HIGHLIGHTS OF
PATAGONIA TOUR

Flight from Santiago to Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park and the Chilean fjords.  

Private Transfer from Puerto Natales Airport to Hotel in Puerto Natales

Take a stroll through this quaint town on the Señoret Sound where you can browse a wide selection of souvenir shops and choose a nice restaurant for dinner.

Private Tour to Milodon Cave Natural Monument and Torres del Paine National Park

Milodon Cave Natural Monument

We will leave early in the morning and make our first stop at the Milodon Cave.  This Natural Monument is located just north of Puerto Natales.  This Monument is formed by a large cavern and a rocky formation called the “Chair of the Devil”.  It is here that the 10,000-year old remains of the prehistoric sloth-like animal called the “Milodon” were discovered in 1895 by German pioneer Hermann Eberhard.  At the entrance to the cave, you will see a statue of the Milodon.

Torres del Paine National Park

We continue on to Torres del Paine National Park.  We will enter the park at the western entrance by the Serrano River and head towards Grey Lake and a lookout point to view Grey Glacier. Then, you will have time for lunch overlooking the beautiful mountains and the Cuernos de Paine (Blue Horns).

After lunch, we continue to the middle of the park to Salto Grande Waterfall and to Nordernskjold and Sarmiento Lakes with their emerald and blue colors. Here, you may spot guanacos, condors, ñandus and other animals native to the area. 

Our last stop in the park will be Paine River Waterfall, which on a clear day offers incredible views of the famous Torres del Paine (Blue Towers).  

We will then exit the park’s eastern entrance at Laguna Amarga and return to Puerto Natales. 

Boat Ride to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers & Traditional Chilean “Asado” (BBQ Lunch) – Weather Permitting

You will cruise through the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) Fjord on a comfortable modern catamaran.  You arrive after about 2 hours to Balmaceda Glacier, with its summit covered with ice.  You then travel on to Serrano Glacier in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park where you dock for a one-hour walk through the forest to a lagoon with floating icebergs and wonderful views of the forested hills and glacier.  Once back on board the catamaran, you will be invited to a glass of whiskey with “millennial” ice from the glacier.   Before returning to Puerto Natales a stop will be made at Perales Ranch for a Chilean-style barbecue lunch.

Private Transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas on the “End of the World” Highway (3-hour drive)

You will embark on a 3-hour drive in a private vehicle through the tundra of southern Patagonia until reaching the city of Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan. 

Morning

Boat Ride to Magdalena Island Magellanic Penguin Colony on the Strait of Magellan (November – March) – Weather Permitting

Climb aboard a modern catamaran and cruise the Strait of Magellan.  While watching the water for the protruding fins of dolphins and tails of humpback whales, you will start to see in the distance the small and serene Magdalena Island.

This protected reserve has been a breeding site for Magellanic penguins since 1982. You will be amazed as you see thousands of penguins crowding the shore, squawking and frolicking happily in their natural habitat. Disembark and follow your guide along a trail that meanders around the island and delight in the curious nature of the penguins, which are sure to cross your path as you stroll. Observe hundreds of penguin burrows and gain fascinating insight into the mating habits and behavior of these birds while keeping an eye out for swooping cormorants and Andean seagulls. Ascend to the island’s highest elevation where there is a historic lighthouse.

Private Tour to Fort Bulnes and Strait of Magellan Park (April – October)

We will drive along the Strait of Magellan where you will see a variety of birds, including seagulls, caiquenes, ibis, cormorants, and others.  The trip takes about an hour.

Our first destination is the landmark that marks the geographic center of Chile, where you can take pictures.  We then continue to Fort Bulnes, located in the Strait of Magellan Park.

Founded in 1843 under the command of President Manuel Bulnes, the fort was abandoned and burned down six years later, due to the challenging living conditions and the harsh terrain. In 1943, the fort was reconstructed and it was fully restored in 2002.  As you explore the grounds, learn about the original construction of the buildings, constructed with logs, dirt and bricks made of grass. See the small church and chaplain’s quarters, and visit the jail, post office and stables. Discover the barracks and log cabins at this historic military outpost and imagine living within its defensive walls as you enjoy fabulous views of the Strait of Magellan.

Afternoon

Private City Tour of Punta Arenas

Lookout at Cerro de la Cruz Hill

We start at Cerro de la Cruz Hill, where you will enjoy panoramic views of the city and Strait of Magellan.  Here, you will have an opportunity to have lunch at Cafe Sarmiento (not included).  

