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, you'll experience must-do navigation aboard the Grey III, a vessel crafted for comfort and adventure. Boasting a spacious main cabin for up to ninety- eight passengers and an inviting deck, it provides the ideal setting to immerse yourself in breathtaking scenery. Envision a scenic voyage through Grey Lake's waters, culminating at the majestic Grey Glacier. Our dedicated crew and experienced captain promise an optimal service for a seamless and enjoyable journey. Next, you'll disembark the Grey III and board a zodiac boat for 15 minutes until we reach the west side of the Grey Glacier. On arrival, we will disembark on the island at the glacier (nunatak) and walk on it for about an hour until we reach the ice. Before walking onto the glacier, the guide will talk to us about the safety aspects, explaining the techniques of displacement in the ice and the correct use of the equipment. Once the safety briefing is complete we will begin our exploration of the Grey Glacier which will last approximately 3 hours. During this time we will be able to observe cracks, rivers, lagoons and tunnels with their different tones of blue. After 3 hours on the glacier, we return to the zodiac boat and ride back to the base camp. Each ticket includes a complimentary pisco sour, soda, or juice, enhancing your onboard experience.

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, you'll choose between two full-day activity options: Option 1: Guided sport fishing at Torres Del Paine National Park Enjoy a full day of fly or conventional fishing with all equipment provided. If you’re lucky, you may catch wild brown trout and Chinook salmon. Cold/hot drinks, snacks, and lunch included. Option 2: Private full-day sightseeing tour of Torres Del Paine National Park Transfer to the Pehoé Camp. From there, enjoy a one-hour hike to Los Cóndores, one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in Torres del Paine. This spot offers an unforgettable 360° panoramic view of the entire Paine mountain range, along with Laguna Honda, Lake Sarmiento, and Lake Verde. In the afternoon, visit Salto Grande, a powerful 15-meter (50-foot) waterfall connecting Lake Nordenskjöld and Lake Pehoé. From here, we continue on foot toward the main lookout of the Paine Horns, one of the park's most recognized and photographed landmarks. With their dark, twisted granite peaks rising above turquoise lakes and wind-swept valleys, the Cuernos del Tongue offers an awe-inspiring finale to the day. As the afternoon light casts golden hues over the mountains, we’ll return to your hotel, full of unforgettable impressions and ready for a well-deserved rest.

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.