Argentina, ChileJourneys: Discover Patagonia
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the hotel. There are no planned activities, so check in and enjoy the city.
Arrival Transfer
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Kenton Palace
Catch a flight to San Carlos de Bariloche in northern Patagonia, known as Argentina’s Lake District. Enjoy the highlights of this picturesque town on a half-day tour, driving along the edge of sapphire-hued Nahuel Huapi Lake, visiting scenic Bahía López, or López Bay, and ascending Cerro Campanario for panoramic views of the surrounding forests and snowcapped peaks.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Circuito Chico Tour
Enjoy an introduction to the highlights of San Carlos de Bariloche on a circuito chico tour. Stop at Bahia Lopez (Lopez Bay) and Panoramic Point and take in the beautiful landscape. Continue on to Cerro Campanario (Bell Mountain), opt to get an even better view by riding the chairlift.
Accommodation
Hotel Villa Huinid Bustillos
Spend the day on your own in Bariloche, choosing from a range of outdoor activities. Set out on a hike amid luxuriant forests and glacial lakes or opt to navigate Nahuel Huapi Lake and Cantaros Waterfall on an all-day adventure. You can also choose to relax and explore charming Bariloche, sampling some of the delicious chocolate for which the town is known. Bariloche in many ways resembles the alpine resorts of Europe. Sample a beef parrillada, or a variety of fresh salmon or lake trout, then take a day hike around Cerro Catedral or enjoy some shopping. It’s also important to know that Bariloche is famous for its quality and quantity of chocolate!
Free Time
Enjoy this stunningly beautiful area. Take a hike in the countryside or visit the town, known for its shops and, in particular, artisan chocolate.
Optional Activities - Day 3Show
Accommodation
Hotel Villa Huinid Bustillos
Embark upon the famed Andean Lakes Crossing, connecting Argentina and Chile through a network of volcano-lined, crystal-clear lakes. Board a catamaran from Bariloche and sail across the waters of Nahuel Huapi Lake, Lake Frías, and Todos los Santos Lake, experiencing one of the most breathtaking border crossings in the world. Arrive on the shores of Chile and transfer to your hotel in Puerto Varas. There are few areas in the world that can match the Chilean Lake District for scenic grandeur. Enjoy picture-perfect views of snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, emerald lakes, smoking volcanoes, forests, and glaciers.
Cruce de los Lagos Cruise
Chile’s Lake District has few rivals when it comes to sheer scenic grandeur. Cross the placid Lago Todos Los Santos aboard a catamaran and marvel at vast mountainscapes and stunning views that’ll have your shutter finger working overtime. Enjoy the breeze and beautiful scenery then continue by bus and another ferry. This full day excursion is considered one of the world's most scenic ferry crossings.
Border Crossing (Argentina Chile)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Accommodation
Hotel Cabana del Lago
Enjoy free time to explore this beautiful lakeside town. Opt to take a ferry to Chiloé Island, a fishing village with a handcraft market, and pay a visit to the nearby penguin colony. Or choose to venture into Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park—the oldest national park in Chile—to hike the Desolation Pass trail, climbing up the ice-clad slopes of Osorno Volcano.
Free Time
Enjoy the day exploring the sites of the region.
Optional Activities - Day 5Show
Accommodation
Hotel Cabana del Lago
Catch a flight to Puerto Natales and transfer to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. One of the most spectacular parks in the Americas, Torres del Paine covers a sweeping expanse of glaciers, forests, and gem-coloured lagoons, crowned by the jagged pinnacles of the Torres del Paine mountains. Settle into your hotel and relax this evening. Words cannot describe the majesty and beauty of this national park in Chilean Patagonia. The lucky people have the opportunity to see this area and those who do will find it difficult to forget its vivid colours and tranquility. Once a large sheep estancia, the park was established in 1959 as the Parque Nacional Lago Grey. Prior to this, “baqueanos” (cowboys) grazed their flocks here and fires occasionally burnt out of control. More land was added to the park in 1962 and the name was changed to its present one. The “Torre” (Tower) Sur rises 2,900m (9,512 ft) above sea level, the Torre Central is 2,850m (9,348 ft) high, and the Torre Norte measures 2,600m (8,528 ft). The “Cuernos” (Horns) del Paine, massive blocks of various rock layers visible from great distances, are as spectacular as the towers themselves.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Hosteria Lago Grey
Embark on a full-day exploration of Torres del Paine National Park with an expert guide. Travel by van across the rugged, windswept landscape and set out on short walks to discover some of the park's most majestic features, including Grey Lake, Grey Glacier, Lake Sarmiento, Azul Lagoon, and more. Along the way, keep a lookout for the park’s resident creatures—eagles, condors, foxes, armadillos, as well as an indigenous type of ostrich.
Torres del Paine National Park Excursion
Enjoy breathtaking views and scenery on this day excursion into the national park with an expert guide. Travel by van and stop along the way for short walks and beautiful lookout points. Stop at Grey River and the park office, then continue over the Grey Bridge to the forest zone and Grey Lake, its ice mass is stunning against the surrounding landscape. Walk along the path to get a closer view of the Grey Glacier with its huge ice blocks resting in the lake. Continue on to Paine River and admire the pure turquoise colours of Pehoé Lake before a short walk to Nordenskjold Lake for a wonderful view of the Paine Horns. Also visit Sarmiento Lake, Amarga Lagoon, Paine Falls, and the Azul Lagoon.
