Itinerary
- Day 1
Santiago
After arriving at Santiago airport, you'll head to your hotel in the city center. Get together with the other travelers for a welcome drink of Pisco Sour, Chile's national cocktail. Spend the rest of the day walking through the old town, checking out the market and cathedral, then head to Plaza de Armas. If you have energy left, Santa Lucia Hill gives you great views over the city and toward the Andes mountains.
Included Activities
- City tour of historic Santiago old town
- Visit Cathedral of Santiago
- Visit Plaza de Armas
- Visit market in Santiago
- Santa Lucia Hill visit with city and Andes views
Landmarks Cathedral of Santiago Plaza de Armas Santa Lucia Hill - Day 2
Santiago to Puerto Varas
Following breakfast, you'll fly east across the Andes to Puerto Montt in the lake region. From there, it's a short transfer to Puerto Varas, a nearby town known locally as the city of roses.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 3
Puerto Varas
Today you can choose what appeals to you most. Options include walking through Alerce Andino National Park to see ancient trees, trying white-water rafting on the Rio Petrohué, doing a canopy adventure at Cerro Philippi, hiking near Osorno volcano, or visiting the colonial village of Frutillar and trying their traditional cake. Note that each activity needs at least 2 people to run.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit to Alerce Andino National Park - ancient trees (minimum 2 people)
- Rafting trip on Rio Petrohué (minimum 2 people)
- Canopy adventure at Cerro Philippi (minimum 2 people)
- Hike at foot of Osorno volcano (minimum 2 people)
- Visit colonial village of Frutillar with traditional cake (minimum 2 people)
Landmarks Alerce Andino National Park Osorno Volcano - Day 4
Puerto Varas to Chaiten
Head south early on the Carretera Austral, traveling through partially unpaved and really dramatic terrain. You'll cross Patagonian fjords on several ferry trips, moving through untouched landscapes and the lush Pumalin National Park. By evening you reach Chaiten, a small town that was largely destroyed during a 2008 volcanic eruption. Local residents share their stories of the disaster and how they rebuilt.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel on Carretera Austral
- Multiple ferry crossings through Patagonian fjords
- Pass through Pumalin National Park
Landmarks Pumalin National Park - Day 5
Chaiten to La Junta
Continue deeper into the wilderness on the famous Carretera Austral, a rustic gravel road. Drive along the turquoise Rio Frio, past glacier-covered mountain ranges, dreamy lakes, and waterfalls throughout the day. The terrain here remains pretty untouched and remote.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box)
Included Activities
- Travel on Carretera Austral
- Day 6
La Junta to Coyhaique
After a short drive, you'll hike through Queulat National Park to reach a viewpoint overlooking the hanging glacier Ventisquero Colgante and its waterfall. From there, continue driving south on the lush Carretera Austral through dense forests, fjords, and snow-covered peaks. The road winds through serpentines as you climb toward high passes, then descends to the Rio Cisnes. Later you pass through the Rio Simpson valley and reach Coyhaique, the capital of the Aisen region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box)
Included Activities
- Hike in Queulat National Park to Ventisquero Colgante viewpoint
- Travel on Carretera Austral
Landmarks Queulat National Park Ventisquero Colgante - Day 7
Coyhaique to Puerto Rio Tranquilo
Leaving Coyhaique, the landscape becomes increasingly barren steppe. You'll cross a deep colorful rock valley and reach Devil's Pass, which has panoramic views of the Cerro Castillo massif with its peaks and glaciers. During the drive you pass through areas affected by the 1990 Hudson volcano eruption, seeing dead forests and vast swamps. Later you enter southern beech forests and arrive at the turquoise waters of Lago General Carrera, surrounded by bare reddish hills and massive ice field massifs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through Devil's Pass
- Travel to Lago General Carrera viewpoint
Landmarks Lago General Carrera Cerro Castillo - Day 8
Puerto Rio Tranquilo
