Chile & Argentina: Patagonia & Torres del Paine National Park

Flight from Santiago (SCL) to Puerto Natales. Rio Serrano flats; 3 – 4 miles, easy

Meet your entire group at 8:30 a.m. in the Hotel Magnolia lobby. Your guides will be dressed in Country Walkers shirts. After brief introductions your adventure begins.

From Santiago, the group will take an approximately three-hour flight to Puerto Natales. Then a scenic drive will take you to your lodge in Torres del Paine. After you settle in, join a walk along the river flats of the Rio Serrano. Leaving right from the lodge, this walk traces the Rio Nutria. Admire lovely river views and, as you make your way through some stretches of sylvan forest, enjoy sightings of fantastic birdlife, perhaps the upland goose, great grebe, and ringed kingfisher.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

3 miles, easy to moderate. Rio Pingo; 4 miles, easy to moderate, 600 ft. elevation gain & loss

Sunrises over the Paine massif are impossible to beat, as you’ll discover throughout your stay. Torres del Paine National Park was first brought to the world’s attention in 1880 when Scottish traveler Lady Florence Dixie chronicled her adventure here. In her book Across Patagonia, she described the three distinct torres, or towers, associated with the region as “Cleopatra’s Needles.” By some accounts, she and her fellow travelers were the first foreign tourists to lay eyes on these geological wonders.

After a hearty breakfast, head to the shores of Grey Lake, where a two-mile walk along the scenic beach starts your day off on the right foot. Continue your hike by crossing over the rushing Rio Pingo, thick with glacial sediment, before winding through an ancient forest of lenga trees (deciduous trees native to the southern Andes). The trail emerges on a rocky beach and follows a narrow spit of land crossing Grey Lake. It culminates on the tip of a peninsula offering panoramic views of the lake, icebergs, and the lake’s source, Grey Glacier. Return along the same trail and enjoy a lovely lunch at the Lago Grey Hotel, with sweeping views of the lake. After lunch, embark on an afternoon walk along the Rio Pingo.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4.5 miles easy to moderate, 650 ft. elevation gain, 750 ft. elevation loss. Guided historical walk at Estancia Cerro Guido; 1 mile, easy

Cross the park on a one-hour drive, heading toward the eastern pampas. Lakes of turquoise and green, and the famed jagged peaks of the Torres massif, add drama and wonder to your morning. Upon arrival at the national park entrance at Porteria Sarmiento, you set out across the expansive grasslands of the park’s southern reaches, heading toward another park entrance at Laguna Amarga. This little-known walking path attracts few visitors, which makes for excellent opportunities to spot the local wildlife. Herds of guanaco reside here, and they show little fear of humans. Look to the sky to catch a glimpse of condors taking flight, or gaze to the ground to see foxes or armadillos scurrying along. With a breathtaking backdrop of the staggering Paine Massif, this is the Patagonia that you’ve dreamt of—a vast natural haven at the end of the world. You may detour about 45 minutes to view ancient cave paintings dating back some 6,000 years.

Following today’s invigorating walk, continue east toward the Patagonian steppe, stretching between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean. Your destination is a working estancia, where you spend two nights. Sheep, horseback riders, and infinite skies might remind you of the American West, but the culture that thrives here is distinctly Chilean. A tour of the property highlights its rich history, sheep-shearing facility, horse stables, vegetable garden, and greenhouse.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 - 4 miles, easy to moderate options

Today you awake to a hearty farm breakfast and then set out for Laguna Azul on the eastern side of Torres del Paine National Park. On the way, you might spot local wildlife, such as guanacos, condors, armadillos, and maybe even a puma. At Laguna Azul, a dazzling cobalt lake nestled in a glacial valley, you’ll hike the lakeshore and take in one of the best views of the “Towers” of Torres del Paine. Gaze up at the striking view of the towers against the sky, their peaks reflected in the blue waters of the lake. This is the same view that impressed Lady Florence Dixie in 1879 when she first laid eyes on Patagonia’s majestic torres.

From Laguna Azul, you can choose to ascend to the Sierra Masle Lookout. As you climb, watch for the guanacos and local birdlife. A large, erratic boulder left behind by the glaciers marks the lookout, where there’s a striking view of the granite torres with Laguna Azul shimmering below. From this vantage point the towers look slim and slender, which inspired Lady Florence Dixie to give them the name “Cleopatra’s Needles”.

