Chile to Argentina: Patagonia Peaks & Starry Nights

Arrive at any time. Santiago is special for its unique blend of lively city life and easy access to nearby natural wonders. Get to know the area on your own and simply enjoy being nestled between the towering Andes and mighty Pacific Ocean. Later attend a Welcome Meeting to mingle with your fellow travellers and grow excited for the adventures to come. Snap some photos and get those playlists queued up.

Included Experiences

• Connect With New Friends: Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Enjoy the day in Santiago, Chile’s capital. From delicious local cuisines to interactive museums and cable car rides, this is a wonderful city to get lost in for the day. Choose to check out the street art in Barrio Bellavista, explore the city by bike, enjoy historic parks with gardens, pathways, and viewpoints, or perhaps book a day trip to Valparaíso for a visit to the nearby cold-climate wineries. Later meet back up with the group for a quick briefing and time to grab dinner on your own and buy some snacks before your overnight bus ride to Pucón. Get ready to fully embrace South American local transportation and enjoy the company of your new travel family.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend the entire day exploring Santiago at your own pace. From gorgeous city parks to day trips to nearby wineries, there are plenty of options to choose from to get you out of your comfort zones and into the gorgeous surrounding landscapes. Make sure to leave some time to try delicious local food staples like empanadas de pino, pastel de choclo, sopaipillas, and of course, fresh ceviche.
• Overnight Bus: Enjoy time with your new travel family, swapping stories and playing games. Then curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.

Arrive to Pucón as the day begins to shed its light on this quaint, adventure town in central Chile’s Lake District near Lake Villarrica and the snow-capped Villarrica volcano. Walk from the bus station to the nearby hostel and get settled. Then, it’s time to enjoy yourselves in a place renowned for its access to hiking trails, water sports, and natural hot springs. Choose to go for a soak and sooth those muscles after the long bus ride, or perhaps try rafting on the Trancura River. From laid back vibes to adrenaline pumping adventure, the day belongs to you.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend the entire day exploring Pucón at your own pace. From hot springs to hikes, to community visits, and water sports, this town is a fantastic place to enjoy the spirit of adventure. The scenery is breathtaking and you can choose to try a variety of optional activities, creating the exact paced day you desire after a night of travel.

Take advantage of another free day in Pucón to try one of the many different optional activities available in the area. Head out onto the lake for a kayak ride, chill out down town with stunning views of the snow-capped volcano in the distance, or if you’re seeking out more of a challenge, consider the Villarrica Hike to the top of the volcano for epic vistas of the surrounding landscape and lakes. It’s the perfect reel in the making.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: A second chance to enjoy all Pucón has to offer during a full free day. Choose to visit and soak in another one of the nearby hot springs, go for a boat ride, try sailing on the lake, or visit Huerquehue National Park. Opt to enjoy a leisurely kayak ride, or simply relax on the black sand beach of Lake Villarrica. From shopping to hiking, or sipping a coffee at a local café, there are so many different options to choose from to make your time here rewarding and memorable.

Optional Experiences

• Kayaking Pucon: Pucon is a paddler's paradise of world renown. There's numerous opportunities for both whitewater kayaking and scenic lake kayaking, ask your guide where your best options are located.
• Guided Huerquehue Park Visit: Explore the lagoons and lush forests of Chile's Lake District in Huerquehue National Park with a guide.

Hit the road today to Puerto Varas. Opt to grab one final breakfast in Pucón with your travel pals and then walk to the bus station in town to board the local bus. Then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery as you travel further south through Chile. Arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy free time to get settled before choosing to find a cool spot to share some appetizers with the group.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend a free evening in Puerto Varas getting to know the area and take in your surroundings. Remember to take pictures and videos for your family and friends at home.
• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Another beautiful day to explore on your own. Think stunning natural landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. Located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, you will be able to enjoy views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. It’s a place that offers a unique blend of European charm and Chilean culture. Options to choose from during your time here include, a visit to Chiloe Island and its colourful stilt houses known as palafitos, or its UNESCO Churches. You could also challenge yourself and trek the Osorno volcano for some bragging rights upon returning home. Later, opt to reconvene with the group and pick a place for an optional dinner together.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: From hiking to island visits there's no time to waste! Fall in love with the outdoor haven of Puerto Varas and choose from a variety of activities that will get you out into the stunning landscape of Chile's southern lake district.

