Kayak & Hike at the end of the world 13D/12N

Arrival Ushuaia Upon your arrival, a transfer will be waiting for you at Ushuaia Airport to take you to your hotel. After checking in, you will have the rest of the day free to explore the city or join optional excursions, as there are no planned activities until the evening. In the evening, you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travelers for a welcome meeting. While dinner is not included, it’s a great opportunity to gather and start enjoying each other’s company. 

After breakfast, we’ll walk to the tourist pier to begin our excursion. 

Our first stop is Alicia Island, home to a colony of South American sea lions. From there, we’ll sail to Bird Island, where we’ll observe king and imperial shags near their nests. During spring and fall, we may even see their young. 

Next, we’ll head east toward another small island where, depending on the season, we may spot South American fur seals. 

Nearby, we’ll visit Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, an iconic symbol of Ushuaia, built in 1919. Here, we’ll also have a view of the island where rock shags reside. 

On our return to Ushuaia, we’ll disembark at Bridges Island for a guided nature walk. During this walk, we’ll learn about the native Yamana people and visit the region’s largest Yamana "concheros" (shelly deposits). As we explore the island, we’ll reach its highest panoramic point, offering stunning views of the Beagle Channel and the town of Ushuaia in the distance. 

Throughout the trip, we’ll enjoy refreshments such as coffee with liquor, various teas, delicious hot chocolate with biscuits and cookies, and of course, Argentina’s traditional beverage, mate. After lunch, we’ll regroup for an unforgettable evening. 

We’ll end the day in a truly unique way: exploring Mount Martial as daylight fades and savoring a regional dinner amidst the tranquility of the forest in our mountain dome. Our journey begins with a walk through the Fuegian forest, along trails created by lumberjacks a century ago. Along the way, you’ll take in stunning views of Ushuaia Bay and the surrounding mountains. This scenic hike concludes at our cozy Mountain Dome, where we’ll enjoy a fireside regional dish. It’s a different way to experience the End of the World—and of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a good toast to cap off the day! 

We have a fantastic day ahead! Immerse yourself in the breathtaking nature of Tierra del Fuego National Park. 

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the park, where you’ll experience an incredible landscape of rivers, sea, mountains, and forests. Once inside the park, we’ll walk along several medium-difficulty trails, exploring a pristine paradise where mountains rise near the sea, and freshwater rivers and lakes meet the marine coast. At Acigami Lake, we’ll pause for lunch in a dining tent sheltered from the wind or rain. 

Afterward, gear up with rubber boots, pants, and life jackets (we provide these), and hop into our stable, inflatable canoes. We’ll paddle through the calm waters of the Lapataia and Ovando rivers, observing the transition from freshwater to the sea as we arrive at Lapataia Bay. This is truly the paradise at the End of the World. 

Early in the morning, after breakfast, we start our way to Punta Arenas, in Chile. It will be a long day on the road, crossing the border between Argentina and Chile. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, we go to our hotel to check in and get back together for an included dinner, after this long day.  

We have an exciting day ahead at the southern tip of Chile. After breakfast, we’ll walk to the starting point of our adventure. 

Once ready, we’ll embark on our kayaking tour through the famous Strait of Magellan. This Patagonian Sea passage, named after the Portuguese explorer who first navigated it, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. You’ll be immediately captivated by the breathtaking natural landscapes that surround us. This activity is of medium difficulty, and as we paddle, we’ll take in panoramic views of Punta Arenas and the famous Tierra del Fuego, which stretches across the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. 

If conditions permit, we may even encounter some of the local wildlife in their natural habitat. This remote area of South America boasts incredible biodiversity, and you might spot species like dolphins and sea lions thriving in the ecosystem. 

Our kayaking adventure will conclude around 1 pm. At 3 pm, we’ll catch a local bus to Puerto Natales. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a dinner together, which is included in the itinerary. 

Today, we explore the jewel of Chilean Patagonia. After an early breakfast, we’ll drive to Torres del Paine National Park, renowned as one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. After about an hour’s drive, we’ll arrive at the starting point of our trek. Our expert guide will brief us on the route, offering helpful tips and advice for the day ahead. 

