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Let’s travel to the end of the world: Patagonia.

 

In southern Argentina and Chile, you’ll find one of the last remote, rugged, and pristine wildernesses in the world, Patagonia. Although many Patagonia trips stick to only the Argentinian side to make the planning easier, we have put all of our heart into this itinerary so that you can make it to the highlights of both Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia. Along the way, you’ll discover Gatorade blue lakes, glacial lagoons, jagged mountain peaks, and massive glacial fields while also trying delicious empanadas and maybe even learning how to tango or spotting a puma (Patagonia has the highest density of Pumas in the world, but don't worry; they keep their distance).

On day one, you’ll arrive in El Calafate, Argentina, and meet your new travel friends at the included welcome dinner Argentinian-style. On this trip, you'll have plenty of opportunity to see why Argentinian steak and wine are so famous, but vegetarians will also love the local foods! After a good night of rest at the hotel, the group will head out to view the mighty El Perito Moreno Glacier, which covers 100 square miles of Patagonia and even continues to grow despite melting ice and retreating glaciers elsewhere around the world. You'll be able to check out several viewpoints of the glacier and then join the group on a boat ride to get an up-close look at just how massive this glacier is.

 

The private bus will continue onwards to El Chaltén, a tiny village in the Andes that was built to house climbers and trekkers from all over the world who were drawn to the striking mountain peaks of  Mt. Fitz Roy and Torre Egger. During the first full day in El Chaltén, the group will hike on the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado trail, a favorite amongst locals, for the ultimate panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, glacier lakes, and valleys. On the next day, you'll have the option to explore viewpoints near town (where the local bakeries are enough to keep anyone busy for an afternoon) or join a hike with Marie to Laguna de Los Tres, a turquoise lake at the base of Mt. Fitz Roy in Los Glaciares National Park. 

 

On the next day, you'll cross another country off your bucket list: Chile! The group will travel together from El Chaltén to Puerto Natales, a small town in Chile that serves as the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park and offers lovely cafes and craft breweries. The cozy lodge that the group will stay in has stunning fjord views. From Puerto Natales, the group will head into the park the next morning, and it will be an action-packed day. The day will begin with a catamaran ride through the bluest lakes you've ever seen with a screensaver-worthy backdrop of the world-famous torres that the park is named after (the distinctive peaks of the Paine mountain range). The group will then be led by a local guide on one of Marie and Gavin's favorite hikes in the world into the French Valley to see the imposing French Glacier up close. After the hike, the group will take the catamaran back to the other side of the park, where your cozy lodge inside the park will be waiting for you. Spending a night in Torres del Paine is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience with stunning views right from the lodge and also makes it possible to explore even more. On the next day, the group can opt-in to hike to the most well-known viewpoint in the park, Base Torres, which takes you to a dazzling emerald-colored glacier lake underneath the three famous peaks. The day will end back in Puerto Natales with an included final dinner at the lodge, so you can try delicious fresh seafood or a hearty warm meal to celebrate the end of an amazing trip. On the final day, airport transfers will be provided to the Puerto Natales airport. 

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Some trips to Patagonia exclusively stick to the Argentinian side to save money and make it easier to plan but not TWC. If you're going to fly down to this bucket list spot, do it right and see both the Argentinian and Chilean sides of Patagonia. For those who love nature and spotting wildlife, there is no place on Earth that compares to Patagonia. 

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DATES

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March 24-31, 2024.

Travelers coming from the Americas will likely need to depart on March 23rd.

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The price for this trip is $3675. Only a deposit of $299 will be required to reserve your spot, and a monthly payment plan will be available for the remaining balance.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

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• 7 nights in accommodations

  • All rooms are double-occupancy private rooms with ensuite bathrooms. There will be 2 travelers from the TWC group per room. Please reach out to jessica@travelwc.com to get a quote for a single occupancy upgrade.​

• 10 meals

• Transportation from El Calafate to El Chaltén, El Chaltén to Puerto Natales, and into and around Torres del Paine National Park back to Puerto Natales​

• Airport transfer service on arrival in El Calafate and departure in Puerto Natales

• Several fun excursions

  • See the full itinerary for specific details on included excursions. 
  • Most notably, the group will take a boat ride to see El Perito Moreno Glacier up close, have the opportunity to join two bucket list hikes in El Chalten, take two scenic catamaran rides in Torres del Paine National Park, have the opportunity to join two world-famous hikes inside Torres del Paine National Park, and stay overnight in a lodge in Torres del Paine.

• A group leader for the duration of the trip

  • Marie will be on this trip!

• Local hiking guides on several days of the trip

• Account to manage your booking and access to a private Facebook group for the trip

  • Each TWC Traveler will be given access to their own account where they will find a trip-specific packing list, a payment section to manage and make payments, options to contact their trip consultants with any questions, a link to a private Facebook group, and more preparation information. 

• TWC trip consultants leading up to and during the trip for travel advice and to answer any questions

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1. Note that your international flights to El Calafate in Argentina and from Puerto Natales in Chile are not included. However, we have free information on how to find the best flights, and we work with travelers to help find available deals.

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2. There is a 3% fee for paying with a credit card. Alternatively, travelers can pay via bank transfer to avoid any processing fees.

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3. Note: The activity level of this trip is high. There are 2-4 days of hiking, and there will be a lot of walking involved on most other days. The terrain on the hiking days is strenuous and can be steep. The mileage of the hikes in Patagonia is on the longer side, but the lower elevation makes the hikes more approachable. All levels of hikers are invited to join this trip, but information on how to best prepare to make the hikes as comfortable as possible will be given. Prepared hikers are the happiest hikers. 

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4. Each traveler will also have to purchase travel insurance of their choosing that fits specific requirements. This insurance starts at approximately $20.