Experience the Best of Patagonia
- The Absolute Best of Patagonia — We’ll get you to the most iconic mountains and glaciers, hiking by day and relaxing at boutique accommodations by night.
- The Right Pacing — Patagonia’s changeable weather and vast distances mean this trip cannot be rushed—we take the time to do it right.
- Insider Access to Exclusive Accommodations — We give you special access to some of Patagonia’s most renowned estancias and historic lodges.
- Superb Trip Leaders and Expert Local Guides — They provide an insider’s perspective, sharing deep knowledge of the region’s ecosystems and culture.
- Tierra del Fuego: Gateway to the Antarctic — Hike through ancient lenga forests and one of the southernmost penguin rookeries in the world.
Special Event!
A special variation of this itinerary is part of our Patagonia! Epic Climbers and Conservationists Symposium and Tour Program in Nov-Dec 2018, featuring renowned Guest Speakers Kris Tompkins, Alex Honnold, Conrad Anker, and Rick Ridgeway.Overview
Patagonia is an extraordinary landscape of granite towers, massive glaciers, and beautiful forests. Wilderness Travel has been exploring and sharing the wonders of Patagonia for four decades, and we’ve honed our journey here to perfection. Join us to experience incredible views of Cerro Torre and the Fitz Roy massif. See the massive ice wall of Perito Moreno Glacier, the soaring spires of Torres del Paine, and discover penguin colonies on hikes in Tierra del Fuego. Wonderful meals, including a private asado, are the perfect complement to our days of hiking. We take a bit more time to share Patagonia with you for a reason—you don’t want to come this far and miss the views because of a few days of bad weather, or spend your whole trip just getting from one destination to another. Our expert Trip Leaders have incomparable knowledge and a great gift for making you feel right at home in this spectacular and distant land. Join us for the hiking and natural history trip of a lifetime.
Everything about this trip was top rate. What truly sets Wilderness Travel apart from other adventure outfitters we've used is the attention to detail...the small things and the welcomed surprises along the way.
— Craig F., Gainesville, FL
Days 1-3
Buenos Aires, Argentina / Ushuaia / Tierra del Fuego
After exploring Buenos Aires, a flight 1,500 miles south brings us to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, set between the sea and the Cordillera Darwin (and only 600 miles from Antarctica). Here we hike lenga forests alive with birdsong, explore by Zodiac on the Beagle Channel, and walk among thousands of penguins at Martillo Island.
Buenos Aires, Argentina / Ushuaia / Tierra del Fuego - Days 1-3
CasaSur Palermo Hotel
Day 1 (1 night), Buenos Aires, ArgentinaThe CasaSur Palermo has a prime location in the trendy Palermo Hollywood district of Buenos Aires, home to art galleries, bars, and bistros. The hotel’s peaceful rooftop terrace is the perfect place to sip a glass of wine and enjoy the sunset after a day of exploring. Rooms are stylish and spacious, with minimalist furniture, hardwood floors, and private balconies for enjoying the view.
Hotel Los Yamanas
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights), Ushuaia, ArgentinaRight on the shores of the Beagle Channel just outside Ushuaia, Los Yamanas has incredible panoramas of this legendary waterway and the rugged mountains that flank it. It's a perfectly positioned base for our explorations around Tierra del Fuego and the Beagle Channel.
Days 4-7
Los Glaciares National Park
This realm of rock and ice is home to 47 major glaciers and crowned by the seven-summited Fitz Roy massif (11,703'). We hike below the towering spires of Fitz Roy, and to Laguna Torre, set below the monolith of Cerro Torre (10,280'), which soars over a vertical mile out of an ice sheet. Our hike on the Pliegue Tumbado trail brings us unconventional views of both the Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy massifs.
Los Glaciares National Park - Days 4-7
Hostería El Pilar
Days 4 to 7 (4 nights), El Chaltén, ArgentinaWith the perfect location on the edge of Los Glaciares National Park, El Pilar is a picturesque 10-room country inn with incomparable access to the trailheads of the park’s most sought-after hikes—and we usually have this special place all to ourselves! Guest rooms are simple and cozy, and there are phenomenal Fitz Roy views right from the dining room. It’s a great place to relax after our hikes, welcomed in with a roaring fire and a glass of hearty wine. Our hosts, Guillermo and Cristina, offer warm hospitality and delicious home-cooked meals.
