6-Day Private Patagonia Tour: Penguins, Condors & Torres del Paine

Your driver will meet you at Punta Arenas Airport and take you to your hotel. With a morning or early afternoon arrival, there is time to settle in before heading out to see the city.

The waterfront is a good place to begin. Looking across the Strait of Magellan helps explain why a city grew here and why ships still call at its port. From there, we visit the central square, with its monument to Ferdinand Magellan, and see the cathedral and the historic buildings around it.
The tour also includes the cemetery, where cypress avenues and family mausoleums reflect the city's past, and a viewpoint above the rooftops. On a clear day, the view reaches across the strait toward Tierra del Fuego.
We plan the afternoon around your arrival time. A late flight will require an adjustment to the city tour.
Overnight in Punta Arenas.

An early start takes you to the pier for the boat trip to Magdalena Island. The crossing of the Strait of Magellan takes around an hour each way. Once ashore, you have about an hour to follow the marked trail through the Magellanic penguin colony, stopping to watch the birds and take photographs.

This is a shared sailing with English- and Spanish-speaking guides. The crew explains the visiting rules before landing, and the walk follows the island's designated route.
Back in Punta Arenas, there is a break for lunch and a rest before the afternoon excursion.
We then drive south along the coast to Parque del Estrecho. Here, the reconstructed Fort Bulnes and the museum tell the story of navigation and settlement along the strait. We combine the visits with viewpoints and a short coastal or woodland walk, choosing the route to suit the weather and your group's pace. Allow around five hours for the afternoon outing, including the drive. We return to Punta Arenas in the early evening.
Overnight in Punta Arenas.

In the morning, we visit the Nao Victoria Museum. Its full-size replicas include the Victoria, the first ship to sail around the world, as well as HMS Beagle and Shackleton's lifeboat, the James Caird.

After lunch, we drive to Estancia Olga Teresa to watch Andean condors at Cerro Palomares. A short trail over mostly level ground takes us to the viewing area near the foot of the hill. We visit in the afternoon, when the condors return to the cliffs, and spend time watching and photographing them. Binoculars and spotting scopes give us a closer view of the birds resting on the rocks or circling overhead.
We then continue by private vehicle to Puerto Natales. We arrive in the evening, with time to check in at the hotel and have dinner.
Overnight in Puerto Natales.

We leave Puerto Natales early and drive across the open Patagonian steppe toward Torres del Paine National Park. The route takes us to Lake Sarmiento, Lake Nordenskjöld and Lake Pehoé, stopping at viewpoints along the way. From the lakes, we see the mountains from different angles, including the Cuernos del Paine. In clear weather, the three Paine towers may also be visible.

At Salto Grande, we follow a short trail to the waterfall before continuing to Lake Grey. Here, we walk to the shore, where icebergs sometimes drift across the water, and spend some time taking photographs. Much of the day is spent exploring the park by road, with stops to get out and walk. The number of stops and walks may vary depending on the weather.
The excursion also includes Milodon Cave, outside the national park. We visit the main cavern, where remains of the extinct giant ground sloth were discovered. There is a stop for lunch during the day, and we return to Puerto Natales in the evening.
Overnight in Puerto Natales.

In the morning, a private transfer takes us to the pier at Puerto Bories, and we cross Última Esperanza Sound by boat to the Antonio Varas Peninsula for a day at Estancia La Península. This working sheep and cattle ranch belongs to the MacLean family, whose roots in Patagonia go back to the late nineteenth century. Through their history and the work of the estancia, we learn about the region's pioneering ranching families and the traditions passed down through generations.

On arrival, we are welcomed with coffee and a light snack. You can then explore the estancia on horseback or join a guided walk. Both activities last around two hours, through open countryside and native woodland, with views of the fjord and surrounding mountains.
Back at the ranch, we sit down to a traditional Patagonian barbecue, with lamb slow-roasted on a spit over an open fire. Lunch is served with Chilean wine and followed by dessert. A vegetarian option is also available.
In the afternoon, we watch the sheepdogs respond to their handler's whistles as they gather and guide the flock. The team explains how the dogs are trained and how they work alongside the shepherds. We also visit the shearing shed to learn about Merino wool, sheep shearing and the daily work that has supported ranching families in this part of Patagonia for generations.
There is time to walk around the grounds or sit overlooking the water before the boat journey back to Puerto Bories. A private transfer then takes us back to our hotel in Puerto Natales in the afternoon, with the evening free.
Overnight in Puerto Natales.

A private transfer takes you from your hotel to Puerto Natales Airport for your onward flight. We arrange the pickup time according to your flight schedule.