Heart of Patagonia (Small Group)
Itinerary
Welcome to Santiago, Chile's cosmopolitan capital framed by the snow-capped Andes and the Pacific coast. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Upon arrival, settle in, and meet your Travel Director and fellow guests. Enjoy a relaxed dinner together, it's a chance to get to know your travelling companions and look ahead to the experiences that await.
Explore Santiago with your Local Expert, uncovering stories etched into its neoclassical landmarks. Admire the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, a symbol of colonial endurance, and browse the bustling Central Market, renowned for its ironwork and seafood heritage. Take in panoramic views from San Cristóbal Hill.
At Pueblito Los Dominicos, meet artisans from southern Chile who transform horsehair into traditional crafts inspired by the nation's heritage on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience. Learn about their techniques, try your hand at the delicate weaving process and support a community keeping this rare tradition alive.
Fly south to Punta Arenas, a historic port once vital to Antarctic exploration. From here, journey across the windswept Patagonian steppe to Puerto Natales, a quiet frontier town on the fjord-like Seno Última Esperanza. With its glacier-fed waters and distant granite peaks, this remote outpost offers your first glimpse of Patagonia's awe-inspiring scale and solitude.
Cross the waters of Última Esperanza Fjord by boat, arriving at Estancia La Península: a working Patagonian ranch set amidst breathtaking southern scenery. You're welcomed with traditional sopaipillas, crispy fried pumpkin dough, served with homemade jam before choosing your own way to explore the landscape. Ride horseback along trails once used by gauchos or join a guided hike through wetlands and evergreen forest, rich in birdlife and native flora.
Later, gather for a slow-roasted lamb barbecue, then watch skilled sheepdogs at work and learn about shearing techniques that have shaped rural life in Patagonia for generations.
Journey through the Patagonian steppe toward Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where granite peaks, glacial rivers and sweeping plains define the landscape. As you arrive at Hotel Las Torres Patagonia, the scenery shifts to towering spires and wind-brushed grasslands.
You may wish to discover the traditions of Patagonian horsemen, whose bond with the land and their horses is central to life in the south, or explore the hotel's organic gardens and learn how sustainable practices support the fragile local ecosystem. Both experiences offer a unique window into the spirit of Patagonia.
Explore the contrasting landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park. Visit panoramic lookouts at Puente Negro, Nordenskjöld, Sarmiento and Lake Pehoé, and witness the force of Salto Grande waterfall. Learn how the park's unique geology and ecosystems have evolved over millennia. Pause for a gourmet al fresco lunch set against jagged peaks and open steppe.
Later, follow the trail along the southern shore of Lago Grey, where calving icebergs drift from the glacier into the lake. In the evening, gather for dinner and reflect on a day immersed in Patagonia's raw, elemental beauty.
Travel across the vast Patagonian landscapes as you journey from Chile into Argentina, heading toward the frontier town of El Calafate. Named after the native Calafate berry – a small, dark blue fruit said to ensure your return to Patagonia – this town is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.
Along the way, watch the scenery shift from windswept steppe to glacial lakes and rolling hills, revealing the scale and solitude that define this southern region. With the Andes behind you and new landscapes ahead, the journey offers a striking transition between two of South America's most remarkable wildernesses.
Set out on a cruise across the glacial waters of Lake Argentino, where icebergs, mountain views and the scale of Los Glaciares National Park begin to define the day. Continue to Perito Moreno Glacier, where panoramic boardwalks reveal the full sweep of its ice front above the lake. As you explore, watch the shifting surface of the glacier and, with luck, witness a calving event as ice breaks into the water below. Return to El Calafate later in the day, with the evening free to settle back in and enjoy the town at a gentler pace.
Enjoy a full day at leisure in El Calafate to stroll along the shores of Lago Argentino, browse the town's shops and cafes, or simply relax and take in the Patagonian setting at your own pace.
This evening, visit Finca Las Moras for a closer look at farming on the edge of Patagonia. Learn about the area's productive history and join in seasonal tasks before sitting down to dinner beneath the poplars, prepared with local ingredients.
Fly north from the wilds of Patagonia to Argentina's vibrant capital, Buenos Aires. As you leave behind the glaciers and open steppe, the landscape shifts to leafy boulevards, grand architecture and the energetic rhythms of city life – a striking contrast that highlights the diversity of Argentina's cultural and natural landscapes.
Take a deep dive into Buenos Aires on a city tour that reveals the capital's layered history and cultural contrasts. Travel along Avenida 9 de Julio past the Teatro Colón, then visit Plaza de Mayo and see Casa Rosada before stepping inside the Metropolitan Cathedral, resting place of independence hero General San Martín. Continue to the colourful streets of La Boca, then head north through Palermo to Recoleta, where the cemetery's elaborate mausoleums house notable figures including Eva Perón.
This evening, gather with your Travel Director and fellow guests for a farewell dinner at El Viejo Almacén in San Telmo. Enjoy traditional cuisine and an evocative tango show in one of the city's most iconic venues – a fitting finale to your South American adventure.
Your journey comes to an end as you bid farewell to your Travel Director and fellow guests before your transfer to the airport.