Depending on weather, you'll either explore the marble caves by speedboat on Lago General Carrera this morning or the evening before. Then head to the Exploradores glacier, driving through Exploradores Valley with photo stops along the way. After a short climb from the viewpoint, you'll see the impressive glacier and surrounding peaks that are part of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Marble caves exploration by speedboat (weather dependent)
- Exploradores glacier viewpoint visit and short climb
Landmarks Marble Caves Exploradores Glacier San Valentin - Day 9
Puerto Rio Tranquilo to Perito Moreno
Travel along Lago General Carrera toward the Argentina border, where you'll notice the climate gradually shifting to drier steppe. You'll pass through Chile Chico, known locally as Chile's 'Sun City' because of its mild climate where cherries and fruits grow well. Cross into Argentina and reach the town of Perito Moreno.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Lago General Carrera - Day 10
Perito Moreno to El Chalten
Spend the day driving through endless Patagonian steppe landscape. Lago Cardiel brings some color to the otherwise monotonous expanse with its milky-turquoise glacier meltwater. Later you'll move away from Ruta 40 and head back toward the Andes. On clear days you might spot the fantastic rock formations of the Fitz Roy Massif before reaching El Chaltén.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Fitz Roy Massif Lago Cardiel 
- Day 11
El Chalten
This is a challenging day hiking through Los Glaciares National Park. The Fitz Roy Massif is famous among mountaineers for its dangerous ice walls and unpredictable weather. You can hike to Laguna de los Tres for great views, or take a shorter alternative hike to Laguna Capri, which takes about 5 hours and also offers wonderful Fitz Roy views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box)
Included Activities
- Challenging day hike to Laguna de los Tres or alternative hike to Laguna Capri in Los Glaciares National Park
Landmarks Los Glaciares National Park Fitz Roy Massif - Day 12
El Chalten to El Calafate
Drive through the Argentine pampas, passing the emerald-green Lake Viedma on your way to El Calafate on Lago Argentino. Continue right away to the Perito Moreno glacier at the Los Glaciares National Park entrance. Watch the landscape change from treeless pampas into dense southern beech forests, with turquoise Lago Argentino and milky glacier walls. You'll see floating icebergs and watch the glacier push massive ice into the lake with thunderous crashes. This is one of the world's few growing glaciers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Perito Moreno glacier with platform viewing
Landmarks Perito Moreno Glacier Los Glaciares National Park Lago Argentino - Day 13
El Calafate to Torres del Paine
Cross the Argentine pampas one final time on Ruta 40 heading toward the Chilean border and Torres del Paine National Park, a real highlight of the trip. Herds of guanacos roam across gently hilly steppe landscapes with rugged red-gray rock massifs, granite towers, milky-green lakes, and shimmering white ice fields.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Torres del Paine National Park 
- Day 14
Torres del Paine
Today brings a challenging full-day hike to the viewpoint of the three towers, Las Torres. Start with a slight uphill climb on serpentines to Refugio El Chileno on the Ascencio River in a lenga forest. Continue hiking for another 1.5 hours as the trail steepens and you navigate through moraine stones. Climb to the easternmost point of the lagoon for great views of the towers, Peineta, and Kondornest mountains. You'll head back the same way. A less demanding 2 to 3 hour alternative hike through lenga forest in the northern part of the park is also available.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box)
Included Activities
- Full-day or alternative hike to Las Torres or lenga forest in Torres del Paine National Park
Landmarks Las Torres - Day 15
Torres del Paine to Punta Arenas
Travel to Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in Chile, sitting on the historic Strait of Magellan that separates the mainland from Tierra del Fuego. Visit the nearby Milodon Cave, where remains of the prehistoric Milodon animal were discovered and a life-size replica is on display. On clear days you can see Tierra del Fuego on the horizon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Milodon Cave
Landmarks Milodon Cave Strait of Magellan - Day 16
Punta Arenas
Say goodbye to the other travelers and your tour guide at Punta Arenas airport. From here you can continue your journey or fly home through Santiago.
