Highlights & Hidden Gems of Chilean Patagonia - 11 Days

Highlights

• Hike through the dramatic landscapes of Torres del Paine
• Enjoy multiple boat tours on fjords and rivers
• Trek on the icy surface of Glacier Grey
• Spend three days on a remote sheep ranch accessible only by boat

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas 

Welcome to Punta Arenas, located in one of the most beautiful regions of Chilean Patagonia. Founded in 1848 on the eastern shore of the Brunswick Peninsula, Punta Arenas was a hub of high society in its heyday. Today, it's a popular tourist destination that provides easy access to some of Patagonia's most impressive natural attractions, including Torres del Paine National Park and Isla Magdalena. 

After getting settled at your hotel, stroll around town to see the sights. Plaza Muñoz Guerrero is a leafy central plaza lined with French street lamps and surrounded by impressive architecture. Many of these grand neoclassical mansions were once owned by wealthy sheep-ranching families. Tour the Palacio Sara Braun to see just how much wealth the sheep trade generated in the 19th century. Explore the waterfront and watch the sun go down at Mirador Cerro de la Cruz. This viewpoint overlooks the city all the way out to the Strait of Magellan.

Day 2: Explore the Wildlife of the Strait of Magellan

Today you'll navigate the Strait of Magellan in a Zodiac boat! You'll be picked up early for a one-hour ride to the launch point in the San Isidro area. Gear up in a semi-dry suit and board the boat on an exhilarating excursion in search of the beautiful Austral dolphin, a species known for its unusual black and gray coloring and native to the waters around southern Chile. It's common to spot groups of up to 12 swimming along the side of the boat. Keep an eye out for sea lion colonies and a variety of sea birds, including albatrosses, petrels, and penguins.

The total duration of the trip is 10 hours. Lunch and snacks, including a delicious Chilean wine, are included along the way. You'll return to Punta Arenas in the evening and go out for dinner to sample some local specialties, like chupe de centolla (soufflé of king crab), as well as oysters, scallops, and other shellfish.

Day 3: Bus to Puerto Natales & See the Port

Today you'll travel by bus to the small port city of Puerto Natales, formerly a fishing port and now the main base for excursions into Torres del Paine National Park. The town is set on the Seno Última Esperanza (Last Hope Sound), offering scenic views across the water to the mountains beyond. Facing north from here, you'll see the peaks of Cerro Benitez and Cerro Toro, and the sight is especially phenomenal at sunset.

Depending on your arrival time, you might take a stroll around town and stop for a drink at one of the town's many bars and cafés. Try a traditional seafood stew in a family-run restaurant before you get some rest at your hotel. More adventures in Patagonia's landscapes await tomorrow!

Day 4: Boat on Seno Última Esperanza & Río Serrano

After breakfast, it's time for a boat tour of the Seno Última Esperanza. During the voyage, there will be opportunities to stop at many viewpoints for a chance to see glaciers, waterfalls, and cliffs. You'll likely spot condors, too. Eventually, you'll arrive at Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, Chile's largest national park, where you'll disembark for a short walk through a native forest toward the impressive Serrano Glacier.

Following your hike, hop on a Zodiac and journey up the Río Serrano, enjoying the region's natural beauty as you go. Arrive in Pueblo Serrano, a village known as the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. A delicious meal (and your luggage) will be waiting for you. Then you'll head into the park and check into your lodging for the night.

Day 5: Discover Torres del Paine on a Hike to the French Valley

This morning you'll transfer to the Pudeto sector of the park, where you'll catch a catamaran across Lago Pehoé to Refugio Paine Grande. Hit the trail toward Campamento Italiano, a camp about 2.5 hours away. You'll walk across a windy beach and into the valley, where the wind is slightly calmer. Once you arrive at Campamento Italiano, leave your large pack and continue into the French Valley with a small daypack.

Day 6: Trek to Glacier Grey 

Day 7: Ice Hike on Glacier Grey & Boat Tour

Make your way to the Bigfoot Basecamp this morning to begin an ice hiking excursion. First, take a boat to the island of Islatak, where you'll start a one-hour hike up the glacial moraine. After an hour of hiking, arrive at the ice to gear up and learn about the basics of ice hiking. Prepared with an ice ax, crampons, helmet, and harness, you'll start your ice hiking adventure, walking for around 2.5 hours onto Glacier Grey and traversing cracks, rivers, lagoons, and tunnels. Return to camp for lunch.

In the afternoon, board a catamaran to see Glacier Grey from another perspective. The boat will cruise across the lake and stop close to the glacier, allowing passengers to snap photos of its massive ice walls. After the boat tour, take a short hike across the windswept beach and the forest. It's time to leave the park and catch the bus back to Puerto Natales for the night.

Day 8: Transfer to Estancia La Peninsula

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll set off for the beautiful Estancia La Peninsula on the Antonio Veras Peninsula. This sprawling sheep and cattle ranch is surrounded by glaciers, mountains, beech forests, and the Seno Última Esperanza—a body of water you'll have to cross by boat to arrive. The scenic 40-minute ride is part of the fun! 

When you arrive at this working wool farm, you'll get an overview of the grounds and have the chance to help plan a three-day program. Possible activities include horseback riding, wildlife viewing, hiking, bird-watching, and more. Your schedule for this part of the trip depends on your interests. In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional Patagonian asado (barbecue) prepared by the staff and attend the daily sheep-shearing demonstration. 

Day 9: Hike & Ride Horses at the Estancia

Wake up at the Estancia La Peninsula and enjoy a Patagonian-style breakfast. Depending on your chosen program, you'll embark on the day's activities. Most visitors go horseback riding through the spectacular surrounding landscapes, from the Patagonian fjords to mountains and forests. You'll head back to the ranch for lunch and to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. 

Day 11: Depart Puerto Natales

The adventure has come to an end. After breakfast, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport to catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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