Patagonia: Argentina, Chile & the End of the World

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Departure
• Day 2
  Arrive in Buenos Aires - After a night of travel, we know that no two explorers arrive in quite the same frame of mind. Some are ready to hit the ground running; others are ready to hit the pillow. Happily, today belongs to you to spend exactly as you see fit. Once we’ve checked into our hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure. You could spend it getting acquainted with the hotel or getting acquainted with one of South America’s most captivating cities. Recoleta, the neighbourhood on our doorstep, is built for wandering, with tree-lined streets, Parisian-style townhouses, grand former palaces and boutiques well worth a browse. Close by is La Recoleta Cemetery, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Built in the years following Argentina’s War of Independence, it became the final resting place of the country’s elite, who filled it with elaborate mausoleums, statues and crypts. Among them is the tomb of Eva “Evita” Péron – though it’s the sheer scale and artistry of the place that tends to linger (this is no ordinary cemetery, as you’ll quickly see).
• Day 3
  Buenos Aires - Today, we begin to understand Buenos Aires properly – and there’s no better way than to see its many sides in a single, well-planned sweep. After breakfast, we set out for a full-day tour, starting in Recoleta – a neighbourhood that feels more like Paris than South America. Grand, French-inspired façades line the streets here, lending the area a distinctly European air. From here, we continue to Palermo, the city’s largest neighbourhood, where the mood shifts entirely. Wide green spaces, rose gardens and shaded walkways create a sense of calm, while pockets of cafés, boutiques and creative studios – particularly around Plaza Serrano – give it a quietly modern edge. Next, we arrive at Plaza de Mayo, where much of Argentina’s history has unfolded. The square is framed by grand colonial buildings, including the unmistakable pink façade of the presidential palace – still the backdrop to political life. Then we make our way to La Boca. Set along the old docks, this neighbourhood is instantly recognisable for its brightly painted buildings and artistic spirit, shaped by the Italian immigrants who settled here in the late 19th century. Their influence still runs through the area – from its architecture to its atmosphere – with colour and creativity at every turn. This evening, we come together again for dinner, followed by a traditional tango show. It’s an art form born in Buenos Aires’ port districts, and still one of the most expressive ways to understand the city – a little dramatic, undeniably passionate, and best seen up close. 
• Day 4
  Pampas Ranch - Leaving the city behind after breakfast, we head out into the Pampas – the vast open plain that stretches west of Buenos Aires and have long been at the heart of Argentina’s rural life. Our destination is Estancia Santa Susana, a traditional ranch originally founded by Irish settlers and still very much a working estate today, spanning nearly 3,000 acres. The main house has been carefully preserved, offering a glimpse into life here in the late 19th century – when the Pampas were shaped by cattle farming, horsemanship and a fiercely independent way of life.   Out on the grounds, we'll see this heritage brought to life as gauchos demonstrate their remarkable riding skills. Horses are central to life here and watching the ease and precision with which they’re handled is part of the experience (and a reminder that there is no stage performance – these are working traditions). Lunch is taken on the ranch, with Argentine beef grilled over an open flame in true asado style. As you dine, local musicians and dancers bring another layer to the experience – unpolished, authentic, and unmistakably Argentine. 
• Day 5
  Fly to Ushuaia - This morning, fly south from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia – often described as the “end of the world”, and with good reason. Set between the snow-capped mountains and the waters of the Beagle Channel, it’s the southernmost city on Earth, located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago with Chile just across the water. It’s a place that feels remote in the truest sense – dramatic, slightly wild, and entirely unforgettable. After settling into our hotel, we head back out this afternoon for a cruise along the Beagle Channel. Setting off from Ushuaia’s harbour, we follow a route once chartered by explorers, passing through a landscape of rugged islands, calm islets and distant Andean peaks. We’ll pause at a small island for a short walk and the chance to take in the view back towards Ushuaia – mountains rising steeply at its back, the channel stretching out ahead. Back on board, we continue along the channel, where colonies of sea lions bask on rocky outcrops, and seabirds circle overhead. The route also takes us past the region's iconic lighthouse – an isolated beacon that has become synonymous with this far-flung corner of the world. Throughout the journey, the sense of scale remains constant: wide-open skies, open water, and a landscape that feels almost untouched. We return to Ushuaia in the early evening, with the rest of the night at leisure. 