Back at the overnight ranch, you’ll experience more of Patagonian farm life up close. This evening, settle in for asado prepared the traditional gaucho way—lamb roasted over open coals served beneath a canopy of stars.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 – 4 miles, easy

Travel into Argentina today. There’s a lot of land to cover, but the long drive (approximately five hours including stops and the border crossing) gives you ample opportunity to take in the vastness of the Patagonian steppe. All in all, it’s a spectacular morning of breathtaking vistas. You head north, paralleling soaring Andean peaks, on the legendary Route 40, the longest continual road in Argentina and one of the longest in the world. Before formalities at the border of La Esperanza, there is time for a coffee and souvenir shopping. After the break, you continue on to your next lodge at the edge of Glaciers National Park, or Los Glaciares, home to one of the largest ice caps in the world. Its massive expanse feeds 47 glaciers, 13 of which flow toward the Atlantic Ocean.

A tasty, albeit, late lunch is served upon your arrival. Once you’re finished, you may choose to take a dip in the hotel’s swimming pool, sink into a leather couch in one of the elegant lounges with floor to ceiling picture windows, or join your guides on a walk from the lodge to a nearby lagoon. The lagoon’s flocks of bright pink flamingos are an astounding contrast to the muted colors of the steppe around you. Dinner this evening is served in the hotel’s elegant restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 miles, moderate, 750 ft. elevation gain. Perito Moreno Glacier; 2 miles, easy

After breakfast, you may spend the morning as you wish. Perhaps walk right from your hotel up a Cerro Frías footpath, where astonishing views of Lago Argentino and the Andes Range unfold before you. The Paine Massif rises in the south and the stunning “needles” of Mount Fitz Roy soar up to 11,000 feet in the north. You can also see the Baguelas Range on the Chilean border. If you prefer, saddle up for a horseback riding excursion, included with your stay. Or just relax and enjoy the offerings of this 5-star property.

You depart later this afternoon for a thrilling excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The timing of our visit means the day-trippers have left, so you’re able to enjoy this spectacular mammoth of nature in relative solitude. The face of the Perito Moreno is about three miles wide; it averages 240 feet in height above Lago Argentino’s surface and plunges more than 300 feet below the water. It advances more quickly than most glaciers, creaking and splitting as it goes, calving great chunks of ice into the lake. Even if you have seen other glaciers before, Perito Moreno will long linger in your memory. It’s the perfect place to end your Patagonia adventure. Tonight, enjoy a culinary feast of local specialties for your farewell dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy an included breakfast this morning before traveling to the El Calafate airport for an early flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Flight from Santiago (SCL) to Puerto Natales. Rio Serrano flats; 3 – 4 miles, easy

Meet your entire group at 8:30 a.m. at the Hotel Magnolia lobby. Your guide will be dressed in a Country Walkers shirt. After brief introductions your adventure begins.

From Santiago, the group will take an approximately three-hour flight to Puerto Natales. Then a scenic drive will take you to your lodge in Torres del Paine. After you settle in, join a walk along the river flats of the Rio Serrano. Leaving right from the lodge, this walk traces the Rio Nutria. Admire lovely river views and, as you make your way through some stretches of sylvan forest, enjoy sightings of fantastic birdlife, perhaps the upland goose, great grebe, and ringed kingfisher.

Included Meals: Dinner

3 miles, easy to moderate. Rio Pingo; 4 miles, easy to moderate, 600 ft. elevation gain & loss

Sunrises over the Paine massif are impossible to beat, as you’ll discover throughout your stay. Torres del Paine National Park was first brought to the world’s attention in 1880 when Scottish traveler Lady Florence Dixie chronicled her adventure here. In her book Across Patagonia, she described the three distinct torres, or towers, associated with the region as “Cleopatra’s Needles.” By some accounts, she and her fellow travelers were the first foreign tourists to lay eyes on these geological wonders.

After a hearty breakfast, head to the shores of Grey Lake, where a two-mile walk along the scenic beach starts your day off on the right foot. Continue your hike by crossing over the rushing Rio Pingo, thick with glacial sediment, before winding through an ancient forest of lenga trees (deciduous trees native to the southern Andes). The trail emerges on a rocky beach and follows a narrow spit of land crossing Grey Lake. It culminates on the tip of a peninsula offering panoramic views of the lake, icebergs, and the lake’s source, Grey Glacier. Return along the same trail and enjoy a lovely lunch at the Lago Grey Hotel, with sweeping views of the lake. After lunch, embark on an afternoon walk along the Rio Pingo.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4.5 miles easy to moderate, 650 ft. elevation gain, 750 ft. elevation loss. Guided historical walk at Estancia Cerro Guido; 1 mile, easy

Cross the park on a one-hour drive, heading toward the eastern pampas. Lakes of turquoise and green, and the famed jagged peaks of the Torres massif, add drama and wonder to your morning. Upon arrival at the national park entrance at Porteria Sarmiento, you set out across the expansive grasslands of the park’s southern reaches, heading toward another park entrance at Laguna Amarga. This little-known walking path attracts few visitors, which makes for excellent opportunities to spot the local wildlife. Herds of guanaco reside here, and they show little fear of humans. Look to the sky to catch a glimpse of condors taking flight, or gaze to the ground to see foxes or armadillos scurrying along. With a breathtaking backdrop of the staggering Paine Massif, this is the Patagonia that you’ve dreamt of—a vast natural haven at the end of the world. You may detour about 45 minutes to view ancient cave paintings dating back some 6,000 years.

