Day 1 Arrival in Santiago de Chile
All day
Today is the gathering day
All tourists will arrive at San Diego International Airport (Airport Code: SCL) on their own. We will arrange for the tour leader to pick you up at the airport. (Due to the flight schedule of most team members, if your flight time is far from the pick-up time, you will need to go to the meeting hotel on your own.)
Afterwards, we will all check in to the hotel.
Tourists arriving earlier can take a self-guided tour of Santiago. Explore the historic center, including the Presidential Palace and the Central Square, and take in the panoramic views of the city from San Cristobal Hill.
Day 2 Santiago de Chile - Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales
All day
After breakfast, we will take a flight from Santiago (airport code: SCL) to Puerto Natales Airport (airport code: PNT), located in Southern Patagonia and home to Torres del Paine National Park.
Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. Afterwards, enjoy lunch together and spend the afternoon exploring Puerto Natales, a city located on the edge of the fjord known as the "Last Hope."
Day 3 Puerto Natales → Torres del Paine National Park
All day
In the morning, we took a boat to Torres del Paine National Park. After arriving at the Glacier Grey area, we took a boat on the lake to admire the magnificent glacier up close. Then we arrived at the other side of Lake Grey and began the famous W-line hike.
We begin a short but pleasant hike from the base of the mountain through a forest of endemic trees, with views of the area's highest peaks (3,050m) and hanging glaciers.
After reaching the Torres del Paine region, we took a leisurely walk along the shores of Pehoé's turquoise waters.
Day 4 Torres del Paine National Park
All day
The day begins with a wonderful hike. Along the way, we'll enjoy the pure tranquility of nature, surrounded by majestic peaks and immersed in wild vegetation. We'll experience the serenity of the forest and the glacial streams, where we can fill our own water bottles with pure fresh water.
We will marvel at the towering Los Cuernos massif, rising into the clouds. The final stop on this hike is unique, offering a breathtaking view of the Francés Glacier and the Paine Massif Mountain Range.
We then travel to the French Valley where we will spend the night.
Day 5 Torres del Paine National Park
All day
Today we will start by walking along the Arriero River, a great place to relax and still fill our bottles with fresh tap water. The scenery is incredible with its huge and beautiful peaks and turquoise lakes at their foot. You will want to capture this incredible scenery forever in your photos.
Surrounded by stunning landscapes, Lake Nordenskjöld is home to many bird species, and you might even spot a vulture soaring overhead.
We then continue along the foot of the magnificent Almirante Nieto mountain and beneath its hanging glaciers. We will spend the night in the central region.
Day 6: Torres del Paine National Park Hiking → Cerro Castillo
All day
Today we start with a gentle ascent through the Patagonian pampas, the climb becomes steeper as we enter the Ascencio Valley until you reach Los Vientos Pass, where you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and lakes.
We continued on past the Chilean Mountain Hotel and through the local lenga forest before entering the final section of our adventure. This hike, which takes about an hour, is a rocky terrain with massive rock formations on either side, ending with an awe-inspiring view of the three iconic granite towers (Las Torres del Paine) and the famous glacial lagoon.
After the hike, we will drive to our hotel in Cerro Castillo, on the Chile-Argentina border (approximately a 1-hour drive).
Day 7 Chile → El Chaltén, Argentina
All day
Today, we bid farewell to Chile and board a local public bus back to Argentina. We arrived in El Calafate around noon, had lunch at our own expense, and then continued on the public bus to El Chalten, Argentina.
El Chalten is a bustling town filled with South American cowboys, hikers, and climbers, with the slender towers of Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy rising above it in the distance.
We will stay in a hotel here tonight.
Day 8 El Chaltén (Laguna de los Tres)
All day
Today we'll hike to Laguna de los Tres and admire the breathtaking views of Fitz Roy. Our trail winds through forest glades and ponds beside the beautiful Laguna Capri. We'll slowly approach the sheared granite pinnacles, over 2,000 meters high.
After the last steep glacial moraine we will see Laguna de los Tres.
Fitz Roy's hanging glacier cascades into the water, with the mountain's vertical walls rising from the ice. The glacier can often be heard creaking as it slowly descends down the mountainside and freezes.
After stopping here, return to El Chalten.
Day 9 El Chaltén (Laguna Torre) → El Calafate
All day
Today, we headed back to the mountains to get up close and personal with another iconic peak: Cerro Torre. Our hike to Laguna Torre, at the foot of the mountain, took three to four hours, and our goal was to reach the lake in time for lunch, finding a truly spectacular picnic spot!
In the afternoon we returned to El Chalten and took a local bus back to El Calafate.
Day 10 El Calafate → Perito Moreno Glacier
All day
This morning, we'll depart for Perito Moreno Glacier (approximately a one-hour drive). This glacier is considered one of the most breathtaking sights in Argentinian Patagonia. A massive wall of ice stretches 19 miles from the Patagonian Ice Cap to Lake Argentino, reaching heights of up to 240 feet. Massive glaciers break off and dramatically fall into the tranquil lake.
Day 11 El Calafate Disbandment Day
All day
Today is the day of disbanding. You can return home or continue your next trip according to your own arrangements.
El Calafate is the gateway city to Argentinian Patagonia, and you can take a city tour or visit the surrounding attractions on your own.