Travel by private vehicle to Puerto Montt and hop on a flight to Puerto Natales, gateway to Torres del Paine. Arrive in the afternoon and get settled. Perhaps find a fun, local spot to grab a drink and hangout before the adventures ahead.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
• Free Time: Enjoy time to get settled in Puerto Natales this afternoon and evening. Opt to stroll along the waterfront and check out the local beer craft scene and some delicious food options.

Prepare for epic views and life-changing scenery during today’s transfer into Torres del Paine NP. Your first exposure to the untamed beauty of the area will be on a trek to the Serrano River Lookout. Prepare to be amazed as you hike to the viewpoint and witness the mountain range spread across the national park with the contrasting greens and greys of the landscape. Arrive at Serrano Campsite in the evening just in time for a group dinner together before the light fades beyond the horizon. Your body may be tired, but your mind will be working in overdrive to take it all in. Sweet dreams!

Included Experiences

• 14K trek to Serrano View Point: Hike 14km to the Rio Serrano Lookout enjoying the gorgeous scenery as you walk. Keep an eye out for birds and other wildlife as you arrive to the lookout over plains with imposing mountains rising in the distance. Flowing from the drainage of the great Toro Lake, the Serrano River winds its way through the extensive plain and empties into the Última Esperanza sound. Today's hike is an amazing introduction to the landscape.

Enjoy breakfast at camp surrounded by Patagonia’s beauty before heading out to trek to the base of Las Torres to see a closer view of the dramatic three towers, and the practically irresistible turquoise lagoon below. Share a packed lunch in the splendour of the natural landscape (try to stop yourself from making too many reels & just enjoy it). Later, return along the same trail and meet your driver to transfer to Laguna Azul Campsite. Relax amid your surroundings and have dinner together at camp before sleeping in your tents under the vast Patagonian sky. Today checks all of the boxes!

Included Experiences

• 22K Trek to Base Torres: Today you will hike to the otherworldly "Blue Towers" known as Torres del Paine. These rocky peaks overlook dazzling turquoise lake nestled in a valley of mountains. A truly beautiful reward for completing this challenging and iconic day hike in Patagonia's beloved national park. The trail passes through the scenic Ascencio Valley, roughly following the river. Then it culminates with a steep climb up to Lago Torres to the base of the granite towers.

Wake to the sounds of nature in Torres del Paine before a short one hour trek to the Sierra Masle lookout. Search for animals such as guanacos and birds as you walk before catching a gorgeous view of the granite towers. Transfer back to Puerto Natales for a free afternoon to hangout with your newest travel pals and explore the area. Some local bar hopping, anyone?

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend a free afternoon back in Puerto Natales. Rest those sore muscles and explore this coastal town at leisure, taking in the views or wandering through the streets.
• Trek from Laguna Azul to Sierra Masle: Starting at the vibrant Laguna Azul embark on a short hike near the lake to Sierra Masle. It will take about an hour and you will reach a massive rock with incredible views awaiting. Walk through open fields before reaching the lookout point, and search for some Patagonia flora and fauna as you go.
• Big Night Out: Enjoy a night out on the town with your travel friends and truly let your hair down in the fun atmosphere of Puerto Natales which has a great craft beer scene.

Ready for the next adventure?! Grab some breakfast at the hotel and hop in a taxi to the bus terminal in Puerto Natales. Travel along roads featuring views of endless plains and towering mountains as the group crosses from Chile to Argentina. Play games with your travel mates, throw on that downloaded Spotify roadtrip playlist, and enjoy the ride. Arrive to the town of El Calafate in the late afternoon and spend time on your own to get settled. Walk around the tiny town, choose to find a spot for some dinner together, and maybe set out on a sunset walk to Lake Nimez in search of some noteworthy views for that Instagram Story you’ll want to post later. It might mainly be a day of travel, but the sights along the way make the journey worth the effort.

Included Experiences

• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Border Crossing (Chile - Argentina): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
• Free Time: Upon arrival to El Calafate in the early evening the group will enjoy free time to become acquainted with this Argentinian town.