Plaza de Armas Muñoz Gamero

Next stop, the city’s main plaza where you will find a statue of Ferdinand Magellan gazing out to the sea, which features a number of figures at its base, including a mermaid and an indigenous male whose leg and foot dangle down the base. His foot has been touched so often that the bronze has turned into a shining gold color. Legend has it that touching his foot is good luck and means you will return someday to Punta Arenas.

Waterfront

After strolling around the plaza, which also contains various handicraft stands for souvenir shopping, we will head to the Costanera, a walkway along the Strait of Magellan.

Sara Braun Municipal Cemetery

Afterwards, we visit the Sara Braun Municipal Cemetery. The cemetery tells the story of the early settlers to the area. The beautiful mausoleums of the wealthy rival those of Recoleta Cementery in Buenos Aires.  Here you will find the tomb of the Indio Desconocido or “Unknown Indian.” His body was found on an island in 1929 and brought here. Rumors began that his tomb had miraculous powers so people started leaving money at the grave asking for special favors.  The money was collected and eventually a bronze statue was placed on his grave.  The last member of the Selk’nam indigenous tribe is also buried here.

Nao Victoria Museum

Our last stop is the Nao Victoria Museum, which offers visitors the experience of interacting with replicas of the ships that contributed to the discovery and colonization of the region, including the Victoria, part of an expedition commanded by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and was the first ship to circumnavigate the world between 1519-1522. 

Other replicas include the HMS Beagle used by Charles Darwin during his five-year scientific journey that laid the groundwork for his theory of evolution between 1831-1836, and the Ancud, a small, custom-built schooner used by the first settlers in the region who came from Chiloe Island to the north in 1843 and who established Fort Bulnes effectively expanding the nation’s sovereignty and blocking European powers from establishing a foothold in the region.

Private Transfer to Punta Arenas Airport for Flight to Santiago

We offer an optional add-on private tour (weather permitting) to the only King Penguin colony in South America, located on Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost archipelago on the continent.  You should plan to stay one additional night in Punta Arenas.  This optional add-on private tour operates from October to April only.   The departure time is 6:30 a.m. and the estimated return time is 5:00 p.m.  The price for this optional add-on private tour is USD 400 per person for 2 people, USD 300 per person for 3-4 people, and USD 200 per person for 5-6 people.  The tour includes: private transportation, English-speaking driver guide, bottled water, ferry rides across the Strait of Magellan, and park entrance fee. If you are interested in this optional add-on private tour, please indicate this in the comment section of our Online Reservation Form when making your booking.  Please be aware that the distance of the penguins from the viewpoints varies depending on the movement of the penguins.  Park staff have binoculars to use if the penguins are more distant.  This tour is only possible if the ferry is operating across the Strait of Magellan. If this tour is cancelled for any reason, including poor weather conditions, a full refund of the optional add-on tour price will be issued.

(1) The weather in Patagonia can change without notice and can include severe conditions, such as gale-force winds.  Therefore, the order of activities may need to be changed on-site. 

(2) In the event of cancellations of sailings due to poor weather conditions: (1) during the Summer Season (November 1 – March 31): (a) if the boat tour to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers is cancelled, we will substitute this activity with a visit to Fort Bulnes and the Strait of Magellan Park near Punta Arenas, (b) if the boat tour to Magdalena Island Penguin Colony is cancelled, we will substitute this activity with a visit to Fort Bulnes and the Strait of Magellan Park near Punta Arenas, and (c) if both the boat ride to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers and the boat ride to Magdalena Island Penguin Colony are cancelled, we will substitute one boat ride with a visit to Fort Bulnes and the Strait of Magellan Park near Punta Arenas and will issue a reimbursement of USD 250 per person for the other sailing; and (2) during the Winter Season (April 1- October 31): If the boat ride to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers is cancelled, a reimbursement of USD 180 per person will be issued. All reimbursements will be issued within 24 hours of notification of the cancellation of the sailing(s).

(3) Although this is a private tour with your own vehicle and guide, the boat rides to the glaciers and to the penguin colony are not private experiences.  

(4) During the summer months from November to March, this tour operates daily starting in Puerto Natales and ending in Punta Arenas, as indicated in the itinerary above.  However, during the winter months from April to October, this tour only operates from Thursday to Monday, starting in Punta Arenas and ending in Puerto Natales (reverse itinerary).  This is due to the change in days of operation of sites visited between seasons.