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W Hike Patagonia + Atacama of Chile & Uyuni of Bolivia
Trek Patagonia’s iconic W Trail, marvel at Atacama’s starry skies, and wander Uyuni’s surreal salt flats, embracing Chile and Bolivia’s breathtaking landscapes!
Discover
15-Day Adventure
Rate $$$$
Rate based on double accommodation.
Highlights
Chile & Argentina
Huerquehue National Park
Villarrica National Reserve
Perito Moreno National Park
Los Glaciares National Park
Torres del Paine National Park
Your South American adventure begins today as you depart from the United States, bound for Santiago, Chile. Settle in for your overnight flight and dream of the incredible experiences awaiting you. You're leaving behind the familiar landscapes to delve into the diverse ecosystems of the Southern Cone.
Early Morning: Touch down in Santiago, Chile's vibrant capital. Situated in a valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains to the east and the Chilean Coast Range to the west, Santiago boasts a Mediterranean climate. Your local guide will warmly welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. After settling into your hotel, you'll have the option to embark on a city tour (upon request) to discover the highlights of Santiago. Explore historic neighborhoods like Barrio Lastarria, visit iconic landmarks such as La Moneda Palace and Plaza de Armas, and immerse yourself in the local culture. You'll observe a city that perfectly blends colonial history with modern urban development, set against a stunning mountain backdrop.
Today, you'll transfer from your hotel to the Santiago airport for a scenic domestic flight to Temuco. As you fly south, you'll notice a shift in the landscape from the drier central valley to the lusher, more temperate regions of the Chilean Lake District.
Upon arrival in Temuco, your local guide will take you to Pucón, nestled at the foot of the active Villarrica Volcano and surrounded by lakes and forests. This region is part of the Valdivian temperate rainforest ecosystem, characterized by its high biodiversity and ancient trees.
In the afternoon, settle into your hotel in Pucón and take some time to explore the hotel’s property and its amenities, such as natural surroundings, offering views of the lake or volcano. Relax, unwind, and prepare for the exhilarating days ahead in this hub of outdoor activities.
Today is dedicated to an incredible full-day hike in Huerquehue National Park. This protected natural reserve is a prime example of the temperate rainforest ecosystem, renowned for its ancient Araucaria (monkey puzzle) forests. These majestic trees, some thousands of years old, are a living fossil and an iconic symbol of the region.
Your hike will lead you through dense undergrowth of ferns and other native flora, opening up to stunning viewpoints overlooking Laguna Verde and Laguna Toro, pristine glacial lakes nestled within the volcanic landscape. This National Park is also home to a variety of birds, including the Chilean flicker and the chucao tapaculo. This challenging yet rewarding hike covers approximately 15 KM and takes 5-7 hours.
Experience a diverse day of natural wonders, showcasing the volcanic and aquatic features of the region. Have your bathing suit handy and enjoy a short hike to Ojos del Caburgua Pond and Azul Lagoon, famous for their incredibly clear, turquoise waters fed by underground volcanic springs. You'll witness small waterfalls creating these vibrant pools. Visit the Trouts at the Fishes Viewpoint, a unique spot to observe local aquatic life in a natural setting.
Later, discover the beauty of Lake Caburgua, one of Chile's clearest lakes, surrounded by native forests. The day culminates with unwinding in the rejuvenating thermal baths at Huife. These natural hot springs are heated by geothermal activity from the nearby volcanoes, offering a relaxing soak amidst the pristine forest, a perfect example of how the region's volcanic geology shapes its landscape and resources.
Embark on an exhilarating full-day hike along the Challupén Alto Trail within the Villarrica National Reserve, leading towards the majestic Volcano Villarrica. This active stratovolcano dominates the skyline of Pucón and its surroundings. As you ascend, the vegetation changes, moving from temperate forests to a more alpine environment with volcanic ash and rock. This challenging trek covers 10 KM and takes 8-9 hours, offering scenic views and glacial lakes like Lake Villarrica and Calafquén along the way. You'll witness firsthand the geological forces that have shaped this dramatic landscape, and if conditions are clear, you might even see the volcano's fumaroles.
Today is a transition day as you journey to one of the world's most iconic national parks. Your local support team will transfer you from Pucón and then connect you to a flight to Puerto Natales. As you fly further south, you'll observe the landscape transforming from the lush Lake District to the vast, windswept plains of Patagonian steppe, eventually giving way to the dramatic peaks and glaciers of the Andes. From Puerto Natales, a transfer will take you directly into the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. Prepare to be awestruck by the dramatic scenery that awaits in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, renowned for its unique blend of mountains, glaciers, rivers, and lakes.
