Chile & Argentina | Active Hikers’ Patagonia

Arrive at Santiago airport meet your guide to starting exploring historic Santiago. Visit the Presidential Palace, the site of the former National Mint (“La Moneda”); the historic main square; the Plaza de Armas; the Cathedral; the National History Museum; and Casa Colorado, the historic residence of the Governor. Continue on to Santa Lucia, the hill upon which the Spanish founded Santiago in 1541.

About The Singular, Santiago

Built to blend seamlessly into the neighborhood of Lastarria, The Singular Santiago combines the style of early 20th century buildings with neoclassical French architectural touches. The result is a striking addition to the Santiago cityscape that embraces the artistic heritage of the neighborhood while adding cutting-edge modernity as an innovative homage to the city’s history and culture. The Lastarria neighborhood is the epicenter of Santiago’s art scene: Walk just a few minutes, and you’ll discover some of the finest visual and performance art Chile has to offer at The Museum of Fine Arts, The Museum of Visual Arts, the Gabriela Mistral Center, and more.

Transfer to a morning flight to Punta Arenas then drive north through the vast Patagonian pampa to Puerto Natales, continue along the coastal route along the Straits of Magellan in Tierra del Fuego.  Arrive for dinner at Patagonia Camp and prepare for your first overnight under the southern constellations in a yurt near Torres del Paine National Park.

About Patagonia Camp

Patagonia Camp is a luxury seasonal camp in Torres del Paine located just outside the park on the shore of Lake El Toro in a place of incomparable beauty. Surrounded by spectacular landscapes, ancient forests, transparent lakes, and green-colored rivers, a Chile vacation at Patagonia Camp is the perfect place to combine nature and Patagonia adventure with comfort and luxury. Patagonia Camp has 18 yurts, completely independent tents each with a private bathroom, double beds, and heating system. They are neatly decorated in Patagonian motif with a terrace that opens up to a beautiful view of El Toro Lake and the Paine Mountains. Delicious and healthy meals are prepared by a professional chef combining regional products such as lamb, salmon, and southern hake with fresh, locally produced fruits and vegetables. Relax in the lounge and bar with a Pisco Sour or a glass of the worldwide famous Chilean wine. Guests will also enjoy a Quincho and take part in the preparation of the typical Patagonian lamb roasted over the fire. Patagonia Camp is our base to enjoy many activities in the region including hiking on trails inside and out of the park, horseback riding, bird watching, photography, fishing, and much more. The camp has been designed and built to have minimum impact on the environment and to be visually and structurally harmonious with the landscape of the area. All the facilities are connected by an elevated walk designed to assure that Chile adventure travel doesn’t harm the fragile landscape.

Three full days of exploration in Torres del Paine National Park with your Patagonia Camp guides. Each day offers a choice between easier or more active treks and excursions through the park. Each day, there are options for an easy excursion by car with some walking or light hiking, as well as, options designed for more active hikers.

Three full days of exploration in Torres del Paine National Park with your Patagonia Camp guides. Each day offers a choice between easier or more active treks and excursions through the park. Each day, there are options for an easy excursion by car with some walking or light hiking, as well as, options designed for more active hikers.

Three full days of exploration in Torres del Paine National Park with your Patagonia Camp guides. Each day offers a choice between easier or more active treks and excursions through the park. Each day, there are options for an easy excursion by car with some walking or light hiking, as well as, options designed for more active hikers.

Today’s drive to El Calafate, one of the most beautiful transfers you’ll ever take, winds along Ruta 1 via Puerto Natales across the pampas to the border of Argentina. The mountain town of El Calafate is the base for explorations of Los Glaciares National Park, home to 47 major glaciers, including the famous Perito Moreno Glacier.

About Los Ponchos

Los Ponchos Apart feels like a home away from home. The individual apartments are warm and decorated with local products such as alpaca throws and driftwood side tables. The main hotel has an extensive art collection ranging from silver-studded gaucho saddles to mate cups from around the country – all lovingly hand-curated by the owner herself. The hotel is just over three kilometers from the town center allowing for a quiet, tranquil atmosphere. Bicycles are available on-site for easy trips into town.

Drive to a spectacular lookout of Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. Permanently advancing along its 3-mile-front, columns of ice over 20 stories high peel off the face and crash into Lago Argentino creating massive icebergs. You cross Lago Argentino by boat along the front wall of the glacier to the edge of the Patagonian Ice Cap and hike through the beech forest up onto the ice pack! Don crampons and walk for 2 hours across the ice field, exploring blue caves and hidden tunnels.

