Holly and Blaine Murphy
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Buenos Aires Arrival
Upon arrival, meet your private driver and transfer to your hotel. Take the evening to explore at leisure, getting a feel for Buenos Aires’ European elegance and Latin flair, where grand boulevards, Belle Époque architecture, and leafy parks evoke the charm of Paris with a distinctly Argentine soul.
Your hotel is perfectly located on Avenida Alvear, in Recoleta’s French heritage district.
Overnight Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Day 2
Exploring Buenos Aires
Today, you’ll have the chance to follow the history of Buenos Aires by visiting its different neighborhoods with your private guide. Start at the main square, Plaza de Mayo, with its neo-classical Cathedral, colonial town hall, and the Presidential Palace, called "Casa Rosada" (The Pink House). Then it's on to the old neighborhood of San Telmo with its narrow, cobbled-stone streets, La Boca with its multicolored tin houses and soccer stadium, and the elegant Palermo with its wonderful parks and gardens, monuments, and magnificent mansions.
Enjoy lunch at Confiteria La Ideal during the tour. This architectural gem from the Belle Époqueo of Buenos Aires features a stained-glass dome and handcrafted culinary delights.
In the evening, visit one of the newest tango places in Buenos Aires — with a long history! The restored building dates back to colonial times, and today it is home to a high-quality tango show that will transport you back to Buenos Aires' golden age.
Overnight Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Day 3
San Antonio de Areco
After breakfast, head to the traditional "gaucho" town of San Antonio de Areco to learn about gaucho history and traditions. Stop by a famous silversmith workshop whose work is still sought after by collectors and kings globally. Here, you’ll learn about the lives of these artisans whose traditions have been passed down for generations. Then, stroll along the cobblestone streets of the town and visit the local church, art ateliers, and artisans.
Make a stop at Estancia La Bamba, and take time to relax at this beautiful property. Enjoy the countryside, immersed in nature, history, and tradition. You’ll have the option to go horseback riding and take a ride on the local “sulkys,” or horse-driven chariots.
For lunch, you’ll have a typical Argentine barbecue of fine beef and wines while enjoying the view of endless plains around you. Then, return to the city.
Overnight Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Day 4
Ushuaia
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia. Upon arrival, head to your hotel, Arakur Resort & Spa, which features sustainable architectural design extending along a natural balcony at 800 feet above sea level.
In the afternoon, you’ll explore Tierra del Fuego National Park with a guide. Founded in 1960, it is the southernmost example of Andean Patagonian forest, spanning 63,000 hectares of lenga (southern beech), sour cherry, calafate, and notro trees, alongside flowers such as orchids and violets. Along the way, take in panoramic views of the Beagle Channel, framed by mountains and forest.
Savor your boxed lunch, then hike past peat bogs to the Lapataia River and Verde Lake. Storks and other bird species migrate here each summer. The path continues to Negra Lagoon, where you can spot dams built by local beavers. Near Lapataia Bay, look for concheros, archaeological shell beds formed by centuries of mollusk remains, evidence of the area’s earliest inhabitants, the Yamana people, who lived along the bay and relied largely on seafood. Before returning to Ushuaia, stop at Lake Roca.
Overnight Arakur Resort & Spa
Day 5
Laguna Esmeralda
Today, you’ll hike to Laguna Esmeralda, a glacial lake set below jagged peaks and shaped by ice and water over thousands of years.
After breakfast, set out on a moderate hike with your guide, following trails through lenga forest, peat bogs, and small streams, while learning about the region's geology, flora, and wildlife. Upon arrival, take in the lake’s gorgeous emerald color while learning how beavers have altered the surrounding environment. You’ll then hike back and return to the cozy city of Ushuaia, with the evening at leisure. The hike lasts approximately six hours.
Overnight Arakur Resort & Spa
Day 6
Ushuaia City and Cruise
Start your day with a private tour of the city! Begin in downtown Ushuaia, at the local Navy base. The base is home to some of the city's earliest public buildings: the prison, the workshops, the administration, the old power plant, the bakery, a replica of the World’s End Lighthouse, and the Marine Museum. After time to explore, visit the old airport for a great view of the city. Visit other points of interest before ending at the Old Prison Museum. This museum was an old prison that, over seventy years ago, hosted the most dangerous Argentinian prisoners. Today, the remains of this prison will transport you to a different time.
In the evening, board the Cruceros Australis for your four-night cruise. Gather for a welcome toast and to meet the captain and crew. Afterwards, the ship will set sail towards the southern end. Get ready for your exciting journey south through the Beagle Channel, Strait of Magellan, and mystical channels of Tierra del Fuego!
