Tours to the glaciers in Chilean Patagonia

The experience: Route of Parks with Patagonia Pure

Enjoy nature in a unique way on this 16 day round trip, through the beauties of the Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia. You will also find the opportunity to meet local people like farmers, Gauchos and owners of small family hotels. We will be traveling through the Ruta de Los Parques de la Patagonia. We will experience the wonderful Patagonia in a comfortable vehicle and we will find time to relax in accommodations of simpler category.

During this program you will be visiting National Parks that are considered as part of the “Ruta de los Parques de la Patagonia” that is one of the most beautiful scenic routes in Chile and in the world!  This unique and new route goes from Puerto Montt to Cabo de Hornos and it integrates 17 National Parks.  In this “Pure Patagonia” Program the Alerce Andino and Torres National Parks are options of this Route you can visit! 

 

The progam

16 days / 15 nights

You will be picked up at the international Airport of Santiago by our English-speaking local guide. He will get you to your hotel where you will try our national drink: Pisco Sour. Later on you will continue with a city tour visiting the historical city center, the market, the cathedral and the Plaza de Arma andl as other interesting places.


You will spend one night at the Hostal Rio Amazonas.

After breakfast you will take the transfer to the airport to fly to the south. On the air you will have the view of the Andes mountain range. Once you get to Puerto Montt your guide and driver will be waiting for you. You will be taken to your hotel in the “Town of Roses”, Puerto Varas.

Two Nights at the Hotel Weisserhaus (3*)

After breakfast, you will have to choose between different activities:

There’s the opportunity to go to visit the National Park Alerce Andino, one of the 17th parks that belong to the Route of Parks.

This park is classified as a Biosphere reserve of temperate rain forests. It also has unique characteristics because this area remained isolated from the ice that covered this place 12,000 years ago, which gave the particular characteristic of having endemic forests: it has unique species in the world, which you will not find in any other places on earth.

Other activities you can choose for doing today:  Rafting tour on the Petrohue River, Canyoning in the River Blanco or trekking tour at the foot of the Calbuco Volcano. (Each with a minimum of 2 persons per activity).

Today’s departure is very early in the morning and we will be heading south. Driving along the famous “Carretera Austral”, now part of the Ruta de los Parques de la Patagonia, we will be using different ferries to finally get through the Pumalin Park to Chaiten.

The town of Chaiten is being rebuilt after the eruption of the Volcano with the same name in the 2008. You can learn more about what the power of nature was like by visiting the town affected areas and hearing stories of people who went back after the catastrophe.

In the evening you will visit the Amarillo Hotsprings.

One night at the Hotel Yelcho (3*)

Today we continue our journey further south on the Carretera Austral – Ruta de los Parques de la Patgonia”, the unpaved extension of the Chilean Panamericana. Passing through untouched Wilderness, light-blue rivers and impressive mountains we arrive to the little village of Puyuhuapi.

1 Night at the Hotel Casa Ludwig (2*)

Today’s program will be a beautiful trekking in the Queulat National Park. The highlight is the sightseen from where you can enjoy the view to the hanging glacier and its waterfall.

Our journey continues through an impressive landscape of wild vegetation, dense woods, silent fjords and mountains covered by snow. Following the Simpson River we arrive in Coyhaique, the capital of the Aysen Region. One night at the Belisario Jara hotel (3*).

After leaving Coyhaique we drive through steppe scenery. Passing the “Devils pass”, we will be able to start seeing the General Carrera lake. You will have plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful landscape around the lake while we drive to Puerto Tranquilo, where we will spend the night.

Two nights at Hotel El Puesto.

We have a full day trekking in the Exploradores Glacier. Enjoy the fantastic views of the great National Park Laguna San Rafael.

 

Driving along the Lake General Carrera, we will get closer to the Argentinean border, passing the town of Chile Chico. This town is also called “Sun City” because of its nice climate. People here plant mainly cherries and some other kind of fruits. After crossing the Argentinean border we reach Perito Moreno, our destination for today. One night at Hotel Americano (3*)

Today we reach the legendary Rute 40, which will take us further south through the unending steppe landscape of Patagonia. After a long drive we leave the “Ruta 40” behind and we will approach the Andes again.  Weather permitting we will be able to see impressive rock formations of the Fitz Roy Mountain, before we arrive to “El Chalten”. Two nights at Hosteria El Pilar (3*)

The Fitz Roy Mountain is well known among climbers for its amazing ice walls, strong winds and its constant changing weather. Trekking lovers from around the world also enjoy its trekking trails in Los Glaciares National Park. After breakfast we will also discover one and we will try an easy hike.

Today’s drive takes us along the Videma Lake all the way to “El Calafate” town. We continue our journey and we will visit the Perito Moreno Glacier. This Glacier pushes, with incredible force, huge masses of ice from the big ice fields down to the lake. It moves up to two meters daily, so it is one of the few growing glaciers remaining in the world. Enjoy the unforgettable spectacle when big chunks of ice fall into the lake. One night in Hotel Sierra Nevada (3*)

Today we will continue our journey leaving Argentina behind and driving back to Chile. In the afternoon we will reach one of the highlights of this trip and part of the “Ruta de los Parques de a Patagonia”: the Torres del Paine National Park. Two nights at Hotel Las Torres Patagonia (3-4*).

Today’s trekking tour will take us to the base of the Paine towers. The first part consists of one hour ascension to the valley of the Asencio River. You will have a beautiful view to the lakes in the park. Then you continue with another hour, hiking through a “Lenga” forest until we arrive to the sightseen with a perfect view of the Paine towers. In the afternoon we hike back to the Hotel.

Our destination today is Punta Arenas, Chile’s most southern city. On the way there we will visit the Milodon cave. Here, the German Colonist Eberhard found the bones of an ancient animal called “Milodon”. A statue of the animal (natural size) can be seen in the cave. We will also walk in the City of Punta Arenas where we will be able to enjoy views of the Magallanes straight which separates the mainland of the “Tierra del Fuego” Island. One Night at Hotel Isla Rey Jorge (3*)

Transfer to the airport. Here our pure Patagonia journey ends! We know you will have great memories.

  • English-speaking guide (one in Santiago and from the second day on you will have the same guide)
  • Transportation from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas (Chilean & Argentinean Patagonia).
  • Vehicle with comfortable seats and driver (2 – 3 passengers with English speaking driver-guide)
  • Accommodations are in basic and clean Hotels, “Hosterias” and Cabins with private bathrooms.
  • The overnight in Torres del Paine is in a hut in shared rooms & bathrooms (with other travelers).
  • Breakfast every day
  • Box lunch the days 05, 06, 11 and 14
  • All entrance fees
  • Not included: Meals not mentioned above, tips and flights.
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