Luxury Patagonia Tour in Argentina & Chile

In the morning, the city awakens to the aroma of rich espresso and herbaceous yerba mate. Bakeries fill their windows with displays of freshly baked medialunas, delicious croissant-like pastries. The sunlight washes over the pink façade of Casa Rosada, the Presidential Palace in Plaza de Mayo. In Recoleta, coffee aficionados venture to a bohemian coffeehouse with baristas dedicated to the pursuit of mastering a perfect cup. After breakfast, your private transfer meets you in the hotel lobby and escorts you to Ministro Pistarini International Airport for your flight to Patagonia.

The plane lands in El Calafate, where you continue to the northern rim of Glaciers National Park in the town of El Chaltén. Your luxury hotel looks out into the valley framed by the marvelous snowcapped mountains. The secluded setting provides sensational luxury in both private panoramas from your room and attentive, friendly staff. The service is personalized to your preferences, and the décor has a charming rustic ambiance fitting into the alpine wonderland of Patagonia. In the distance, the peaks of Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy tower over the massifs.

In the morning, the sunlight drifts over the bordering mountains of El Chaltén. The peaks transform from looming silhouettes to rugged and imposing forces. At breakfast, a herbaceous aroma rises from the freshly brewed yerba mate. The tea is the preferred morning drink of Argentinians stemming from the days of the gaucho. El Chaltén and the surrounding landscape is yours to explore at your preferred pace. Trek to Mirador de Los Condores for a view of Fitz Roy Mountain or venture to the shores of Lago Viedma to see the Patagonian Steppe.

A full day hike will take you to the shores of Laguna de Los Tres. Your guide meets you in the lobby and shows you the well-marked path on the edge of town. The ascent begins with a steep slope leading you up the foothills into the mountains. You can hear the quiet trickle of Del Salto stream rushing through the valley. Antarctic Beech trees become more numerous, growing up to 80 feet tall.

The slender trunk hides behind the long, slender leaves that emit a sweet, waxy aroma. Each step takes you deeper into the natural splendor of Patagonia. You cross Rio Blanco and listen to the thundering water pass near the climbers’ basecamp. You come to Laguna de Los Tres to find the calm turquoise waters reflecting the massive granite peak of Mount Fitz Roy on the opposite shores. The sweeping white of de Los Tres Glacier practically spills into the water for an unparalleled view.

In the morning, gauchos (South American cowboys) ride horses along the plain. Rich leather saddles drape across the horses’ backs and act as a mark of pride to the proud traditions of the ranchers and cowboys of Patagonia. They carry thermoses of hot water and constantly refill their tea gourd, which carries their yerba mate. After breakfast, the day is once again yours to venture into the wilderness outside of El Chaltén and absorb the natural beauty of the region. For a unique adventure, your guide meets you at the hotel and escorts you to the shores of Tunnel Bay. You board a luxurious catamaran and set out into Lake Viedma. The water is emerald and ripples gently away from the boat. Cerro Huemul and Fitz Roy tower over the massifs along the horizon.

The ship rounds the southeastern edge of Viedma Glacier. Smatterings of historical ash blacken the bright blue and white hues of the ice field. You disembark the boat at the pier and hike over the rugged rocky terrain alongside the frame of the glacier. Viedma Glacier is the largest glacier in Argentina, encompassing 380 square miles. Your guide helps you strap on crampons and escorts you onto the surface of the ice spectacle. The crunch beneath your feet is satisfying. Ice formations rise out of the surface to create swirling tunnels and caves. The natural beauty of the glacier is breathtaking.

At breakfast, the semi-sweet aroma of freshly baked medialunas (half-moon croissants) brings memories of the charming bakeries of Buenos Aires. However, the cityscape did not include the stunning view of the valley and surrounding mountains. After breakfast, your private transfer meets you at the hotel and escorts you to the town of El Calafate, and onwards to your exquisite resort-style accommodation. The hotel is situated in La Anita Valley on the foothills of Mount Frias.

The property encompasses 7,413 acres to evoke the rich tradition of a Patagonian estancia (ranch). In the afternoon, you can stroll alongside the shores of Lago Argentino, the largest freshwater lake in the country with a surface area of 546 square miles. You can see flamingos on the banks of the river perched on a single leg. Their pink plumage stands out against the gold and green hues of the surrounding landscape. To the south of the valley, the mountains of Torres del Paine roll across the horizon.

The morning brings to light the eclectic landscape encircling your resort-style ranch. The plains stretch from the shores of Lago Argentino to the foothills of Mount Frias. The aroma of rich espresso begins the refreshing day. Gauchos cross the landscape on horseback and look content as they roam across the range. After breakfast, your guide escorts you onto the grounds of Glaciers National Park to witness the radiant scenery of Perito Moreno Glacier. You board a comfortable boat and venture out onto the waters of Lago Argentino for a distinctive view of the glacier’s edge.

The boat ferries you along the Iceberg Channel. Numerous icebergs of various shapes and sizes have broken away from the glacier and splashed into the narrow canal created by Lago Argentino. You look up to the magnificent cliffs of Perito Moreno Glacier, which rise an average of 240 feet above the water’s surface. The brilliant blue and white hues of the ice glow in the sunlight. The ambiance is tranquil as you sail alongside the glacial wall with the sporadic sound of popping and melting ice shifting in the water.

