Torres Del Paine, Patagonia, Chile
Wildlife in Patagonia, Chile
Magellanic penguins in Patagonia, Chile, South America
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Patagonia hiking in Chile and Argentina
Flamingoes feeding in Patagonia
Torres Del Paine Wildflowers, Patagonia, Chile
Walking & Hiking
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Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

Fjords, Cape Horn & Torres del Paine

Couples, Friends & Solos

9 days 8 nights

Activity Level: 1-3

Casual Plus Hotels & Casual Ship

From: $10,049 - $12,249 pp dbl occ

($2,600 - $4,100 for sgl occ)

Journey by sea and land in spellbinding Chilean Patagonia—fjords, Cape Horn and Torres del Paine. Set sail at the edge of the world, entranced by towering glaciers, mystical waters, colonies of penguins and soaring condors. Bewitching lakes and snow-capped mountains render you speechless. And at days' end, experience magical delights like pisco sours, Chilean wine, empanadas and asado.

Chile Patagonia Walking and Hiking Tour
Chile Patagonia Walking and Hiking Tour

Argentina & Chile

Start Ushuaia or Punta Arenas / End Punta Arenas

Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.

Highlights

  • Sail through Chilean Patagonia—Beagle Channel, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Cape Horn National Park and Wulaia Bay
  • Access remote sites via Zodiacs and trek windswept islands, gazing over immense glaciers and sea and mountain vistas
  • Taste traditional food and wine, plus learn the history of the Aónikenk people and follow the path of Charles Darwin
  • Hike in postcard-perfect Tierra del Fuego and Torres del Paine National Parks and horseback ride on an estancia

See our Active Cruise Terms & Conditions.

Itinerary

Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
9 Days Casual Plus Hotels & Casual Ship*
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Days 1-4
Description

From Ushuaia, Argentina, head into Tierra del Fuego National Park for a coastal hike overlooking the Beagle Channel | Board our home for four nights, the Australis expedition ship, built to navigate South America's narrow channels | Sail into Cape Horn National Park and if the weather and sea cooperate, Zodiacs transport us to Horn Island with panoramic views | Anchor at Wulaia Bay, visited by Darwin, and hike through forests to fjord and mountain views | ​Our Zodiacs crunch through icy waters toward breathtaking Pía Glacier—look for calving ice chunks | Enjoy maté and wine tastings | Cruise between mountains streaked with waterfalls and visit Águila Glacier with its blue cracks hugging the mountain and the spectacular Cóndor Glacier—keep an eye out for Andean condors above.

Accommodations
Australis Ship
Stella Australis
Patagonia
| Casual Ship

Specifically designed to navigate the narrow channels and remote bays of Patagonia, this state-of-the-art expedition ship gets you up close to the area's dramatic geographic formations. Travel + Leisure World's Best.

View sample deck plans
Days 5-6
Description

Stroll on Magdalena Island, home to hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins | Say goodbye to our ship before we head to a historical working ranch for a tasty Chilean asado | Hike and horseback ride in unforgettable Torres del Paine National Park | Follow a trail to meet herds of guanaco and see spectacular views of the Paine massif | Discover 6,000-year-old Aónikenk cave paintings and learn about the native inhabitants | Learn to mix classic pisco sours.

Accommodations
Hotel Las Torres, Chile
Hotel Las Torres
Torres del Paine National Park
| Casual Plus Hotel

With a stunning location inside Torres del Paine National Park at the foot of Paine towers, this former estancia has incredible access to the area's best hiking and breathtaking landscapes. (spa)

Days 7-9
Description

Witness the powerful Salto Grande waterfall with thundering powder-blue waters spilling 50 feet down a narrow opening | Hike along a rugged path until the famous snowcapped peaks, cuernos (horns), make their appearance | ​Stay at majestic Singular Patagonia near Puerto Natales | Try your hand at making empanadas and enjoy a Chilean wine tasting | It's gaucho time as we ride horseback at an exclusive estancia and hike at a ranch with views of Última Esperanza fjord | Tour our hotel's museum, learning about the industrial machines and the history of sheep farming.

