One of the most comprehensive tours of Patagonia

Here’s the perfect trip for those who would prefer to stay in lodges after an exhilarating day in the wilds of Patagonia. Nature shows a flair for the grandiose in this corner of the world, and on this all-encompassing adventure, you’ll enjoy breathtaking vistas of mountains, glaciers, and turquoise lakes as you hike the trails of Los Glaciares and Paine National Parks, renowned reserves that guard the most magical of Patagonia’s scenic treasures.

You’ll also take a relaxing shipboard cruise of the incredible—and otherwise inaccessible—fjords and inlets of the honeycombed Chilean coastline, home to dolphins, whales, seals, and Magellanic penguins, with awesome views of the Cordillera Darwin as a bonus. You’ll marvel at calving glaciers and snowcapped peaks of breathtaking beauty, and come to appreciate (in the words of Herman Melville) “all the attending marvels of a thousand Patagonia sights and sounds.”

Download our Patagonia catalog!

Click here for all our Patagonia Travel & Adventures

Click here for all South America Travel & Adventures with MTS!

Activities

7 days easy to moderate hiking (options for longer, more strenuous hikes), 5 days cruising, some long drives

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Our most comprehensive Patagonia adventure!
• Cruise the scenic Chilean fjords—mountains, glaciers, extraordinary wildlife—all the way to Cape Horn!
• Flexible options for day hikes in Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks
• Overnights in hotels and lodges—no camping!

Duration: 15 days Start Location: Santiago End Location: Santiago

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Santiago

  Meet in Santiago, Chile. Afternoon tour of the city.

• 

  Day 2 : Punta Arenas – board the Via Australis

  Fly to Punta Arenas, board the M/V  Via Australis and begin cruising along the Strait of Magellan.

• 

  Day 3 : Ainsworth Bay – Tucker Islet

  Cruise through a maze of channels and fjords and up the Beagle Channel, stopping for walks near the Marinelli and Pia Glaciers, to visit an elephant seal colony, and explore Cape Horn National Park. Accommodations aboard the ship are in comfortable cabins with large picture windows and you'll dine on delicious international cuisine.

• 

  Day 4 : Pia Glacier – Glacier Avenue

  Continue navigating the Patagonian fjords and visit Pia Glacier on the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel, where we'll have an excellent view of the Darwin Range and trace the glacier's progress as it travels down and into the waters of Pia Bay, and quite possibly be treated to the awesome sight and sound of the glacier "calving" into the bay. The travel into the spectacular “Glacier Avenue,” with its impressive array of glaciers.

• Day 5 : Cape Horn – Wulaia Bay

  Weather permitting we'll travel to Cape Horn National Park, the place where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans merge and the southernmost promontory of South America. In the afternoon we'll visit Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region’s largest aboriginal settlements and renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography.

• 

  Day 6 : Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park – Calafate

  Disembark M/V Via Australis in Ushuaia, Argentina. Day hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park, then fly to Calafate on the shores of Lago Argentino.

• 

  Day 7 : Perito Moreno Glacier

  Visit the impressive three-mile-wide Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world's great natural spectacles.

• 

  Day 8 : Los Glaciares National Park

  Continue to Los Glaciares National Park, where you'll take a variety of day hikes in a fabulous landscape dominated by the serrated peaks of the Fitzroy massif.

• 

  Days 9 - 10 : Los Glaciares National Park

  Spend two days hiking below the renowned peaks of Fitzroy and Cerro Torre, the showpieces of Los Glaciares National Park. Choose from a variety of options depending on the weather and your hiking ability.

• Day 11 : En Route to Paine National Park

  Drive to Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. The next two days you'll take various hikes of exceptional scenic interest. Hikes in both parks are dependent on the weather, abilities, and interests of the group.

• 

  Days 12 - 13 : Paine National Park

  Day hikes among the ice-clad peaks and granite needles of the Torres del Paine (10,000')—5,000 feet of near-vertical granite rising from rolling grasslands and beautiful lakes. On day 12 we plan to walk along a trail by Laguna Verde that sports native beech forest and wonderful views of the Paine massif, ultimately reaching one of the best lookouts of Lago Toro and the mountain range beyond. We will then do a short walk to see the Salto Grande waterfall, beautifully located in front of the Horns of Paine. On day 13, you will have the choice of hiking to the base of Las Torres, the famous “towers of Paine”, a strenuous 7-hour hike, or to hike on a nature trail to watch llama-like guanacos and view cave paintings drawn by the original inhabitants. Hikes are dependent on the weather, abilities, and interests of the group.

• Day 14 : Punta Arenas

  Drive to Punta Arenas, stopping in Puerto Natales for lunch.

• Day 15 : Punta Arenas – fly home

  Free morning in Punta Arenas or optional visit to a Magellanic penguin rookery. Fly to Santiago and depart for home.

• 

  Hotel Plaza El Bosque

  Santiago, Chile

  Classy, upscale hotel on tree lined El Bosque Avenue, one of the most active and exclusive Santiago districts. Enjoy spacious, impeccably furnished rooms, and a generous breakfast buffet on the hotel's top floor, overlooking the mountains and cityscape.

• 

  Hotel Cabo de Hornos

  Recently renovated modern European style hotel in the world's southernmost city, located on the main Plaza Munoz Gamero. High ceilings and beautiful artwork complement the stone floors in the entryways.

• 

  Hotel Posada Los Alamos

  El Calafate

  This large hotel, just two blocks from downtown, features clean, comfortable rooms and windowed lounges looking onto expansive lawns. Its classic Argentine style includes red-bricked exterior, old English furniture, and rustic wooden eaves.

• 

  Hosteria Torres del Paine

  Surrounded by towering mountains, this hostería sits in a grassy field at a considerable distance from nearby towns. Simple, comfortable rooms come equipped with all the welcome essentials but in elegant harmony with the awe-inspiring surroundings.

• 

  Mirador del Paine

  Torres del Paine

  This secluded estate, an historic estancia livestock ranch, has been receiving guests for just over ten years. With its premier view of the Massif of the Paine and its characteristic Patagonian architecture, this hostería is just a ways beyond the trail heads and tourist centers, but stands a world apart.

• 

  Hosteria Los Cerros

  El Chatén

  Overlooking the young town of El Chaltén, Hosteria Los Cerros offers a cozy stay with unique décor that harmonizes with the natural environment. Expansive windows open onto dramatic views of the Río de las Vueltas and the surrounding landscape.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Sergio "TC" Bahamondez

  Sergio was born in Puntarenas, Chile, and grew up in Tierra del Fuego, where he developed his love for the outdoors. He studied psychology at La Plata University in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has a degree in Patagonia Biodiversity from Magallanes University. Sergio has more than 10 years of experience as a tour leader, and his explorer’s spirit has taken him to nearly every continent. He is an excellent ambassador of his country and its culture—his enthusiasm and sense of adventure are absolutely contagious! Sergio is best known in Patagonia by his nickname, “TC,” and we know you’ll be captivated by his engaging smile.

• André Labarca

  André Labarca, a mountaineering and scuba instructor, fell in love with Patagonia at first sight and has made it his home for the last 10 years. He has participated in more than ten mountain expeditions in the region, accomplishing many first ascents, including the summits of the North and South Towers of the Torres del Paine. André has a great interest in the development of sustainable tourism and is always looking for other regions to explore within Patagonia. A very enthusiastic guide, André’s love for nature and respect for the mountains is infectious to all who travel with him.

photo credits: