance service and made time to meet us in person to welcome us there.
Our trip took us across a broad range of destinations and climates, including Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Mount Fitz Roy, and the Iguazú Falls region. We enjoyed guided tours, scenic hikes, and boat rides near ancient, awe-inspiring glaciers and lush, breathtaking waterfalls. Since these locations are far apart, flying was the most convenient method to travel between them. Along the way, we experienced issues with domestic flights, ranging from significant delays, an overnight reroute due to weather conditions, etc.
During our flight issues, the 24-hour emergency assistance service was incredibly helpful, with a majority of my communications handled by the travel agent's team. They provided timely, reliable guidance that reduced our stress through each event. In a few instances, they helped us avoid long delays with their expertise and local connections. No matter the time of day we messaged or called them, they responded with professionalism, patience, and genuine care. This level of quality service showed us just how dedicated this team is to supporting their travelers every step of the way.
If you are planning a vacation to Argentina, I highly recommend reaching out to them. They are passionate, knowledgeable, and truly committed to making your experience unforgettable. You will not only appreciate the beauty of the country and have a relaxing time, but also gain insight into its diverse culture and rich history during your adventures there.
This travel company made our trip seamless as possible, leaving us feeling heard and cared for throughout our journey. Their high level of professionalism, combined with their personal touch and care, left a lasting impression on us.
Reviewed By J L.
We are basking in the memory of a simply amazing trip to Argentina with Zicasso... it was awesome. The responsiveness of our specialist and guides, and the attentiveness of service overall, was very noticeable throughout. In particular, there was a storm that hit in the days prior to our arrival in Bariloche (Argentine Patagonia Lake District) which impacted boat schedules, and behind the scenes, without us knowing, we were rebooked and rescheduled for various activities in a seamless fashion to ensure we got the hiking and other experiences we were hoping for. Great service!
Reviewed By Keith M.
Zicasso's travel specialist helped by booking and planning every aspect of our trip (flights, hotels, transfers, tours, etc), all based on my wishes, along with his suggestions. He also ensured we had time to relax between activities (so often, an agent books so many activities you don't get a chance to stop and sit, but we had a few hours each day to do so). From meeting us upon arrival to the constant communication during the trip, he made sure everything ran smoothly. We had to adjust a tour due to weather, but he was on top of it, ensuring we had other options for that day.
Our agent and his team made everything run smoothly and ensured we had a great trip to an area we were not familiar with.
Reviewed By Michelle J.
Zicasso's trip planner is perhaps the best travel consultant I have ever engaged. As a point of context, I am a retired corporate executive who traveled 250K to 500K miles per year over the last 15 years of my career. I had the advantages of executive assistants, a corporate travel department, and extensive administrative support. Even with all those advantages, this trip planner and his team set a new standard of excellence. My trip planning covered Antarctica, Argentina, and Brazil destinations over a five-week trip. The full trip was for my wife and me, with an additional two-week block for my two children to join us partway through the vacation. He also helped to arrange the holiday for another couple who were supposed to accompany us, but they had a medical emergency occur before the departed. This necessitated a great number of changes and cancelations, which he handled, seemingly without any problems and without any complaints.
I had only traveled to that part of the world in a business capacity before, so I was entirely reliant on our travel agent, not just for the physical arrangements, but to also take the time to understand our interests, curiosities, and desired outcomes. He brilliantly translated that into choices and recommendations that I truly cannot complain about. He is so wired into the hotels, travel options, restaurants, sites, and culture of Argentina, Brazil, and Antarctica that we were blown away by his skills and knowledge. He arranged boutique experiences, personal guides, and superior transportation at all stops. There were no gaps in our travel coverage and I was 100% confident in all of our day-to-day experiences. He knew of things that I never would have discovered on my own. The ease of communicating with him was superior. He always responded to our queries within hours and even had a direct U.S. telephone number so I did not even have to pay for long-distance phone calls.
Our experience so far exceeded my already high expectations that we want to return to Argentina again, and we want to find a way to employ his services again to plan future trips to South America and Africa. Also, each person he had us interact with (drivers, guides, and support staff) was unbelievably capable, but also displayed exuberance and superior customer-service attitudes. Potential problems were non-existent.
I would be personally willing to speak directly to anyone who is considering using this tour company as their travel provider if that would sway them to choose him and his team. I have run out of superlatives, but trust me, I have very high standards. I have been to over 50 countries in my life. I have lived on three continents and (thanks to him) I can finally say I have set foot on all seven continents. With that said, this travel agent earned my admiration as a professional in his field. I believe if you engaged anyone other than him, you would likely receive a fantastic experience, but not as good as it could have been.
Reviewed By Paul N.