As we begin our hike through the park, we’ll soon come upon a traditional wooden bridge suspended over the Ascencio River. After an exhilarating crossing, we’ll continue our ascent through the lush green foothills toward the towering mountains. From this point, the trail becomes steeper, offering even more spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes. After just over an hour of hiking, we’ll be rewarded with stunning vistas of a crystal-clear lake and the iconic three peaks of Torres del Paine— Monzino, d’Agostini, and Central. 

We’ll take a break here to rest and enjoy a picnic lunch in this postcard perfect setting. 

Once we’ve regained our energy, we’ll begin the descent back to the starting point of our trek. 

Today, we bid farewell to Puerto Natales, Chile, and head back into Argentina, making our way to the charming town of El Calafate. Upon arrival, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the city at your own pace. In the evening, we’ll gather for a very special closed door style dinner, included in your itinerary. 

Today, we dedicate our time to one of the world's natural wonders: the Perito Moreno Glacier. This icefield-type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Icefield, a vast ice sheet covering 22,000 square kilometers, making it the third-largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 million sq km) and Greenland (1 million sq km). Due to unique local conditions, Perito Moreno is the only glacier in the world that regularly advances, causing a periodic closure and rupture process. The road leads us right up to the glacier’s face, just meters away from where you'll witness its majesty up close. The thunderous sound of ice chunks breaking off and crashing into the lake, along with the frequent collapse of the glacier’s front into the turquoise waters, creates a truly special and unforgettable experience 

Early in the morning, we’ll board our vehicle to El Chaltén. The journey takes about three hours, with stunning views of Lake Argentino and Viedma Glacier as the main highlights. From the start, we’ll have sights of Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, along with the unique flora, fauna, and landscapes of this remarkable region. 

We’ll make a brief stop at Parador La Leona, where you’ll have 15 minutes to visit the museum, café, and the facilities of the historic property where explorer Francisco Moreno was famously attacked by a cougar, nearly losing his life. 

Upon arrival in El Chaltén, the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the town at your leisure. 

El Chaltén is known as Patagonia’s hiking capital. We set off on our hike along the Fitz Roy Trail, ascending gently to gain elevation over the Río de las Vueltas valley. 

After a couple of hours of walking, we’ll reach our first viewpoints of the Fitz Roy massif. Continuing along the trail, we’ll head to Río Blanco, the climbers' base camp on the eastern side of the mountain. From here, a steep one-hour ascent leads us to one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the national park: Laguna de los Tres. Its stunning azure blue color lies at the foot of the massif, offering breathtaking close-up views of the Fitz Roy spires and glaciers. Each wall rises between 600 and 1500 meters above the surrounding glaciers. With its height of 3,405 meters above sea level, Fitz Roy is regarded as the  “ King of Patagonia” and is considered one of the three most beautiful mountains in the world, alongside Alpamayo in Peru and K2 in the Karakoram. 

We’ll hike back to El Chaltén in the evening, arriving before sunset. 

We’ll head towards the stunning Lago del Desierto. During the one-hour road trip, we ’ ll make several stops to admire the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia. 

Upon arrival at Lago del Desierto, we’ll have approximately five hours of free time to explore the area as we wish. You can choose to navigate the lake aboard one of the tourist boats that cruise its waters or embark on a spectacular hike to the Huemul and Vespignani Glacier. 

If you decide to stay by the shores of the lake, you’ll be treated to a perfect panoramic view of Mount Fitz Roy, which rises to an impressive 11,000 feet. As you stroll around Lago del Desierto, you ’ ll be amazed by the rich vegetation of the Patagonian forests, characterized by elegant white oaks and Antarctic beeches, both native to this region. 

After around five hours of enjoying the majestic landscapes of this incredible natural wilderness, we ’ ll return to your hotel, arriving around 5:30 p.m. 

This morning is yours to explore the charming town of El Chaltén at your leisure. In the afternoon, we ’ ll take our transfer back to El Calafate. 

This is the final day of the trip. At the designated time, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.