Sample Itinerary · Chile and Argentina
Santiago · Torres del Paine · El Calafate · El Chaltén · Buenos Aires
What's Included
Not Included
Who This Trip Is For
Active travelers who want to earn the views: full hiking days in Torres del Paine and El Chaltén, balanced by all-inclusive lodges, good wine, and a soft landing in Buenos Aires. You don't need to be a mountaineer, but you should be comfortable walking several hours at a stretch.
When To Go
October through March is the Patagonian summer and the only season for this route. December through February brings the longest days and the most reliable hiking weather. November and March trade a little warmth for noticeably fewer people on the trails.
Santiago, Chile
Fly into Santiago and spend two nights in one of South America's most sophisticated capitals. A private guide takes you through bohemian Barrio Lastarria, the rooftop panoramas of Cerro Santa Lucia, and mercados overflowing with Chilean seafood and produce. Evenings are made for Pisco Sours and long dinners in the city's acclaimed restaurant scene before the wilderness takes over.
Where to stay
Santiago to Puerto Natales
Fly south from Santiago to Puerto Natales. From the air, the scale of Patagonia announces itself immediately. A private transfer through the windswept steppe, past guanacos and vast estancias, brings you to The Singular Patagonia on the edge of the Last Hope Fjord for one night before entering the park.
Where to stay
Torres del Paine · Explora Patagonia
Transfer into Torres del Paine and check into Explora Patagonia at Salto Chico, the original luxury lodge and the only one inside the national park boundaries, perched above Lake Pehoe with the Towers framed in every window. Four days of all-inclusive guided explorations. Cross the lake on Explora's private boat to the French Valley trailhead and hike between the soaring Cuernos del Paine. A full day at the Grey Glacier delivers you to the face of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The Base of the Towers hike brings you to a glacial lagoon directly beneath the iconic granite spires. On a gentler day, horseback riding with gauchos from Explora's own stables winds through the park's eastern valleys. Wind down each evening at the lakeside spa.
Where to stay
El Calafate, Argentina
Cross into Argentina and transfer to El Calafate. Check into Los Notros, where the full southern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier fills the window of every room. Three nights here means unhurried access to the glacier at different times of day. Walk the boardwalk balconies as walls of ice calve with a thunderous crack into the turquoise canal. Strap on crampons for a guided trek directly across the glacier's surface. On a quieter day, explore the estancia lifestyle and steppe wildlife on a 4x4 drive through the surrounding Patagonian countryside.
Where to stay
El Chaltén, Argentina
Transfer north to El Chaltén, a tiny mountain village at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, granite spires that rise nearly vertically from the steppe. Three days of world class hiking in Los Glaciares National Park with trails beginning directly from town. The Laguna de los Tres trek reaches a high glacial lake directly beneath the jagged towers of Fitz Roy at sunrise. The Laguna Torre trail winds through lenga beech forests to the foot of Cerro Torre. A rest day allows for a boat excursion to the remote Lago del Desierto where hanging glaciers meet emerald forest at the Argentine-Chilean border. Explora El Chaltén sits on the private Chorrillo Malo estancia with sweeping mountain views and guided excursions both inside and outside the park.
Where to stay
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fly from El Calafate to Buenos Aires for a two-night close to the journey. Check into the Palacio Duhau in the elegant Recoleta neighborhood and spend two days at a different pace entirely. Afternoon steak and Malbec at a classic parrilla, the ornate grandeur of the Teatro Colón, a wander through San Telmo's antique market, and an evening of live tango. The contrast with two weeks of raw Patagonian wilderness makes Buenos Aires feel electric.
Where to stay
Buenos Aires to Home
Private transfer to Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport for your flight home.
Typical Investment
From $35,000 / couple
All-inclusive lodge stays, internal flights, transfers, and guided experiences. International flights not included.
Curated through Journeys with JB's trusted travel partnerships · Fully customizable to your travel dates and pace
Questions
Completely. I can adjust the number of nights at each location, swap out phases, change the entry/exit cities, or remove Buenos Aires entirely if you prefer a pure adventure circuit.
The hikes can be strenuous. Laguna de los Tres at El Chaltén is a full-day 24km trek with elevation gain. I can build in gentler alternatives for any day. The lodge portions are fully relaxed.
Fill out the inquiry form below and I'll reach out within 1–2 business days. On our first call we'll talk through your dates, what you're after, and how I work, including any planning fees for a custom itinerary like this one.
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