Insider Patagonia by Land

Arrive at Santiago airport and transfer to your hotel. Santiago, the vibrant capital of Chile, is a bustling, modern city nestled in a valley amidst the ever-present backdrop of the majestic snow-capped Andes.  

Meals: n/a 

Today you’ll visit the colourful port city of Valparaiso. Famous for its hilly neighbourhoods, winding stairs and colourful street art, this UNESCO World Heritage city takes you back in time yet has a modern feel. As you climb the stairs or head up in one of the funiculars you'll be greeted by German-style homes, indicative of earlier residents, and incredible views of the bay. A highlight of this tour is visiting the home-museum of Chile's Nobel Prize-winning poet, Pablo Neruda (the museum is closed on Monday & Tuesday).  

Indicative of Valparaiso’s artisanal community are the numerous art studios, galleries, and silver workshops. You will get up close and personal during a visit to a silver workshop, where you will learn about traditional techniques, textures and sustainable materials used to handcraft exquisite and authentic jewellry.  

Take a break and discover Don Sergio’s Alfajores, a cherished culinary icon since the 1980s. Blending European pastry traditions with local ingredients, this family-run business upholds Don Sergio’s legacy of artisanal alfajores. Beloved by locals and tourists alike, his family continues to honour his tradition of quality, ensuring these iconic treats remain a vital part of the community’s cultural and economic fabric. 

Enjoy one last glimpse of the coast before heading inland to the Casablanca Valley for a wine tasting at Casas del Bosque. Established in 1993 as a boutique winery, the family-run estate has the sole purpose of producing high-quality wines. The vines, located in the Casablanca Valley, a privileged area in terms of premium wine production, grow in harmony with the environment, which is protected in a responsible manner, with sustainable practices respecting and interacting with the ecosystem. 

Both the winery and vineyard have been certified as sustainable by Wine of Chile, working with eco-responsible methods of modern viticulture to obtain high quality grapes that give life to authentic wines, with character and environmental awareness. 

Hear about the wines, their production and the history of the winery as well as having the chance to indulge your palate with a tasting of Casas del Bosque's excellent vintages. After your wine tasting, continue to Tanino restaurant where you enjoy a fresh, creative lunch made with local ingredients and paired with a delicious wine.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. On arrival you will be met and transferred by road to your lodge, located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. Located in southern Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the world’s most spectacular national parks. A place of rugged natural beauty, Torres del Paine is home to jaw dropping landscapes, from towering granite peaks and dramatic glaciers to turquoise lakes and emerald-green forests.  The park is most popular during the summer months when the long hours of daylight offer the best opportunity to explore. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Choose from an array of half-day or full day excursions including trekking, horseback riding and guided vehicle excursions. The excursions are designed around a variety of themes to enjoy the national park: from the flora, fauna and geology to the heritage and culture of the gauchos and the indigenous people of the region. They vary from easy to difficult depending on your physical condition and experience. 

A haven for trekkers, there are day hikes to the base of the Torres del Paine massif, the French Valley, the Enchanted Valley, or more challenging uphill climbs that offer stunning views across the Southern Ice Fields.  

Or you can stimulate your senses with a morning or afternoon spent at the Las Torres Reserve Regenerative Kitchen Garden learning techniques from the master gardeners. One of the world’s southernmost regenerative gardens, it produces seasonal fruits and vegetables using bio-intensive, sustainable methods. Part of their long-term strategy to leave the smallest possible footprint within the National Park, many of the garden’s ingredients are used in the restaurant’s dishes and cocktails.  

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Use this bonus night to delve deeper into Patagonia and step into the world of the baqueanos, legendary horsemen and women whose ancestors rode into this wild land over a century ago. With their weathered saddles, hand-crafted tack and time-honoured skills, they will welcome you into their way of life. Learn to saddle a horse, watch a horseshoe nailed with precision, and feel the thrill of riding through rugged terrain.

No encounter is complete without the warmth of Patagonian hospitality. True to the saying “Happy Belly, Happy Heart”, the baqueanos will pause their work to share a steaming cup of mate, the herbal tea that binds communities together, and stories that flow as freely as the passing wind. Taste sopaipillas with pebre, pumpkin bread paired with a fresh, spicy salsa, and discover the flavours that fuel life in this remote frontier and leave having felt, tasted and lived the authentic Patagonian spirit.

This afternoon, travel by van to Azul Lagoon for a gentle 30-minute walk with unique views of the Las Torres Mountains. Enjoy abundant wildlife, serene surroundings, and conclude with a visit to Paine Waterfall on this scenery- and history-rich tour.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

On your final day at Hotel Las Torres we suggest you explore the park further by horseback, on a half-day excursion to Lake Nordenskjöld. This tour is excellent for beginner riders and those with no horseback riding experience. You’ll walk the Reserve’s private trails and feel the energy that radiates in these silent places. As you ride along the deep blue shores of Lake Nordenskjöld, the expert baqueanos will help you learn how to ride. With the wind in your hair, the sounds of the lake, and the rhythm of the horse’s strong, sturdy movements, you’ll get a feel of Patagonia and its beginnings.  

