Patagonia Short Break - Torres Del Paine

Intrepid Travel · 5 days

4.0

1 Reviews

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Duration

5 days

Tour Type

Accommodations

Comfortable

Physical Rating

Average

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Jagged mountains, glaciers and blue lagoons are just the tip of the iceberg in Chile’s Patagonia region.

Highlights

Travel with local guides who will add another layer to your discoveries, taking care of the details and sharing stories about the scenery, wildlife and local culture.
Spending four nights in the lively little city of Puerto Natales, you’ll only have to unpack once and you’ll have plenty of places to eat and relax when you’re not out exploring.
Join a local guide for a full day discovering the diverse landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park, taking in granite towers, waterfalls, native forests and iceberg-filled lakes.
Explore the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers within Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, which can only be accessed by sea, cruising through the Ultima Esperanza fjord, passing by glaciers, waterfalls and small estancias.
Challenge yourself with a trek to Base Torres – a hike with incredible views – or, if you’d prefer, take a city tour of Puerto Natales ending with a pisco sour.

Trip Details

Duration

5 days

Transportation

Private vehicle

Tour Type

Guide Language

English

Starts

Puerto Natales, Chile

Finishes

Puerto Natales, Chile

Accommodations

Comfortable

Travel Style

Physical Rating

Average

Itinerary

Day 1: Puerto Natales

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Patagonia. Few places on Earth offer up such dramatic and wild landscapes, and Patagonia’s most iconic can be found in the Torres del Paine and Bernardo O'Higgins National Parks. Your adventure begins at Puerto Natales, which sits on the Seno de Ultima Esperanza (Bay of the Last Hope). When you arrive at the airport or bus station, you’ll be picked up by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your leader. If you arrive early, maybe walk along the Costanera, which leads to the historic remains of the Braun & Blanchard wharf. The city is also dotted with local hangouts that specialise in Chilean wine and locally produced craft beer.

Included Activities:

Torres del Paine National Park entrance fee
Local bus ticket from El Calafte to Puerto Natales
Complimentary Puerto Natales Airport or bus station Arrival Transfer

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Torres del Paine National Park

Today after breakfast, you’ll be joined by a local guide to explore Torres del Paine National Park – declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978. Stop at the Milodon Cave along the way – an enormous cavern where remains of prehistoric mammals like the mylodon, an extinct ground sloth, have been found. Continue to the towering granite spikes Cuernos de Paine, then walk to Salto Grande – at 15 m high, this is the park’s largest waterfall. Take some time to admire the powerful cascade tumbling into the turquoise lake below. Visit Lago Gray, a lake fringed by the icy blue Grey Glacier, then hike through a coigue forest, crossing a suspension bridge over the Pingo River and ending up at the beach. Here, you can see icebergs of different shapes and colours floating in the lake, caused by the melting of the Grey Glacier. Return to Puerto Natales for a free evening.

Included Activities:

Torres del Paine NP - Milodon Cave Guided Visit
Torres del Paine NP - Full day guided sightseeing tour

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Balmaceda & Serrano Glacier Navigation

Start the day bright and early at Puerto Bories pier, then sail through the Senoret Channel and the Ultima Esperanza fjord. Cross into the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park – the largest park in Chile and home to giant glaciers, lush vegetation, waterfalls and loads of wildlife, including Andean condors, marine otters and cormorants. Sail past the impressive Balmaceda glacier, hanging from the mountain of the same name. Dock at Puerto Toro and walk about a kilometre through a native forest filled with coigues, murtilla de magallanes, chaura and lichens. Walk to the foot of the Serrano Glacier, following the edge of an iceberg-filled lake formed by its melt. Finally, enjoy an aperitif with glacial ice and have lunch at a typical Patagonian estancia before returning to Puerto Natales for the evening.

Included Activities:

Torres del Paine NP - Full day Serrano & Balmaceda Glacier sailing and tour

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Trek to Torres del Paine National Park

If you’re up for a challenge today, you can take the 8-hour trek to Base Torres for the most impressive views of Torres del Paine’s granite towers and glacial lagoon. If you feel that the long trek would be too strenuous and you’d like to take things easy today, you can opt for a panoramic half-day tour of Puerto Natales instead. This beautiful half-day excursion will help you understand the origin of this centenary city. Learn about the toponymy of its surroundings, its history and little-known details. Start at the old Puerto Bories Cold Storage Plant, then visit the waterfront, the main square, the fishermen's dock and the artisanal village. Your tour will finish with a pisco sour at Rooftop in Puerto Natales. Whichever option you choose, you’ll meet back up with your group for dinner tonight to celebrate your adventure.

Included Activities:

Torres del Paine NP - Trekking to Base Torres
Puerto Natales- Panoramic Half-day tour (only available if the trekking is not chosen)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Puerto Natales

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you'll be dropped off at the Puerto Natales bus station. From here, you'll have the option to take the local bus to El Calafate on the Argentinean side of Patagonia (bus ticket included). If you’re flying out today, please make sure you choose a flight in late afternoon after 3 pm. If you would prefer to begin your trip in El Calafate and end in Puerto Natales, please get in touch ahead of time so your bus ticket can be arranged.

Included Activities:

Local bus ticket to El Calafate
Complimentary Puerto Natales Airport or bus station Departure Transfer

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $2,875

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 5 days

Trip Type:

Activity Level: Average

Jagged mountains, glaciers and blue lagoons are just the tip of the iceberg in Chile’s Patagonia region.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 28 Sep 2025

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

4.0

Catherine

Traveled, February 2024

03/05/2024

Nice activities, but the trip is not necessarily the best value for money you can find. The insistence on including a bus ticket to Calafate in the itinerary is a bit of a mystery since many people can't use it.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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