Accommodation
Hosteria Lago Grey
Enjoy a scenic drive to El Calafate, Argentina, your base for exploring Los Glaciares National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site makes up part of South America’s largest ice field; it is also home to the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier. Drive towards lofty peaks to the dynamic Moreno Glacier in Glacier National Park. Spot condors, rheas, eagles or flamingos en route, but the real star of the day is the glacier itself, located at the southern terminus of Glacier National Park.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Hotel Mirador del Lago
This morning, hear a talk by a local glacier expert before venturing into Los Glaciares National Park to view the Perito Moreno Glacier, an active glacier on the southern arm of Lake Argentino. Witness this continually advancing mass calve great chunks of ice into the lake; and opt to take a boat ride along the glacier’s front wall, where most of the calving takes place.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Glacier Talk
In the scenic town of El Calafate, take in a lecture by a local glacier expert and learn all about the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field that feeds it.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Perito Moreno Glacier Tour
Get out there and explore the natural wonder that is the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world’s few “advancing” glaciers. Head to the southern end of Los Glaciares National Park, where Moreno's 60m (197 ft) wall of ice sporadically chokes off the narrow “Canal de los Tempanos” (Iceberg Channel) creating a natural ice dam, which eventually explodes in a dynamic display of force. Please note this tour does not include walking on top of the glacier.
Optional Activities - Day 9Show
Accommodation
Hotel Mirador del Lago
Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city on Earth, soaring above the jaw-dropping landscapes of Patagonia. Upon arrival, enjoy an exclusive visit to the Austral Center for Scientific Research and attend a lecture from one of the on-site anthropologists and learn more about the indigenous history of the entire region of Tierra del Fuego and of Patagonia. Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Indigenous History Lecture
Enjoy an exclusive visit to the Austral Center for Scientific Research, a dynamic research facility not typically open to tourism, and part of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council. Here, you'll delve into the rich indigenous history of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia during a lecture with one of the on-site anthropologists. Topics covered range from the ancestral settlement of the territory to the European-Criollo colonization process, and current ethnic resurgence in the region. And the visit may conclude with a brief visit to a laboratory where archaeological artifacts discussed in the lecture can be viewed, along with a glimpse into the scientific work being carried out. *The entire activity will last approximately 2 hours, including transportation times, with the lecture itself lasting around 1 hour.
Accommodation
Cilene del Fuego Hotel
Travel to Martillo Island to get up close with the gentoo and Magellanic penguins that reside here part of the year, and learn about their habits and behaviour from a naturalist guide.
Penguin Rookery Excursion
Get up close and personal with penguins at the end of the earth. Travel by minibus and boat to Martillo Island to explore the rookery, home to almost 1,000 nests. Follow a naturalist guide along the designated trails and walk amongst Magellanic and gentoo penguins as you learn more about them.
Accommodation
Cilene del Fuego Hotel
Fly back to Buenos Aires and take time to explore this vibrant metropolis on your own, visiting some of the city’s galleries, museums, and cafés. This evening, enjoy a private tango lesson at a personal studio; then practice your moves alongside other students and teachers during a milonga, a social dancing event. Fly north to the buzzing metropolis that is Buenos Aires. Known as the “Paris of the Americas”, Buenos Aires is a vibrant city full of life. When you’re finished exploring, rest your feet and enjoy a drink at one of the many sidewalk cafés, ideal places to get a feel for the contemplative Argentine way of life. Since Buenos Aires will be the last chance to try the succulent beef, chicken, and chorizo parrilladas, dig in and enjoy!
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Free Time
Take time to explore the city on your own, visiting some of the galleries, museums, and cafés here. This evening, consider catching a tango show at a local tanguería or try Argentinian famous steak.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Local Tango Lesson
Spend the evening as a local Porteño, enjoying a night out with typical dinner in a local cafe before heading to a popular dance venue to enjoy a lesson from local dancers. Once we've practiced our new steps, it's time for Milonga, a local tradition where students and teachers of the venue show up to practice their moves. Sit back and enjoy or if you are brave, join in.
Accommodation
Kenton Palace
Discover the charms of Buenos Aires on a city tour. Visit key landmarks such as Plaza de Mayo and the pink balcony made famous by Argentina’s iconic first lady Eva Perón; and see the Recoleta Cemetery, where Perón is buried. Explore the city’s most interesting neighbourhoods, including San Telmo and the colourful artist’s quarter of La Boca. This evening, consider catching a tango show at one of the many famous tanguerías in the area, or wander the pedestrian walkways and see some dancing in the streets as you search for places to try the succulent and deliciously tender steak that Argentina is known for. Known as the “Paris of the Americas”, Buenos Aires is a vibrant city full of life. Visit the districts of La Boca, Recoleta, and San Telmo. Consider catching a tango show at one of the many famous tanguerías or wander the pedestrian walkways and see some dancing in the streets.
Buenos Aires Guided City Tour
Enjoy a guided tour exploring beautiful, vibrant Buenos Aires. Be introduced to historic sites and districts, including Plaza de Mayo where Eva Peron's famed balcony presides over the square. See La Boca and San Telmo's colourful street life, painted houses, and the famed Recoleta Cemetery.
Optional Activities - Day 13Show
Accommodation
Kenton Palace
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Optional Activities - Day 14Show