Following today’s invigorating walk, continue east toward the Patagonian steppe, stretching between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean. Your destination is a working estancia, where you spend two nights. Sheep, horseback riders, and infinite skies might remind you of the American West, but the culture that thrives here is distinctly Chilean. A tour of the property highlights its rich history, sheep-shearing facility, horse stables, vegetable garden, and greenhouse.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 - 4 miles, easy to moderate options

Today you awake to a hearty farm breakfast and then set out for Laguna Azul on the eastern side of Torres del Paine National Park. On the way, you might spot local wildlife, such as guanacos, condors, armadillos, and maybe even a puma. At Laguna Azul, a dazzling cobalt lake nestled in a glacial valley, you’ll hike the lakeshore and take in one of the best views of the “Towers” of Torres del Paine. Gaze up at the striking view of the towers against the sky, their peaks reflected in the blue waters of the lake. This is the same view that impressed Lady Florence Dixie in 1879 when she first laid eyes on Patagonia’s majestic torres.

From Laguna Azul, you can choose to ascend to the Sierra Masle Lookout. As you climb, watch for the guanacos and local birdlife. A large, erratic boulder left behind by the glaciers marks the lookout, where there’s a striking view of the granite torres with Laguna Azul shimmering below. From this vantage point the towers look slim and slender, which inspired Lady Florence Dixie to give them the name “Cleopatra’s Needles”.

Back at the overnight ranch, you’ll experience more of Patagonian farm life up close. This evening, settle in for asado prepared the traditional gaucho way—lamb roasted over open coals served beneath a canopy of stars.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 – 4 miles, easy

Travel into Argentina today. There’s a lot of land to cover, but the long drive (approximately five hours including stops and the border crossing) gives you ample opportunity to take in the vastness of the Patagonian steppe. All in all, it’s a spectacular morning of breathtaking vistas. You head north, paralleling soaring Andean peaks, on the legendary Route 40, the longest continual road in Argentina and one of the longest in the world. Before formalities at the border of La Esperanza, there is time for a coffee and souvenir shopping. After the break, you continue on to your next lodge at the edge of Glaciers National Park, or Los Glaciares, home to one of the largest ice caps in the world. Its massive expanse feeds 47 glaciers, 13 of which flow toward the Atlantic Ocean.

A tasty, albeit, late lunch is served upon your arrival. Once you’re finished, you may choose to take a dip in the hotel’s swimming pool, sink into a leather couch in one of the elegant lounges with floor to ceiling picture windows, or join your guides on a walk from the lodge to a nearby lagoon. The lagoon’s flocks of bright pink flamingos are an astounding contrast to the muted colors of the steppe around you. Dinner this evening is served in the hotel’s elegant restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 miles, moderate, 750 ft. elevation gain. Perito Moreno Glacier; 2 miles, easy

After breakfast, you may spend the morning as you wish. Perhaps walk right from your hotel up a Cerro Frías footpath, where astonishing views of Lago Argentino and the Andes Range unfold before you. The Paine Massif rises in the south and the stunning “needles” of Mount Fitz Roy soar up to 11,000 feet in the north. You can also see the Baguelas Range on the Chilean border. If you prefer, saddle up for a horseback riding excursion, included with your stay. Or just relax and enjoy the offerings of this 5-star property.

You depart later this afternoon for a thrilling excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The timing of our visit means the day-trippers have left, so you’re able to enjoy this spectacular mammoth of nature in relative solitude. The face of the Perito Moreno is about three miles wide; it averages 240 feet in height above Lago Argentino’s surface and plunges more than 300 feet below the water. It advances more quickly than most glaciers, creaking and splitting as it goes, calving great chunks of ice into the lake. Even if you have seen other glaciers before, Perito Moreno will long linger in your memory. It’s the perfect place to end your Patagonia adventure. Tonight, enjoy a culinary feast of local specialties for your farewell dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an included breakfast this morning travel to the El Calafate airport for an early flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast