Ends of the Earth in Southern Patagonia Tour: Buenos Aires, Torres del Paine & Ushuaia

The doors of a popular bakery open in the morning to the aroma of cañoncitos, fresh baked pastry rolled into a cylinder and stuffed with dulce de leche or cream. The bookstore and café fill a former art deco theater first opened 1919, and the grandeur of the high ceilings and semi-circular layout now holds rows of books with the cafe situated on the stage to survey the different levels of the gallery. Your guide will greet you at your hotel eager to lead you through the grace, glamour, and luster of Argentina’s capital city. French and Italian architectural design continues to define the central neighborhoods through the remaining palaces and distinctive Cathedrals.

Antique shops offer vibrant window displays against the cobblestone streets of the San Telmo district. The 22-story palace of Palacio Barolo was erected in the 1920s and reaches a height of nearly 330 feet tall. The antique elevator continues to traverse the floors to reach the rooftop lighthouse, which offers a panoramic view of the surrounding vintage architecture and bustling pedestrianized streets. The palace was erected to adhere to the structure of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, with 22 floors related to the number of verses per canto. The aroma of parilla, traditional barbecue, drifts through the streets near Casa Rosada, the presidential palace. The rosy hues of the façade overlook the Plaza de Mayo, one of the oldest public squares in the city.

In the morning, the beauty of Buenos Aires returns with the buttery aroma of medialunas, a pastry similar to a croissant. Cafes and bakeries place the glistening, browned pastries in the window to entice passersby, accompanied by the pleasant scent of rich coffee. The artists in La Boca return to the cobbled lane of Cominito, known as the “Little Walkway” as tango dancers perform for passersby against the backdrop of colorful corrugated homes.

Your private transfer will greet you at your hotel and escort you to the airport for your short flight to El Calafate, located along the Patagonian Steppe. The evergreen forest provides a herbaceous aroma before fading beneath the scents of rich chocolate that drifts along the main road of Libertador. The boutique shops present an alpine ambiance with knotted-pine doorframes and stone facades. Your private transfer will greet you upon arrival at Comandante Armando Tola International Airport before escorting you across the stunning plain to a private eco-friendly lodge.

Bask in the remarkable view of the vast grassland that leads to the rolling hills and snow-capped peaks of Patagonia. The aroma of the verdant plains fills the air with the pristine lakes reflecting the distant peaks. Enjoy your first guided walk along the property, which covers 10,000 acres, and make your way to Flamingo Lagoon to view the beautiful figures of Andean flamingos perching in the water. Their light pink plumage reflects in the water as they stand on a single leg, and this fascinating panorama provides the perfect introduction to Patagonia.

The sunlight will wash over the expanse and bring the verdant plain and glassy waters of the Flamingo Lagoon into view. The dining room fills with the aroma of cappuccino dusted with chocolate and freshly made pastafrola, a pie-like pastry often stuffed with quince or dulce de leche. Your guide will greet you in the lobby ready to lead you on an exciting tour of Los Glaciares National Park. The protected area encompasses more than 2,800 square miles and protects hanging glaciers, rugged mountain peaks, and elaborate icebergs for an unforgettable experience. Board your boat to traverse the waters of Lake Argentino, the largest freshwater lake in the country and the water will splash upwards from the hull and right onto your cheeks.

Icebergs float around the waterway thanks to the proximity to Perito Moreno Glacier. Arriving in front of the ice walls brings a surreal feeling due to the average height of the precipice reaching upwards of 200 feet. The water has an iridescent blue hue reflected in the natural ice, and as a piece of ice calves away from the wall, you can hear the thunderous crack before seeing the dust erupt from the surface. The chunk will break away and fall into the water with an enormous splash. Once on land, you will continue onto the surface of the glacier while wearing crampons and hear the ice crunch beneath your feet with the true ridges and crevices of the textured ice surface in view.

In the morning, you will bask in the majesty of your view of the Patagonian Steppe as you sip your hot chocolate in the comforts of the dining room. Today you will leave behind the marvels of El Calafate and Argentina’s Patagonia for the enchanting landscape of Torres del Paine, a national park in Chile’s Patagonia. Before leaving El Calafate, you can stop at the Glaciarium, a modern museum that offers education through entertainment and interaction across three exhibition halls and main gallery.

The 27,000 square foot museum helps visitors understand the formation of glaciers, along with the early explorers who discovered them, and the scientists who study them. The interactive video shows how the snow shifts to ice and the ice moves like a slow river over time. Stop in Glaciobar Branca before leaving the museum, one of the only bars in the world constructed out of ice. Enter into the cold air comfortable in a coat, gloves, and boots provided by the establishment. The shelves on the back of the bar glisten in the light, along with the tables, and bar top itself. The unique ambiance reminds you of the previous day walking along the glacier. After crossing into Chile, you can relax in the luxuries of your alpine resort-style accommodation on the shores of Señoret Channel.