Trip Inclusions
- Santiago: Trace Chile's history through Santiago's neoclassical heart. At the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, admire one of Santiago's most enduring landmarks, rebuilt multiple times after earthquakes and central to Chile's religious and civic life. Explore the 1872 Central Market, famed for its wrought-iron design and seafood heritage. End atop San Cristóbal Hill, once considered sacred by the Indigenous Mapuche people, who are native to southern Chile, and now crowned by the Virgin Mary statue overlooking the city.
- Torres del Paine National Park: Take a scenic drive to Torres del Paine National Park, with plenty of scenic photo stops along the way. The park is situated in Chile's Patagonia region and is famous for its glaciers, grasslands, imposing mountains and the three granite towers it is named after. The park is also part of UNESCO's Biosphere Reserve System, known for its rare wildlife.
- Torres del Paine National Park: Explore the rugged beauty of Torres del Paine, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve famed for its granite towers, turquoise lakes and shifting Patagonian light. Learn how glaciers carved this dramatic terrain and discover the unique flora and fauna that thrive here, from elusive pumas to flamingos wading in icy lagoons.
- El Calafate: Navigate Argentino Lake past towering icebergs and glacial cliffs on a scenic cruise through a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Visit the vast Upsala Glacier and steep-sided Spegazzini, the park's tallest, before walking through native lenga forest at Puesto de las Vacas. Witness the ever-shifting face of Perito Moreno Glacier from the water – a rare Patagonian spectacle.
- Buenos Aires: Explore the capital's political and cultural landmarks with your Local Specialist. See Casa Rosada, where leaders including Eva Perón addressed the nation from its now-famous balcony, shaping the country's political identity. Step inside the Metropolitan Cathedral, the former seat of Pope Francis during his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In Plaza de Mayo, learn how this historic square has borne witness to Argentina's most defining moments—from the revolution for independence to the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, who protested the disappearance of their children during the military dictatorship.
- Puerto Natales: Cruise across the fjords of Última Esperanza to a remote Patagonian ranch, where warm sopaipillas and mate await. Choose your activity, then witness sheepdogs in action and traditional shearing. Over a slow-roasted lamb barbecue, discover the enduring rhythms of ranch life and the deep-rooted traditions of Chile's southern frontier.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Puerto Natales: Ride through sweeping Patagonian landscapes on horseback, following trails used by local gauchos. As you move across the windswept terrain, gain insight into ranching traditions that define life in this remote region, all while enjoying panoramic views of the fjord and the surrounding steppe.
- Puerto Natales: Explore the rich biodiversity of the peninsula on foot, hiking through wetlands and evergreen forest along the edge of Última Esperanza Fjord. With a Local Expert, spot native birds and uncover the delicate ecosystems that thrive in this dramatic southern wilderness.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Torres del Paine National Park: Meet the baqueanos, Patagonia's skilled horsemen and guardians of local ranching tradition. Many of these local cowboys are the descendants of horsemen who came to work ranches in this remote region more than a century ago. During your time with them, you'll be shown how to properly saddle a horse, nail a horseshoe and of course how to ride. Enjoy a Yerba mate tea with them while chatting about Patagonian culture.
- Torres del Paine National Park: Join an immersive tour of the region's oldest organic kitchens and garden at the Reserva Cerro Paine. Using bio-intensive sustainable methods, this farm conserves traditional heirloom varieties as well as an assortment of culinary and medicinal herbs.
- Santiago: Engage with a centuries-old craft brought to life by southern Chilean artisans at Santiago's Pueblito Los Dominicos. Discover how delicate strands of horsehair are dyed, woven and transformed into intricate designs. Watch the process unfold, meet the makers and try your hand at this rare art form in a setting designed to preserve its legacy. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with a local specialty representing the destination
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
- Santiago: In the evening meet your Travel Director and fellow guests at the hotel, where you'll enjoy a delicious dinner while getting to know some of your new travel companions.
- Torres del Paine National Park: Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared dinner inspired by the rugged beauty of Torres del Paine. Crafted with fresh, regional ingredients, each dish offers a taste of Patagonian tradition. As evening settles over the dramatic peaks and plains, the setting creates a dining experience as memorable as the landscape itself.
- El Calafate: Visit Finca Las Moras in El Calafate for a closer look at farming at the edge of Patagonia, where the land, climate and seasons shape every harvest. During a guided visit, you'll learn about the area's productive history and take part in seasonal tasks in the fields. Later, sit down to dinner beneath the poplars, where freshly harvested ingredients and traditional techniques bring the flavours of Patagonia to the table.
- Buenos Aires: Mark the end of your journey with a memorable evening at El Viejo Almacén, one of Buenos Aires' oldest and most revered tango venues. Set in the heart of San Telmo, this historic corner has echoed with music since the 1960s. Enjoy a traditional dinner followed by an evocative tango performance – a celebration of Argentina's living cultural legacy.
- Dining Summary: 11 Breakfasts (B), 5 Dinners (D), 4 Lunches (L)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Dates & Pricing
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Insight Vacations. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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