Explore Patagonia

Fly to Buenos Aires

Let’s begin our once in a lifetime adventure with an overnight flight to Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina. Known as “The Paris of South America”, Buenos Aires is a buzzing city that combines faded European grandeur with Latin passion. However, beneath its architectural beauty lies a city filled with passion for soccer, tango and their local cuisines.

Meet your local guide

Morning

On arrival in Buenos Aires, let’s meet our local expert guide and travel to our hotel. You will have the remainder of the morning at leisure to settle in and get your bearings before we begin to discover more of Buenos Aires in the afternoon.

Buenos Aires City Tour

Afternoon

Let’s explore the fascinating historic centre of Buenos Aires during an afternoon sightseeing tour with our local guide. Let’s visit the main square at Plaza de Mayo, the Cathedral and Cabilo and the Opera House. We will also visit San Telmo, the old neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, and La Boca, famed for its colourful houses. We will also have the chance to see some of the beautiful parks and gardens in Palermo and the famous La Recoleta Cemetery and really get a sense of what makes this city beat.

Accommodation

Overnight

3 star hotel in Buenos Aires (2 nights)

At leisure

Full day

Today you will have a full day at leisure to enjoy the city of Buenos Aires at your own pace. Our local expert guide would be happy to suggest some activities on how to live like a local. The Argentinan capital is an easy city to explore by foot, so why not take a stroll along the wide boulevards or you could grab a bite to eat at one of the “parrillas” (steakhouses) which sit on practically every corner. At night, Buenos Aires comes alive with a diverse range of bars and live music venues where you can join the locals for some tango dancing.

Optional tango dance class or at leisure

Evening

Immerse yourself in the Argentinian culture by taking part in a Tango dance lesson in Buenos Aires and learn the moves and rhythms of this famous, dramatic ballroom dance. The public classes can accommodate up to 60 people at a time, so prepare for a fun, immersive, social evening. If you prefer a more intimate experience, there are also private tango dance lessons available for solo dancers and couples. Transfers to and from the dance class are not included. (There are no minimum numbers required for this excursion)

Fly to El Calafate

Early morning

This morning will be an early start as we head to Buenos Aires airport for our flight to El Calafate. On arrival we will travel by coach to El Chalten. During this scenic journey we can admire the dramatic landscapes of the edges of the Los Glaciares National Park and the Lago Argentina before arriving in to El Chalten in the afternoon. (Approximate transfer time: 3 hour and 30 minutes with a comfort stop included/ Approximate transfer distance:200 km)

El Chaten at leisure

Afternoon

Located in the reserve area of Los Glaciares National Park, at the foot of the granite peaks of the Torre and Fitz Roy mountains, El Chalten is a charming mountain village. You will then have the remainder of the day at leisure to settle in and get to know your new surroundings. Explore the shops that line the village’s main street or why not wander along the variety of nature trails this enchanting area has to offer.

Accommodation

Overnight

Lodge accommodation in El Chaten (2 nights)

Trek Mount Fitz Roy

Full day

Let’s spend the full day exploring the trekking area of Mount Fitzroy on the Argentinian and Chilean border and one of the prettiest and most mystical trails in the area.

Let’s begin our day with a short journey from our lodge to the trailhead at foot of the mountain. The trail, which borders the Rio Blanco, will lead us to a forest of Antarctic beech trees, the southernmost tree on earth. Let’s trek to the first viewpoint, offering stunning views of the blue ice of the Piedras Blancas Glacier before continuing along the trail towards Camp Poincenot. Let’s cross the winding Santa Cruz River by a small hanging bridge to reach the base camp of Rio Blanco before returning to El Chalten along the path that passes through the Capri Laguna Lookout. A packed lunch is included today for us to enjoy along the trekking trail.

(Approximate distance: 24km/ Approximate time: 9 hours / Difficulty Level: Moderate)

For those who would like a more challenging trek there will be the option to do a further 1 hour climb of 420 meters to the Laguna de los Tres viewpoint with spectacular views of the Fitz Roy Massif, its lagoon and glaciers.