Wake up to a stunning panorama of the shimmering waters of the Señoret Channel framed by the mountains of Patagonia. Your private room offers a sense of seclusion, which allows you to bask in the beauty of the landscape as you desire. The dining room fills with the aromas of chocolate and coffee as you walk along the wooden dock to board your boat to cruise the channel waters for a distinctive scenic tour around Torres del Paine National Park. You can watch the dramatic mountains with rustic reds and silver granite hues that fade behind the horizon as the rugged mountaintops roll along the edges of the channel with Nothofagus forests rising above the grasslands.

Owls perch in the trees and rustle their feathers amongst the stoic leaves. Waterfalls plunge down the rugged cliffs and filter into the cool, refreshing waters of the channel. Sea lions bask on the boulders edging the waterway. They roll over onto their bellies to let the sunlight warm their bodies. Cormorants dive into the water in search of fish. They erupt from the surface and perch on the rocks, flaring their feathers in the sunlight to dry. The boat starts to pass icebergs. Their iridescent hues contrast the sapphire colors of the water. You make it to the black pebbles along the shore for a closer view of the Serrano Glacier, which is connected to the Southern Ice Field.

At breakfast, you can sip your comforting cappuccino as the scent of fresh pastries dusted with caramelized sugar accompanies your view to the channel. You will meet your guide in the lobby ready to take to the trails that lead into the craggy mountains of Torres del Paine National Park. The cool air will brush against your cheeks, and the landscape will remind you of the European Alps. Herds of guanacos, relatives to the llama, graze on the wild grasses as lupines grow with vibrant purple petals near the edges of hidden bodies of water.

Notro bushes glow with spindly petals along the evergreens, referred to by Indigenous peoples as “Fire Plants.” The flora gives way to the rugged granite boulders that lets you know that you are nearing the base of the mountain peak. The granite towers soar nearly 6,500 feet above the Patagonian Steppe and reach an altitude of 8,200 feet above sea level. Patches of snow linger beneath the towers, and a small lagoon shimmers with clear turquoise waters. The views of the granite walls and the fantastic panorama of the pampas behind you offer the perfect image of Patagonia.

Today you will begin your adventure around the edges of the South American continent. Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel after breakfast and escort you to Puerto Natales for your flight to Punta Arenas. You will watch as the grasslands and staggering mountain peaks of Torres del Paine fade from view and are replaced by the shimmering waters of the Magellan Strait and the bustling port of Punta Arenas. Fishing boats return from the open sea and barges bound for Argentina are ready for their voyage. Mansions at the heart of the city harken back to the grandeur of the Wool boom, embodied in the opulent mansion of Casa Braun-Menendez.

The 19th-century French-Nouveau architectural style represents the former prestige of sheep farmers in the pioneering days of the 19th century. Intricate wooden inlaid floors continue to run through the household amongst furniture adorned with Chinese vases and elegant seating. A monument at the heart of the plaza commemorates the 400th anniversary of Magellan’s voyage around the world. The statue will fuel your excitement as you board your luxurious cruise-liner ready to disembark from Punta Arenas en route to Ushuaia, Argentina. A mixture of sweet and salty air drifts upwards from the sea as the boat weighs anchor and you begin to navigate the labyrinth of Patagonian channels.

The dining room will fill with the familiar and comforting aroma of cappuccino and medialunas in the morning. You will look out the window to enjoy the scenic views of the passing Admiralty Sound as the towering walls of the fjord frame the sapphire and indigo waters. Lush trees add illustrious greenery to the branch of the Strait of Magellan. Board your zodiac boat and reach the shores along the Tucker Islets. The aroma of the sea continues to carry a refreshing hint of salt with a biting chill as snow drapes over the mountains in the distance with the nearby foothills covered with elegant tan hues. Your guide will point to the colony of Magellanic penguins nesting on the island shores, with more than 4,000 utilizing the islet.

Their calls carry over the gentle sound of the water lapping up against the pebbled shoreline. The penguins grow to an average of 27 inches tall and have two black bands that decorate their head and breast. They dive into the water and use their wings to propel them forward as if flying. On land, they burrow into the soft soils and tufts of grass away from the shoreline in search of warm places to roost. Andean condors, the largest bird capable of flight, glide through the air and their wingspan can grow to a length of more than 11.5 feet. They nest in the beech forests but scour the shores along the Magellan Strait in search of food.

