Lapwing: Patagonian Odyssey

UK clients depart, arriving Santiago the following morning.

Day 1

Walking tour of Chile’s capital city.

Those arriving on an international flight will be met at the airport by the tour leader or a local representative. There will be time to relax before exploring the city and visiting a few of the many museums, markets and parks of this cosmopolitan capital. Santiago is laid out in a broad valley below the snow-capped Andes.

In the afternoon your guided city tour takes you to all the major sites of this fascinating city concentrating on Santiago’s bustling historic centre, which in recent years has taken on a new lease of life. Awakening from years of neglect, the traditional residential neighbourhood of Lastarria is a delight to explore, replete with shops, arty cafés and characterful hotels. Nearby, leafy Parque Forestal was inaugurated in the early twentieth century to celebrate the first 100 years of the republic. It is just a few blocks from the beating heart of old Santiago, the Plaza de Armas, the capital’s main square which is graced by elegant Chilean wine palms with their characteristic bottle-shaped trunks. Grouped around the plaza are Santiago’s Cathedral, the main post office, the National Historic Museum and the Municipalidad de Santiago (city hall). From here, if time, visit San Cristóbal Hill by riding the cable car to the top. On clear days there are spectacular panoramic views across the city towards the Andes.

Day 2

Optional visit to a vineyard, or the Pacific port town Valparaíso.

Today there is an optional visit to Chile’s second city, Valparaíso (2 hours by bus). This lively seaport is built on a series of hills which form a backdrop to the wide bay, with views over the seaside resort of Viña del Mar. You can wander through the steep, winding streets and among the brightly-coloured colonial homes built for 19th century British and German merchants, or take a ride in one of the creaky wooden funiculars which link the cliff-top communities.

Time permitting, you may wish to visit one of the vineyards close to Santiago, to sample some highly respected Chilean wine.

Day 3

Fly to Punta Arenas, southern Patagonia.

A 4 hour flight takes you south to Punta Arenas. On a clear day you have views of the southern icecap, its fjords, volcanoes and glaciers. Approaching the city you see the rust brown Patagonian steppes, pitted with small lagoons, stretching out towards the Straits of Magellan. On the other side of the water rise the mountains of the windswept island of Tierra del Fuego.

Punta Arenas was an important, British-influenced trading centre before the opening of the Panama Canal turned it into a backwater; the region’s fortunes were only briefly revived during a short-lived gold rush. To add to its woes, the sheep-rearing business has never recovered from the catastrophic collapse of the price of meat and wool. It’s now a gateway to Chilean Patagonia and the nearby National parks.

Day 4

By road to Torres del Paine National Park.

An early morning departure in a private vehicle bound for the Torres del Paine National Park (3.5 hours), with stops to visit the Milodon Cave. The scenery is overwhelming; the granite massif of the Cuernos, milky lakes dotted with icebergs and, soaring above, condors riding against perpetual fierce winds.

Stay in one of the cosiest and best located lodges within the park. There are views of the towering granite massif from the property. Your time here allows you to explore extensively, on foot and by boat, and to enjoy the peace and beauty of this national park, deservedly one of South America’s most acclaimed attractions.

For 2026 we will be staying in the fantastic Estancia Cerro Guido. For more details please speak to one of our consultants.

Day 5-6

Explore the national park on some of the included excursions.

For 2 full days the group will explore the Torres del Paine National Park by private vehicle and on foot, leaving  in the morning and returning to the comfort of Puerto Natales by evening. Whilst exploring the park they’ll be stops to visit some of the best viewpoints such as Lago Nordenskjold and Salto Grande. The scenery is overwhelming; the granite massif of the Cuernos, milky lakes dotted with icebergs and, soaring above, condors riding against perpetual fierce winds.

Spend the rest of your days exploring the national park on foot. Follow a number of different walking trails winding alongside the glacial lakes and rivers with close-up views of tortured rock towers and needles rising 3,000m into a tempestuous sky. The difficulty and length of the available walks in the park vary hugely, and some may not be suitable for all passengers. The most famous hike is to the ‘base of the towers’, but this is also the most strenuous lasting at least 8hrs. There should however be something for everyone, so consult your tour leader about which hike would be best suited to you or for alternatives such as horse riding. Water and windproof clothing, as well as suitable footwear, are essential as weather can be very unpredictable.

