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Patagonia Estancias & Lodges, the perfect Patagonia trip for families
This is the perfect Patagonia trip for families
Duration: 9 days
4+ Travelers: $3500 per person (Private Departures)
3 Travelers: $3885 per person (Private Departures)
2 Travelers: $4085 per person (Private Departures)
This is the perfect Patagonia trip for families! In response to the growing number of people seeking Patagonia adventure vacation tours without camping or extreme activities, we have designed an active itinerary in and around Chile's Torres del Paine National Park with accommodations at notable estancias and lodges in the area. With its magnificent ocean-side setting and three different eco-systems, this 935 square mile park has been called one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. It is an area of turquoise lakes and stunning mountain vistas, a place to see flamingos and condors, to ride the pampas like a gaucho and to walk forever on its 155 miles of well-marked trails. It's easy to see why National Geographic includes the park on its list of fifty must-see destinations. With a well-planned, flexible itinerary and a good pair of binoculars, travelers will love the freedom and excitement that comes from Patagonia travel, experiencing nature at its most primitive and awe-inspiring on our tours.
The Patagonia tour itinerary may be modified to fit individual needs and interests, and more difficult activities may be added for hardier travelers. Vehicle support is provided throughout the trip for additional flexibility on a day-by-day and excursion-by-excursion basis. The accommodations for this Chile tour all offer accessible short hikes to lakes, rivers or wildlife areas from the hotel itself.
Private departures for our Patagonia Estancias & Lodges can be arranged to make the trip even more flexible. Please contact us about this option.
Itinerary for Patagonia Estancias & Lodges Tour
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Day 1 ARRIVE PUNTA ARENAS - ESTANCIA RIO VERDE
Arrive at the Punta Arenas Airport, where you will be met and transferred to a nearby family-run Estancia Rio Verde. This historic estancia is a perfect introduction to Patagonia. Relax this afternoon or explore the buildings that make up this unique working farm. (D)
View Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extensions
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Day 2 ESTANCIA RIO VERDE - OTWAY SOUND - PUERTO NATALES - EL PIONERO
View Cerro Castillo accommodations picture gallery
The Patagonia tour gets off to an exciting start with a visit to Otway Sound where one of the largest colonies of Magellanic penguins return each year to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. After lunch in Puerto Natales, the next famous Patagonia stop is Milodon Cave. This national monument, where a life-size replica of the herbivorous South American giant sloth stands, marks the spot where remains of the Pleistocene-period mammal were discovered in 1895. Later in the afternoon, the day's final destination is the outpost town of Cerro Castillo on the border with Argentina, where you'll spend the night in the comfortable Hosteria El Pionero. All meals are included in the hotel's excellent restaurant. (B,L,D)
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Day 3 EL PIONERO - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy a lakeside picnic lunch before traveling to the picturesque Estancia Tercera Barranca
View La Tercera accommodations picture gallery
After breakfast, travel into the heart of Torres del Paine National Park for your choice of a number of activities. We recommend the hike (or ride) from the Sarmiento entrance to Laguna Amarga. Well off the Patagonia tourist track, the lagoon is one of best places to see wildlife, including the llama-like guanaco, the ostrich-like rhea, and the endangered Patagonian hare. Enjoy a lakeside picnic lunch before traveling to a working sheep ranch, the picturesque Estancia Tercera Barranca, a home away from home that serves all-organic food and has breathtaking views. From here you can see the sun rise over the granite peaks that give the park its name. The estancia will be our base for the next two nights. (B,L,D)
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Day 4 ESTANCIA TERCERA BARRANCA - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
View La Tercera accommodations picture gallery
With your cozy lodge as a base for your tour of Patagonia, today choose from a ride up to Zamora Falls or have a private driver take you to explore this exquisite area of the park. Explore the rarely visited beautiful Laguna Azul where its warmer microclimate makes for ideal picnicking and birdwatching. In the evening (weather permitting), you'll enjoy a traditional gaucho barbeque under the stars. (B,L,D)
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Day 5 TORRES DEL PAINE - ESTANCIA LAZO - RIO SERRANO
View Rio Serrano accommodations picture gallery
