Travel to the end of the earth, from the flamboyant capital of Buenos Aires to the land of giants, roaming solitary steppes, the rugged Andes mountainscape and pristinely beautiful glacial lakes.
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Travel Style - Discoveries
For those wanting to visit multiple countries in a single trip.
It's time to Tango your way through beautiful Buenos Aires-your launch pad to the other-worldly southern frontier of Patagonia. On arrival, your local host will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. Relax or explore the grand boulevards and colorful barrios of Argentina's vibrant capital on your own. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow expeditioners for a Welcome Reception.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Alvear Art Buenos Aires
Walk in the footsteps of the porteños on your exploration of the exquisite sights of the "Paris of South America". Wind your way through the city, past the grand pink Casa Rosada, and bold, bright La Boca. View the ornate Teatro Colon and pay homage to Eva (Evita) Peron in the final resting place of Buenos Aires' most noteworthy residents, Recoleta Cemetery. Embrace Argentinian culture at a Be My Guest experience this evening as you 'Connect with Locals', joining a local family in Palermo Soho who'll share their homemade family recipes, the secrets of kneading bread and the art of the passionate Tango.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast, Be My Guest
Day 3
Buenos Aires – Tierra del Fuego National Park – Ushuaia (2 Nights)
An expedition through the extraordinary landscapes of Patagonia begins today as you fly to the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia. On arrival, explore the dramatic landscapes of Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentinian's southern-most national park on the border of Chile. Join a Local Specialist to delve deep into its natural splendor. Admire its beautiful waterfalls, forests and snow-capped mountains in which the wildlife of this area find sanctuary. Keep a keen eye out for red foxes, condors, eagles and beavers. Come face to face with the biological richness of Tierra del Fuego Island and its incredible scenic beauty, enjoying views over the Beagle Channel at Ensenada Bay, the glacial waters of Roca Lake and the deep Bay of Lapataia Bay. This evening, dinner is served at your hotel on the Beagle Channel, so named for the famous HMS Beagle on which Charles Darwin once sailed the southern seas and saw glaciers for the first time.
This morning, join a Local Specialist and your fellow travellers for a tour of Ushuaia including a visit to the Museo Maritimo y Del Presidio, where you'll explore the history of the Prison at the End of the World and learn about the famous prisoners who were incarcerated there. Later, delve into its history as a former penal colony and missionary base on your own, or consider joining an optional cruise excursion on the Beagle Channel focusing on the scenic archipelago, wildlife and history. Learn about the great shipwrecks of the region, as well as the dogged determination of the first European explorers, who in the 19th century navigated this inhospitable region which has since had a turbulent history. Consider taking a longer excursion that includes views of lazy colonies of sea lions and Magellanic penguins, which Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first saw in the early 16th century.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Optional Experience
Beagle Channel Cruise
Your cruise of the Beagle Channel focuses on the scenic archipelago, wildlife, and the history of the region. Learn about the great ship wrecks of the region as well as the first explorers arriving from Europe. Leaving the local harbor, navigate in catamaran along the Beagle Channel and admire the mountain range that surrounds the city. Enjoy beautiful landscapes and watch for sea lions, cormorants, albatrosses, skuas, petrels and seagulls. Total duration is approximately 2 ½-3 hours. Port Tax and Gratuity Included (Minimum 2 Guests)
Adult Price: $110.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Optional Experience
Penguin Colony
Your Catamaran departs from Ushuaia Bay. During your cruise you will have the opportunity to observe the majestic Black Eyebrow Albatross, Scuas and different kind of gulls. Watch for the funny steamer ducks or Alakush. Sail toward the east to the area of the Mackinlay Pass and Martillo Island to watch the elegant Magellanic penguins. Total duration is approximately 5 hours. Gratuity Included. (Minimum 2 Guests)
Adult Price: $148.25*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 5
Ushuaia – El Calafate (2 Nights)
Leave the "end of the world" and fly to El Calafate on the shores of Lake Argentino, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park with its spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier. You'll have a rare opportunity to explore the otherworldly landscape of massive glaciers, interconnected fjords and mountainside glacial lakes over the next few days, but not before perhaps tucking into the Calafate berry after which the town is named to secure your return to this mystical region.
