Patagonia Explorer

Experience Chile's southernmost region from the water navigating the ice field fjords by boat. For areas inaccessible overland, expedition cruises offer the best way to visit some of the most remote corners of Patagonia.

from £7500


Outline

'Patagonia Explorer'

What makes this trip special?

City life beside the Andes

Santiago

Set against the backdrop of a long line of Andean peaks, Santiago is a colonial city, turned republican capital, turned modern metropolis. There's a lot to do, with good art galleries, unmissable museums, lovely parks, and a great range of shops, restaurants and hotels. Step outside the city and you are in some of Chile's most notable wine valleys.

Chile's southernmost city

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is a colourful relaxed town full of curiosities and tales to tell. Drive north to see Torres del Paine, board a cruise south into the fjords and channels that lead to Cape Horn, or take the ferry across the Strait of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego. There are good wildlife opportunities nearby, including the only King Penguin colony in South America.

Granite towers of Patagonia

Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine is one of South America's most dramatic national parks. Its focus is a colossal massif thrown up from deep in the earth beside the Andes and the Southern Ice Field. The tall towers of Las Torres are set in a complex of other dramatic peaks and glaciers, ringed by lakes, low hills and steppe. It is a great destination for dramatic scenery, stunning walks, and Patagonian wildlife.

Land of fire

Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego is the southernmost tip of mainland South America. The easy to access Tierra del Fuego National Park covers a large area of the territory, and is made up of dramatic mountains, lakes and rivers as well as some unexpected wildlife such as hummingbirds and parakeets.

Paris of the Americas

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a truly cosmopolitan city with influences from all over the world. Grand Avenues and 19th century architecture earn Buenos Aires the nickname of the 'Paris of the Americas', but its own identity is just as apparent in each barrio you visit. Buenos Aires' most famous export is the world renowned Tango, and visits to the traditional venues are still possible today.

Itinerary

  • Day      Overnight
  • 1 Santiago
  • 2 Santiago
  • 3 Santiago
  • 4 Torres del Paine
  • 5 Torres del Paine
  • 6 Torres del Paine
  • 7 Punta Arenas
  • 8 Aboard the Stella Australis
  • 9 Aboard the Stella Australis
  • 10 Aboard the Stella Australis
  • 11 Ushuaia
  • 12 Ushuaia
  • 13 Buenos Aires
  • 14 Buenos Aires
  • 15 Buenos Aires
  • For the detail of each day click the ‘Day-by-day’ tab above.

Day-by-day itinerary for 'Patagonia Explorer'

DAY 1

Santiago

You are met on arrival in Santiago and taken to your hotel. Your guide provides a short walking tour near your hotel by way of introduction and orientation. You then have the rest of the afternoon to relax at your hotel or to start to explore the city.

DAY 2
B

Free in Santiago for your own sightseeing. You might like to visit some of the city’s museums and art galleries, or explore the main sights around the Plaza de Armas.

DAY 3
BD

Southern Patagonia

You are collected from your hotel for your flight to Punta Arenas, where you are met and driven north to the iconic Torres del Paine NP for a 3 night stay, full board, at an expedition lodge. There is a wide range of half day and full day activities on offer, so that you can choose what you would like to do day by day. Walking options range from strenuous all day hikes to more gentle trails on largely flat terrain. There are usually also wildlife-viewing activities around the park, and the option of boat trips or horse-riding.

DAY 4
BLD

Torres del Paine National Park

Two days of activities from your expedition lodge, chosen by you from each day’s menu of options.

DAY 5
BLD

In Torres del Paine.

DAY 6
BD

Fjord cruise

You return by road to Punta Arenas in time to board your cruise on Stella Australis for their ‘Fjords of Tierra del Fuego’ voyage. Details of the voyage can be found our website. We can tailor your trip to fit other voyages. Check-in is from 13:00-17:00 and you embark at around 6pm. With a welcome drink on board the cruise sails out across the Strait of Magellan as the lights of Punta Arenas fade into the distance astern.

DAY 7
BLD

Three days cruising the fjords and glaciers of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in sheltered waters. The ‘Fjords of Tierra del Fuego’ voyage sails down the Strait of Magellan, explores the north of the archipelago and enters the Beagle Channel. It sails along ‘Glacier Alley’ past a succession of spectacular glaciers that flow from the Darwin Range to the Murray Channel, Nassau and Wulaia Bays, and thence to Cape Horn. You pass dramatic mountain scenery and enter fjords where huge glaciers calve icebergs into the sea. Each day you take expeditions off the ship in rugged small boats to approach close to the snouts of glaciers, or go ashore. There are optional walks to spectacular viewpoints or close to a glacier. To reach Cape Horn, the voyage enters the astonishing Wulaia Bay, described by Darwin, where you go ashore to visit the museum (in an old radio station) which tells the story of the Yámana. At Cape Horn you disembark to explore this windswept place at the end of the world, following the path to the Cape Horn monument. In severe weather seas in this area may be rougher and disembarkation may not be possible.

DAY 8
BLD

At sea.

DAY 9
BLD

At sea.

DAY 10
B

Today Stella Australis sails into Argentine waters at the end of your cruise and docks in the early morning in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. On arrival in Ushuaia you are met at the dock and taken to your hotel for 2 nights. The rest of the day is free in Ushuaia.

DAY 11
BD

Tierra del Fuego NP

Depart for your half day tour into the Tierra del Fuego NP travelling through scenic coastal landscapes. You stop first at the Southern Fuegian railway station where you can choose to enter the Park on board the ‘End of the World Train’. The trip travels through varied scenery in the park and visits good places to see its flora and fauna. You may see Andean fox, beavers, rabbits and numerous bird species. You visit Enseñada Bay, Lake Roca and its beaver lodges, and Lapataia Bay at the end of Argentina’s legendary Ruta 40: 3,063km from Buenos Aires. Return to Ushuaia with the remainder of the day free.

DAY 12
B

Buenos Aires

You are collected and driven to the airport in time for your flight to Buenos Aires. You are met on arrival and taken to your hotel for a stay of two nights.

DAY 13
B

We have scheduled a free day today in Buenos Aires to enjoy this most European of South American cities, but if this will be your first visit to the city we could arrange a city tour to take in all the main sights during the day and an evening visit to a tango show, or a full day tour into the pampas to see a gaucho show at an estancia ranch.

DAY 14
B

You are collected and driven to Buenos Aires’ international airport for your flight back to the UK. Among many possibilities to extend this trip you might choose to visit Iguazú Falls, or perhaps spend a few days in the wine region of Mendoza.

Guide prices for 'Patagonia Explorer'

options based on all year low season mid season high season peak season other season
Mid-range hotels, category AA cabin 2 people sharing £7,500
Upper range hotels, category AAA cabin 2 people sharing £7,955
Top range hotels, category AA superior cabin 2 people sharing £10,280
Prices are per person and include:
  • all accommodation
  • all travel within Chile
  • meals as indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
  • 4 night cruise on the Stella Australis
  • excursions as indicated
  • domestic flights
Prices do not include:
  • international flights
  • travel insurance
  • airport and departure taxes
  • items of a personal nature such as drinks, tips, laundry, etc
  • airport and departure taxes

Customer reviews for 'Patagonia Explorer'

Recent reviews are shown here from holidays based on this initial design. In each case the itinerary may have been modified (a little or a lot) to suit the individual traveller.

Average

Seasonal information for 'Patagonia Explorer'

Along this route in January

Day Location Max °C Monthly rainfall
1 Santiago 30°C 1mm
2 Santiago 30°C 1mm
3 Santiago 30°C 1mm
4 Torres del Paine 10°C 65mm
5 Torres del Paine 10°C 65mm
6 Torres del Paine 10°C 65mm
7 Punta Arenas 15°C 36mm
8 Aboard the Stella Australis 13°C 72mm
9 Aboard the Stella Australis 13°C 72mm
10 Aboard the Stella Australis 13°C 72mm
11 Ushuaia 12°C 57mm
12 Ushuaia 12°C 57mm
13 Buenos Aires 29°C 100mm
14 Buenos Aires 29°C 100mm
15 Buenos Aires 29°C 100mm

Typical weather for January

Max °C figures are the average daily maximum temperatures for the month. Rainfall is the average precipitation for the month.

Hotels for 'Patagonia Explorer'

Days 1 - 2

Mr Express

Santiago

Hotel Neruda Express offers guests a comfortable stay in Santiago. Rooms are clean and simply decorated and well equipped with air conditioning, central heating, cable TV and wifi.

The hotel is located in El Golf, the modern, business neighbourhood of Santiago, within walking distance of plenty of shops, bars and restaurants. The hotel has a communal dining room where buffet breakfast is served.

 

Standard Room
Day 3

Hotel Las Torres

Torres del Paine

Average rating 4.3 (3 ratings)

Located near the start of the trail to the base of the Torres (Towers) the lodge is one of the few located within the park. All the rooms, divided between Standard, Superior and Suites, are en-suite and have central heating, Wi-Fi and hairdryers. There is a restaurant and bar, a Spa, a gift shop, an interpretation centre and a conference centre as well as stables where the local guides work and an organic garden. The location of this hotel is what really sets it apart, and it offers B&B as well as all inclusive programmes.

Lodge Exterior
Days 10 - 11

Altos de Ushuaia

Ushuaia

Hotel Los Altos de Ushuaia is situated in a hilltop suburb overlooking Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. Our 46 rooms have views over the city, the surrounding forest and the Beagle Channel, a king-sized or twin beds, heating, safe, LCD cable T.V, bathroom with shower and hairdryer. Suites are larger with a living area and desk. Hotel facilities include a living room and dining room with views over the Ushuaia Bay and Beagle Channel, free WiFi, laundry service.

Exterior
Days 12 - 13

Carles Hotel

Retiro (Barrio Norte)

The Carles Hotel is well located in the Retiro district of Recoleta in central Buenos Aires, opposite the fine beaux-arts Palacio Estrugamou. It is one of our favourite places for a short stay in the city, with many of the must-see city sights in easy reach. Rooms are comfortable, modern and well appointed, with king size or twin beds, and wifi, ac, tv etc. The hotel offers a buffet breakfast and has a lounge bar and a fitness room. There is a choice of neighbourhood restaurants for dinner and many others a short taxi or Uber ride away. A good practical comfortable choice.

Executive Room