Overnight Cruceros Australis
Day 7
Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay
Sail through the Murray Channel and Nassau Bay. Disembark at Cape Horn National Park, where, if weather conditions permit, you’ll enjoy a walk through one of the world’s southernmost points, surrounded by legends and charm that your guide will bring to life.
In the afternoon, disembark at Wulaia Bay, once home to one of the largest settlements of the Yaghan People. Pause at a scenic viewpoint, then walk through Magellanic forest, where lenga, coigüe, canelo, and fern species thrive.
Overnight Cruceros Australis
Day 8
Pía Glacier and Garibaldi Glacier
This morning, sail along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel to Pia Fjord, where you’ll disembark and hike to a viewpoint overlooking Pia Glacier. From here, see how the glacier descends from the mountain range directly to the sea.
In the afternoon, set out on a Zodiac excursion, navigating between steep rocky walls to reach the towering Porter Glacier, where you can observe its scale and textures up close.
Overnight Cruceros Australis
Day 9
Agostini Sound
In the morning, you’ll navigate the Cockburn Channel into Agostini Sound, where glaciers spill down from the heart of the Darwin Mountain Range, some flowing all the way to the sea. After breakfast, disembark by Zodiac for a walk around a lagoon formed by the meltwater of the Águila Glacier, set against ice, rock, and sweeping mountain views.
In the afternoon, continue by Zodiac without disembarking, gliding close to the Condor Glacier at a privileged distance. Along the way, learn how glaciers form and how their movement has shaped the dramatic geography of the Fuegian channels.
Overnight Cruceros Australis
Day 10
Magdalena Island and Punta Arenas
First thing this morning, you’ll disembark at Magdalena Island. Here, you’ll be able to see a colony of Magellanic penguins! Spend time watching these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. Then, say goodbye to your new friends and set sail for Punta Arenas. Please note that from April to September, you’ll instead visit Marta Island to spot South American sea lions.
Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, meet your private driver and transfer to Torres del Paine, Chile. Take the evening to settle into your lodge, relax in the open-air jacuzzis, and admire the view from your room.
Overnight Explora Torres del Paine Lodge
Day 11 - 13
Torres del Paine
You’ll have three full days to explore the vast, wild landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park. Towering above the immense Patagonian Steppe, the spectacular granite pillars of Torres del Paine dominate the landscape. The park covers 181,000 hectares and boasts hiking paths that cross diverse terrain, including steppes and dense Magellanic forests.
At Explora, you’ll have a menu of excursions to choose from, and hotel staff will help you select the best activities each day, catered to your interests and weather conditions. Explore by foot, horseback, or van with an experienced bilingual guide. Options include easy walks towards crystal clear lakes and lenga tree forests, hikes to viewpoints, and horseback rides through the park’s pampas (grasslands) and along its rivers.
Overnight Explora Torres del Paine Lodge
Day 14
Santiago
After a final breakfast in Patagonia, transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago. Upon arrival, meet your private driver and head to your cozy city retreat: The Singular.
You’ll have the rest of the day to explore Santiago as you’d like, admiring the views of the snow-capped Andes Mountains that surround the city. Your hotel is located in the Lastarria Neighborhood in the heart of downtown Santiago. You can opt to stroll the halls of the nearby Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art, or the Museum of Visual Arts. Take a walk up Santa Lucia Hill, or through leafy Parque Forestal. Attend an event at the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center, see a show at a nearby theater, browse some of the local shops, or just sip a coffee at a local cafe and watch the world go by.
Overnight The Singular Santiago Hotel
Day 15
Santiago: City and Wine
Begin today with a guided drive through the city’s civic center, starting at La Moneda, originally built as a mint in 1805 and now the seat of Chile’s government. Continue through narrow streets to Plaza de Armas, a lively square framed by the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Historical Museum, and the Central Post Office. Visit the Pre-Columbian Museum; the permanent exhibits here feature pottery, sculptures, and textiles from Mesoamerica, the Amazon, the Caribbean, and the Andes, including works from the Inca and Aztec empires and the Chinchorro mummies.
Afterward, drive west to the Casablanca Valley, set between the coastal range and the Pacific Ocean. Vineyards have existed here since the late 19th century, but the valley’s potential emerged in the 1980s, when its climate and soils were found to resemble those of California’s Napa and Sonoma valleys. Cooling ocean breezes, ample sunlight, and favorable growing conditions contribute to the region’s expressive, fruit-driven wines.
Visit a winery for a tasting and lunch before transferring to the airport in time for your onward flight.