At leisure

Evening

You will have the remainder of the evening at leisure to relax and recuperate after your trek and soak up the tranquil atmosphere of El Chalten by night.

Travel from El Chalten to El Calafate

Morning

After breakfast let’s leave the beautiful village of El Chalten behind as we travel to El Calafate. El Calafate, known as the Land of Glaciers, is a town which lies on the southern shore of the turquoise waters of Argentino Lake and is the gateway for discovering the stunning Los Glaciares National Park which lies just beyond, one of the highlights of Patagonia.  (Approximate transfer time 4 hours/ Approximate transfer distance: 220km).

El Calafate at leisure

Afternoon

On arrival in El Calafate you will have the remainder of the day at leisure to settle in and get to know your new surroundings. The town began life as a wagon stop for sheep farmers selling their wool. Declared a National Park in 1938, this region receives visitors from the world over who come to admire ever changing icy landscapes. Visit the Glaciarium Museum or have a drink at the Yeti Ice Bar, the only bar in the world to be built completely from glacial ice. The choice is yours!

Accommodation

Overnight

3 star hotel in El Calafate (2 nights)

Explore Perito Moreno Glacier by foot

Morning

Let’s begin the morning with an 80km jourmey through the most open beautiful landscapes towards the Perito Moreno Glacier. This glacier originated about 30,000 years ago and covers an area of approximately 40 km over the waters of Argentino Lake. Perito Moreno Glacier is the only glacier in the world that is still permanently moving, up to 2 metres per day, making it a must see for any visitor to Patagonia.

Let’s experience a guided walk along the base of this impressive glacier which measures 30km long, 5km wide and 60m high. We will get to see the glacier from different views as the constant detachments of ice breaking free from the glacier in a loud echoing fashion!

Explore Perito Moreno Glacier from Argentino Lake

Afternoon

In the afternoon we will have the opportunity to experience Perito Moreno Glacier from a different perspective, as we explore the southern wall by catamaran during a one hour nautical safari tour. Departing from Bajo de las Sombras Pier and navigating along the Rico Arm of Argentino Lake, we can observe the deafening ice detachments while we sail between floating ice and marvel at the impressive ice walls. The catamaran gets as close as 300 metres away, allowing us to admire this constantly moving natural phenomenon and the surrounding mountains from a unique angle. Don’t forget your camera so we can capture some photos when the catamaran comes to a stop at the front wall of Perito Moreno Glacier. This is a once in a lifetime experience to experience one of Patagonia’s most famous sights and a trip not to be missed!

Travel from from El Calafate to Torres del Paine

Morning

Today let’s make the journey over the border from El Calafate in Argentina to Torres del Paine in Chile for a different view of Patagonia. Once we reach the border crossing in the village at Cerro Castillo, it will be time to say goodbye to our local Argentinian guide and continue the rest of the way with our new local Chilean guide to our hotel in Torres del Paine. (Approximate transfer time: 5 hours and 30 minutes/ Approximate transfer distance: 310km)

At Leisure

Afternoon

On arrival at our hotel, you will have the remainder of the day at leisure to spend as you wish. Known as the gateway to Antarctica, Torres del Paine is home to vast green lowlands, ice blue glaciers, black and jade coloured lakes as well as deep valleys and snow-capped mountains. Soaring almost vertically more than 2000 metres above the Patagonian steppe, the famous granite pillars of Torres del Paine dominate the surrounding landscape. Abundant with wildlife, this area of Chile’s Patagonia is claimed to be one of the most spectacularly beautiful landscapes in the world, and offers the ideal base for any outdoor enthusiast.

Accommodation

Overnight

3 star hotel on the southern edge of Torres del Paine National Park (3 nights)

Half day trek in Torres del Paine National Park

Morning

After breakfast let’s explore more of the absolutely stunning Torres del Paine National Park.

