Compare Exploring Argentine & Chilean Patagonia in 15 days by Qwerty Travel Argentina vs Chile & Argentina's Patagonian highlights by Audley Travel

Day 1: Buenos Aires

Arrival at Buenos Aires airport and transfer to your accommodation.

Day 2: Buenos Aires – City tour

During the morning visit the city of Buenos Aires. This tour gives you the emotion of a multiple Buenos Aires. We will see the symbol of our city: the obelisk. We will visit different squares such as Plaza de Mayo, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Congreso. Avenues like Corrientes, Mayo, 9 de Julio, among others. Historical neighbourhoods: La Boca, San Telmo, Montserrat. Elegant neighbourhoods such as Palermo and Recoleta, and the most modern: Puerto Madero. Parks such as Lezama and Tres de Febrero. We will also visit financial and commercial areas and a Football Stadium.

Day 3: Buenos Aires – Ushuaia

Transfer to the airport. Flight to Ushuaia. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Day 4: Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego National Park

Represents the southernmost protected area, the only National Park that has coastlines, covering a stretch of 6 km. Wide over the Beagle Channel and an area of 63,000 hectares. It is reached by the National Highway No. 3 to N.A. Ushuaia, met along the way Pipo River, Monte Susana, Ensenada Bay, Redonda Island sighting, lake Roca Casita del Bosque, Laguna Verde and Negra, beaver dam, Lapataia Bay, marking the end of the route, to 3,242 km. Federal Capital. The topography of the park is extremely varied, everything is a series of craggy mountains, rivers, valleys and lakes, resulting in varied landscapes from the picturesque and lively stream to the mass of towering mountains, or the extraordinary spectacle of the majestic Canal Beagle . During the spring and summer, you can admire varied and colorful flowers: mutillas, violet, primrose, white orchids, armories, white and yellow daisies, and the various tree species: Cinnamon, Wood Dura Notros Lenga Ñire, Burgundy presenting as Misodendro parasites and the Llao Llao, observing lichens, which hang in the form of a beard. The most common mammals are foxes and rabbits, living in the Park also muskrat and beaver. Among birds, Upland Goose and gray-headed, steamer ducks and great grebe, the black carpenter and rayadito giant, as the Park presents exclusive marine birds such as albatross, the oystercatcher overo the white Cauquen and mammals such as seals and otters sea.

Day 5: Ushuaia– Calafate

Transfer to the airport. Flight to Ushuaia. Arrival and transfer to your accommodation

Day 6: Perito Moreno Glacier with nautic safari

Departure from the morning to travel the 80 kms distance separating El Calafate Perito Moreno glacier, unique in the world in constant progress. During the trip you know beautiful places in the Andean foothills, along the south bank of Lake Argentino. After crossing the river Centinela and Mitre, was reached at Brazo Rico to enter the National Park Los Glaciares. Bordering the Lake Rico began to spot the icebergs floating on the water until we can finally appreciate the full extent of this natural wonder has been declared by the United Nations as World Heritage. Stay in place and return to El Calafate.

Day 7: El Calafate

Day at leisure to discover this amazing ville by your own or enjoy some suggested optional excursion.

Day 8: Calafate – Puerto Natales

Regular bus to Puerto Natales.

Day 9: Torres del Paine

The excursion begins visiting the Milodon Cave, a natural monument located on Benitez Hill, 25 kilometres from Puerto Natales, where in 1895 were found remains of extinct animals like Sabre Toothed Tiger, American Horse and a large mammal known as Milodon. It is necessary to walk for half an hour to go into the cave and observe the stalactites, places where the remains were found and a replica of Milodon.

Afterward a technical stop is held in the village of Cerro Castillo, where there are possibilities for shopping, enjoy the coffee service or just for a break.

Continuing the trip toward Torres del Paine National Park, visitors will be able to enjoy the most diverse landscapes, such as, the Magellanic deciduous forest and the vast Patagonian steppe dominated by the wind and aridity. On the way is possible to find two species members of the local fauna: the Patagonian guanaco, South American camel and relative of Llama, and the endemic lesser Rhea (Ñandu), relative of the African Ostrich. Once we get to the park, which is a biosphere reserve with a surface over 242.000 hectares, the landscape changes drastically becoming unforgettable due its dozen lakes populated by marine birds, and in the background granite picks dominating the area. Turquoise lakes, waterfalls and mountains covered by ice are the predominant landscape inside the park. A walk for 15 minutes into the park is necessary toward the Waterfall (Salto Grande), which is communicating two big lakes inside the park; Nordenskjold and Pehoe Lakes. After lunch the trip continues with a walk on the shores of Grey Lake, where blue icebergs can be seen, and in the background the vast Grey glacier. Depending on the requirements, the return is done by the same road, or by the new road bordering lakes Toro, Porteño and Sofía.

Day 10: Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas – Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas

Transfer to Punta Arenas on Regular Bus. Arrival at Punta Arena’s airport. Flight to Puerto Montt. Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Puerto Mont or Puerto Varas.

