Curator’s statement
Chile is a long, narrow country — 2,653 miles long (4,300 km), but only a little over 100 miles wide. By comparison, Argentina is 2,268 miles long (3,650 km) and takes up nearly the entire peninsula. Patagonia falls south of Puerto Mont in Chile. One could easily spend years exploring Patagonia. I created this itinerary hoping to cover as much terrain as possible, watching the budget while still staying in nice places as well as being able to enjoy every adventure. Lastly, it’s super easy to mix things up, Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales. Argentinian Pesos or Chilean pesos. There are many possible routes with great distances. So many glaciers to choose from, Perito Moreno to Torres del Paine, plus islands and peninsulas, Isla Porvenir or Isla Magdalena. We want to see as much as possible without rushing too much! It’s an adventure and only the memories will tell the story! Are you ready?
The Fora Difference
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Where to stay
The Singular Patagonia, Chile
Not just a stay but a whole experience, this coveted hotel delights design lovers and seclusion seekers.
Fora Perks
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A complimentary 50-minute massage.
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Breakfast daily.
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Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Faena Hotel Buenos Aires
Elegant hotel with a bistro, a library bar and a cabaret venue in Buenos Aires' Puerto Madero neighborhood.
Fora Perks
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Complimentary lunch or dinner for two.
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Complimentary tickets to Rojo Tango show.
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Breakfast daily.
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Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Esplendor by Wyndham El Calafate
Set in the bustling town of El Calafate, this polished hotel is a landing place for exploring Patagonia with its mountain and city views, indoor pool and sauna.
Melia Recoleta Plaza
Melia Recoleta Plaza is a luxurious boutique hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, offering elegant accommodations and top-tier amenities in the heart of the upscale Recoleta neighborhood.
Hotel Cabo de Hornos
Hotel Cabo de Hornos is a stylish and comfortable hotel in Punta Arenas, Chile, offering stunning views of the Strait of Magellan and easy access to the region's natural wonders.
Unlock perks by contacting Diana to book your trip.
Day 1: Travel day
Fly to Santiago de Chile — be prepared for a long flight, approximately 10 hours.
Day 2: Welcome to Santiago
Santiago is Chile’s lively capital city. The country’s largest airport is here, and it’s also the largest city in the country. We will explore a variety of urban experiences. Check in at your accommodation. Late afternoon/evening leisure sightseeing and dinner.
Day 3: City tour
We will take a walking tour around two to three hours. We will wander through the Plaza de Armas, Metropolitan Cathedral, Central Post Office, Mapuche statue, Casa de Pedro Neruda, Palacio de la Moneda, Cerró San Cristobal, Bellavista, etc., to learn about life in Chile.
Day 4: Trip to Valparaiso and Viña Del Mar
Although Valparaiso and Viña del Mar are two different places, I’ve grouped these cities together because they’re neighbors and quite easy to visit on the same trip. This tour includes pick up and drop off from/to your hotel in Santiago.
Day 5: Fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is located on the very southern tip of Chile is the town of Punta Arenas. Just look at it on the map! It literally looks like it’s on the end of the world. Check-in at your Punta Arenas. Dinner at the hotel or wander the streets to explore Plaza de Armas and surroundings.
Day 6: Excursion to Isla Magdalena
Close to Punta Arenas, the biggest city in the south of Chile, we will go on an excursion to Isla Magdalena, an island which more than 50,000 penguins call home! This is a full-day excursion to see the northern part of the big island of Tierra del Fuego, the little town of Porvenir— and the impressive King penguin colony along Useless Bay.
Day 7: Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales
Check-out from Punta Arenas. Bus from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales, around three to four hours. Buses leave every hour. Check-in at your hotel in Puerto Natales.
Day 8: Bus tour to Torres del Paine National Park
This is a full-day excursion involving moderate physical intensity, to visit the major attractions of the Última Esperanza province. These include the Mylodon Cave and the famous Torres del Paine National Park with many stops in between.
Day 9: Estancia/Gaucho day
A full-day Estancia tour is a perfect way to live and learn about life at a Patagonian ranch combined with navigation through the fjords, adventurous activities such as horseback riding and/or relax at the estancia with a typical lamb BBQ. You will meet intelligent sheepdogs and learn how through holistic livestock management perform responsible shearing of the sheep and how the process and classification of wool work.
Day 10: Bus to El Calafate
Check out from Puerto Natales and we will head by bus to El Calafate – this bus will cross the border into Argentina. The bus ride takes about five hours to reach the border town of El Calafate. Check-in at your hotel and enjoy an Argentinian parrilla dinner.
Day 11: Los Glaciares National Park
Full day excursion to Los Glaciares National Park and a closer look to Perito Moreno Glacier, a pristine marvel towering nearly 200 ft above Lake Argentina. We will go over the walkways that complete 4 kilometers in front of the glacier. We will also take one hour boat tour to appreciate the amazing ice wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier and its icebergs at a closer distance.
Day 12: Fly from El Calafate to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city in Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of Río de la Plata. "Buenos Aires" can be translated as "fair winds" or "good airs". Check-in at your hotel. Want to start our journey watching some street tango? Let’s go to Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo and enjoy a dinner in one of those street restaurants.
Day 13: Buenos Aires walking tour
Get ready for a Buenos Aires city tour, walking La Recoletta, Teatro Colón, El Ateneo bookstore, etc. With a lunch break at one of those famous coffee shops, followed by a steakhouse house dinner Argentinian style.
Day 14: Morning walk in Puerto Madero
We will cross the Women Bridge which connects Eastern and Western docks (all streets have women names). We can have lunch at their famous Café Tortoni. After a lunch break or siesta we will take a late afternoon bus tour to explore some of the main sites such as The National Congress Building, Palacio Barolo, Evita's Mural, Life & Secrets, Plaza de Mayo, Colonial Town Hall & Revolution, Cathedral & Pope Francis, Mothers of the May Square, 70s Dictatorship and those who went missing, Actual Argentine economy & politics, Casa Rosada (Pink Government House).
We will close our journey saying goodbye to Buenos Aires after a Tango show and dinner on our last night.
Need to know
This itinerary is not set in stone. It’s a sample of what it could be. Contact me to tailor to your wishes and desired numbers of days.
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Travel Advisor
Diana Rodgers
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This itinerary is part of our ongoing series on travel to Argentine Patagonia. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out my itinerary, Discover PERU… the Sacred Land of the Incas!