Walking in Patagonia

Our with-flights guests depart the UK on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires

Once you’ve arrived in Buenos Aires, you’ll set off on a tour to discover the city’s highlights. Known as the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires’ architecture is enchanting. We’ll visit the Avenida de Mayo Boulevard and the Plaza de Mayo, home to the cathedral and city hall, as well as the colourful tin houses of San Telmo de la Boca. We’ll wind up in the northern part of Buenos Aires, where parks and wide avenues dominate the cityscape.

Fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and transfer to El Chaltén

Distance: 9km

Ascent: 800m

This is the signature walk in this part of the world, and the closest to Mount Fitz Roy. We’ll set off on a long, but well-marked trail that starts in El Chaltén, firstly tackling a steep slope to reach Del Salto Valley. We’ll cross the Rio Blanco to arrive at the base camp. From here, we’ll continue ascending approximately 400m until we reach Laguna de los Tres.

Distance: 6km

Ascent: 300m

We’ll transfer from El Chaltén to El Calafate to trek to the Cerro Torre viewpoint. Our walk begins with a 20-minute uphill climb through a beautiful lenga forest – Patagonia’s native trees. We’ll enjoy views of the Fitz Roy River running through the base of the canyon to our left. On the horizon, we’ll be able to see the granite formations of the entire massif, Fitz Roy and its surrounding hills. We’ll return on the same path, this time soaking up the immensity of the Patagonian steppe and the hills in the vicinity of Lake Viedma.

From El Calafate, we’ll head for the jaw-dropping sight of Perito Moreno Glacier. It’s part of the Argentinean southern ice field, an immense ice mass that has buried a huge area beneath it. Admire this natural wonder from various viewpoints, walking along safe and well sign-posted footpaths. With a bit of luck, we’ll even experience columns of ice breaking away from the glacier and falling into Lago Argentino with a thundering crash. We’ll have dinner at local restaurant this evening.

Today we’ll travel from Argentina into neighbouring Chile. We’ll need to change our vehicle at the border after custom formalities, from where we’ll continue towards Puerto Natales National Park. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the Chilean side of the border along the way.

Distance: 7km

Ascent: 200m

Embark on a three-hour boat excursion to Grey Glacier, the largest in Torres del Paine National Park. Starting at Hotel Lago Grey, we’ll cruise up the lake towards the glacier, which stands tall at 30m (100ft) high and 6km (3.7 miles) wide. Pieces of ice both large and small regularly break off from the front of the glacier, falling into the water and floating across the lake like fluorescent blue icebergs. We’ll pass in front of the glacier as close as possible for a close-up view of the majestic sight, before returning to the hotel.

Afternoon trek in the Sarmiento sector

Our hike begins after a short transfer to Lago Sarmiento park entrance and takes us northwards to the Laguna Amarga entrance. We’ll be able to spot a wide range of flora and fauna, including rheas (large, flightless birds) and wild guanaco (similar to domesticated llamas). What’s more, we’ll see fascinating rock paintings created by the region’s indigenous population.

Please note depending on boat excursion times, we might change Lake Grey navigation to a PM tour and then the trekking will be in the morning.

Distance: 18km

Ascent: 650m

We’ll climb upwards into the Asencio Valley, stopping to admire the marvellous views of Nordenskjöld Lake and Almirante Nieto Mountain (2,670m) behind you. After resting at Refugio El Chileno, we’ll continue for about an hour and a half, passing through an age-old lenga (beech) forest and crossing plunging streams to the Campamento Torres.

Here, we’ll climb steeply up the side of the valley, through a rock-covered glacial moraine to the Las Torres Base viewpoint. This magnificent spot rewards with memorable views of the Torre Sur at 2,850 m, Torre Central (2,800m), Torre Norte (2,600 m), and Cerro Nido de Cóndor.

We’ll travel to Punta Arenas, the capital of the Magellan region, which thanks to its location on the Magellan Strait, prospered and continues to be used by merchant ships to this day.

We’ll drive to the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint for far-reaching views of the city and the Magellan Strait. Then we’ll head to the main square, Plaza de Armas, which is lined with 19th century mansions.

This 4.5-hour shared boat trip takes us through the icy waters of the Strait of Magellan to the islands of Santa Marta and Magdalena. The islands are home to an enormous colony of Magellan penguins, as well as many other animals, including cormorants and petrels.

We’ll set off from Laredo Bay to Santa Marta Island, home to a colony of sea lions, along with cormorant nesting grounds. After a tour of Santa Marta, we’ll venture to Magdalena Island, also part of the Los Pingüinos Natural Monument protection area since 1982. Each year, from October to March, over 60,000 pairs of Magellan penguins converge to nest and fledge their young. We’ll visit an environmental interpretation centre for more information on the Magellan Strait and its ecological richness.

There’s time for lunch followed by condor watching at Estancia Olga Teresa, home to 60 to 100 Andean condors. Under professional guidance, we’ll be able to marvel at these creatures through a telescope. Your guide will explain everything about them and their behaviour.

After our flight from Punta Arenas to Santiago, we’ll enjoy a sunset visit to the Sky Costanera observation platform, atop the tallest building in South America. With clear skies, you’ll even be able to see the ski centres in the Andes.

Distance: 3km

Ascent: 400m

An early transfer brings us La Campana National Park, named after La Campana mountain (1,910m/6,267ft). The park encompasses one of the few protected central regions of Chile that still retains its original flora and fauna, and was added to the UNESCO World Biosphere list in 1985.

Our hike leads through an impressive natural forest and a particular highlight are the palm groves here, in the northern Ocoa sector of the national park. Towards the end of the hike, we’ll reach a viewpoint with panoramic vistas of the entire valley. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at local restaurant in Santiago.

Our with-flight guests transfer to Santiago airport to begin our return journey back to the UK

With-flight guests arrive back in the UK