The splendor of the surrounding landscape emanates from the steep walls of the fjords and views of the passing dolphin pods. The marvels of nature surround you at all times of the day as you stay at the ready to see sea lions or whales at any moment. The ship will turn into Glacier Alley, and you will board a zodiac heading for the shores beside Pia Glacier. You pass flecks of ice and the water mists from the motor on the zodiac. The chilled breeze brushes against your cheeks as the glacier dominates the pass between Mount Mohl and Elfring Peak and spreads through the valley landscape.

The rough ice surface resembles a river frozen in motion before reaching the sea. The ice wall that touches the water has a rough texture caused by blocks of ice breaking away. The milky-blue hues shimmer against the black soil and granite peaks of the surrounding mountains. You will return to the ship and then travel alongside the frozen waterways known as tidewater glaciers, which touch the water. Small icebergs rise out of the water and float past, along with sheets of ice glinting in the fading sunlight. Snow dusts the mountains, and you can enjoy a warm drink in the comforts of the ship as the scenery passes by.

The dining room contains the fresh aroma of pastries as the windows offer a view of the surprising greenery found at Wulaia Bay. On the shores of the Bay, you can traverse the wooded areas and enjoy the smell of pine filling the air. Lengas, ferns and colorful nostros decorate your morning walk along the southern edges of the continent. After visiting Wulaia Bay, you can take a zodiac to the shores of Cape Horn, the tip of the South American continent. The steep, rugged precipices plunge into the sea from a height of nearly 1,400 feet.

Two lighthouses help guide ships through the seasonal storms on the waters and a monument at the top of the cape was erected in commemoration of the sailors who never made it around the passage. The elegant silhouette of an albatross continuously flies against the wind, and the horn is now a national park that protects flora and fauna of at the southernmost edge of the Americas. When you stand beneath the monument, you can look south in search of the edges of Antarctica.

Daylight breaks over the steep slopes of the Andes Mountains that reach into the sea. The snow-capped ridges frame Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Your ship will dock at the port, bringing you to Argentina. The aroma of the sea blends with the aroma of sharp coffee as fishing boats return to port after a morning along the Beagle Strait. Vessels bound for Antarctica call for travelers before heading out to sea.

Locals enjoy an array of herbaceous, floral, and decadent flavors conjured in the microbrew, known for being the world’s southernmost microbrewery. The small-town ambiance offers a perfect introduction to the streets of the city that reach into the foothills of the Andes. Gondolas ferry skiers and trekkers into the hills and offer scenic views of the edges of Argentina. Outside of the city, the forests and pampas of Tierra del Fuego intrigue visitors and the remainder of the day is yours to indulge in the tranquil ambiance and unique location of Ushuaia.

Bask in the warmth and soothing comforts of the celebrated spa inside your luxury hotel or take to the fields of Tierra del Fuego to visit the Estancia Harberton. The ranch serves as a living piece of history and provides museum galleries that depict the life of the early European pioneers. The southern plains lead to the shores of the Beagle Channel, flush with greenery and the petals of blossoming wildflowers. The sheering shed holds the vintage shearing equipment that dates back to the days of the wool boom in Patagonia more than a century ago.

In the morning, you can take another look at the southern edge of Argentina and admire the distinct view of the rugged slopes of the world’s longest mountain range as they stretch into the sea. Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Malvinas Argentinas International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. The city continues to bustle with a familiar vibrancy and the sounds of tango drift through the streets making you want to dance in the warmth of the capital city.

After traversing the straits, fjords, and glacial waters of the south, the elegant structures and rhythm of Buenos Aires erupt like fireworks all around you. The day is at your leisure to enjoy the unique sensory show of Fuerza Bruta for a modernist take on the traditional performances of the city or stroll along the boutique shops lining the cobbled lanes of Palermo Soho. For an unforgettable final evening, you can take to a “closed-door” restaurant, one of the secret restaurants in the city. Top chefs fuse traditional flavors and contemporary technique and utilize herbs and produce grown in their garden in the heart of the city.

Porteños venture to a favorite café in the morning to enjoy the opulence of the Old World. Corinthian columns decorate the interior amongst waiters clad in white jackets and black ties. Stained glass windows glimmer with colorful light and the aromas of buttery medialunas and chocolate-dusted cappuccinos fill the air. The culture of the city reminds you how far you have traveled over the past two weeks, returning you from the end of the world. The elegance and distinction of the pink hues along the façade of Casa Rosada return beneath the bright sunlight as the Belle Epoque structure takes inspiration from the 16th-century history of the Plaza de Mayo. When you are ready, your private transfer will greet you at your hotel and escort you to Ministro Pistarini International Airport for your flight home.