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11-Nights Heart of Patagonia - Classic Group from $8,495
Insight Vacations
OFFER ID 1690964
Heart Of Patagonia - Classic Group
Travel through South America on this Patagonia guided tour, crossing Chile and Argentina to experience one of the world’s most remote and striking regions. Visit Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares national parks, cruise past towering icebergs and walk beneath the peaks of the Andes. Learn about traditional ranch life at an estancia, meet a glacier expert and discover how climate change is shaping the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Along the way, explore Santiago and Buenos Aires, gaining insight into the political and cultural histories of South America’s southern capitals.
Dining Summary
- 11 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 4 Lunch (L)
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Puerto Natales: Ride through sweeping Patagonian landscapes on horseback, following trails used by local gauchos. As you move across the windswept terrain, gain insight into ranching traditions that define life in this remote region, all while enjoying panoramic views of the fjord and the surrounding steppe.
- Puerto Natales: Explore the rich biodiversity of the peninsula on foot, hiking through wetlands and evergreen forest along the edge of Última Esperanza Fjord. With a Local Expert, spot native birds and uncover the delicate ecosystems that thrive in this dramatic southern wilderness.
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Torres del Paine National Park: Meet the baqueanos, Patagonia’s skilled horsemen and guardians of local ranching tradition. Many of these local cowboys are the descendants of horsemen who came to work ranches in this remote region more than a century ago. During your time with them, you'll be shown how to properly saddle a horse, nail a horseshoe and of course how to ride. Enjoy a Yerba mate tea with them while chatting about Patagonian culture.
- Torres del Paine National Park: Join an immersive tour of the region's oldest organic kitchens and garden at the Reserva Cerro Paine. Using bio-intensive sustainable methods, this farm conserves traditional heirloom varieties as well as an assortment of culinary and medicinal herbs.
- Santiago: In the evening meet your Travel Director and fellow guests at the hotel, where you'll enjoy a delicious dinner while getting to know some of your new travel companions.
- Torres del Paine National Park: Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared dinner inspired by the rugged beauty of Torres del Paine. Crafted with fresh, regional ingredients, each dish offers a taste of Patagonian tradition. As evening settles over the dramatic peaks and plains, the setting creates a dining experience as memorable as the landscape itself.
- Buenos Aires: Mark the end of your journey with a memorable evening at El Viejo Almacén, one of Buenos Aires’ oldest and most revered tango venues. Set in the heart of San Telmo, this historic corner has echoed with music since the 1960s. Enjoy a traditional dinner followed by an evocative tango performance – a celebration of Argentina’s living cultural legacy.
- Puerto Natales: Ride through sweeping Patagonian landscapes on horseback, following trails used by local gauchos. As you move across the windswept terrain, gain insight into ranching traditions that define life in this remote region, all while enjoying panoramic views of the fjord and the surrounding steppe.
- Puerto Natales: Explore the rich biodiversity of the peninsula on foot, hiking through wetlands and evergreen forest along the edge of Última Esperanza Fjord. With a Local Expert, spot native birds and uncover the delicate ecosystems that thrive in this dramatic southern wilderness.
- Torres del Paine National Park: Meet the baqueanos, Patagonia’s skilled horsemen and guardians of local ranching tradition. Many of these local cowboys are the descendants of horsemen who came to work ranches in this remote region more than a century ago. During your time with them, you'll be shown how to properly saddle a horse, nail a horseshoe and of course how to ride. Enjoy a Yerba mate tea with them while chatting about Patagonian culture.
- Torres del Paine National Park: Join an immersive tour of the region's oldest organic kitchens and garden at the Reserva Cerro Paine. Using bio-intensive sustainable methods, this farm conserves traditional heirloom varieties as well as an assortment of culinary and medicinal herbs.
- Puerto Natales: Cruise across the fjords of Última Esperanza to a remote Patagonian ranch, where warm sopaipillas and mate await. Choose your activity, then witness sheepdogs in action and traditional shearing. Over a slow-roasted lamb barbecue, discover the enduring rhythms of ranch life and the deep-rooted traditions of Chile’s southern frontier.
- El Calafate: Gain a deeper understanding of Patagonia’s glaciers through a talk with a Local Expert. Discover how these vast ice fields have shaped the region’s geography over thousands of years, and learn about the scientific impact of climate change on their structure, movement and future within the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
- Santiago: Engage with a centuries-old craft brought to life by southern Chilean artisans at Santiago’s Pueblito Los Dominicos. Discover how delicate strands of horsehair are dyed, woven and transformed into intricate designs. Watch the process unfold, meet the makers and try your hand at this rare art form in a setting designed to preserve its legacy. Your experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- Santiago: Trace Chile’s history through Santiago’s neoclassical heart. At the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, admire one of Santiago’s
11 nights from $8,495 per person
Insight Vacations: Heart of Patagonia - Classic Group
Day 1 - Touchdown in Chile
Welcome to Santiago, Chile’s cosmopolitan capital framed by the snow-capped Andes and the Pacific coast. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Upon arrival, settle in, and meet your Travel Director and fellow guests. Enjoy a relaxed dinner together, it’s a chance to get to know your traveling companions and look ahead to the experiences that await.
Accommodations: NOI Vitacura, Santiago
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Sights of Santiago Relaxed Start
Explore Santiago with your Local Expert, uncovering stories etched into its neoclassical landmarks. Admire the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, a symbol of colonial endurance, and browse the bustling Central Market, renowned for its ironwork and seafood heritage. Take in panoramic views from San Cristóbal Hill, once sacred to the Mapuche and now watched over by the Virgin Mary statue. At Pueblito Los Dominicos, meet artisans from southern Chile who transform horsehair into traditional crafts inspired by the nation’s heritage on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience. Learn about their techniques, try your hand at the delicate weaving process and support a community keeping this rare tradition alive.