Day 11: Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas – Andean Crossing - Bariloche

Andean Crossing. This pioneering journey quickly became one of the attractions of Lake Todos los Santos and Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, the first national park in Chile and the second oldest in America. The circuit offers travelers the opportunity to marvel at the nature of two national parks Andean environment, the Pérez Rosales in Chile and the NahuelHuapi in Argentina, "surf" the Andes through lakes and rivers, visit places magic, as Puerto Blest and Peulla, and enjoy, in the headwaters of the course, two beautiful cities: Bariloche and Puerto Varas

Day 12: Bariloche – Short Circuit with Campanario mount

Circuito Chico is a Scenic Tour on which to enjoy good food as well as the beautiful views. The scenery is magnificent along the whole drive, and there are several natural lookouts, such as López Bay and "Punto Panorámico" panoramic lookout. Cerro Campanario, a hill standing "in the center of the landscape" (Km 17), has a chairlift that will carry you up to "the heights of amazement" to enjoy the most beautiful view in the area.

Tasty specialties at several tea houses and restaurants along the way add flavor to the scenic tour. Hotel LlaoLlao and San Eduardo Chapel, opposite Puerto Pañuelo, are unique tourist attractions. If you have time, the easy paths through LlaoLlao Municipal Park provide an opportunity for a peaceful walk through the forest. Another alternative is to drive a few more kilometers to the traditional village Colonia Suiza with its unique atmosphere of a historical old rural settlement.

Other attractions along Circuito Chico are regional craft products including knitted garments, woodwork, candles, pottery and cosmetics, among others. Don’t miss the Small Circle Scenic Tour!

Day 13: Bariloche

Today you have a free day to enjoy and spend on your own.

Day 14: Bariloche– Buenos Aires

Transfer to the airport. Flight to Buenos Aires. Arrival and transfer to your accommodation

Day 15: Buenos Aires

Transfer to the airport.

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Santiago.

Day 2 : Santiago

Arriving in Santiago youâre met by your private guide and driver and taken to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing after your journey. Alternatively, if youâre keen to start exploring, thereâs an option to head out on a city tour with your guide. Visit the cityâs commercial hub of Huérfanos and Ahumada, then the main square of Plaza de Armas. End by climbing Santa Lucía Hill, a long, steep rock covered in vegetation with great views over the city.

Day 3 : Torres del Paine National Park

Your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas, which lasts roughly three and a half hours. On arrival you're met by your guide from your lodge for the four hour drive to Torres del Paine National Park. After arriving at your lodge, you're briefed on the possible activities of the coming days and rest after the journey.

Day 4 : Torres del Paine National Park

Head out into Torres del Paine National Park to take part in a number of trips or activities booked in advance with your lodge guide. You could go horse riding, fishing or explore the area by 4x4. If you like hiking, we suggest embarking on the hike to the mirador (viewpoint) over the towers, a demanding but exciting uphill walk that ends with you looking out over the cyan lagoon at the towers' base.

Day 5 : Torres del Paine National Park

Another day taking part in trips and activities from your lodge. Today you might want to journey by boat among the marooned icebergs of the milky Lago Grey to reach the snout of the Grey Glacier. All meals are included during your stay.

Day 6 : El Calafate

Today you travel by coach across the border into Argentina, leaving at 9am and arriving into El Calafate's bus station at 3pm. Your private driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day and evening relaxing in your hotel.

Day 7 : El Calafate

Enjoy a full day (ten hours) trip to the Perito Moreno glacier. Your driver picks you and takes you to a jetty on the Lago Argentino where you join a small group on a boat ride to the glacier face. Look out for icebergs calving. We can arrange for you to do some trekking on the glacier itself (age restrictions apply) with experienced guides: this allows you to walk among the constantly changing ice formations and get a sense of their scale. Lunch isn't included although we can arrange for your hotel to provide a packed lunch.

Day 8 : El Calafate

A day at leisure in El Calafate. We recommend hiring bicycles and going down to the Lago Argentino to observe the bird life along the lake. Go north to a spot called Laguna Nimez or to Bahía Redonda, where you'll find lookouts, hides, and recommended circuits. You might see ducks, geese, black-necked swans, coots, ibis and (at certain times of the year) Chilean flamingos.

Day 9 : Buenos Aires

Take a private transfer to El Calafate airport in time to catch your flight to Buenos Aires, which takes around three hours. Arriving in Buenos Aires, you're met by your private driver and guide and transferred to your hotel. Relax after your journey or head out for a walk in the area around your hotel - Buenos Aires has many distinct districts with their own character.

Day 10 : Buenos Aires

Today enjoy a guided tour of the highlights of the Argentine capital. This is a shared excursion which lasts roughly four hours, after which you're free to explore under your own steam. It includes a visit to the Plaza de Mayo where Eva Perón famously addressed the crowds from a balcony. Your guide shows you some of the city's more modern quarters, as well as San Telmo, the home of tango and more traditional districts.

Day 11 : Buenos Aires

A day at leisure to further explore the city. We suggest returning to the places that particularly captured your imagination in yesterday's tour. In the evening, you'll be picked up and taken by shared transfer to the Carlos Cardel Tango show, which includes dinner.

Day 12 : International return flight

Today take a coach transfer to the airport in time to catch your international return flight.

Day 13 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.