Our most recommended things to do in Patagonia, Chile

From El Calafate: Torres del Paine Full Day Tour

1. From El Calafate: Torres del Paine Full Day Tour

Embark on a fascinating excursion to Torres del Paine, departing from El Calafate. Hike through a stunning national park, surrounded by glaciers, lakes, and waterfalls. Take in mesmerizing landscapes, explore a variety of natural landmarks, and enjoy an included lunch. Get picked up from your hotel and take the road to the Republic of Chile border crossing. After the customs and immigration procedures, meet your guide and begin to travel the last 80 kilometers to the National Park. Gaze at the Mirador del Lago Sarmiento de Gamboa, the Saltos del Río Paine, the upper viewpoint of Cerro Almirante Nieto/Cuernos del Paine, and the entrance to Laguna Amarga. Once inside the Torres del Paine National Park, dive into the different trekking trails and receive your packed lunch. Follow a trail from the Salto Grande and enjoy a low-difficulty walk towards the Mirador de Los Cuernos del Paine, on the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. Then, back in the vehicle, begin the ride to Lake Pehoé, the last viewpoint, overlooking the Cuernos del Paine and the French Valley. Continue exploring and getting to know the southernmost part of Chilean Patagonia. Learn about its flora and fauna on your return to Calafate.

Puerto Natales: Torres del Paine Full Day Tour

2. Puerto Natales: Torres del Paine Full Day Tour

Start the tour with pick up from your accommodation and set off for the Torres del Paine National Park. After arriving access the park through Portería Laguna Amarga, where you will be able to get an excellent view of the Paine Towers. As you venture through the park, observe a wide variety of native fauna and flora. Make several stops at the main viewpoints to appreciate the uniqueness of the landscape and the magnitude of the Paine Massif from different perspectives. At Midday, stop for lunch before continuing the itinerary toward Grey Lake. Here, enjoy a 1-hour hike through an ancient Lenga forest and along Grey Lake Beach. From this side of the park, it is possible to enjoy the view of the West face of the Paine Massif and the intense blue hues of Grey’s glacial ice. Once your adventure in the park is over, drive back to Puerto Natales. On the way, stop by the Mylodon Cave Natural Monument, of the Pleistocene era. Return to the city by about 7 PM.

Puerto Natales: Base of the Towers Day Hike

3. Puerto Natales: Base of the Towers Day Hike

Go a full-day 18 km trek and discover the breathtaking scenery leading to the granite pillars of Torres del Paine National Park, including the Lake Nordenskjöld and the Almirante Nieto Mountain. Pick up at your accommodation between 6:15 6:45 in Puerto Natales and drive towards Torres del Paine National Park, your trek starts at the gateway just before Hotel Las Torres beginning with a downhill walk towards the Valle del Ascencio, until reaching El Chileno Mountain Lodge. The trial continues through a Millenial Lenga forest until the base of the rock formation where you will begin the challenging ascent to the base of Torres del Paine for panoramic views of Torre Sur, Torre Central, Torre Norte and Cerro Nido de Cóndor. Once you are done sightseeing and enjoying the beauty that Torres Del Paine has to offer, walk down to Hotel Las Torres. From there which you can relax and rest your legs as you are driven back to the hotel in Puerto Natales around 21:00 – 21:30 hrs.

Punta Arenas: Walk with Penguins on Magdalena & Marta Island

4. Punta Arenas: Walk with Penguins on Magdalena & Marta Island

After check-in at the meeting point, transfer to Laredo Bay port to board speedboats for a 45-minute trip to Magdalena Island. Once there, enjoy 1 hour with a guide to discover the habitat of the Magellanic penguins on Magdalena Island, the second largest Magellanic penguin colony in South America that receives more than 120,000 penguins every year. Next, if the weather conditions are good, continue your journey to Marta Island, which hosts a colony of more than 1000 Patagonian sea lions, as well as copious bird life. Keep an eye out for cormorants, skuas, austral seagulls, Antarctic pigeons, and the occasional elephant seal. If you're lucky, see southern dolphins, piebald dolphins, and sei whales during your trip. The tour includes with return to Laredo Bay port and transfer back to the original meeting point.