Accommodations: NOI Vitacura, Santiago
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - On to Puerto Natales
Fly south to Punta Arenas, a historic port once vital to Antarctic exploration. From here, journey across the windswept Patagonian steppe to Puerto Natales, a quiet frontier town on the fjord-like Seno Última Esperanza. With its glacier-fed waters and distant granite peaks, this remote outpost offers your first glimpse of Patagonia’s awe-inspiring scale and solitude.
Accommodations: Remota Patagonia Lodge, Puerto Natales
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Última Esperanza Fjord
Cross the glacier-fed waters of Última Esperanza Fjord by boat, arriving at Estancia La Península: a working Patagonian ranch set amidst breathtaking southern scenery. You're welcomed with traditional sopaipillas, crispy fried pumpkin dough, served with homemade jam before choosing your own way to explore the landscape. Ride horseback along trails once used by gauchos or join a guided hike through wetlands and evergreen forest, rich in birdlife and native flora. Later, gather for a slow-roasted lamb barbecue, then watch skilled sheepdogs at work and learn about shearing techniques that have shaped rural life in Patagonia for generations.
Accommodations: Remota Patagonia Lodge, Puerto Natales
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 - Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine Relaxed Start
Journey through the Patagonian steppe toward Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where granite peaks, glacial rivers and sweeping plains define the landscape. As you arrive at Hotel Las Torres Patagonia, the scenery shifts to towering spires and wind-brushed grasslands. You may wish to discover the traditions of Patagonian horsemen, whose bond with the land and their horses is central to life in the south, or explore the hotel’s organic gardens and learn how sustainable practices support the fragile local ecosystem. Both experiences offer a unique window into the spirit of Patagonia.
Accommodations: Las Torres Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Torres del Paine National Park
Explore the contrasting landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park. Visit panoramic lookouts at Puente Negro, Nordenskjöld, Sarmiento and Lake Pehoé, and witness the force of Salto Grande waterfall. Learn how the park’s unique geology and ecosystems have evolved over millennia. Pause for a gourmet al fresco lunch set against jagged peaks and open steppe. Later, follow the trail along the southern shore of Lago Gray, where calving icebergs drift from the glacier into the lake. In the evening, gather for dinner and reflect on a day immersed in Patagonia’s raw, elemental beauty.
Accommodations: Las Torres Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park
Travel across the vast Patagonian landscapes as you journey from Chile into Argentina, heading toward the frontier town of El Calafate. Named after the native Calafate berry – a small, dark blue fruit said to ensure your return to Patagonia – this town is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. Along the way, watch the scenery shift from windswept steppe to glacial lakes and rolling hills, revealing the scale and solitude that define this southern region. With the Andes behind you and new landscapes ahead, the journey offers a striking transition between two of South America’s most remarkable wildernesses.
Accommodations: Posada Los Alamos, El Calafate
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Glaciers of Patagonia
Set out on a full-day exploration of Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to some of Patagonia’s most iconic ice fields. Cruise across Argentino Lake, passing massive icebergs en route to the Upsala Glacier, one of the largest in South America. Continue through the Spegazzini Channel to view its towering namesake glacier, the park’s tallest. Disembark at Puesto de las Vacas for a guided nature walk with your Travel Director through native lenga forest, offering a chance to learn about the region’s unique ecology. Enjoy a scenic lunch aboard the boat before approaching the dramatic northern face of Perito Moreno Glacier – a constantly evolving wall of ice that captivates with its scale and presence.
Accommodations: Posada Los Alamos, El Calafate
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 - Perito Moreno Glacier
Today offers a closer look at Patagonia’s most iconic natural wonder – the Perito Moreno Glacier. Begin with panoramic views from the boardwalks, where the 30-kilometer-long glacier spills into Lake Argentino. Observe the shifting ice and, if lucky, witness a calving event. Later, visit the Glaciarium Patagonian Ice Museum, where interactive exhibits, audiovisual displays and scientific models explore the formation, movement and future of these ancient ice masses. Gain a deeper understanding of glacial systems and their role in the region during a talk with a local glacier expert, who shares insights on climate change and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
Accommodations: Posada Los Alamos, El Calafate
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 - Off to Buenos Aires
Fly north from the wilds of Patagonia to Argentina’s vibrant capital, Buenos Aires. As you leave behind the glaciers and open steppe, the landscape shifts to leafy boulevards, grand architecture and the energetic rhythms of city life – a striking contrast that highlights the diversity of Argentina’s cultural and natural landscapes.
Accommodations: MGallery Palladio, Buenos Aires
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Explore Buenos Aires
Take a deep dive into Buenos Aires on a city tour that reveals the capital’s layered history and cultural contrasts. Travel along Avenida 9 de Julio past the Teatro Colón, then visit Plaza de Mayo and see Casa Rosada before stepping inside the Metropolitan Cathedral, resting place of independence hero General San Martín. Continue to the colorful streets of La Boca, then head north through Palermo to Recoleta, where the cemetery’s elaborate mausoleums house notable figures including Eva Perón. This evening, gather with your Travel Director and fellow guests for a farewell dinner at El Viejo Almacén in San Telmo. Enjoy traditional cuisine and an evocative tango show in one of the city’s most iconic venues – a fitting finale to your South American adventure.
Accommodations: MGallery Palladio, Buenos Aires
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 - Depart Buenos Aires
Your journey comes to an end as you bid farewell to your Travel Director and fellow guests before your transfer to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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Escape Travel Agency
(904) 239-7870