Jagged mountain peaks, icy blue lakes, and captivating glaciers embody the natural splendor of the landscape of this 14-day Patagonia tour. Traverse rivers of ice, explore untouched fjords, and discover active wildlife. From impeccable views of Paine Massif to flamingos that bask in Lake Argentino and from kayaking on Grey Lake to hiking branches of the famous W Trail, this tour will provide you with an action-packed adventure of Patagonia.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Santiago – Day at Your Leisure
The capital of Chile represents the cultural heart of the country with an endless array of galleries, museums, cafes, and shopping districts. Your flight will arrive at Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, where your private transfer will greet you at customs and escort you to your opulent accommodation. To begin your adventure, you can ascend to the top of Cerro San Cristobal, which is a hill that rises over 2,788 feet above sea level. You can take the funicular to the summit or enjoy a hike to Bellavista Park.
What's Included:
Day 2
Punta Arenas – Settle into the Scenery
Day 3
Torres del Paine – Wildlife Cruise to Magdalena Island
Day 4
Torres del Paine – Trekking in Torres del Paine
Day 5
Torres del Paine – Hiking the W Trail to the French Valley
Day 6
Torres del Paine – Hiking and Kayaking at Grey Lake
Day 7
Torres del Paine – Scenic Cruise and Glacier Hike
Day 8
El Calafate – Beautiful Drive to El Calafate
Day 9
El Calafate – Walking on a Glacier
Day 10
El Chalten – Rafting on Las Vueltas River
Day 11
El Chalten – Visit Los Huemules Reserve
Day 12
El Calafate – Hike to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
Day 13
Buenos Aires – Enjoy the Day at Your Leisure
Day 14
Buenos Aires – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Traverse the epic surface of Grey Glacier during a guided glacier walk of its tunnels, caves, crevices, and slopes
- Explore branches of the renowned W Trail in the Torres del Paine National Park for views of French Valley and the horns of the Paine Massif
- Delight in a kayaking tour of Grey Lake for an unique perspective of the massive ice wall of Grey Glacier
- Discover the whitewater rapids of Las Vueltas River during a rafting tour that combines thrills, scenery, and natural history
- Enjoy the fascinating view of Perito Moreno Glacier’s advancing ice wall from the different angles of viewing platforms
- Sail on the Strait of Magellan to reach an uninhabited island that is home the largest colony of Magellanic penguins in Chile
- Revel in the unique challenge of the trek to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado for rewarding views of the Torre and Fitz Roy massifs
- Encounter remarkable scenery and captivating wildlife with specialist guides who are knowledgeable about Patagonia’s flora, fauna, and natural history
Detailed Description
This 14-day Patagonia adventure immerses you in the marvels of the untamed wilderness that spans the pampas, mountains, and glaciers of southern Chile and Argentina. Your unique accommodations and specialist guides will offer you a distinctive experience along famous trails, remarkable waterways, and vast ancient glaciers. From the Magellan Strait to Lake Argentino, you will traverse the trails of Torres del Paine, uncover the vistas of Mt. Fitz Roy, kayak alongside bobbing icebergs, and search for local wildlife.
Your Patagonia adventure will begin with your arrival in Santiago, where your private transfer will meet you at the airport. One night in Chile’s capital city will situate you in the comforts of your accommodations and provide you with enough time to enjoy the distinctive culture. You will then fly to Punta Arenas for one night. Here, you can traverse the elegant central plaza and visit the maritime museum before the true adventure begins with a cruise along the Strait of Magellan. Your time on the water will showcase the rugged landscape, dynamic sea, and colonies of penguins and sea lions.
Your arrival in Torres del Paine will provide four nights of exciting discovery in the pristine landscape known for its high-altitude plains and granite peaks. You will have guided tours along the hiking trails and a portion of the famous W trail. You will continue your exploration of the national park with a kayaking tour of Grey Lake for a different perspective of the water and glacier. Your glacier hike will reveal the texture of the frozen surface of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field.
The following day, you will have a scenic drive across the border into Argentina to the town of El Calafate. You can visit the Nimez Lagoon for an introduction to the dynamic scenery, and a day in Los Glaciares National Park will highlight the marvelous features of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Two nights in El Chalten will take you along the class III rapids of Los Vueltas River and into the captivating diversity of forest, mountains, and waterways. You will venture high into the mountains on the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado trail to view Mt. Fitz Roy and Torro before returning to El Calafate for a night. Your flight to Buenos Aires will give you one night in the Argentine capital and conclude the active excursions of your Patagonian adventure.
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
4.83 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.