Patagonia from Coyhaique to Torres del Paine via El Chalten Tour

Start your tour in Chile's incredibly scenic capital city, which sits in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes Mountains. A driver will greet you at the airport to transfer you to your hotel.

Make the most of your night in Santiago by heading out to see its historical sights, ubiquitous street art, and beautiful views.

Today, your journey south begins with a domestic flight to Coyhaique, a small city surrounded by nature reserves and national parks. A driver will take you to your hotel, where you'll have the rest of the day free to explore the lovely town—walk down any street and enjoy a cinematic view of mountains in the background.

Leaving Coyhaique behind, take a 4.5-hour bus ride through the South American steppe, passing the immense Lake General Carrera.

At Puerto Tranquilo, you'll check into the hotel and have free time to explore the sights, such as the famous Marble Chapels, which have been carved and created by time, wind, and water.

The massive Laguna San Rafael National Park boasts pristine fjords, glaciers, and islands best explored from the water.

Today, you'll take a boat cruise through the Exploradores River Delta and arrive at the San Rafael Glacier to see its imposing blue walls of ice that can make any visitor feel small.

Continuing south by bus, you'll skirt around General Carrera Lake and travel through the rural countryside where Chilean cowboys still gather their herds on horseback.

Soon after, you reach the idyllic Puerto Bertrand at the mouth of Rio Bertrand, a haven for fly fishing and whitewater rafting. Spend the night at a scenic riverside lodge.

Patagonia National Park is a success story in ecosystem restoration. After decades of exploitation for large ranches, today, the territory is a sanctuary for wildlife like the Andean deer. Enjoy the park's rolling hills and gorgeous scenery, then transfer to Cochrane at the end of the day.

A town brimming with gaucho (cowboy) culture, Cochrane feels frozen in time. Visit the historic Melero General Store and see how settlers would stock up on goods during their long journeys.

Later, you travel by bus to the isolated village of Tortel to get a truly remote experience.

The settlers who came to this far-flung area built their homes on stilts right on the water and lived a self-sufficient life. Enjoy the tranquility of Tortel when you wake to uninterrupted views of gorgeous lakes and rivers.

Then, you'll travel by bus to the Mitchell Fjord to catch the ferry to Villa O'Higgins, a secluded village accessible only by boat.

Surrounded by turquoise water and snow-capped mountains, Villa O'Higgins was founded when this land belonged to no country. From this remote outpost, you board a boat for Lake O'Higgins and see the blue-grey O'Higgins Glacier. Your destination is Candelario Mancilla, a tiny pioneer settlement where you'll spend the night off-grid, far away from the outside world.

Today, you'll hike from Candelario Mancilla to the Argentine border post with pack horses or a 4x4 vehicle carrying your luggage. It's a gorgeous walk through the forest with your first views of Mt. Fitz Roy.

Upon your arrival at Lac del Desierto, you get your passport stamped and travel by ferry across the lake to transfer to the trekking hub of El Chaltén.

Los Glaciares National Park is a stunning expanse of rivers, glaciers, and jagged mountain peaks. The route to Mirador los Tres is one of the most popular treks, with a one-hour climb to the foot of Mt. Fitz Roy. From here, you see the reflection of the park's stone giants reflected in the Laguna de los Tres and the green waters of Laguna Sucia.

The hike to Cerro Torre winds its way along Rio Fitz Roy until you arrive at the foot of Cerro Torre, a massive granite crag covered with a snow mushroom. Admire views of the Viedma Glacier in the distance.

In the afternoon you will take a bus to Calafate. Your bus will take the Route 40, continue to Estancia la Leona cross Rio San Cruz, and follow Lake Argentino to arrive in El Calafate.

The star of Los Glaciares National Park is undoubtedly the Perito Moreno Glacier, with its huge blue ice tongues rolling down from the continental ice field. To get a closer look, ask the glacier guides about navigating the southern part of the ice.

Return to El Calafate and catch the bus to Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park.

A true hiking paradise, Torres del Paine National Park attracts adventurers from all over the globe. Today, you'll cruise across Lake Pehoe by catamaran and hike to the impressive Grey Glacier, passing icebergs adrift on Grey Lake.

Follow the route back to Paine Grande, where you rest for the night in a mountain hut.

Passing Pointe Bariloche, you reach Lake Skottsberg and enter the French Valley with incredible views of the black-tipped Cuernos in the distance. At the foot of the Cuernos, you look up to the crest of the 3050-metre tall Paine Grande in all its glory.

After hiking back to Lake Pehoe, cross by catamaran and take the bus to Laguna Amarga to spend the night in Las Torres.

One of the most famous hikes in Torres del Paine National Park, the Mirador las Torres is a must-see! Following the Ascencio River, you reach the foot of the moraine and then climb for an hour to the viewpoint. Take a few moments to appreciate the mind boggling sight of 1000-metre vertical granite walls, glaciers, and turquoise lakes below.

Return to Puerto Natales for the night.

Your trekking adventure along Patagonia's Southern Route comes to an end today. After getting dropped at the bus terminal, you take a 2.5-hour bus ride to Punta Arenas to get your departure flight from the airport. Safe journey home!