Eco Patagonia Hikes and Cruise Itinerary
Explore the wild, remote and compellingly beautiful region of Chile's Patagonia, whose very name conjures up excitement and adventure.
13 days from £10,080pp plus international flights.
Full itinerary
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© GQMarks
Day 1
Arrive In Santiago
You fly into Santiago, Chile's capital, where you are met and driven to your hotel close to the stylish shopping area and also the beautiful Bicentennial Park. Take time to freshen up and don a change of clothes, after which you are collected and driven to a nearby restaurant for your welcome dinner with a guide.
Dinner
Day 2
Santiago City Tour
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then embark on a private guided tour of the city. You start at Mercado Central, the city's main fish market, where you mingle with locals and see the variety of fresh produce on display. The Plaza de Armas is nearby and is Santiago's main square, where you can see the metropolitan cathedral and grand central post office. From here you pass the impressive neo-classical facade of the supreme court and head towards the Alameda, the main street, getting a taste of city life en-route. Your next destination is the presidential palace, La Moneda, a beautiful 18th century building. Stretch your legs further with the climb to the top of Cerro Santa Lucia, rewarded by fine all-round views of the city from the park at the summit. From here you travel to the chic Lastarria district with its many cafes, bookshops, boutiques and theatres. Lunch has been arranged for you back at the hotel. Afterwards the rest of the day is free for you to explore or relax.
Breakfast, lunch
Day 3
Fly To Punta Arenas And Ecocamp
Patagonia beckons! After breakfast you are driven to the airport for the flight down to Punta Arenas, which takes about three and a half hours. On arrival you are transferred to EcoCamp Patagonia. You stop at Puerto Natales along the way, on the shores of Ultima Esperanza Sound where you have lunch. The journey continues, with opportunities to admire the fine views, arriving at EcoCamp, where you can settle into your geodesic dome, your home for the next five nights! Tonight, you have dinner in camp, a good time to get to know the other guests. You might also like to ponder the many options for exploring the area on offer at EcoCamp, as you look forward to next few days.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4
Exploring Patagonia
Your first full day in Patagonia and you have so many activities to enjoy! EcoCamp offers a broad range of excursions, spanning all levels of fitness and encompassing walking, hiking and biking. A guide can help you choose according to your abilities and preferences. Today you might like a gentle introduction to the region with a drive to Laguna Azul, offering views of the famous Torres, the oft-photographed trio of jagged peaks, and the chance to spot guanacos on a short walk in the aptly named Pampa Guanaco. On reaching Laguna Azul you sit down to a special barbecue lunch while gazing across the lake towards the 3 mighty torres. There's a chance for a post-lunch walk to see more of the area's wildlife and take in the views, before the drive back to EcoCamp, arriving in time for cocktails. If you prefer you can cycle to the lake, returning either by bike or vehicle.
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 5
Exploring Patagonia
You can up the pace today if you wish, by selecting one of the more active excursions, such as the western lakes and pingo trail hike. This starts with a drive to Lake Pehoe, with views of the black granite spires of Los Cuernos en-route. Alight at the lake for a walk to Salto Grande waterfalls and on to a lookout point for photo opportunities. You are then driven to photogenic Grey Lake with its huge icebergs from where you set off on the Pingo trail. This takes you through lush forest where you admire the varied flora and fauna culminating at a viewpoint. From here you return to Grey Lake, where the vehicle is waiting to carry you back to EcoCamp to enjoy a well-earned rest.
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 6
Exploring Patagonia
If you feel like an easier day, join the trek to the twin lakes of Sarmiento and Sarmiento Chico. With few gradients this is an unchallenging walk offering plenty of chances to watch wildlife and learn about the geology of the area from your guide. The lakes are startlingly blue and provide yet another of the amazing sights of Torres del Paine National Park and are sure to have you reaching for your camera. Afterwards you are driven back to EcoCamp, where you can relax in one of the communal domes and chat to other guests.