Accommodations
Singular Patagonia, Chile
Singular Patagonia
Puerto Natales
| *Premiere Hotel

Situated at the end of Última Esperanza Sound, the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the water and the building's Industrial Age iron relics pay homage to its former life as a meatpacking plant. Travel + Leisure World's Best. (spa)

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.

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Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.

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Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.

Activity Level: 1-3

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.

Route notes

Most walks and hikes on this trip involve a mild altitude gain, normally between 600 and 2,300 feet, starting from just above sea level. Trails are sometimes narrow and, depending on the weather, can be muddy and slippery. Also, note that the more technical route options require a degree of agility and balance over rocks and tree roots and uneven terrain.

Daily Route Options

Day 1
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 4 miles | 200 ft. gain
Level 2 | 5 miles | 600 ft. gain
Level 3 | 9 miles | 900 ft. gain
Day 2
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 1 miles | 300 ft. gain
Level 1 | 3 miles | 900 ft. gain
Level 2 | 3 miles | 1200 ft. gain
Day 3
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 1 miles | 400 ft. gain
Day 4
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 2 miles | 100 ft. gain
Other
Condor Glacier Zodiac Tour (45 minutes)
Day 5
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 1 miles | 100 ft. gain
Day 6
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 4 miles | 400 ft. gain
Level 2 | 5 miles | 700 ft. gain
Horseback Riding
2–3 Hours
Day 7
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 4 miles | 300 ft. gain
Day 8
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 3 miles | 300 ft. gain
Level 2 | 6 miles | 400 ft. gain
Level 3 | 9 miles | 700 ft. gain
Horseback Riding
2 hours
Day 9
Other
Museum Guided Tour (45 minutes)

What's Included

  • All breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners
  • Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
  • Snacks and beverages between meals
  • Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
  • Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
  • Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
  • Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
  • All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
  • Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
  • On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
  • Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
  • Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
  • Park and other entry fees
  • Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
  • Select coach transfers
  • Baggage transfers and porterage

Straight talk

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Ships

The ships we sail on during the ocean cruise portion of this trip are like floating luxury hotels, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. They're also vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to only 210 passengers.

Backroads Cruising Life

If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Our cruises are smaller, and much more intimate than a typical cruise. They are also quite lively, social experiences, shaped by both our Backroads group and the larger ship community. Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules that may occasionally limit our time on shore, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. If you love meeting new people, enjoy the ease of unpacking once, and don't mind a set schedule of port departure times, you'll love our approach to active river and ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.

Meals on Ship

All meals are served aboard. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional for some, and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.

Terrain & Trail Support

Our hikes through Patagonia's captivating rugged terrain climb rocky and sometimes uneven paths, many of which are remote and do not intersect with roads. Vehicles or Zodiacs will get us to and from the trailheads, but due to the nature of these trails, we won't see vehicles along the route. Ample trail support in the form of water and encouragement is provided by your Backroads leaders and local guides.

Hiking in National Parks

Most hikes on this itinerary are inside national parks and unlike other Backroads walking and hiking trips, regulations require a certified local guide to accompany us. We offer flexibility by dividing into several groups of different paces, with each group hiking in the company of a local guide.

Shuttle Time

To access the most scenic routes and significant points of interest on this trip, strategic shuttles are incorporated into several days. On a few days of the trip you can expect to spend 3 hours or more in the shuttle.

Leaders & Local Guides

Trips with a small number of guests may be supported by one Backroads Trip Leader and a team of knowledgeable local guides. Rest assured that there will always be at least two people hiking on the trail with you.

Itinerary Changes

Because of Patagonia's extreme weather conditions and strong winds, mid-trip itinerary changes are possible on this trip. Rest assured that if severe weather affects our planned activities, your Trip Leaders will find alternate activities that you're sure to enjoy. Expect the unexpected in this remote region, including slow or no internet and a scarcity of ATMs which often run out of cash. It's all part of the adventure! 

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Have a question and need expert advice? Our team of Trip Consultants is here to help! You can also visit our Help Center.

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