Puerto Natales: Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour

5. Puerto Natales: Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour

Your day begins as you are collected from your accommodation between 7:30AM and 8:00AM in the morning. From there, begin your beautiful trip to Patagonia to visit one of the 8 Wonders of the World: the Torres del Paine National Park. Travel along the coast before jumping onto Route No. 9 in the direction of the village of Cerro Castillo, which was the home of the famous Tierra del Fuego Exploiting Society. Along the route and traveling between Patagonian landscapes, enter the Torres del Paine National Park, a real spectacle where guanacos, condors, and ñandú usually accompany the beautiful views of the park. Visit all the main lookouts of the park, among them Nordenskjold Lake, Pehoe, and the beautiful Salto Grande, the latter of which where you take a small walk of about 30 minutes to get closer for some views. Along the way, encounter lakes, rivers, and a great variety of flora and wildlife. There is then a stop for lunch in the park before you resume your trip to your final stop, the lake alongside Gray Glacier which is a part of the Southern Ice Field. Whilst there, take a beautiful walk through an old lenga forest to the beach of this amazing lake to appreciate its icebergs. On the way back to Puerto Natales, pass by the Milodon Cave, a huge natural formation where it is believed that primitive man and the Milodon Darwini, an extinct animal that lived in Patagonia 10,000 years ago, had inhabited. Whilst at this fascinating cave, take a short walk to learn about its beauty and history.

Dolphin & Wildlife Watching

6. Dolphin & Wildlife Watching

We will begin our activity with the pickup of the guests at their hotels at 08:00 a.m. From there we will begin an adventure towards Agua Fresca Bay. During the tour our guide will give us indications of the equipment to navigate. Punta Arenas is known to be a popular destination for dolphin watching. Dolphins are very intelligent and playful animals, and it is common to see them swimming near boats and playing in the waves. Once we arrive at the “Agua Fresca” bay, we will take a ferry to enjoy a guided navigation in search of the impressive southern dolphins. During the activity, which we will carry out a few meters from the coast, we will have the chance to see southern dolphins, either at a considerable distance, or closer, since they approach the boat due to sound and movement, so we will always they let themselves be seen We will see them jump, turn around, play, in their wild environment. Dolphins are very social animals and interact with each other in groups called “pod”. In Punta Arenas, it is common to see several flocks of dolphins swimming together and playing in the water. Dolphin watching is an ideal activity for the whole family, and it is a unique opportunity to see these animals up close and learn more about them. If you are visiting Punta Arenas, do not miss the opportunity to see these incredible animals in their natural habitat. Dolphin watching is an unforgettable experience that you will not regret. After a few hours of navigation, we go through some bays to enjoy bird watching. We will end the excursion with a celebratory snack outdoors or under a dining tent depending on the weather conditions. We will undertake the return to Punta Arenas at 11:30 am.

Punta Arenas: Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour

7. Punta Arenas: Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour

Cape Froward, one of the most southern points on the planet, is home to many glaciers, humpback whales, Sei whales, Piebald dolphins, Commerson’s dolphins, and the Magellan Penguin. All of these creatures help form part of the natural wonder of the Austral region of the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego Island. As you tour one of the most remote and pristine places on the planet, this full-day journey will help you grasp the sheer magnitude of nature at its fullest. Starting early in the morning, you will go by bus to your boarding place, located 50 kilometers south of Punta Arenas. It will be from this area that you will sail for about 10 hours. This is sure to be an incredible adventure in which you will witness a unique landscape surrounded by mountains, glaciers, Lenga, and Coihue forests. In addition, marine fauna will amaze you by its proximity and sheer abundance. You will encounter sea lions, petrels, cormorants, and austral dolphins, among others.

