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Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

Fjords, Cape Horn & Torres del Paine

From $8,999 - $9,399 pp dbl. occ. | 9 days / 8 nights

Call for single supplement pricing

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.

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 Tehuelche 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

Argentina & Chile

Start Ushuaia / End Punta Arenas

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

Itinerary

Days 1-4 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 | Cruise between mountains streaked with waterfalls and visit dramatic Garibaldi Glacier, Águila Glacier with its blue cracks hugging the mountain and the spectacular Cóndor Glacier—keep an eye out for Andean condors above.

Days 5-6 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 | Enjoy a yerba maté tasting | Hike in unforgettable Torres del Paine National Park | At Laguna Azul, take in the backdrop of iconic horn-like peaks of the Cuernos del Paine mountaintops | Learn to mix the classic pisco sour and dig in to traditional asado and yerba maté tasting.

Days 7-9 Follow a trail to meet herds of guanaco | Discover 6,000-year old Tehuelche cave paintings and learn about the native inhabitants | Stay at majestic Singular Patagonia near Puerto Natales | Try your hand at making empanadas and enjoy a Chilean wine dinner | 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.

Next: Dates & Prices

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.

If you must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the policy outlined below. Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, terrorism, civil unrest or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. Private room or tent, bike rental and internal air charges are considered part of the total trip cost and are subject to cancellation fees. Percentage charges are calculated on total trip cost.

Cancellation Fees (Per Person)
Days Prior to Trip Start	Scheduled Trips	Private Trips	Custom Trips
126+ days	$200**	$600	30%
95-125	$200**	30%	50%
61-95 days	30%	50%	75%
31-60 days	60%	75%	100%
0-30 days	100%	100%	100%

** Rather than paying the cancellation fees, you may choose to keep your trip deposit ($600) in a holding account to use on a future Backroads trip with no expiration date.

Bike Cancellation Policies: If you are renting a Specialized Roubaix, Ruby, e-bike or Co-Motion Tandem, a full cancellation fee will apply in the event you cancel your trip reservation inside 30 days.

Transfers: You may transfer from one trip to another up to 95 days before trip departure without penalty—except Private or Custom Trips.

Release of Liability: Guests are required to provide a signed Release of Liability, Assumption of All Risks, and Arbitration Agreement and a completed Personal Information forms prior to trip departure; you will receive these materials shortly after reserving your trip. You may also complete your forms online. We are unable to allow guests to participate in any aspect of a Backroads trip without a signed release form.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

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Private Trip
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C Classic Dates

Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.

Private Trip Pricing

10 or more Guests: from $8,999 pp dbl occ

9 Guests: from $9,499 pp dbl occ

8 Guests: from $9,699 pp dbl occ
2-7 Guests: Give us a call or reach out here!

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

2+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 2 or more guests
8+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
16+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
Reserved

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

2020 December

8+ 12/26–1/3

8+ 12/30–1/7

2021 March

8+ 3/12–3/20

8+ 3/28–4/5

View Scheduled Dates

Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

Previous: Overview

Dates

2021
Jan
Feb
Mar

View Scheduled Dates
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Go Custom

Prices

From $8,999 - $9,399 pp dbl. occ.
9 days / 8 nights

Call for single supplement pricing

Reviews

Read the Reviews
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Casual Plus Hotels & Ship*

Australis Ship

Ventus or Stella (4 nights)

* Casual Plus

Hotel Las Torres

Torres del Paine National Park (2 nights)

* Casual Plus

Singular Patagonia

Puerto Natales (2 nights)

* Premiere Hotel

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 1-3

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Patagonia

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

Watch videos

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Reviews by Power Reviews ®

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Next: Lodging

Casual Plus Hotels & Ship*

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Australis Ship

Ventus or Stella (4 nights)

* Casual Plus

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

Hotel Las Torres

Torres del Paine National Park (2 nights)

* Casual Plus

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)

Singular Patagonia

Puerto Natales (2 nights)

* 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)

Previous: Reviews

Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-3

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Daily Route Options (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 4		Level 5
	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain
1	4	200	5	200
2	1	300	3	1200
2	3	900
3	1	400			2	700
4	2	100
4	Condor Glacier Zodiac Tour (45 Minutes)
5	1	100
	2	400
	3	400
6			5	300	9	1300
7	4	500
8	2	200			8	700
8	Horseback Riding (1.5 Hours)
9	Museum Guided Tour (45 Minutes)

Note: 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.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners

Also Included

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

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Straight Talk

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

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. Most will be limited to an hour or so at a time, but some days you can expect to spend a bit more time 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 the occasional ATM possibly running out of cash. It's all part of the adventure!

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Patagonia

The Best Leaders in Patagonia

Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Patagonia, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.

Everyone at Their Own Pace

We design and support our Patagonia trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.

Choose Your Fellow Travelers

With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in Patagonia that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.

We Stand Behind Our Trips

Most companies' trips in Patagonia are run by local operators. At Backroads we manage our own trips; we would never subcontract your precious vacation to a third party. So as you enjoy the support of your seasoned Trip Leaders, along with our expert local guides and drivers, you have the confidence of knowing we're with you every step of the way.

Our Cultural Roots Run Deep

Thanks to our extensive connections in Patagonia, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politics – and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.

We've Set the Standard

For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by

We Speak the Language

If we told you many companies' leaders can't actually speak the language where they lead trips, you'd say incroyable... ridicolo... không the tha thú. At Backroads, fluency in the local language is a given. Find out more on the best leader recruitment, training and development in the business. (And by the way, that was "unforgivable" in Vietnamese.)

Experts with Secrets to Share

In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.

We Know Where We're Going

Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.

Previous: Straight Talk

Previous: What's Included

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

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The Backroads Experience

Backroads Walking & Hiking Tours

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.

Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour