Setting Eyes on Patagonia – A Photographic Odyssey

Overview

Dates & Prices

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 March 21: Depart USA

• Your journey begins this evening as you depart from the USA on your overnight flight to Chile

Day 2 March 22: Arrive in Puerto Natales, Chile

• Upon arrival, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel
• Enjoy a guided sightseeing of the charming town
• Join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner

Hotel Costaustralis Dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Arrive in Santiago, Chile, complete immigration and customs formalities and continue with your flight to Puerto Natales, located at the edge of the Last Hope Sound, and known as the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. Meet our representative and transfer to your waterfront hotel for check-in.

Enjoy a guided tour of Puerto Natales town, and get a first glimpse at the Patagonian life and culture. Begin along the scenic waterfront, taking in the breathtaking views of the Señoret Channel and majestic mountains like Mocho, Tenerife, Balmaceda, Benítez, and Ballena. Continue your tour at the Plaza de Armas, also known as Plaza Arturo Prat, the lively heart of Puerto Natales. Its modern design, historic locomotive, and impressive mountain backdrop make it a must-see spot for every visitor.

Later today, join your fellow travelers for an early welcome dinner. 

 

Day 3 March 23: Torres del Paine

• Depart for Torres del Paine National Park
• Set out for a full-day puma tracking adventure
• Return to Cerro Castillo

Hotel Estancia El Ovejero Patagónico Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

Begin the day with an early pickup from your hotel and enjoy a scenic transfer to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for its diverse ecosystems and breathtaking scenery. Upon arrival, guided by your expert tracker who relies on deep knowledge of the terrain and animal behavior, your search for the wild puma begins. In addition to the search for the pumas, watch for other native wildlife, such as guanacos, foxes, and a variety of bird species along the way.

Midday, enjoy a picnic lunch and take some quiet time to relax and appreciate the peaceful surroundings before continuing your search.

Later, resume your search for the beautiful pumas. While pumas encounters cannot be guaranteed, the experience of following their trail through one of the world’s most stunning national parks would surely be unforgettable.

As the day comes to a close, return to your lodge for an evening at leisure.

 

Day 4 March 24: Torres del Paine

• Enjoy a full-day tour of Torres del Paine or join an optional second puma tracking excursion

Hotel Estancia El Ovejero Patagónico Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, depart for another exciting day at Torres del Paine National Park. Journey along a route rich with natural beauty, stopping along the way. First, stop at Sarmiento Lake Viewpoint, where, in clear weather, you can admire a panoramic view of the entire mountain range of Torres del Paine. Next, stop at Laguna Amarga, where the dramatic granite towers come into full view, and flamingos often feed in the mineral-rich lagoon.

Upon entering Torres del Paine National Park, visit several iconic landmarks, including Nordenskjöld Lake, Salto Grande, Pehoé Lake, Weber Bridge, and the Paine River, each revealing a different facet of the park's wild grandeur. The contrasts of jagged peaks, vibrant waters, and windswept terrain make for a photographer's paradise.

The day concludes at Grey Viewpoint, one of the park’s most impressive outlooks. Gaze out over the western mountains, the vast expanse of Lake Toro, and, weather permitting, catch a glimpse of the distant Grey Glacier, a massive river of ice that feeds into the lake below.

Later today, return to Cerro Castillo for an evening at leisure.

Note: A second puma tracking excursion is available for those who prefer it over the day’s touring program at the National Park. 

Day 5 March 25: Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas & Embark Ship

• Transfer to Punta Arenas pier
• Embark on the M/V Ventas Australis cruise ship
• Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception and dinner
• Sail through the mythical Straits of Magellan

M/V Ventus Australis Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, transfer to Punta Arenas port and board your expedition cruise ship. The captain and crew will welcome you with a cocktail reception on board. After the captain and crew's welcoming toast and introduction, the ship departs for one of the most remote corners of planet Earth. During the night, traverse the mythical Straits of Magellan and the Beagle Channel and travel through Patagonia and the fjords of Tierra del Fuego.

Day 6 March 26: Ainsworth Bay & Tuckers Islets

• Discover the Marinelli Glacier in Ainsworth Bay
• Visit the Tuckers Islets, home to Magellanic penguins

M/V Ventus Australis Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Arrive near the Marinelli Glacier in Ainsworth Bay and learn how life resurfaces after the ice has melted. Then, hike through the beautiful sub-Antarctic Magellanic forest. Visit the Tuckers Islets and see Magellanic penguins and cormorants from the Zodiacs.

Day 7 March 27: Pía Glacier & Glacier Alley

• Disembark at Pía Glacier via Zodiacs
• Hike to reach a panoramic view of Pía Glacier
• Enjoy an evening sail through Glacier Alley

M/V Ventus Australis Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

By morning, enter Pía Fjord and board the Zodiacs for a shore excursion to Pía Glacier. After disembarking, take a short hike to gain a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea. Back onboard the ship, continue east along the Beagle Channel through Glacier Alley. Living up to its name, the passage features several impressive tidewater glaciers flowing down from the Darwin Mountains and Darwin Ice Sheet on the north shore. Most of them were named after European countries: Holland, Italy, Germany, Spain, and France.

Day 8 March 28: Cape Horn & Wulaia Bay

• Disembark in Cape Horn National Park
• Explore the fabled Wulaia Bay

M/V Ventus Australis Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Arrive at the Cape Horn National Park, the location of disembarkment, if the weather conditions are suitable, to experience the magic of walking through one of the southernmost points of the world, surrounded by charm and legends. In the afternoon, the ship will disembark at Wulaia Bay, a historic site of one of the largest settlements of the native Yagans canoeists. Finally, walk through the Magellanic forest where lengas, coigües, canelos, and ferns grow, among other species.

Day 9 March 29: Disembarkation, Ushuaia – Buenos Aires

• Sail to the port of Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
• Transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires
• Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel

Loi Suites Recoleta Hotel Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Arrive at Port of Ushuaia, the most important city on the island of Tierra del Fuego and often called the world's southernmost city. The landscapes range from barren, windswept plains to quiet pine and beech forests, pristine blue lakes, and snow-capped mountains. After disembarkation, transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, meet your guide and head to your hotel for check-in.

Day 10 March 30: Buenos Aires

• Explore Buenos Aires, including the Plaza de Mayo and La Boca districts
• Enjoy an exciting tango dinner show

Loi Suites Recoleta Hotel Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Today, discover the heart of Buenos Aires. Begin with a tour of the historic Plaza de Mayo, the city's political center, then see the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace from which Juan and Eva Perón addressed throngs of adoring Argentinians. Next, go behind the scenes of the Colon Theatre, a beautiful piece of architecture of the Argentinian Capital, before making your way to Avenue 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, and then to Florida Street, a true shopper's paradise.

Later, arrive at La Boca, the mouth of the Rio de la Plata where the Riachuelo flows. Before its relocation further North, it was the historic port of Buenos Aires. Today, La Boca owes its popularity to the street "Caminito," where there are numerous small, humble houses made of colored sheet metal.

Continue to Puerto Madero, a once-abandoned port area now transformed into one of Buenos Aires' trendiest neighborhoods, and end your tour with a visit to Recoleta Cemetery, a peaceful maze of grand mausoleums and the final resting place of iconic figures, including Eva Perón. Beside it stands the elegant Church of Our Lady of the Pillar, and just across the way, Plaza Francia offers a lively atmosphere with local cafés and bars where Porteños gather to relax at the end of the day.

Tonight, join your fellow travelers for dinner and an exciting performance of the tango, Argentina's passionate national dance.

Day 11 March 31: Depart Buenos Aires/Arrive USA

• Spend the day at leisure for independent exploration
• Transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to the USA, arriving tomorrow morning

Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the city on your own. Your tour guide will be happy to make suggestions for independent exploration. Later today, transfer to the airport in Buenos Aires for your overnight return flight. Your fantastic, wonderful adventure ends as you arrive in the USA the following morning.

Hotels & Ship

Hotels

Hotel Costaustralis

Tourist Class

The Hotel Costaustralis is located in the heart of Puerto Natales, the gateway to adventure travel in Southern Patagonia. The chateau-style Hotel Costaustralis offers spectacular views of Ultima Esperanza fjord and the Patagonian landscapes. 

More information

Loi Suites Recoleta Hotel

Deluxe

Loi Suites Recoleta Hotel is located in the heart of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Situated in the upscale neighborhood of Recoleta, the hotel offers a prime location for exploring the city's cultural and historical attractions. You can easily access iconic landmarks such as the Recoleta Cemetery and the Teatro Colón, as well as nearby parks, museums, and vibrant shopping areas.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

Cruise Ship

M/V Ventus Australis

M/V Ventus Australis welcomes you aboard for a spectacular scenic cruise through the waterways of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Launched in January of 2018, the M/V Ventus Australis was tailor-made to navigate narrow fjords and channels of the southern tip of South America, bringing you up close and personal with the spectacular glaciers, rugged terrain and pristine environment of this remote corner of the Earth.

More information

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 21 or older. Your traveling companions must be 12 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Argentina? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Chile? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Patagonia? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.