Outdoor Adventures & Cultural Exploration in Argentina & Chile - 14 Days

Highlights

• Experience the thrill of a live tango performance in Buenos Aires
• Trek in the remote wilderness of Tierra del Fuego National Park
• See the icy walls of Perito Moreno Glacier from a close perspective
• Visit the charming Chilean port city of Valparaíso

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Tango Show & Dinner

Welcome to Buenos Aires, Argentina's vibrant capital city! Your private guide will welcome you at Ezeiza International Airport and take you to your hotel. After getting settled and perhaps taking a short nap to recover from the long flight, you'll have some free time to explore the city. Walk around and admire the European-inspired architecture—part of the reason Buenos Aires is nicknamed "the Paris of South America"—and stop for coffee in one of the city's many historic cafés.

Return to your hotel to regroup in the late afternoon. This evening, you'll attend a tango show and dinner at a historic venue in the central neighborhood of Monserrat. Enjoy the spectacle of dancing set to live music performed by a traditional orchestra and a pair of tango singers. The staff will serve a gourmet dinner with wine pairings during the show. You'll get back to your hotel late in the evening.

Day 2: Tour the City's Neighborhoods, Evening Culinary Experience

Take a tour of the city's neighborhoods today. Your guide will take you to key attractions, including Plaza de Mayo, home to the Casa Rosada presidential palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Continue to San Telmo, known for its antique shops, cobblestone streets, and historic cafés. Stop for a coffee in Plaza Dorrego before continuing to the colorful houses of La Boca. Stroll along the waterfront in Puerto Madero, where former industrial warehouses are now elegant bars and eateries. Finish up in Recoleta, home to the historic Recoleta Cemetery.

In the evening, you'll enjoy a unique culinary experience. Under the guidance of a local chef, find out how to create a few of Argentina's signature dishes. You'll learn how to use the repulgue (folding) technique to seal an empanada, then mix together a spice and herb blend to make chimichurri. Round out the gourmet adventure with a tasting of Argentine wines and homemade alfajores, or sandwich cookies. It's a sweet end to the feast.

Day 3: Visit a Traditional Ranch in San Antonio de Areco 

Today you'll travel by car to the countryside. The driving distance to the country town of San Antonio de Areco is about 72 miles (117 km). After going for a stroll around the picturesque town, you'll head to a nearby estancia (ranch) to spend the afternoon. Go horseback riding or walk around the grounds before a traditional asado (barbecue) is served under the trees. Enjoy a glass of wine while watching folkloric music and dance performances, then return to Buenos Aires late in the day. The evening is free to spend as you like.

Day 4: Fly to Ushuaia, City Tour

Head to the airport this morning to catch a 3.5-hour flight to Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego. Once you arrive in the world's southernmost city, you'll transfer to your hotel to drop off your luggage. Then embark on a two-hour city tour. Your guide will take you to various points of interest around the city, including the first settlement of Anglican priests, the Austral Center for Scientific Research, and Mirador La Colina, one of the most impressive panoramic points of the city.

Continue to the Maritime Museum and the Museum of the End of the World. You'll have the option to tour either—or both! Then head to San Martín Street, the city's main avenue, lined with shops, cafés, bakeries, restaurants, and bars. Sit down for a freshly-caught seafood meal before returning to your hotel to rest and relax. 

Day 5: Explore Tierra del Fuego National Park

Tierra del Fuego National Park, located just outside Ushuaia, awaits you today. After breakfast, you'll be picked up at your hotel to begin the excursion. Transfer to the station for the End of the World Train, then climb onboard for a 60-minute ride into the national park. Enjoy scenic views of nature, a native settlement, and a beautiful waterfall during the journey. Once inside the park, begin a guided tour around the park's highlights, including Ensenada Bay, the southernmost post office in the world, and pristine glacial lakes. 

Return to Ushuaia in the afternoon. You'll embark on a boat ride on the Beagle Channel, keeping your eyes open for rare birds as you sail toward islands inhabited only by wildlife. Cruise past colonies of cormorants and sea lions, then continue to the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Your guide will tell you about the surrounding shipwrecks as you take in views of the Andes in the distance. You'll boat back to Ushuaia and have the evening free to relax.

Day 6: Hike to Laguna Esmeralda

This morning, your guide will pick you up at your hotel, and you'll begin traveling north on the beautiful National Route 3. Heading away from the Beagle Channel, you'll discover one of the most remarkable valleys on the island. From here, you'll start a hiking adventure over a peat bog until reaching a forest full of native lenga trees. Cross beaver dams and follow a stream to reach the gorgeous Laguna Esmeralda. Relax and have a picnic while enjoying views of glaciers. Then head back along the same trail and return to Ushuaia.

Day 7: Fly to El Calafate, Off-Road Experience

Ride from your hotel to Ushuaia's airport this morning to catch a 1.5-hour flight to El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. El Calafate is located on the shores of Lago Argentino, Argentina's largest freshwater lake. After checking in at your hotel and getting settled, you'll have lunch and get ready for an afternoon adventure. 

