Outdoor Exploration Tour of Chile: Andes to the Pacific

What to expect on this itinerary
On this 10-day tour of Chile, partake in the adventure of a lifetime in the great outdoors. From ice trekking through Patagonian ice fields and glaciers to sandboarding in the heart of the Atacama Desert, Chile is a thrill seeker’s paradise. Observe penguins in their natural habitat, spend the night glamping under thousands of stars, and traverse Torres del Paine National Park.
Customizable Itinerary
Punta Arenas – Arrive in Patagonia
You will arrive at the airport, and your private driver will greet and transfer you to your marvelous accommodation in the heart of the city. You will have ample time to settle in to your suite before meeting your guide in the hotel lobby to begin your first explorations of Patagonia. You will transfer to the magnificent Mirador Cerro de la Cruz, where you can gaze out over stunning views of the many colorful buildings of Punta Arenas and the Strait of Magellan. Once the sun has fully set, you will be guided back into the center of Punta Arenas to delight in your first traditional Chilean meal.
What's Included:
Punta Arenas – Private Yacht Cruise
Torres del Paine – Scenic Mountain Trek
Torres del Paine – Treasures of Patagonia
Torres del Paine – Ice Hiking on Grey Glacier
San Pedro de Atacama – Sandboarding in the Desert
San Pedro de Atacama – Valle de la Luna
Santiago – Cerro San Cristobal
Santiago – Valparaiso and Viña del Mar
Santiago – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Marvel at the glorious sunset from Mirador Cerro de la Cruz in Punta Arenas with a refreshing pisco sour
- Experience penguins in their natural habitat on a private yacht cruise to Magdalena Island
- Luxuriate the stunning landscapes of Patagonia when you traverse the illustrious Torres del Paine National Park
- Indulge in the experience of a lifetime when you partake in a thrilling ice trek on Patagonia’s Grey Glacier
- Sleep under the stars in a luxurious glampsite in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park
- Embark on a sandboarding adventure on the Atacama Desert’s sand dunes
- Revel in a private stargazing tour in the heart of the vast Atacama Desert
- Rise to the top of glorious Cerro San Cristobal and admire phenomenal panoramic views of the city
Detailed Description
On this 10-day tour of Chile, you will indulge in an adventure that you will never forget. Your tour will begin in the unique Southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas, where you will watch the gorgeous Patagonian sunset from the top of Mirador Cerro de la Cruz on your first day in the country. The following day, you will partake in a private yacht tour to Magdalena Island. Here, you can observe penguins in their natural habitat. Torres del Paine National Park will then allow you to admire its vast landscapes that abound in Patagonia before you spend several evenings glamping in luxury beneath a starry sky in the desert. An ice trekking adventure on Grey Glacier will prove to be incredible.
You will then continue to the miraculous Atacama Desert. Here, you will explore the arid terrain of Valle de la Luna or Moon Valley and delight in a sandboarding adventure. Finally, in Santiago, you will explore the city’s fascinating neighborhoods and ascend to the top of Cerro San Cristobal to appreciate the wonderful panoramic views of Santiago and the surrounding Andes Mountains. You will also be enchanted by the vibrant colors of Valparaiso and delighted by a relaxing trip to Viña del Mar.
Starting Price
$3,000 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 80 reviews
See more
I spent two weeks in Chile and loved my experience. Zicasso’s travel consultant was great in planning an itinerary that catered to not only where I wanted to go, but my overall personality. I really enjoyed my time in the Atacama Desert and Patagonia. She was cognizant in planning activities that catered to my loves (i.e., nature), but at the same time ensured I was not run ragged with constantly being on my feet. Activities were not stacked one on top of each other, giving me the luxury of downtime for myself, with the right level of activeness that kept me engaged.
Ending my trip with the resort camp in Patagonia was a wonderful touch to my Chilean experience, giving a balance of being outdoors with a touch of luxury. She and the people she works with made sure I was kept apprised of what I needed to do in terms of times and locations, which was wonderful as it gave me one less thing to worry about on my vacation.
See more
We went mostly into Patagonia and Torres del Paine, an amazing location. Zicasso’s travel specialist delivered as promised! Everything was first-class and his recommendations for everything from tours to restaurants were right on.
A special note to those with food allergies:
I have a lot of food allergies, so it is not easy for me to eat out, let alone out of the country. I let the travel specialist know ahead of time and all my tours, hotels, and guides knew I was coming and really helped to accommodate me. THANKS AGAIN!
See more
We enjoyed the trip very much. We had planned to visit every place of interest to us in Patagonia on this trip, so it was quite a complex trip to arrange. Zicasso’s travel specialist did a great job overall. We had private guides and private cars for everything, so we could enjoy the experiences at our own pace and focus on the things that interested us.
We started in Buenos Aires, but our main focus was natural beauty. We spent a very interesting day and a half in the city, though. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the local history and the sites we visited. Next we went to Iguazú Falls, which was a spectacular experience. Our guide there was the only one who didn't seem as deep or as organized as all the others, but that was a minor issue. Although it is wickedly expensive, I would highly recommend that travelers stay in the one and only lodge inside the Iguazú Falls national park. We got a lot more out of our time there because we were right there at the park.
Next we went to the Lake District and spent memorable days on the water there; amazing scenery! We also saw condors during one of our day-long boat rides on the lake.
Next, we went to Calafate. Although we are not trekkers, the visits to the two main glaciers were unforgettable. The travel specialist had us in the VIP cabin for the day-long boat trip and we had a very knowledgeable guide for the visit to the Perito Moreno glacier.
We did the four-day cruise through Tierra del Fuego next, which I highly recommend, ending in Chile, where we spent two days at the Torres del Paine National Park, one by road in the park with a very knowledgeable private guide, and the second on a full-day lake tour with a marvelous lunch at a scenic ranch, with a close-up view to a glacier.
See more
We would give this a 4.5-star rating. Overall, our trip was very enjoyable and went smoothly. We would recommend the services of this Zicasso travel company for arranging a trip to Patagonia. The logistics were well taken care of and the tour guides were all knowledgeable and personable. Communication during the planning phase and during the trip was easy. We spent three nights each in Santiago, Torres del Paine, El Calafate, Bariloche, and Buenos Aires.
See more
We had a great time on our trip to Chile. The itinerary the Zicasso trip planner suggested was wonderful. We especially enjoyed staying at the lodges in Rapa Nui and Torres del Paine. The level of service and all of their guides were great.
All of the arrangements the trip planner made for us were on time, dependable, efficient, and enjoyable. Everything went as planned.
See more