To begin our morning 3 hour trek let’s cross through the Patagonan desert through the ancient Lenga Forest and let’s experience all the natural beauty this national park has to offer. The majority of the terrain is flat with some gradual climbs. Let’s continue towards a viewpoint with an impressive view of Lake Nordenskjöld, with the Horns of the Paine behind in all their magnitude.  Also, to the left, we have an excellent view to Big Paine Mountain and to the right to Admiral Nieto. Back on the trail, let’s take a detour on the last stretch of our route and pass through one of the park’s main waterfalls, the imposing Great Fall. Then let’s enjoy lunch at a local restauant , located in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park, before transferring back to our hotel in Cerro Castillo. (Approximate distance: 6 km / Difficulty Level: Moderate)

At Leisure

Afternoon

You will have the remainder of the day at leisure. Why not relax and recuperate at your hotel or continue to explore your stunning surroundings? Your local expert guide will be happy to suggest activities to suit your taste.

Full day trek in Torres del Paine National Park

Full day

Let’s explore more Torres del Paine National Park further today on foot as we embark on a full day trek with a packed lunch included. Today will be challenging but the views and scenery we will experience will be well worth it.

Our morning will being with a 1 hour transfer to the Las Torres area where we will begin our trek. Let’s walk along the foothills of Mount Almirante Nieto, where the combination of the breeze and the view will make our souls feel alive. Granite peaks stand in the distance as we follow the trail along the steep slopes of the Ascencio Valley. Next let’s continue through the forest, admiring the native beech trees before reaching the moraine, an impressive accumulation of glacial rock debris. Due to the rocky terrain the trek through the moraine can be quite challenging.

From here it’s a 1 hour trek to the top but the climb will be well rewarded when we begin to see 3 pink granite towers appear as if from nowhere. It is this stunning view of the Cordillera Paine mountain range with the glacial lake below that has made Torres del Paine National Park world famous and a must see of Patagonia.

After our intensive day we will then transfer back to our hotel before having the remainder of the evening at leisure to relax and recuperate. (Duration: 8 hours / Distance: 24km / Difficulty: Challenging)

Fly to Santiago de Chile

Full day

After breakfast, it is time to leave rural Chile behind as we transfer from our hotel to Punta Arenas airport for our flight to Santiago, Chile’s capital city. (Approximate transfer time: 5 hours). Just before landing at Santiago’s airport, we may have the chance to catch a glimpse of the spectacular Andes and the Aconcagua Mountain, the highest in South America.

At leisure

Evening

Upon arrival into Santiago de Chile, you will have the remainder of the day at leisure to settle into your new surroundings. Why not check out some of the sidewalk eateries, cafes and beer halls which come alive in the evening or simply stroll through the winding streets taking in the charming atmosphere? 

Accommodation

Overnight

4 star hotel in Santiago de Chile (2 nights)

Walking City Tour of Santiago

Morning

Let’s explore the city on foot as we enjoy a 2 hour guided walking city tour of Santiago de Chile where we will explore the main things to do in the downtown area of Santiago such as the presidential place, the National Mint, the main square of the Plaza de Armas as well as getting some tips on the best places to eat, drink and shop in your leisure time from our expert local guide.

At Leisure

Afternoon

The remainder of your day will be at leisure for you to enjoy free time in the city of Santiago. You can stroll through the hillside parks or wander the charming winding side streets. Your local guide will be happy to make some suggestions on how you can spend your afternoon.

Farewell Dinner

Evening

Let’s enjoy a farewell dinner with our group at our hotel for our final night together. This is the ideal opportunity to reflect and reminisce on our once in a lifetime trip to Patagonia.

Morning

Full day

You will have a one final morning at leisure in Santiago. This is the ideal time to do any last minute shopping or sightseeing of your choice. With the snow-capped Andes Mountains as a scenic backdrop, this is the perfect city to round off your time in Chile.

Transfer to Santiago de Chile airport

Afternoon

In the early afternoon you will travel from your hotel to Santiago de Chile airport for your overnight flights home, full of memories of your fantastic time in Patagonia.

Travel to Dublin

Full day

Arrive home in the morning following your epic adventure to Argentina & Chile’s Patagonia