Pucon: Full-Day Villarrica Volcano Climb

8. Pucon: Full-Day Villarrica Volcano Climb

Meet with the local partner the day before your climb for an equipment check-up and brief explanation of the hike. The next day drive 30 minutes from the center of Pucon to the base of Villarrica Volcano. From here begin the hike to the summit of one of Chile's iconic active volcanoes. The first stage will be a traditional hiking ascent, starting at 1,800 meters above sea level. Acclimatize at an easy pace. As you approach the summit glacier, start using crampons and ice axes, with the assistance and explanation from the guides. After four to five hours of climbing, reach 2,847 meters at the summit. Gaze at the middle of the crater and its impressive geological formation. See fumaroles and maybe even some lava. From here also enjoy 360-degree views of surrounding volcanos, lagoons, and forests. Spend approximately one hour at the summit and then descend in half the time it took to climb up. Combine walking and controlled snow sliding to get down. During your hike have conversations about the native peoples of the Andes, the mountains and their relationship with them, as well as topics in volcanology. Once you've reached the base, your vehicle will be waiting to return you back to the departure office in Pucon.

Puerto Natales: Base of the Towers Trekking Experience

9. Puerto Natales: Base of the Towers Trekking Experience

Following a 2-hour drive you will arrive to Hotel las Torres. Following a safety briefing from your guide, the excursion will begin. The track takes you up into the Asencio River Valley, and 2 hours later you will arrive in El Chileno, a camping site where your hike will continue through a dense forested area. There you can also admire a small stream which flows from the Almirante Nieto peak. The path brings you to a moraine, where the slope steepens until the Paine Towers viewpoint, which sits at 890 meters above sea level. At the viewpoint you will enjoy incredible views of the three towers, and will also have some time to have lunch and rest for your return journey. If weather conditions permit it, you will be able to observe one of the most spectacular views worldwide. You will return along the same path to “Hosteria Las Torres”, where your bus will be waiting. Your approximate time of arrival back to Puerto Natales is 9:00PM.

Torres del Paine: Full-Day Trekking Excursion

10. Torres del Paine: Full-Day Trekking Excursion

Spend a day exploring Torres del Paine National Park and enjoy the splendid natural beauty of Chilean Patagonia. This medium-to-difficult hike offers incredible views of the park's 3 famous peaks – Torres d'Agostini, Torres Central and Torres Monzin, all on a day trip from Puerto Natales.  The adventure begins with pickup from your accommodation in Puerto Natales at 6:30 AM. Travel north for 2 hours to reach the starting point of the trek. After a quick briefing with the local guide, start the walk crossing a bridge over the Asencio River. Trek for 1.5 hours to reach Refugio El Chileno, shrouded in forest and in the shadow of the spectacular Monte Nieto Almirante. After a short stop at El Chileno, continue for 2-2.5 hours along a steeper section of trail to the main lookout.  Reach the main lookout of Las Torres at the eastern end of the lagoon, from where you will have a spectacular view of the three granite peak as well as the Peineta and Nido de Condores hills.  Stop and enjoy your packed lunch while admiring the views. After the break, return to the base along the same path. Following the trek, hotel drop-off will be provided in Puerto Natales.

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What people are saying about Patagonia, Chile

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 677 reviews

This is a very good tour. The crew is very nice, and knowledgeable about the marine life. It is worthwhile. We saw many cute penguins up close. The only improvement is that we waited for more than an hour at check in during early morning time. Since we have paid, all we got is to check our names. The check in process needs improvement.

A seamless experience with a very efficient company & crew. The commentator is very informative in English as well as Spanish, the coastline is uniquely beautiful and the wildlife is abundant. Whales, sea lions, penguins and birds all around. Bring a handful of your own special snacks, enjoy the trip!

Really good day out only spoilt a bit by the Tabano flies which were in abundance. The return boat journey is beautiful. Puella is only small place so maybe take the 4x 4 option which we didn't. There is a hotel & a bar which serve food.

Beautiful day trekking Torres de Payne. Natalie was fantastic. Van was prompt. We have wonderful memories of this day.

The guide went out of his way to answer our questions.