For 2026 you will be able to choose from the full Estancia Cerro Guido activities list. For more details please speak to one of our consultants.

Day 7

Drive to El Calafate in Argentina.

Head out across the Patagonian steppe by comfortable coach (3.5hrs + stops and border crossing), passing guanacos, ñandús (similar to an ostrich) and flamingos, and with a view of translucent Lago Argentino, the largest lake in the country.

It is on these shores that El Calafate, your next port of call, is situated. This is a small town, but it is growing fast, brimming with hotels, cafés, tour agencies, delicatessens, sweet shops and roaming travellers. There’s not a huge amount to do in town, but it’s a nice place to unwind and a convenient base for excursions into the area.

Day 8

Visit Perito Moreno Glacier.

The town is a stopping off point for visitors to the Perito Moreno Glacier, still one of the most dynamic in the world. Driving out towards the glacier on your included excursion follows the lake before turning up a wooded valley, dense with beech and birch trees, and continues alongside shimmering lagoons bordered with bright crimson and heather lichens.

There is a walkway and viewing platform to take in the awe-inspiring cliff-edge of the glacier, which towers 60m above the water surface and is an extraordinary 5km wide. You might even hear the unforgettable sound and see the glacier calving a vast wedge of ice the size of a tower block and sending it smashing it down into the lake, where it divides and floats away as an iceberg.

Later, board a boat for an hour-long cruise on the lake beneath the glacier, with a commentary.

Day 9

Optional trip to the ice fields or visit a local estancia.

A day to relax or there is an optional full-day trip to further explore the ice fields, where you pass the still waters of Lago Onelli, dotted with icebergs and with a backdrop of dense forest giving onto impressive snow-capped mountains. Other alternatives include taking a tour of a local estancia, horse riding or even driving for 3.5 hours down the road to El Chaltén, in the shadow of the Fitzroy range, a mecca for hikers and climbers.

Day 10

Fly to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.

From El Calafate fly to Ushuaia.

The dense forests, high mountains and glaciers of Tierra del Fuego are a surprise to those arriving from the bleak Patagonian steppes further north. The beautiful landscape of the national park surrounds the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia. The city has grown rapidly in recent years, partly as a result of government incentives to settlers, and its establishment as a Free Port, and partly a tourist centre – most Antarctic cruises leave from the port here. The setting is spectacular; jagged mountains hem in the town down to the shore of the Beagle Channel.

During your stay there is a boat trip along the Beagle Channel, named after the ship carrying Charles Darwin’s scientific expedition which travelled these waters. The vessel heads out of Ushuaia Bay to explore the bays and islets of the channel, and there are brief stops for you to get a closer look at some of the fauna, which includes cormorants, sea-lions and penguins. If you are lucky you may even catch a glimpse of an albatross gliding over the water.

Day 11

Visit Tierra del Fuego National Park; boat trip along the Beagle Channel.

Today there is a half-day trip to nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park and Lapataia Bay with its bright green deciduous beech forests, and silvery lakes and fjords populated by water birds and beavers. Walk along winding, narrow hillside paths to discover views over the Beagle Channel, and learn about the evolution of the natural and human landscapes.

Day 12

Fly to Buenos Aires.

Fly to the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, an elegant and cosmopolitan city famed for the fascinating port district of La Boca with its cobbled streets and brightly painted houses. It was here that the tango was born, and Diego Maradona honed his footballing skills.

Evenings can be spent sampling the juicy world renowned steak, tasting the famous local wines or enjoying an evening tango show.

Day 13

Guided city tour.

A guided tour of the city takes you to the most famous spots the city has to offer. Starting in the centre of the city, the historic heartland, where government buildings and churches mingle with chic shopping districts, which have a nostalgic, Parisian feel. The quintessential district La Boca with its cobbled streets and brightly painted houses is a must, as is the bohemian district of San Telmo, full of quaint old houses interspersed with antique shops, tango bars and expensive restaurants. Slightly further out of town is the Recoleta district, even more evocative of belle époque French and Italianate architecture. The area is home to the cemetery where Evita is laid to rest, and huge tombs line the alleys.

If you want to visit one of the city’s iconic Tango shows speak to your tour leader who can arrange one for you for the evening.

Day 14

Depart for international flight or extension.

UK clients arrive home the following day.