Days 8-9
Estancia Helsingfors / Los Glaciares National Park
From remote Estancia Helsingfors, we’ll have the trail to ourselves as we hike through alpine terrain to Lago Azul. You’ll have the option to be a gaucho and ride the estancia’s horses part way up to the lake, then hop off and hike just the top portion of the trail.
Estancia Helsingfors / Los Glaciares National Park - Days 8-9
Estancia Helsingfors
Days 8 to 9 (2 nights), Lago Viedma, ArgentinaThis historic end-of-the-road estancia, with just nine guest rooms, stands in magnificent isolation on the shores of Lago Viedma. Our group always has this serene lodge—and the nearby hiking trails—to ourselves, which gives Helsingfors an exquisitely exclusive feel. The scenery is breathtaking, the bar is well stocked, and meals are first class (local lamb roasted over an open fire is a specialty).
Day 10
Perito Moreno Glacier / Lago Argentino / El Calafate
Crossing the pampas to turquoise Lago Argentino, we keep a lookout for Patagonia’s wildlife, which includes guanacos, rheas, flamingos, and condors. At spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier, we’ll walk a boardwalk for views of the 200-foot-high wall of ice, listening to the creaking ice and watching icebergs calve into the lake.
Perito Moreno Glacier / Lago Argentino / El Calafate - Day 10
Kosten Aike
Day 10 (1 night), El Calafate, ArgentinaCentrally located in El Calafate, Kosten Aike sits just two blocks from the main street’s many shops and restaurants. The alpine-style décor is cozy, with wood paneling and decorative motifs from the ancient Tehuelche culture of Patagonia’s indigenous people. Guest rooms are spacious and well appointed and the on-site spa, sauna, and lovely bar offer relaxation after an afternoon exploring the town.
Days 11-16
Paine National Park, Chile
Crossing from Argentina into Chile, we enter Torres del Paine National Park, selected as one of the five most beautiful places in the world by National Geographic magazine. Here a host of spires soar 6,500 feet straight up from the Patagonian steppe. Our days are spent hiking along Lago Nordenskjold, along the iceberg-strewn shores of Lago Grey, and up the Valle Ascencio to the lake at the base of the Paine “towers.” Our lodges give us great access, with several hikes starting right outside our front door. Depart on Day 16 from Punta Arenas.
Paine National Park, Chile - Days 11-16
Estancia Lazo
Day 11 (1 night), Paine National Park, ChileA working ranch, Lazo has a rustic vibe and sweeping panoramas of the Torres del Paine—and we usually have it all to ourselves. This family-run estancia is a good place to observe sheep dogs doing their job of protecting the flocks, enjoy a home-cooked meal, and rest in the comfortable guest rooms. We hike right from the estancia’s front door to our next hotel, with spectacular views all the way.
Hotel Lago Grey
Day 12 (1 night), Paine National Park, ChileWith its prime setting along an iceberg-dotted lake in Paine National Park, Hotel Lago Grey gives us direct access to Paine’s glaciers and trails. From the dining room’s large picture windows, we’ll have a stunning perspective on the calving ice of the Grey Glacier. There are great places around the property to watch the sunset, and the views of massive Paine Grande provide a constant visual feast.
Hostería Las Torres
Days 13 to 14 (2 nights), Paine National Park, ChileLas Torres is located in an extraordinary, privileged site—inside Paine National Park and right at the foot of the majestic Torres del Paine. Founded as an 8,000-acre cattle ranch before the park even existed, the property has stunning Paine views, a stable of Patagonian horses, and direct access to trails. The guest rooms are comfortable, spa services are available, and the restaurant was recently recognized with an award for the best cuisine in the park.
Hotel Cabo de Hornos
Day 15 (1 night), Punta Arenas, ChileLocated on the central Plaza de Armas in the old port city of Punta Arenas, Cabo de Hornos is a renovated historic property with a stylish lobby of glass and stone, and a cozy bar. Guest rooms are spacious and modern, and many have views over the Strait of Magellan and the historic town square.
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