12-Nights Patagonia: Journey To The End Of The World - Small Group Discovery from $8,500

Patagonia: Journey To The End Of The World

Day 1 ARRIVE IN SANTIAGO, CHILEWelcome to Chile!
Meet your Tour Director after your arrival.

Day 2 SANTIAGOToasts of the Town
After breakfast, embark on a city tour with a Local Guide who will show you the highlights of this great city of colonial and contemporary contrasts. See the famous Government Palace, Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, and Santa Lucia Hill. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit La Vega Central Market to learn about traditional Chilean food including steaming pots of cazuela and humitas, similar to tamales! Enjoy a terremoto cocktail (meaning ‘earthquake’ and made of Chilean wine, liqueur, and sorbet) at a local pub before a visit to Cerro San Cristobal for stunning views of Santiago and the Andes. (B,L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LOCAL TASTES Visit La Vega Central Market, the area’s largest local market housing more than 2,000 traders selling the most local produce, where. A majority of local restauranteurs source their ingredients. During your visit, discover not only typical Chilean foods but also food from neighboring countries as well.

Day 3 SANTIAGO–PUNTA ARENAS–PUERTO NATALESPatagonia Pleasures
Depart Santiago and fly to Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan, gateway to Chile’s Patagonia. Head to Puerto Natales on a scenic drive through the Patagonian steppe passing rivers, forests, mountains, and ranches. Enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight. (B,L,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Your drive today takes you through the Patagonian steppe or desert. Keep an eye out for guanacos (a type of camelid) commonly found in this region, along with condors, fox, chinchilla, and, for the very lucky, the more elusive puma.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Designed by National Architecture Award winner, Germán del Sol, the Remota Patagonia Lodge offers an extraordinary stay where nature is always the main stage. Inspired by traditional wind-tilted Patagonian shearing sheds, Remota Patagonia Lodge sits serenely austere and comfortable retreat amid the spectacular and ruggedly windswept landscape of Puerto Natales.

Day 4 PUERTO NATALES–TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARKFossils, Flora & Fauna
Visit the legendary Milódon Cave, where prehistoric fossils dating back 14,000 years ago, including those of a saber-toothed tiger and a gigantic sloth weighing over a ton, have been found. Venture into Torres del Paine, one of the most spectacularly scenic regions in the world. Arrive at your hotel for some free time before dinner featuring a traditional BBQ including fresh ingredients from the onsite garden. (B,L,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Your small group is in for a big adventure with a guided hike to experience the natural wonders of Torres del Paine National Park. Spanning a massive area, this park was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978 for its cascading waterfalls, roaring creeks, shimmering lakes, and jagged mountains. During your visits to see the famous sites, including Los Cuernos, Lago Pehoe, and Salto Grande, you’ll be sure to spot some of the park’s fauna, such as herds of guanacos, foxes, swans, and birds. Also stop at Lago Grey to see the imposing Grey Glacier, floating icebergs, and the beautiful views and rugged landscapes!

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Experience a breathtaking estancia atmosphere amid the peaks of Patagonia's Torres del Paine National Park. Check into Hotel Las Torres before your small group is welcomed with a traditional BBQ. including fresh ingredients from the hotel's onsite garden.

Day 5 TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARKPeak Perfection
Today, enjoy a full day exploring the park. See Los Cuernos, or “the horns,” the iconic jagged granite peaks that loom over the windswept plains. Next, view the spectacular waterfall, Salto Grande in the park’s lake district. After lunch at the hotel, head to the Laguna Azul where you have a good chance of seeing some of the park’s wildlife, including guanacos and condors. End the day at Cascada Paine, a beautiful waterfall surrounded by rugged vistas. (B,L,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Discover more of the breathtaking beauty of Torres del Paine, considered by many who visit to be the world’s most spectacular national park. From its dramatic and jagged peaks to the deep blue lakes and vast grasslands, its glacial lakes and rivers will sweep you away into a world unlike any other as your small group explores the park with a guide.

Day 6 TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK–EL CALAFATE, ARGENTINAEarthly Treasures
After breakfast, take an easy guided hike to Laguna Ines in search of an array of birds and other wildlife that can be found here. Next, depart for El Calafate, a lovely village on the southern shores of Lake Argentino. Originally a simple sheltering destination for wool traders, today El Calafate serves as the entry point for the UNESCO Natural Heritage Site of Los Glaciares National Park. (B,L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Leave Chile today for Argentina and its breathtaking Patagonian landscapes. Sit back and relax today as you cross the border while admiring the rugged landscape, glacial lakes, and maybe even some Patagonian wildlife.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION The perfect retreat for small groups, the Mirador Del Lago Hotel creates just the right base camp for your days in picturesque El Calafate. Enjoy cozy luxury in the midst of mountain peaks and lakeshores in the “National Capital City of the Glaciers.”

