DAY 1 • Santiago
Arrive in the morning and get settled into the pedestrian-friendly neighborhood of Lastarria, close to cafés, restaurants, parks, museums, and more.
- Magnolia Hotel
DAY 2 • Santiago
Explore Santiago’s neighborhoods, both old and new, to learn about its turbulent political history and enjoy views from its iconic Cerro San Cristobal hill.
- B – Magnolia Hotel
DAY 3 • SANTIAGO – BALMACEDA – MALLIN COLORADO
Fly from Santiago to the Balmaceda airport, located roughly 50 km outside of Coyhaique, the capital of the remote Aysén region. Upon arrival, transfer 5 hours south by car along Chile’s Austral Highway to the Mallin Colorado adventure lodge, a remote ecolodge with panoramic views of General Carrera Lake, the second largest lake in South America.
- B, D – Mallin Colorado
DAY 4 • Exploradores Glacier or San Rafael Glacier
Take a full day to explore the immense glaciers in the vicinity of Puerto Rio Tranquilo. For the more adventurous, head to the Exploradores Glacier. Start with a walk through an evergreen forest, surrounded by native flora and fauna, to then reach a panoramic viewpoint which overlooks the glacier, Bayo Lake, and Patagonia’s highest peak, Cerro San Valentine. From there, descend and strap on crampons to explore this ice landscape with its lakes, streams, and caves.
Alternatively, you can navigate in a small, covered boat to the San Rafael Glacier. Drive from Rio Tranquilo to Explorers’ Bay and start navigating the river delta to the Laguna San Rafael National Park, where you can take in this immense ice structure and the many hues of blue in a magnificent scene.
- B, Box L, D – Mallin Colorado
DAY 5 • MARBLE CAVES
This morning brings a visit to one of the area’s biggest highlights, the marble caves. As the surrounding glaciers have melted over thousands of years, the water has carved a fascinating system of tunnels and crevices in this rock structure, and the mineral rich glacial water has left it with a beautiful array of blue, green, black, and yellow hues. Paddle out on a kayak (weather permitting) or visit in the comfort of a small, covered boat.
After your excursion, return to the lodge for lunch and then explore Mallin’s expansive property during a half-day hike or horseback ride.
- B, L, D – Mallin Colorado
DAY 6 - 9 • EXPLORA PARQUE PATAGONIA
Board a transfer to Parque Patagonia to start your stay at Explora’s newest luxury adventure lodge in the Chacabuco Valley. This scenic portion of the Patagonian steppe is where Doug and Kris Tompkins purchased their first track of land in 2004, restoring it after years of ranching, and positioning it as a standard for conservation and land stewardships in Chile and beyond. It’s now the heart of the national park and home to one of the highest rates of biodiversity in the Aysén region.
Here you’ll enjoy the flexibility of Explora’s inclusive program, which includes a wide array of potential excursions with different degrees of difficulty, gourmet meals, and all from the comfort of the former residence of the Tompkins.
- B, L, D – Explora Parque Patagonia
DAY 10 • PARQUE PATAGONIA – TORRES DEL PAINE
Transfer to Cochrane for a short charter flight to Puerto Natales, before transferring into Explora’s first lodge, located in Torres del Paine National Park, with an unbeatable view of the Paine Massif. After settling into the lodge, discuss Explora’s wide range of excursions in Patagonia with your guide and chart out your time in this remote and beautiful land at the end of the Earth.
- B, L, D – Explora Torres del Paine
DAY 11 - 13 • TORRES DEL PAINE
Explore the beauty of Torres del Paine with Explora, choosing from more casual driving safaris to demanding full-day hikes near glaciers, from glacier boat expeditions to private catamarans on turquoise lakes, or perhaps from cantering through vast grasslands with gauchos or enjoying more introductory horseback rides in striking scenery.
- B, L, D – Explora Torres del Paine
DAY 14 • TORRES DEL PAINE – SANTIAGO – MAIPO VALLEY
Transfer to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, fly to Santiago, then head to the historic Casa Real Hotel on the Santa Rita Vineyard. This restored mansion and its amazing grounds are the ideal setting to enjoy your final night before heading home.
- B, L – Casa Real Hotel
DAY 15 • MAIPO VALLEY – ONWARD
Continue to enjoy the wine hotel in the morning, perhaps taking a tour of Santa Rita’s cellars or its extensive pre-Columbian art museum. After a leisurely lunch, transfer to the Santiago airport for your overnight flight home.
- B, L