Head off on a 4WD excursion along the lake. Surrounded by mountains and fed by giant glaciers, Lago Argentino never ceases to amaze travelers with its immense size and vibrant color. On today's tour, you'll explore the cliffs and caves around the lake, learning about geology and early native settlements. Check out cave art from thousands of years ago! The excursion culminates in a cave where an unforgettable dinner will be served by candlelight. Return to El Calafate for the evening. 

Day 8: Experience the Perito Moreno Glacier

Visit the famous Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park today. As you enter the park, about an hour's drive from El Calafate, you'll have your first glimpse of the extensive ice mass that flows down from the Andes out over Lago Argentino, ending abruptly in a great wall that curves around the lake. Near the visitor's center, you'll have time to explore the boardwalks and viewing platforms offering sweeping views of the glacier.

You'll also see the glacier from another perspective on a boat tour! The one-hour tour takes you close to the towering ice walls of the glacier, an unforgettable experience. Spot icebergs and ice ruptures during the excursion, enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. You'll return to El Calafate late in the day.

Day 9: Transfer to Puerto Natales (Chile), Explore the Town

Meet your driver this morning for the scenic six-hour transfer south to the city of Puerto Natales, formerly a fishing port and now the main base for excursions into Torres del Paine National Park. Welcome to Chile! 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.

Take a stroll around town and stop for a drink at one of the town's many bars and cafés. You could also walk to the Monumento de la Mano, a monument of a huge concrete hand framed by snowcapped peaks. It's an excellent spot for photos. In the evening, 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 10: Discover Torres del Paine National Park

A full-day guided tour of Torres del Paine National Park is on the schedule today. The drive from Puerto Natales takes about two hours, and you'll stop at the natural monument of Milodon Cave along the way. Then you'll get your first glimpses of Torres del Paine's massive peaks as you approach the park. You'll arrive at the Laguna Amarga main entrance and register with the park office. On today's tour, you'll explore Torres del Paine's unique ecosystem and impressive viewpoints, including the Salto Grande waterfall and Lago Nordenskjöld, with a knowledgeable guide.

Enjoy a few short hikes and a picnic lunch with a view. Visit the park's four ecological zones: the Andean desert, Magellanic subpolar forest, pre-Andean shrubland, and Patagonian steppe. Along the way, you'll spot plenty of local wildlife, which might include cougars, foxes, guanacos, and birds of prey. Take in stunning landscapes, from the park's distinctive horn-shaped peaks to glacial lakes. You'll transfer back to Puerto Natales in the evening.

Day 11: Hike to Porteria Lago Sarmiento 

Return to Torres del Paine National Park today for a nine-hour hiking and 4WD excursion. Enter through the Lago Sarmiento gate and begin trekking on a gentle incline with a view of the lake. This area is home to pumas, so keep your eyes open for wildlife! Stop to admire cave paintings that date back more than 6,000 years, then continue toward Laguna Blanquillos, a nesting and feeding area for various species of endemic birds, like black-necked swans.

Continue hiking until you reach the Laguna Amarga gate, where you'll climb into a 4WD vehicle and drive to the Paine River. Fed by the Dickson Glacier, the river has a high concentration of minerals and sediments. Take a break at the Paine Waterfall for a picnic lunch. Then drive on to Cañadón Macho, an area where you can observe large groups of guanacos, condors, and other wildlife. In the evening, you'll return to Puerto Natales.

Day 12: Fly to Santiago, City Tour

A driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for a three-hour flight to Santiago today. Upon arrival, another driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the Chilean capital. One fun idea is to ride a cable car up Cerro San Cristóbal for sweeping views over the city and the Andean scenery.

Another option is to embark on a guided city tour to see Santiago's highlights. Snap photos of the Palacio de la Moneda, Chile's opulent presidential palace, a short stroll from the Plaza de Armas. Next, stroll the cobblestone streets of Barrio Bellavista to see colorful houses, vibrant street art, and an eclectic array of eateries and bars that are great for people-watching. Sample artisanal ice cream, then hike up Cerro Santa Lucia. Finish with a craft beer and locally sourced seafood in the stylish neighborhood of Lastarria. 

Day 13: Day Trip to Valparaíso & Viña del Mar

This morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel. Take a tour through the fertile valleys of Curacaví and Casablanca, heading toward the Pacific coast and ultimately arriving in the port city of Valparaíso a couple of hours later. The area surrounding the nearby bay is steep, with colorful cliffside homes and a network of funicular railways. The city center of Valparaíso was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its quirky architecture and street art only add to its charm and personality.

Your travels continue to the neighboring sea town of Viña del Mar, known for its gardens and working flower clock, which was created in celebration of the 1962 World Cup. You'll see the amazing architecture of the residential sector of Casino de Juegos before stopping at Reñaca Beach, a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Sit down for a seafood meal, then go for a walk on the waterfront. You'll return to Santiago for one last evening on the town. 

Day 14: Depart Santiago

Your two-week 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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