Patagonia In Style - 14 Days

Bienvenido a Chile! Upon arrival at Santiago airport you will be met and transferred to our start hotel. Santiago is a very clean, modern city, located in a broad valley below the snow-capped Andes. In the afternoon we enjoy a guided city tour taking in the major sights, focusing on Santiago’s vibrant historic centre, which has recently been revitalised. We explore the charming Lastarria neighbourhood, full of shops, arty cafés and characterful hotels. Close by, the leafy Parque Forestal—created to mark the republic’s centenary—sits just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas, the heart of old Santiago, lined with elegant Chilean wine palms. Around the square we find the Cathedral, the main post office, the National Historic Museum and the Municipalidad de Santiago. If time allows, we ascend San Cristóbal Hill by cable car for sweeping views of the city and the Andes beyond.

Today is free for you to spend at leisure in Santiago or there is an optional visit to Chile’s second city, Valparaíso (2 hours by bus), where you can wander around the winding streets passing brightly coloured colonial homes or take a wooden funicular to one of the cliff-top communities. There is also an option to visit a local vineyard to sample some delicious Chilean wine.

Santiago - Punta Arenas. This morning we take a 4 hour flight to Punta Arenas in southern Patagonia, looking out for the fjords, ice caps, volcanoes and glaciers that can easily been seen from the air on a clear day. After being transferred to our hotel and freshening up we have the rest of the day at leisure to explore the port city. Walk around the promenade walkway along the beach or head to the Plaza de Armas for some of the many bars and restaurants available.

Punta Arenas - Torres del Paine. We begin the day with an early morning departure in a private vehicle to Estancia Cerro Guido, a living testament to Patagonia’s pioneering spirit. Set on the largest remaining working sheep farm in Chilean Patagonia, this historic 1920s property is full of authentic charm.

Here we experience life on a traditional estancia, surrounded by vast landscapes and rich heritage. Just a 35-minute (40 km) drive from the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park, Cerro Guido offers a memorable blend of history, culture and natural beauty.

For the next two days you can choose from a carefully designed program of excursions in or around Torres del Paine National Park. Explore the estancia’s vast 100,000-hectare grounds and venture into remote regions beyond Torres del Paine, including the dramatic Sierra Baguales. These lesser-visited areas reveal Patagonia at its most pristine, far from mainstream tourism, with spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife.

You can experience Patagonia on foot, in 4×4 vehicles, or on horseback, with options ranging from half-day to full-day adventures and difficulty levels from easy to challenging. On arrival, Cerro Guido's expert guides will discuss possibilities and tailor each excursion to your interests and fitness level.

A variety of hiking route are available, from leisurely walks to more demanding treks, many leading to quiet, rarely visited areas beyond the park’s busier trails. Alternatively, you can explore Torres del Paine by 4×4, visiting its iconic lakes—Grey, Pehoé and Sarmiento—and the impressive Salto Grande waterfalls (glacier navigation on Lago Grey not included).

Activities may vary depending on conditions and group size. After our adventures, we return to the welcoming estancia to enjoy Patagonian cuisine. All meals and an open bar (excluding premium wines and spirits) are included throughout our stay at Cerro Guido.

Torres del Paine - El Calafate (Argentina). We bid farewell to Chile today and travel across the Patagonian steppe in a comfortable coach (3.5 hours plus stops and a border crossing), passing guanacos, ñandús and flamingos, with views of translucent Lago Argentino.

El Calafate, our next base, sits on the lake’s southern shore. Though small, it is rapidly growing and offers a good selection of cafés, hotels and shops. It’s a pleasant place to unwind and an ideal hub for excursions in the area.

Today we visit the remarkable Perito Moreno Glacier. The drive takes us along the lakeshore before winding through wooded valleys and past shimmering lagoons. A network of walkways and viewing platforms brings us close to the glacier’s spectacular 60-metre-high, 5-kilometre-wide ice wall. With luck, we may witness dramatic calving events as huge chunks of ice crash into the lake. Later, we take a one-hour boat trip beneath the glacier, accompanied by commentary.

El Calafate - Ushuaia. We fly south to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city and gateway to Antarctica. Here, the landscapes of Tierra del Fuego unfold—dense forests, sharp peaks and ancient glaciers. Despite rapid modern growth, Ushuaia retains a frontier feel, framed by mountains and the Beagle Channel.

We enjoy a memorable boat trip along the legendary Beagle Channel, passing quiet bays and rocky islets. Along the way, we pause to observe cormorants, sea lions and, in season, penguins. With luck, an albatross may glide overhead, adding to this memorable southern experience.

Today we enjoy a half day excursion to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s first coastal national park, which is a spectacular expanse of wild, forested peaks, pristine blue lakes and vast tundra. We follow winding hillside paths to discover panoramic views over the Beagle Channel, and learn about this unique region—its natural evolution and the human history that shaped it. The journey culminates at Lapataia Bay, a serene and spectacular corner of the world where the Andes meet the southern seas.

The afternoon is free to explore Ushuaia. You can take a stroll along Avenida San Martín, browse local shops, and, if you wish, visit the Maritime and Prison Museum or the Museo del Fin del Mundo.

Ushuaia - Buenos Aires. Today we fly to the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. Upon arrival we’re transferred to our hotel where we have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore this historical city known as the "Paris of South America" due to its lovely green parks, plazas and wide boulevards.

On day 13, a guided tour introduces us to Buenos Aires’ key districts. In the historic centre, grand buildings sit alongside stylish shopping streets with a Parisian feel. We continue to colourful La Boca and bohemian San Telmo, known for tango bars and antique shops, before visiting Recoleta, home to ornate architecture and the cemetery where Eva Perón is laid to rest.

If we wish to attend a famous tango show, our tour leader can arrange this for the evening.

Our tour comes to an end today with an included transfer to the airport, or we can arrange post tour accommodation if you wish to extend your stay.