• Day 6
  Tierra del Fuego & End of the World Train - Today, we step further into Patagonia’s landscapes – beginning with one of the region’s most unusual journeys. After breakfast, we travel just outside Ushuaia to board the End of the World Train, a narrow-gauge railway that retraces part of the original line built in the early 20th century. Its purpose back then was far less romantic, transporting prisoners from the former penal colony that once operated here. Today, it offers an immersive way to experience the landscape. As the train sets off, it moves slowly through the forests of Lenga and Coihue, passing rivers, peat bogs and stretches of wilderness shaped by isolation and weather. There’s time to take it all in – the steady rhythm of the train contrasting with the stillness beyond the windows. We’ll pause at scenic points along the route, including a waterfall, where you can step out briefly to take a closer look (and snap a few photos). On board, the commentary provides context for your journey, tracing the railway’s origins and the development of Ushuaia. At the end of the line, we arrive within Tierra del Fuego National Park, where the exploration continues by road. The park’s landscape constantly shifts: glacial valleys give way to dense woodlands, then to stretches of coastline along the Beagle Channel. We’ll make several stops along the way for short walks to viewpoints, including Lapataia Bay. Our local guide shares insight into the region's geology, wildlife and the indigenous Yamana people, whose deep connection to this land long predates modern history. One of our journey’s highlights comes at the end of the Pan-American Highway. Stretching from Alaska through the Americas, it reaches its southernmost accessible point here. There’s time to walk along the shoreline and enjoy the moment before we head back to Ushuaia in the afternoon. There will be a break during the day, with time to enjoy lunch at leisure. 
• Day 7
  Fly to El Calafate - Leaving Ushuaia behind this morning, we fly further into Patagonia, arriving in El Calafate – a small town set on the shores of Lake Argentino, crown jewel of Los Glaciares National Park, known for its vast horizons and striking blue waters. On arrival, we transfer to the hotel, just a short drive from the airport. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to ease into the slower pace of Patagonia. El Calafate is compact but characterful, with the lake never far from view and wide-open landscapes in every direction. With the rest of the day at leisure, you might choose to take a walk along the waterfront or head into town and explore Avenida del Libertador, the main street and social hub. Here you’ll find artisan markets, local wool shops, and a scattering of cafés. Alternatively, you may prefer to simply unwind at the hotel after the journey. 
• Day 8
  Perito Moreno Glacier - We set out from El Calafate after breakfast, crossing the open Patagonian Steppe (or Desert) where the landscape stretches wide and empty, gradually giving way to more rugged, mountainous terrain as we approach the park. On arrival, we take to the water, boarding a catamaran to cruise across Lake Argentino towards the Perito Moreno Glacier. From close range, the sheer scale becomes clear – towering walls of ice rising above the water, etched with deep crevasses and shifting shades of blue. Every so often, the stillness is broken by the crack of ice calving into the lake (a sound you won’t forget in a hurry). Back on land, we continue by coach to a network of walkways overlooking the glacier. These paths wind through the landscape at different levels, offering a variety of perspectives – from wide, sweeping views to closer vantage points where you can watch the ice move and fracture. There’s time here to explore at your own pace, stopping to take in the details, capture photographs or simply stand and watch the glacier at work. A break for lunch is included during the visit, before we return to the viewpoints for a final look at this extraordinary natural setting. Later this afternoon, we make our way back to El Calafate, with an evening at leisure. 
• Day 9
  Upsala & Spegazzini Glacier Cruise - For a broader perspective of Patagonia’s glaciers, we travel to Punta Bandera, on the southern shore of Lake Argentino, gateway to the Southern Patagonia Ice Field, where we board a vessel for a full-day cruise. As we head north, the lake begins to fill with drifting icebergs that have broken away from nearby glaciers. Each one is different. Some are wide and pale, others smaller and blue, shaped and reshaped by their slow passage across the water.   The boat moves carefully through the ice-choked waters, at times slowing as large pieces drift close (it’s a quietly mesmerising process to watch). Along the shoreline, narrow waterfalls cascade down rock faces – meltwater from the glaciers above.  Our route takes us towards Upsala Glacier – the largest glacier in Los Glaciares National Park – viewed from a distance due to the density of ice in the channel, before continuing to Spegazzini – the tallest glacier in the park. Here, the scale shifts again. Though narrower, this glacier rises dramatically from the lake, its towering front creating one of the most striking scenes of the day. Much of today’s experience unfolds on board, with time to move freely between indoor lounges and open-air decks, depending on the conditions and your preferred vantage point. Along the way, commentary brings context to what you’re seeing, while the crew may collect small fragments of ice from the water, bringing the scale of it all into sharp focus. Later, we stop at a refuge where there’s time to enjoy some lunch or take a short walk to a viewpoint overlooking the glacier for a new perspective of this remarkable landscape. In the afternoon, the boat retraces its course back to Punta Bandera, and from there we return to El Calafate. 
• Day 10
  Travel to Puerto Natales, Chile - We leave Argentina behind today, travelling from El Calafate over the Chilean border and on to Puerto Natales. Our journey crosses the Patagonia Steppe, through landscapes of open grassland, distant mountains and seemingly endless skies. Along the way, spot estancias (ranches) grazing sheep, and native wildlife, like guanacos, roaming freely across the plains, while the Andes gradually rise on the horizon – on a clear day, you might even be able to spot the peaks of Torres del Paine on the horizon. After a stop at the border to complete the formalities, we continue into Chile, arriving in Puerto Natales late afternoon. Set on the edge of Última Esperanza (Last Hope) Sound, this former fishing village is a wonderful introduction to Chilean Patagonia. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Puerto Natales and enjoy dinner at leisure.