(Participants in the glacier walk must be between the ages of 10-65. Should you not meet these requirements, don’t fret! Inquire about available)

Estancia Cristina is one of the most remote and beautiful of Calafate’s estancias. Located inside Los Glaciares National Park and accessible only by boat this historical estancia offers incredible trekking, breathtaking vistas, and a chance to see one of the region’s largest glaciers – the Upsala – from the water. Board Cristina’s catamaran and start your day with sailing through the fjords to see the massive Upsala Glacier. Continue your sailing to arrive at the estancia to settle into your cabin with mountain views and with your guide decide on the afternoon’s activities.

About Estancia Cristina

Estancia Cristina is still as remote and wild a place today as it was for the Masters family, English immigrants who founded the Patagonia Estancia back in 1914 and lived there until 1997 when the last remaining family member passed away. Only accessible via a 3-hour boat trip from El Calafate, it sits smack in the middle of 3,000 square miles of rugged Patagonian wilderness that encompasses present-day “Los Glaciares National Park”, Argentina’s largest.

Spread among 5 charming houses, Estancia Cristina offers 20 individual guest rooms, each with dramatic views towards Cerro Norte, draped in hanging glaciers. Days are filled with guided hikes and 4×4 excursions to explore the Upsala Glacier, canyons full of prehistoric fossils, the dramatic viewpoint atop Cerro Carnero, or the roaring Cascada del Los Perros. Gauchos 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 spawns here yearly. An incredible museum on the Estancia 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. In the evening, guests gather in the “Octogano” or common building, to sip Malbecs by the fire and pour over maps of tomorrow’s adventures before devouring Argentine steaks grilled to perfection and fresh vegetables from the gardens. Only open from October to April, days at Estancia Cristina seem never-ending, in a good way, with close to 17 hours of daylight at this extreme Southern latitude. Tucking into a cozy bed at 11:30 pm, listening to the fierce Patagonian wind rage outside, and watching lenticular clouds over the peaks turn red at sunset is an unforgettable Patagonia experience.

The day is yours at the estancia. Head out trekking, horseback riding, fly fishing (ask Program Director in advance), visit the Upsala viewpoint, or stay back at the estancia for a historical tour of the Estancia and its history.

Rise and shine and head to the octagon for breakfast, then head out on the excursion you chose with your guide. The entire 20,000 hectares of land will be yours to explore before hopping on the boat and heading back to El Calafate. Return to your hotel for the rest of the evening free.

Drive to Road N°23 as you make your way towards El Chaltén, a small mountain village in Patagonia regarded as the trekking capital of Argentinian Patagonia. Rising sharply above the flat town are Fitz Roy’s two magnificent, towering peaks and Cerro Torre behind them. Trekkers make their way here to explore the many lagoons, lakes, glaciers, and mountains within.

About El Puma

Located in the heart of Argentina’s Glacier National Park in the town of El Chalten: the gateway to some of the finest climbing, trekking, and horseback riding trails in Patagonia. Set at the foot of Mt. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, and at the convergence of the area’s trailheads is Hosteria El Puma, the perfect accommodations for visitors to Patagonia who appreciate a relaxing and comfortable place to call home while in the area.

Embark on a day hike to Torre Lake for an impressive view of the slender shapes that make up Cerro Torre and its neighboring peaks. The trail winds along beech forest, bogs, and shrub-land followed by a short, steep hike to Laguna Torre, enclosed by moraines and Glacier Grande. Watch icebergs float along in the lagoon with the thin and elegant peaks of the Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background.

Today brings you to the iconic spires of Patagonia at close range! Trek to Rio Blanco base camp and the Laguna de Los Tres vantage point for an absolutely stunning view (weather permitting) of the Fitz Roy massif. Mt. Fitz Roy itself rises almost two miles vertically in a single stretch, visible directly across a small glacial lake. While the majority of today’s hike is of moderate difficulty through native lenga tree forests, the last hour to the viewpoint is a little more difficult. Once you see the view, though, it will be well worth the effort – it’s guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your Patagonia trip.

Transfer back to El Calafate and bid a fond farewell to the rugged beauty of Patagonia. Fly to Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel, located in the trendy Palermo Soho area of the city, a perfect place to call home during your stay in Buenos Aires

About Legado Mitico

Head out on a half-day city tour to see the highlights of diverse, gorgeous Buenos Aires. Visit South America’s broadest avenue (9 de Julio Avenue), the iconic Plaza de Mayo (May Square), the colorful neighborhoods of San Telmo and La Boca, and the traditional neighborhood of Palermo with its large parks rose gardens, and lakes before ending your tour where you began – the Recoleta district.

Sip one last glass of Argentinian Malbec before an evening transfer to the international airport (EZE) to board your flight home.