If you have prior horseback riding experience, join the Enchanted Valley full day tour. Feel the Patagonian wind in your face and the adrenaline race through your body as you gallop across the pampas. You’ll follow the original trail that was used by the baqueanos and spend a full day immersing yourself in their horse culture. Next to a windy river and under soaring peaks, we guarantee you’ll fall in love with the nature around you.  

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner  

After breakfast transfer to El Calafate, a small-town set on the edge of Lake Argentino, where the Santa Cruz plateau meets the Andes, El Calafate is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Par, offering some of the most awe-inspiring glaciers of the Patagonian icefield, Los Glaciares is home to over 200 glaciers – all surrounded by pristine forests, shimmering lakes, and towering mountains, which combined create some of Patagonia’s most beautiful scenery.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning you will embark on a full day excursion to the crown jewel of Los Glaciares National Park, the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier. One of the world’s natural wonders and a World Heritage site, Perito Moreno Glacier covers more than four square kilometres and has an ice wall that soars 75 metres above the turquoise water of Argentino Lake. Explore the series of trails which lead to spectacular vantage points of the glacier and get up close to the towering walls of ice with a boat ride where you will cruise amongst white and blue icebergs until reaching this impressive glacier. The icefield is breathtaking with the thunderous noise of huge blocks of ice breaking off and tumbling into the water.

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy the day at a Historic Estancia (ranch) located in the heart of Los Glaciares National Park. Founded in 1914 by Joseph Percival Masters and his wife Jessie, the Estancia still conserves its essence, maintaining alive the history of this pioneering family who through enormous effort and perseverance, turned this inhospitable and solitary place into a small piece of paradise. 

Gauchos (cowboys) look after a stable of around 40 horses which are a joy to ride up and down the Caterina River valley, where fisherman can take their chance at the gigantic Chinook that spawn here yearly. An incredible museum showcases the rich history of Estancia Cristina and the story of the Masters’ family love affair with the valley, a must experience for any visitor to bring a special appreciation for the remoteness of this location. 

Accessible only by boat, glide over the waters of Lake Argentino’s Northern Arm to reach the furthest possible point of navigation in the Upsala Channel.  Enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the Upsala Glacier’s immense front before disembarking on the shores close to the Estancia. Experience the magic of the Estancia, as pure and wild as it was when first discovered as you take an exciting trek through the surrounding valley. The hike unfolds along an ecotone area, a beautiful, semi-arid place carpeted in native shrubs and grasses. Next, the walk gradually ascends to an elevated lookout point that bestows sweeping views of the valley beyond, over Lake Argentino and Lake Pearson across to the towering Andes Mountains. From here, continue on a path sloping gently uphill, surrounded by ñire trees, until you reach the highlight of this trek: Los Perros river waterfall, whose viewpoints not only bestow jaw-dropping vistas, but are also a fantastic spot for observing flowers especially orchids. 

Later on, having returned from the trek, we will visit the Costumbrista Museum, housed in the estancia’s old shearing shed where guests can learn all about the history of the Masters family: their lives, adventures and how they became pioneers in Patagonia. Finally, a guided tour will take lucky visitors around Estancia Cristina’s estate–up to the Caterina river, the waterwheel, chapel and rest of the lodge. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to El Calafate airport for your onward flight. Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel located in the heart of the city, just steps away from the famous obelisk. 

Meals: Breakfast

Discover this unique city with its mix of colonial architecture and European influences, on an city tour that portrays the many faces of Buenos Aires. Visit the Obelisk, a national historic monument and symbol of the city, as well as Plaza de Mayo, Plaza San Martin and Plaza Alvear and some of Buenos Aires’ famous wide avenues such as Avenida De Mayo, Corrientes and 9 de Julio. You'll then visit the historic neighbourhoods of bohemian La Boca, with its colourful buildings, cobblestone streets and street performers practising the tango, and charming San Telmo, the oldest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, known for its antique market every Sunday. Continue to magnificent Palermo and Recoleta, known for its impressive architecture, beautiful parks and the famous Recoleta Cemetery. Visit the modern neighbourhood of Puerto Madero before finishing your tour with visits to Lezama Park and Tres de Febrero (known as Bosques de Palermo), the Ecological Reserve of the 'Costanera Sur', as well as the commercial and financial areas of the city.  

This evening, savour delicious international cuisine with Argentine specialties during a dinner and tango show, which traces the history of the dance from its birth in the red-light districts. 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. 

Meals: Breakfast