From trailblazers to serenity seekers, Intrepid’s new range of Patagonia trips has something for everyone.
When you think of South America, it’s usually the dense Amazon rainforest, exhilarating cities, beaches, and ancient ruins that come to mind. But in Patagonia, the landscape takes a dramatic turn. Picture floating icebergs, advancing glaciers, gushing waterfalls, snow-topped granite pillars, icebergs and green valleys between towering peaks. Patagonian adventures take you to the end of the world, and no matter what your travel style – wilderness hikes or seaside sightseeing – Intrepid’s newest trips and experiences in the region get you to the best of it.
1. Tango through Buenos Aires to the heights of Fitz Roy
Highlights of Patagonia starts with the cosmopolitan energy of Buenos Aires – where you can get some steps in early at a tango class – then gets you out into the open air. After spending a few days in El Chalten, embark on treks along the Laguna de los Tres and the Laguna Torre trails. Following this, a night in El Calafate offers you the chance to check out the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier.
2. Walk your way to the end of the world
There’s something different about exploring a place on your own two feet. The 15-day Classic Hikes of Patagonia is made for those who want to soak up as much of this wilderness as they can. You’ll get up close to unreal glacial scenery like Laguna de Los Tres, Perito Moreno Glacier and Laguna Torre. Spend three days camping among the peaks of Chilean Patagonia. The Base las Torres (The Tower’s Base) and French Valley treks will take you through rocky valleys, grasslands and small running streams, before heading to the end of the world in Ushuaia for the Emerald Lake hike.
3. Stay in style on the edge of Torres del Paine National Park
Get an excellent combination of comfort and curious exploration on our Premium Patagonia trip. Stay right on the doorstep of Torres del Paine National Park in accommodations designed to blend into the landscape. Let the sweeping views inspire you each morning, and then seamlessly explore the Salto Grande waterfall, Grey Glacier and the iconic Paine Massif. You’ll even get a chance to mingle with the hundreds of penguins that call Martillo Island home.
4. Soak in views of Los Cuernos del Paine along the W Trek…
Considered one of the most scenic and popular treks in the world, the W Trek is a total immersion in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. Stay in refugios (backcountry lodges) by night and explore by day, encountering the enchanting Grey Lake and its electric-blue icebergs. Head through French Valley for views of the famed Paine Grande – the highest mountain peak in the park. Then, take in the incredibly tall granite spires of Los Cuernos del Paine (The Horns of Blue) and the giant towers of Torres del Paine (Towers of Blue).
5. …or take the road less travelled with the O Circuit
If you want mountain solitude with a bit of a challenge on the side, this is the trail for you. The O Circuit through Torres del Paine National Park hits most of the sites of the famous W Trek, but on the longer road less travelled. Trek the full loop around the Cordillera del Paine, give a wave to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and climb the mighty Grey Glacier with trained experts. But that’s not all – hike through grassland to turquoise lakes, kayak through ice floes on Grey Lake and stay in comfortable refugios when you’re not camping under a starry sky.
6. Do a quick trip to two iconic Patagonian national parks
All thriller, no filler. With Puerto Natales as your base, you can launch yourself on a satisfying adventure on the Torres Del Paine Short Break Adventure. In just five days, you’ll discover the best of Torres del Paine National Park and Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. Peek inside Milodon Cave, stand among the towering granite spikes of Cuernos de Paine and watch icebergs floating around Lago Gray. Have your camera ready for all the glaciers, waterfalls and wildlife – including Andean condors, marine otters and guanacos – you’re sure to see along the way.
7. Experience icebergs one day, estancia the next
Giant towers of ice and incredibly warm hospitality – Patagonia does it both. Experience it all on a short adventure to Perito Moreno Glacier. First, you’ll take a one-hour glacier cruise for an up-close look at the 70-metre tall, five-kilometre wide and 30-kilometre-long expanse of ice. Then, you’ll visit a local estancia (ranch) to learn about rural Patagonian life. After sitting down for a traditional lunch made with local produce, you can take part in a sheep shearing demonstration, go horseback riding or take a walk around the ranch.
Check out all of our trips in Patagonia and see what else we’ve got cooking for 2024 with The Goods.