It’s time to set those eyes on the best glacier you’ll likely ever see. It’s big, it’s bright, and it’s 70 metres high and over 30km long! Enter Los Glaciares National Park in the morning and visit Perito Moreno, one of the few glaciers in the world that are said to be growing. You’ll have the option to make the visit even more epic with an optional boat tour to get closer to the glacier, but otherwise the group will enjoy a walking tour along the platforms of Perito Moreno. Sit down for a packed lunch with a view and gather for some photos before heading back to El Calafate. Spend an early evening exploring the views around town before opting to grab dinner with the group. Tonight’s challenge will be to find a cozy bar with some local beers and music for dancing. Why not embrace the bizarre?

Included Experiences

• Perito Moreno Glacier Visit: Explore Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world’s few “advancing” glaciers. See the glacier’s magnificent natural beauty firsthand, and enjoy awe-inspiring views (it stretches about 250 sq km/97 sq mi in size and 30km/19 mi in length).
• Free Time: Take advantage of this free evening in El Calafate to go out on the town. Grab your newest travel pals and go have the time of your lives.

Optional Experiences

• Perito Moreno Glacier Boat: Get a closer look at the sheer magnitude of the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier. Head out on the glacial lake for spectacular views of the south wall. Keep your camera at the ready, this won't be an experience you'll soon forget, but you'll want to capture it just in case.

Lace up those hiking boots folks because today you’re traveling to Argentina’s “National Capital of Trekking” – El Chaltén! Board the bus and wind deeper into the untamed, gorgeous landscapes of Los Glaciares National Park. Find yourself surrounded by mountains that are part of the larger Patagonian Andes. This paradise for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts is waiting for you to enjoy. Take advantage of free time to relax amid the wild beauty, or choose to head out on an optional trekking excursion to Condores Sightseeing Point or Chorrillo del Salto Waterfall. Gather later this evening to swap stories during an optional group dinner in town.

Included Experiences

• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Free Time: The afternoon is yours! Opt to head into the exceptional natural beauty of Los Glaciares National Park. Simply walk amid the impressive landscapes or choose to partake in various trekking activities.

Enjoy some breakfast at the hotel before getting out there into the bliss of the great outdoors. Choose from a variety of trekking options that suit many different activity levels and have those phones at the ready to document the amazing views. Options include the Condores Sightseeing Point and Chorillo del Salto Waterfall (if you didn’t do either yesterday) or the more challenging Laguna de los Tres hike which will take most of the day. And what sounds more perfect than choosing to find a local spot for a nice cold drink after a day of exercise through the most inspiring landscapes at “The Edge of the World”?

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy a full free day to explore Los Glaciares National Park. Choose between a multitude of trekking options for varying abilities. Try out the famed Laguna de Los Tres, or trekking to places like Condores Sightseeing Point, or Chorrillo del Salto Waterfall. There's no time to be bored in a place as beautiful as this! Get those legs moving and breathe the fresh Patagonia air into your lungs.

Optional Experiences

• Laguna de los Tres Hike: The scenery around El Chaltén is spectacular and the best way to enjoy it is by hiking through it. Today's hike is a full-day to Rio Blanco Base Camp and Laguna de los Tres vantage point for an absolutely stunning view, weather permitting, of the complete FitzRoy Massif. Mt Guillaumet, St Exupery, Mermoz, Juarez, and other mountains form the jagged group.

Jump aboard a public bus from El Chalten to El Calafate. Transfer from the bus station to the airport and fly to Buenos Aires. After getting settled, opt to enjoy dinner and a tango show for a memorable night out in Argentina’s capital city.

Included Experiences

• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
• Free Time: Enjoy a free evening in Buenos Aires, the home of tango. Choose to book dinner and a tango show for this evening.
• Big Night Out: Whether it’s a pub crawl, drink specials or a tango performance, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.

Optional Experiences

• Tango Dinner Show: Discover the passion of tango. Watch the pros step and slide around the dance floor while you dine on a traditional Argentine dinner. Get lost in the music, savour the sensuality, and see why this traditional dance continues to ignite the senses of locals and visitors alike.

Depart at anytime. Or perhaps consider spending a few extra days in the lovely Buenos Aires. Before you go make sure you swap information with your newest travel family because someday maybe you'll meet up in another part of the world.