The sunrise casts the plain in the perfect light, radiating vivid pink and orange hues across the surface of Lago Argentino. Indulge in a fresh espresso at breakfast and enjoy the scenery once more before your private transfer meets you in the lobby. Your journey takes you away from the secluded charms of your lodge and the shores of the lake. You venture westbound into Torres del Paine National Park, crossing the Argentinean-Chilean border. Guanacos graze along the mountainous terrain. They average a shoulder height of over three and a half feet with their graceful necks extending up to another half-foot. They can run up to 35 miles per hour over the steep and rocky terrain.

You reach your delightful accommodation located on the grounds of Torres del Paine National Park. The lodge stands on the shores of Lake Pehoé. The white façade reflects in the turquoise water of the lake. The hotel was designed with luxury and remoteness in mind. Open patios and large windows provide spectacular views to the surrounding landscape, sweeping from the shores of Lake Pehoé to the snowcapped Paine Massif and the magnificent Torres del Paine peaks.

In the morning, you can hear the tranquil sound of the lake lapping beneath the lodge. At breakfast, the refreshing aroma of fresh espresso fills the room. The day is yours to choose one of the many adventures available to you. Any choice allows you to explore Torres del Paine National Park in a manner you prefer. You can horseback ride along fields bursting with wildflowers or venture to the high-altitude shores of Grey Lake. You set out on a trek across the French Valley.

At the shores of Lago Nordenskjold, you find lush trees around the shores. The verdant landscape fades to a craggy outcropping of the foothills. Behind the trees, you can see the hanging glacier of Paine Grande in the morning light. The sky is clear, providing unadulterated views of Cerro Paine Grande covered in snow and rising to an altitude of more than 10,006 feet. Streams form at the base of the glacier from the melting water and flow towards the nearest river.

You hike over the pass offering spectacular views of the hanging glacier on the façade of Cerro Paine Grande. The mountainous terrain changes into a verdant forest. Your panoramic view of the French Valley is inspiring. The mountains in the background resemble the clouds with their snowy summits. The turquoise glow of Lago Nordenskjold resembles a jewel. Granite walls and spires create an amphitheater of sheer majesty. The hanging glaciers and vibrant trees combine to create an ineffable landscape, the likes of which you have never before seen.

In the morning, the property’s catamaran sails along the waters of Lake Pehoé. Guanacos stroll quietly across the high-altitude plains of the national park. After breakfast, you once again have the choice of your adventure for the day, choosing to sail along the water on the catamaran or venturing deep into the scenic mountains once more. You follow your guide over the foothills and follow the path that takes you to Grey Lake. The line of mountains making the Paine Massif overtakes the horizon behind the flatlands. A herd of guanacos grazes on the windswept grass. Southern Andean deer, known as huemul, hide in the lush underbrush of the forest.

You can hear the trickle of a small waterfall from Rio Olguin. You cross the current of the Rio Paine and continue onward to Grey Lake, where you come to the face of Grey Glacier. The pebble shores of the lake are sturdy. Large icebergs drift across the water. A viewpoint showcases the stunning blue and white hue of the glacier nestled against the craggy slopes of the bordering mountains. The ice wall rises nearly 50 feet above the lake. You come so close to the icebergs that you can see the crystals shimmering in the sunlight. Each glacier has a unique image, as every icy surface continues to fascinate you.

The private stables of the lodge are located on the property near the main lobby. Visitors can venture out into the valleys and plains of Torres del Paine National Park and enjoy a serene ride through the wilderness. At breakfast, you decide to enjoy the slower pace of the countryside, taking in the landscape atop one of the 26 elegant horses of the lodge. Their horse expert meets you after breakfast, ready to lead you on a majestic trek along the shores of Lake Pehoé. You mount the horse and set off. The Paine Massif is at your back. The horse traipses through creek beds and over the windswept hills. You ascend over the hillside and arrive in a field of blossomed lupines. The stunning purple flower can grow to almost five feet tall.

They sporadically sprout upwards from the tall, verdant grass, combining the green and purple hues of the natural landscape. The snowcapped mountains overtake the distance. In the distance, you can hear the rushing water of the Salto Grande, a waterfall with a measured cascade of nearly 50 feet, trundling into Lago Nordenskjold. When you return from your horseback-riding excursion, you can relax in a quiet spa.  Rest your muscles in the heated Jacuzzi that opens to a view of Pehoé Lake and the Paine Massif. The scenery is endlessly thrilling, and the mountains are consistently looming in Torres del Paine National Park.

The morning light glimmers on the surface of Lake Pehoé. You notice the angular roof of the lodge resembling the granite peaks of the Torres del Paine Massif. At breakfast, you scour the landscape once more in search of guanaco or huemul. Your muscles feel relaxed and rejuvenated after your time in the spa. After your meal, your private transfer meets you in the lobby. Your drive south to Punta Arenas is filled with the dramatic scenery of Torres del Paine National Park, along with the bordering fjords and tranquil plains of Patagonia. Punta Arenas is located on the edge of the Strait of Magellan. The Pacific Ocean laps at the edges of the city. Fishing boats wade in the water off the coast. You arrive at Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport and board your flight home.