Patagonia Hike and Explore

Welcome to Chile! Fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas, the largest gateway city to the Andes and the Patagonian fjords. Meet your guides and group members, then settle into comfortable hotel accommodations. Enjoy a shared meal and get ready for the adventures ahead.

Take a boat tour across the Strait of Magellan to Magdalena Island, spotting dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds along the way. Disembark at Los Pingüinos Natural Monument and marvel at the thousands of Magellanic penguins milling about on the pebbly terrain. After lunch — and a thorough safety briefing — spend the afternoon exploring this precious and biodiverse reserve before returning to Punta Arenas.

Try your hand at reeling in the big one! Visit the Rio Penitente with a local guide, who will provide all necessary equipment and instructions for a great day of fly or spin fishing. This wild river hosts brown trout and, later in the season, sea-run brown trout. Throughout the day, enjoy hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, fruits, chocolate, and snacks. Spend the night in Puerto Natales, the nearest gateway city to the heart of Patagonia.

Get ready for a two-parter today with a morning of hiking and an afternoon of kayaking! In the morning, you’ll explore ancient traces 25 km north of Puerto Natales at Ernesto Helmer Archaeological Park. Hike 40 minutes to Benitez Mountain for panoramic views and 3,500-year-old cave paintings. After lunch, you’ll head on a sea kayaking adventure in the historic Eberhard Fjord. The journey begins at Puerto Prat and ends at Puerto Consuelo. Along the way, there is an opportunity to take a hike on the Jamón Peninsula and witness breathtaking views of the entire mountain range in the province. After all that action, spend an evening of rejuvenation back at your hotel.

Spend a full day of cultural immersion into Patagonian life with a tour of the Estancia Mercedes — a family-owned cattle ranch combining the raw beauty of Patagonian landscapes with the region’s traditional lifestyle. After a boat transfer across the Última Esperanza Fjord, enjoy a chef-guided cooking class rooted in the culinary experience of the region, with food options such as: wild cattle empanadas, traditional bone broth, apple fritters, and forest cocktails. In the late afternoon, transfer back across the fjord to Puerto Natales.

Get your binoculars ready for a full-day private sightseeing tour of the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park. You’ll enjoy views from Lago Grey, Lago del Toro, and the Cuernos del Paine. Walk along Grey Lake’s shore, then stop for an optional lunch inside the park. In the afternoon, board the Grey III, a vessel crafted for comfort and adventure. You’ll take a scenic three-hour voyage culminating at the breathtaking Grey Glacier.

Today is a big one! Lace up your hiking boots and start the day early for a full-day trek (approximately 22km or 13.67 miles) through Torres del Paine’s iconic Base of the Towers trail. The trail ascends to the stunning Ascencio Valley, descends through a lenga forest to El Chileno Refugio, and then climbs a steep glacial moraine. At the top, breathtaking views of the granite spires await. After lunch and time to enjoy the scenery, return to the trailhead and drive back to the hotel for a well-earned rest.

Photographers, wildlife observers, and cat enthusiasts unite! You’ll be picked up before sunrise for a full-day guided puma tracking tour. The goal of this outing is to observe and photograph pumas in their natural habitat in a responsible manner – without interfering in their daily activities, always respecting their space and natural rhythms. The search is carried out mainly by vehicle, and occasionally on foot (easy-intensity walks), always within public and authorized areas. Your guides will also introduce you to stunning landscapes and various bird and mammal species native to the area.

Shake out those muscles for another full day of magnificent hiking (approximately 19km or 11.81 miles) – this time in the French Valley of Torres del Paine National Park. Your morning will begin with a catamaran ride from Pudeto across Lake Pehoe to Paine Grande. From there, hike through lakes, forests, and grasslands to the Italian Refugio, then continue to the French Lookout for breathtaking views of surrounding mountains, lakes, and a hanging glacier. After lunch, return the same way, re-crossing the lake before relaxing back at your hotel.

On your last full day in Patagonia, put your angler skills to the test again – this time within Torres del Paine National Park! You’ll have your choice between a full day of fly or conventional fishing with all equipment and guidance provided. If you’re lucky, you may catch wild brown trout and Chinook salmon. Mixed activities can be arranged for families, and cold/hot drinks, snacks, and lunch are included.

Say your goodbyes to the jaw-dropping backdrops of Patagonia and to your travel companions. Transfer to the airport in Puerto Natales to begin your journey home.