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 7
Exploring Patagonia
If you're feeling energetic you can tackle the trek to the base of Las Torres today. The route leads steadily uphill through varied terrain including forest, open areas and past rivers to the Ascencio Valley. Finally, you traverse a testing area of rock-strewn moraine to be rewarded with superb views of the Torres del Paine which give the park its name, with the glacial lake below. It's a definite photo opportunity. Better still, it's your lunch stop, so you have ample time to admire the views as you enjoy your picnic! Suitably replete and rested you set off on the return route through the valley and back to EcoCamp.
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 8
Transfer To Punta Arenas For The Cruise
After breakfast, with bags packed, you are driven to Punta Arenas overlooking the Magellan Strait. Sit back and enjoy the ride, which takes about six hours. On arrival you check in for your Australis cruise, with boarding commencing from 6pm. You are invited to a cocktail reception hosted by the captain and his crew to welcome you aboard. Afterwards the ship gets underway and you sit down to dinner as your cruise adventure begins. Overnight, as you rest, the vessel crosses the Magellan Strait and enters the channels in the southernmost region of Patagonia.
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 9
Ainsworth Bay And Tuckers Islet
Awaken to beautiful scenes of Admiralty Sound and the peaks of Karukinka Natural Park. It's not long before you can step ashore at Ainsworth Bay, with a choice of walking routes, both of which enable you to see Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountains. You return to the ship for lunch and later, when the ship has reached the Tucker Islets, you head off in the zodiacs for some close-up views of the huge colony of Magellanic penguins that nest here. You are also likely to see cormorants, oystercatchers, skuas, gulls and eagles, and, if very lucky, a condor. In September and April, when the penguins have departed, this excursion is replaced by a walk to a glacier at Brookes Bay.
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 10
Pia Glacier And Glacier Alley
By this morning the ship has rounded the Brecknock Peninsula and turned east into the Beagle Channel. By the time you've had breakfast she is in Pia Fjord and it's time to board the zodiacs to get views of Pia Glacier. You land nearby and walk to a viewpoint to take in the sight of this magnificent glacier. Back on board the ship you continue the voyage eastwards through the well-named Glacier Alley. Get yourself a window seat or wrap up warm and head to the panoramic deck, to view the succession of tidewater glaciers which flow down the mountains, many of them named after European countries.
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 11
Cape Horn And Wulaia Bay
This morning, weather conditions permitting, you go ashore at Cape Horn, often called the End of the Earth. For many years this was the only way ships could pass between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and was notorious for its strong currents, large waves and icebergs. Get a feel for this harsh environment before returning to the welcome comfort of the ship. By the afternoon you are in Wulaia Bay, where there was once a large Yamana community. You can visit a museum to learn more about their culture and about the early European missionaries and might want to leave a postcard in the barrel, to be hand delivered by a future traveller, continuing a time-honoured tradition. There's time for a gentle walk or more energetic hike, as you wish, with a guide, before you return to the ship for the final night of your cruise.
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
© Cascadas Travel
Day 12
The Cruise Finishes In Ushuaia
Enjoy breakfast on board the cruise ship for the final time. You are now in Argentina, and the ship docks at Ushuaia. Collect your bags and say your goodbyes to fellow passengers and the crew. A representative is waiting to meet you and drive you to short way to your hotel, Los Cauquenes. The remainder of the day is free. The hotel has a lovely spa with a swimming pool, outdoor terrace, exercise area, sauna and a whole host of treatments, just the way to unwind after your busy days exploring Patagonia. Afternoon tea is served daily from 4pm, complete with exquisite pastries, scones and cakes, and later you can enjoy a relaxed dinner at the restaurant.
Breakfast
Day 13
Beagle Channel Cruise, Depart Ushuaia
Following breakfast, you board a small boat for a cruise through the Beagle Channel to Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, which has been operating since 1920, and Isla de Lobos where you can observe a large colony of sea lions. After this cruise you are driven to the airport for your onward flight, not departing till after 3pm.
Breakfast
Call: 01473 890499
Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.
Enquire