After breakfast of home-made breads and pastries, we will transfer to Estancia Lazo on the Park’s southern perimeters. The converted estancia is the perfect location from where to begin our hike along the shores of Laguna Verde with amazing mountain views. We reach an impressive viewpoint of Torres del Paine Park with a birds’ eye view of the landscape Patagonia is best known for. Descend to the flat plains below Sierra del Toro for a picnic in the valley. After a brief stop at Park headquarters to get your bearings, you can choose to ride by horse or car across the wide open pampas to your beautiful tour lodging located on an inlet of the intensely green Serrano River. The lodge offers breathtaking mountain views. Dinner will be in hotel's restaurant. (B,L,D)
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Day 6 TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
View Rio Serrano accommodations picture gallery
After breakfast, guests may choose from a day of horseback riding, fishing or hiking/touring to see the many fantastic sights and wildlife of Patagonia in this western part of the park. Children will enjoy the boat trip out to the face of the enormous Grey glacier. Return to the hosteria for another peaceful night. (B,L,D)
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Day 7 BERNARDO O’HIGGENS NATIONAL PARK - PUERTO NATALES
View Puerto Natales accommodations picture gallery
We will walk to the river to board zodiacs to travel down the Rio Serrano through Bernardo O’Higgins National Park wilderness area. The Rio Serrano meets Last Hope Sound, where we board a cutter to travel the fjords of the Sound. On the way we stop for a parrilla lunch at a nearby estancia with striking views. We continue to our final destination of Puerto Natales, a great place to purchase last minute gifts of just enjoy views of Last Hope Sound. (B,L,D)
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Day 8 PUERTO NATALES - PUNTA ARENAS
The sun shines 20 hours a day during the Patagonia summer, you'll have plenty of time to see it all
View Punta Arenas accommodations picture gallery
Spend the morning in Puerto Natales before transferring back to Punta Arenas. The day and evening on your own exploring the many sights of Punta Arenas within walking distance of your hotel, including Parisian style mansions and other vestiges of the city's gold rush past. Since the sun shines twenty hours a day during the Patagonia summer, you'll have plenty of time to see it all. Overnight at your hotel in the center of town. (B,L,D)
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Day 9 PUNTA ARENAS - HOME (B,L,D)
Morning transfer to airport ending your tour of Patagonia. (B)
View Optional Post-Itinerary Tour Extensions
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Key:
(B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
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More information about Traveling in Patagonia
Itinerary Map
CONTACT US
CALL
1.877.784.5400
TOLL FREE
OUTSIDE
THE U.S.A. CALL
1.206.784.8111
PRIVATE DEPARTURES
Please note that this Patagonia Tour is on a private Family departure basis only and trip dates will be determined by the passenger.
INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS
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Included in tour cost
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- Professional, English-speaking local guides
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- All hotel accommodations (twin shared basis including continental breakfast)
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- Meals as indicated
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- Hiking, fishing as specified
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- River and entrance fees
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- Penguin Colony
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- Milodon Cave
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- All transfers in private van
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- Entrance fees for all scheduled tours, national parks, archaeological sites and boats
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- Southern Explorations pre departure services
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Excluded in tour cost
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- International round-trip airfare USA / Santiago / USA
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- Airfare $360 (Santiago / Punta Arenas / Santiago), subject to change
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- Hiking boots and other personal gear
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- Wine/beverages
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- Personal Expenses (tips and gratuities, alcoholic beverages, medical, insurance, laundry, airport taxes, etc...)
CHILE ACCOMMODATION
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Patagonia Estancias & Lodges:
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5 night hotel
3 nights estancia
Prices based on 3% cash discount
