Hike and Cruise Patagonia

Your tour starts in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, a city oozing charm and sophistication. A driver will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Be sure to make use of your night in Buenos Aires by strolling the streets, seeing its charming districts and plazas, and perhaps even finding some tango dancing in Dorrego Square.

Today, you fly south to Ushuaia, the capital of the Tierra del Fuego peninsula and a busy port for cruise ships. This tiny coastal town is perched right on the ocean and surrounded by incredible snow-capped peaks. You'll have the afternoon free to explore and be sure to try the local Ushuaia specialty of king crab at a local restaurant.

It's time to board the Ventus Australis, a beautiful cruise ship that navigates the fjords and channels here. Your home for the next five days, the Australis will take you through some of the most untouched landscapes on the planet that few tourists ever get to see. It's an all-inclusive cruise, so all you have to do is enjoy the ride.

In the early morning, the Australis navigates the Murray Channel and Nassau Bay en route to Cape Horn National Park, known for its scenic hiking routes.

The ship then continues to historic Wulaia Bay, originally settled by the Yamana aboriginal peoples and visited in 1833 by Charles Darwin.

Considered a must-see while cruising around Tierra del Fuego, the 20-kilometre long Pia Glacier is an incredible sight to behold. Take the shore excursion to the viewpoint overlooking the glacier to be blown away by its sheer size.

Later, the Australis cruises past icebergs in the scenic area known as Glacier Alley.

After sailing through the dramatic landscape of Cockburn Channel and Agostini Sound, you disembark to see the glaciers of the Darwin Mountain Range. Watch for abundant native condors circling overhead at the aptly named Condor Glacier and travel through the meltwaters of the Aguila Glacier.

It's your last day aboard the Australis, and today's excursion will be unforgettable. At Magdalena Island, you can see colonies of adorable Magellan Penguins in their natural habitat.

Before lunch, you check out from the Australis and travel overland to Puerto Natales, where you start the next section of your adventure through Patagonia.

Torres del Paine National Park attracts hikers and trekkers from all over the world thanks to its legendary landscapes of jagged peaks, rivers, and lakes. Today, you'll see some of its most incredible sights, including Laguna Amarga, the iconic black-tipped granite needles of the Cuernos, and the towering Salto Grande waterfall.

The border town of Cerro Castillo marks the crossing between Chile and Argentina. From here, you travel by bus across the vast plains of the pampas to reach El Calafate, a town on the edge of Lake Argentino.

A driver will greet you upon arrival at the bus terminal and take you to your hotel for the night.

El Calafate's most famous sight is undoubtedly the Perito Moreno Glacier, considered one of the most impressive in all of Patagonia. The star of the Los Glaciares National Park, Perito Moreno Glacier boasts a massive turquoise wall of ice and seracs falling into the waters of Lake Argentino. It's humbling to stand before this awesome ice giant.

After you check out, a driver will take you from your hotel to El Calafate International Airport to catch your departure flight to Buenos Aires. Leave with a memory bank filled to the brim!