The day is dedicated to a deep exploration of the striking UNESCO-listed Los Glaciares National Park. Touring with a Local Specialist, you'll come face-to-face with its arctic blue and white glaciers that are fed by the massive South Patagonian Ice Field, milky colored glacial lakes and towering snowcapped peaks. Discover the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, which towers above the icy waters of Lake Argentino. You could perhaps witness massive igloo icebergs plunging into the lake with thunderous force. Experience the rugged solitude of the windswept steppe and the quiet southern beach forests, before heading back to El Calafate for an evening spent at leisure. Consider indulging all your senses savouring the town's famous Patagonian lamb paired with a delectable glass of Argentina's Malbec, or pop into the glaciarium for a chilly encounter that will warm your polar heart.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 7
El Calafate – Torres del Paine National Park (2 Nights)
The Patagonian Steppes give way to the granite spires of Paine, otherwise known as Cleopatra's Needles, the main features of the UNESCO-listed Torres del Paine National Park. We'll join a Local Specialist to delve behind the scenes of this extraordinary frontier land that few have explored. Connect with the inspiring natural landscape, celebrating one of the world's last true wilderness areas. Wander past cascading waterfalls, roaring creeks, shimmering lakes and jagged mountain spires. Your afternoon in the park will feature the Torres towers seen from the eastern region. Observe cyanobacteria with stromatolites formations at the Laguna Amarga caldera before stopping at Blue Lagoon with its distinct cerulean blue waters. Dinner with wine awaits at your hotel.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Hosteria Las Torres
Continue your in-depth exploration of Torres Del Paine, venturing deep into the heart of the park with a Local Specialist. Embark on a short hike to see natural landmarks up close and view stunning landscapes from scenic outlooks especially chosen to showcase the surrounding beauty of the area. See Puente Negro (Black Bridge) crossing the Paine River, Nordenskjöld Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and Salto Grande waterfall. After enjoying an alfresco gourmet box lunch, this evening is yours to relax and enjoy dinner with wine served at the hotel.
Follow your Local Specialist on the famous "W" Trail that stretches from the northern shores of Lake Nordenskjöld, named after a Scandinavian explorer who probed much of the region in the early 20th century. Head to the snowcapped Monte Almirante Nieto, which anchors the southeastern extreme of the Paine Massif. Wander past pebbled beaches, rugged steppe landscapes and Andes shrublands on your journey. After lunch, visit the Milodon Cave, where evidence of a giant prehistoric ground sloth was found by German Explorer Hermann Eberhard. There is also evidence of prehistoric human habitation within Cueva del Milodón, dating back as early as 6000 BC. Your base is the colourful fishing town of Pueto Natales on the Seno Ùltima Esperanza where one of Trafalgar's Stays with Stories is your home-away-from-home for the next two nights. This warm, ecologically sound building, set against the backdrop of Patagonian steppes that lead up to the mountainscape beyond, lets the rugged outdoors Patagonian landscape inside.
Puerto Natales, Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Excursion
Today's exploration takes you by boat up the Rio Serrano, passing the Southern Icefield (Campo de Hielo Sur) toward the icy turquoise sheets of the Serrano Glacier. Take some time with a Local Specialist to explore the impressive glacier with a hike through unspoiled, cool rainforest landscapes to Seno Ultima Esperanza ("Fjord of the Last Hope") where you will see the rest of the Southern Patagonian Icefield. Continue through the fjord by boat with views of the Balmaceda Glacier and Serrano Glaciers in the background. This evening, join your Travel Director and new friends for a Farewell Dinner and toast to an unforgettable expedition to the ends of the earth.