Begin your exploration of Torres del Paine with a visit to a stunning waterfall, Salto Grande, where the turquoise waters of Lake Nordenskjöld plunge into Lake Pehoé. This area showcases the powerful hydrological system of the park, fed by glacial meltwater. Keep an eye out for guanacos grazing on the open plains and various bird species, including condors soaring overhead.
In the afternoon, enjoy a short hike or activity within the Las Torres property, which is nestled within the park's eastern sector. This area offers a blend of Patagonian steppe and pre-Andean shrubland. You might explore a section of the W Trek, enjoy views of the Almirante Nieto mountain, or simply relax and absorb the vastness of your surroundings. The crisp Patagonian air and immense skies are a constant presence.
Today offers a choice of two iconic and challenging full-day hikes in Torres del Paine, both providing intimate encounters with the park's rugged peaks and glacial landscapes:
After your hike, you'll have the option to book a relaxing spa appointment (upon request), a well-deserved treat after exploring this demanding yet beautiful ecosystem.
Today marks an international transfer as you depart from Las Torres and embark on a picturesque 4.5-hour drive to El Calafate, Argentina, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. The drive takes you across the border and through the vast, arid Patagonian steppe, characterized by its strong winds and hardy, low-lying vegetation adapted to harsh conditions. You'll see wide open spaces, occasional guanacos, and perhaps rheas as you drive through the “end of the world” roads of the South.
Arrive at your lodge in El Calafate and take some time to explore the hotel property and its amenities. El Calafate itself is a charming town on the shore of Lake Argentino, surrounded by steppe, but with the towering Andes and their glaciers looming in the distance. Prepare for more incredible glacial encounters in the days to come.
Get ready for an awe-inspiring full day at the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the most accessible and dynamic glaciers in the world, located within Los Glaciares National Park —a UNESCO World Heritage Site— You'll have the incredible opportunity for a mini-trekking experience on the glacier itself, walking on the ancient, blue ice and witnessing its crevasses and seracs up close. This allows for an intimate understanding of glacial geology. Afterward, explore the extensive glacier walkway (pasarelas), offering various viewpoints of this massive ice formation. Perito Moreno is famous for its constant calving, where huge chunks of ice break off and crash into Lake Argentino, creating thunderous roars and immense splashes —a truly unforgettable natural spectacle.
Embark on a full-day Chaltén adventure, exploring the charming trekking capital of Argentina, El Chaltén. This village is nestled at the foot of the magnificent Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre massifs, part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The surrounding ecosystem is dominated by Patagonian forests of Nothofagus trees and high-alpine environments. Enjoy short hikes to Condors Lookout, providing panoramic views of the Rio de las Vueltas valley and the Fitz Roy range, and to Salto El Chorrillo, a beautiful waterfall amidst the forest. This day offers a taste of the stunning Fitz Roy massif's unique granite peaks and glacial valleys without the full-day strenuous treks, providing excellent opportunities for photography and wildlife spotting, including various Patagonian birds.
Experience the grandeur of Patagonia from a different perspective with a full-day boat tour on Lago Argentino. This massive, turquoise-colored glacial lake is the largest in Argentina and is fed by numerous glaciers, giving it its distinctive milky hue from suspended rock flour (glacial till). This unforgettable excursion will take you to witness the majestic Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers, towering ice formations that calve dramatically into the pristine waters. You'll navigate through icebergs that have calved from these massive ice fields, providing a stark reminder of the sheer scale of the Patagonian Ice Field, one of the largest freshwater reserves in the world outside the polar regions.
Your incredible Patagonian adventure comes to an end today. In the early morning, your support team will transfer you to El Calafate airport on time for your flight to Buenos Aires, the vibrant capital of Argentina. As you fly north, observe the landscape transition once more, from the arid Patagonian steppe to the vast, fertile Pampas grasslands surrounding Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires, you'll connect with your international flight home.
Thank you for spending fourteen wonderful days with us! Today, you arrive back home, filled with memories of the stunning landscapes, incredible hikes, and unique cultural experiences with our unmistakable warm hospitality from all Chileans and Argentinians you met during your adventure, from the volcanoes of the Lake District to the towering glaciers of Patagonia. Welcome back home, and we hope to serve you again soon in another Andean Adventure.
