Day 2: Chilean Cooking Class, Explore Valparaíso

Get a taste of Chile’s beloved cuisine today with a small-group cooking class. Accompanied by an expert chef, you’ll begin at one of Valparaíso’s iconic street markets to pick up fresh ingredients. Back in the kitchen, the chef will teach you step-by-step how to make some of Chile’s most famous dishes, from ceviche to empanadas, as well as signature pisco sour cocktails. 

After feasting on your creations, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy Valparaíso as you wish. Navigate the calf-busting streets and stop to sip coffee in charming cafés. If you’re craving some sun, relax on nearby Concón Beach, or for a slice of serenity, chill out on the terrace of one of the city’s many hillside restaurants and bars.

Day 6: Day Trip to Chiloé Island & Penguin Colony

Meet your driver early for the ride south of Puerto Varas to the port town of Pargua. There, you’ll board a ferry for the 30-minute ride to the northern tip of Chiloé island. Both geographically and culturally, this is one of the most distinctive areas of the country. Chiloé is an archipelago comprised of many little islands and one main one, Isla Grande, which abounds with myths and legends. Supposedly, the island is inhabited by witches who fly from the caves after dark and can be seen as lights zipping across the night sky.

Your first destination is the northern coastal town of Ancud. During a stop, you can hike up Huaihuen Hill for prime views of Ancud’s many landmarks. This includes the Fuerte San Antonio, an early 19th-century Spanish-colonial fort that played a significant role in the wars for independence. You’ll also visit the regional museum and municipal market, as well as the Caulín Bird Sanctuary, which is a shelter for migratory birds like black-necked swans, flamingoes, and herons.

The day trip continues with a visit to a penguin colony in nearby Puñihuil. The area is filled with Magellanic and Humboldt penguins and is the only place in the world where these two species coexist. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to Puerto Varas and enjoy a relaxing evening in town. 

Day 7: Fly to Punta Arenas, Explore

In the morning, return to the airport in Puerto Montt, where you’ll catch a 2.5-hour flight south to Punta Arenas. Located on the Strait of Magellan, this port city was founded in 1848 and, in its heyday, was home to the creme de la creme of Patagonian society. Nowadays, it’s a hub for excursions to famous locales like Torres del Paine National Park.

Upon arrival, you’ll transfer to your hotel. Then, if you like, you can spend the rest of the day exploring. The perfect starting point for a walk around town is the Plaza Muñoz Gamero. Not only is this leafy central plaza a gem (the pathways are lined with French street lamps, and a statue of Magellan sits in the center), but it’s surrounded by grand neoclassical mansions once owned by the moneyed sheep-ranching families of the 19th century.

If you like, watch the sun go down at Mirador Cerro de la Cruz. This viewpoint overlooks the city all the way out to the Strait of Magellan and is the perfect spot to watch a sunset. Later, enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in town. Seafood is a staple, so sample some local specialties, like chupe de centolla (souffle of king crab), as well as oysters, scallops, and other shellfish.

Day 9: Transfer to Puerto Natales, Explore

After breakfast, you’ll hop on a bus for the three-hour drive north to Puerto Natales. This waterfront town is famous as the base for excursions into Torres del Paine, a legendary protected area that covers 700 square miles (1,810 sq km) and is renowned for its circuit treks. Upon arrival, a driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel.

After checking in and receiving a trip briefing, you’ll have the rest of the day free. Simple pleasures in Puerto Natales include strolling the promenade fronting the silver waters of the Seno Última Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). In the distance, you’ll see the peaks of Cerro Benitez and Cerro Toro, and the sunset views are phenomenal.

Day 10: Hiking & Horseback Riding at Estancia La Peninsula

Meet your driver at the hotel this morning for the ride to Estancia La Peninsula on the Antonio Veras Peninsula. This sprawling sheep and cattle ranch is surrounded by glaciers, mountains, and beech forests. Getting there involves a fun 40-minute boat trip across the Última Esperanza Sound.

When you arrive at this working wool farm, you’ll get an overview of the grounds and choose your own adventure for the day. Possible activities include horseback riding, wildlife viewing, hiking, bird-watching, and more. Your schedule depends on your interests. In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional Patagonian asado (barbecue) prepared by the staff and attend the daily sheepshearing demonstration. Return by boat to Puerto Natales in the evening.

Day 12: Grey Glacier Boat Tour

Get ready for another memorable boat tour. This time, you’ll board the Grey III catamaran and begin a journey toward Grey Glacier, a massive ice floe in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field that feeds Lago Grey. You’ll cruise across the lake until you get close to the glacier, at which point you’ll have fantastic views of the Grey’s massive ice walls (a terrific photo opportunity).

Following the boat tour, you’ll take a short guided hike along a windswept beach and through the forest. Before transferring back to Puerto Natales, there’s the option to go on another hike in the area, perhaps to nearby Mirador Ferrier, which offers jaw-dropping views of the park’s many colored lakes.

Day 14: Day Trip to Perito Moreno Glacier

Meet your driver this morning and head out on a tour of Los Glaciares National Park. The ride there takes about an hour, and as you enter the park, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the mighty Perito Moreno. This expansive glacier flows down from the Andes over the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, ending in a great wall that curves around the lake. Enjoy views of this marvel of Mother Nature via a network of wooden boardwalks on the waterfront (be sure to take plenty of photos).

Then, head over to the port at Bajo de Las Sombras and board a boat for a one-hour tour of the glacier’s southern face. The first 20 minutes of the trip will take you past icebergs floating on the lake. These are the result of “calving,” a periodic occurrence when ice breaks off the face of the glacier. Eventually, you’ll get up close with Perito Moreno’s massive ice wall, which rises as high as 230 feet (70 m). After the hourlong tour, you’ll return to the port and transfer back to El Calafate.

Day 15: Day Trip to La Leona Petrified Forest

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Join your driver this morning and set off along a scenic ride north along the famed Route 40 highway, passing the vast Patagonian steppe. There will be a few stops on this small-group tour, first at the historic La Leona Hotel, a guesthouse that once hosted the legendary American outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Then continue on to the La Leona Petrified Forest, home to 70 million-year-old petrified tree trunks and rare dinosaur fossils. Here, you’ll embark on a brisk nature hike, breaking midway for a picnic lunch. Afterward, you’ll transfer back to El Calafate.

Day 16: Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart

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You’ve answered the call of the wild, now it’s time to move on to the next adventure. In the morning, you’ll check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport, where you’ll board a plane to Buenos Aires and catch your connecting flight home. Adiós!