Depart this morning for the peninsula town of Punta Arenas to board your flight to Santiago International Airport, where your Patagonia adventure ends or extend your holiday with an extension to Easter Island.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
All optional experiences for this trip
Book with your travel director when you travel
Available on day 4
Beagle Channel Cruise
Your cruise of the Beagle Channel focuses on the scenic archipelago, wildlife, and the history of the region. Learn about the great ship wrecks of the region as well as the first explorers arriving from Europe. Leaving the local harbor, navigate in catamaran along the Beagle Channel and admire the mountain range that surrounds the city. Enjoy beautiful landscapes and watch for sea lions, cormorants, albatrosses, skuas, petrels and seagulls. Total duration is approximately 2 ½-3 hours. Port Tax and Gratuity Included (Minimum 2 Guests)
Adult Price: $110.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 4
Penguin Colony
Your Catamaran departs from Ushuaia Bay. During your cruise you will have the opportunity to observe the majestic Black Eyebrow Albatross, Scuas and different kind of gulls. Watch for the funny steamer ducks or Alakush. Sail toward the east to the area of the Mackinlay Pass and Martillo Island to watch the elegant Magellanic penguins. Total duration is approximately 5 hours. Gratuity Included. (Minimum 2 Guests)
Adult Price: $148.25*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
All Optional Experiences
The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Dine at the home of a local family in the trendy Palermo Soho neighbourhood. (Day 2)
LOCAL SPECIALIST
Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia, Los Glaciares National Park, Torres del Paine National Park and Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. (Days 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
STAYS WITH STORIES
Enjoy modern accommodation in perfect harmony with the natural environment of Puerto Natales. (Day 9)
Sightseeing highlights
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CITY TOUR in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia
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CRUISE upon a glacier cruise through Patagonia
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SCENIC DRIVE El Calafate to Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas
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VIEW the Balmaceda Glacier, Serrano Glacier
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VISIT Tierra del Fuego National Park, Los Glaciares National Park, Torres del Paine National Park, Bernardo O'Higgins National Park
Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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A Trafalgar bonus - all Intra-Air Flights: Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - El Cafate, Punta Arenas - Santiago
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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Handcrafted Highlights
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Optional Experiences and free time
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All porterage and local charges included
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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An expert Travel Director and separate Driver
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
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Airport transfers on the first and last day of your guided holiday
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VIP entry to many sights
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LIVE, UNEDITED & INDEPENDENT TRAVELERS REVIEWS
Wonders of Patagonia Trip Reviews
Our guests are at the heart of everything we do, their feedback fuels our innovation, inspiring us to improve continuously and craft Simply The Best vacations. That's why we ask each of our guests to leave a third-party verified, independent review after every trip. As testament to our commitment we have been given the Trusted Service Award from Feefo, recognising we deliver exceptional experiences as rated by real guests.
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Katherine Willey My Account Icon
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Patagonia with Trafalgar--not to be missed!
Trip Rating
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5
We left Argentina and Chile with a sense of wonder at the incredible natural beauty while having experienced a part of the planet that is hard to imagine until you see it for yourself.
Trafalgar did a fabulous job of managing logistics, planning a fascinating itinerary, and creating memories during our Patagonian experience with a terrific director and excellent local guides. If you've considered Patagonia, don't miss the opportunity to travel with Trafalgar.
The entire tour was fantastic. Every detail was precise. every hotel was the best. the food was delicious. Our tour guide Veronica was an expert. Loved the whole experience
The hotels were all very good, as was the transportation. I was pleased with virtually all of the itinerary as I believe that we captured many of the highlights of Patagonia (and the glaciers were spectacular). I did not think that the two days in Ushiawa were good value as there is very little to see there in comparison to the rest of the trip (and the optional trips were quite expensive). To only have one only day in Buenos Aires was a let down for such a beautiful place. In addition, the tour that was provided was only half a day long and then we were turned loose on our own. That may have been fine if it had not been a Sunday when most of the shops, services, etc. were all shut down. This was a very disappointing way to start out the trip and didn't seem very well thought out. The rest of the trip was very good and the high quality that I would normally expect from Trafalgar.
The travel director was very passionate about her country and her job. The local specialists were very knowledgeable and able to answer most questions.
Our tour coordinator Natalia was amazing. She did such an excellent job. She helped the trip run very smoothly and was always there if we had any questions or needed anything
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Dates & Prices
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Trip Notes
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Land and Intra Air: prices include economy air and air-related charges for flights between Buenos Aires-Ushuaia, Ushuaia-El Calafate and Punta Arenas-Santiago, and require purchase of round-trip air travel on LATAM between your gateway city and the itinerary's start and end gateway cities. Prices are accurate as of 1 May 2020.
Guaranteed Room Share is not available on this trip.
Passport: Guest passport information for flights is required at time of final payment.
Trafalgar offers a selection of optional Itinerary Extensions to customize your vacation in South America. Please note, you cannot book these extensions online. To book and for more information, please contact your local Travel Agent or Trafalgar directly. For more information about the optional extensions offered on this program, please go to trafalgar.com/extensions.
Unless otherwise stated, trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.
Double-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, South Africa, Kenya & Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA) as well as Panama, the Canal & Beyond (LPAN).
For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless traveling as part of a family group.
Travel to Europe often requires an overnight flight. Please arrange your flights to arrive on or before day 1.
Your selected dates have an enhanced itinerary.
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You’ll be traveling in Autumn, Winter or Spring, and this itinerary has been enhanced for you to enjoy the unique experiences these seasons offer.