Day 7 EL CALAFATE. EXCURSION TO PERITO MORENO GLACIER Ice Breakers
A must for all visitors to Argentina is a visit to Perito Moreno Glacier (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Los Glaciares National Park. During your walking tour along the catwalks, marvel at the breathtaking glacier views and, with some luck, see the ice calve and break into the waters below. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SPECTACULAR SIGHTS Explore Perito Moreno Glacier, which forms part of the Patagonian Continental Ice Field. From here, 13 glaciers descend on the Atlantic side to flow into the Viedma and Argentino Lakes with one of the few glaciers in the world that is still advancing.


Day 8 EL CALAFATE. EXCURSION TO ESTANCIA NIBEPO AIKEGlaciers & Gauchos
Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore El Calafate. You may wish to walk the shores of Lake Argentina, visit the quaint shops, or grab a bite at one the many restaurants. Later, visit the Glaciarium: Patagonia Ice Museum to learn how glaciers form and grow, while learning the history of the Patagonia Icefields. Visit the [LF] GlacioBar, the first ice bar in Argentina, for a frosty beverage before departing for an evening at a historic estancia (ranch). (B,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Join your small group for an evening to remember to experience ranch life at Estancia Nibepo Aike. Located in the southern arm of Lake Argentina, this historic Argentinian estancia dates back to the early 20th century and preserves the essence of the old Patagonian ranches amid stunning views of Glacier National Park’s wild landscapes. Sip a cup of mate (traditional herbal tea) while enjoying the estancia’s stunning landscape, flora, and fauna. See gauchos (cowboys) performing traditional ranching activities such as sheep-shearing and learn techniques used in threading and rolling wool. Later, enjoy a traditional BBQ dinner while enjoying the sunset.

Day 9 EL CALAFATE–USHUAIAA Wilderness at the End of the World
After breakfast, fly to Ushuaia, Argentina—the end of the world! You’ll have the opportunity to see the Andes Mountains from a [LF] cruise along Beagle Channel. Bask in the feeling of being in the southernmost city in the world, and watch for sea lions, albatrosses, skuas, and other interesting Patagonian fauna. Arrive at Martillo Island, where you have the chance to see a colony of Magellan penguins! (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE
WILD WONDERS Visit Martillo Island, home to a colony of Magellanic penguins on an island in Tierra del Fuego. Discover the burrows and nests in the ground and learn about the different types of penguins found in this remote part of the world.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Your small group can make yourself at home with a stay at Cilene del Fuego apartment homes—yes, apartments! Your two-night stay features the services of a traditional hotel, with personal space to stretch out, indulgent spa services, pool, Jacuzzi, and sauna, and private conveniences of home. Live like a local in sleek, modern style with invigorating views of the mountainscapes and the Beagle Channel.

Day 10 USHUAIA. TIERRA DEL FUEGO NATIONAL PARK EXCURSIONA Fragile Land of Fire
Today, discover Tierra del Fuego National Park, the southernmost national park in the world. Hike around the park, escorted by an expert Naturalist. With stops at Bahia Lapataia, Lago Roca, and Bahia Ensenada, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the delicate ecosystems here. (B,L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Today, your small group joins an expert naturalist guide for a hike in the southernmost national park in the world in Tierra del Fuego National Park. Look skyward to spot any of the 50 fascinating bird species who call this paradise home, including Magellanic woodpecker, Andean condor, and austral parakeet. Closer to earth, watch for other inhabitants like red foxes, muskrats, and guanaco.

Day 11 USHUAIA–BUENOS AIRESThe Boulevards of Buenos Aires
Fly to Buenos Aires today, the “Paris of South America” and capital of Argentina. Fabulous food, shopping, and architecture all converge here to create a distinctly Latin vibe. Tonight, enjoy [LF] Argentinian dinner party with local specialties and wine. (B,D)

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Tonight’s dinner is an Argentine Experience! Enjoy a five-course dinner of Argentina’s most famous food (including steak) paired with a variety of the region’s wines. You will also learn how to make your own empanada along with the different folding techniques as well.

Day 12 BUENOS AIRESDinner, Dancing, Dazzling
Your included sightseeing this morning starts in La Boca, a vibrant district and site of the city’s first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique enclave at the mouth of the river and then on to San Telmo, famous for its late-colonial buildings and as a popular gathering spot for artists. At the Plaza de Mayo, see La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, which houses San Martin’s Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Teatro Colón opera house before reaching Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Perón. After an afternoon at leisure, top off the evening at a famous Tango club. Start with a dance lesson, followed by a farewell dinner. (B,D)

LOCAL FAVORITE
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE The Tango and Argentina go hand in hand tonight as your small group visits a local milonga, or tango house, where professional tango dancers teach the traditional techniques of the Argentine Tango. After learning some of the key dance moves, the professionals will delight you in Tango Show featuring the dance as it has evolved through the ages. Afterward, dine on Argentine steak, specialties and wine.

Day 13 BUENOS AIRESSafe travels until we meet again!
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)