5 Days | Get back to nature in wild Patagonia with this Short Break through national parks
Jagged mountains, glaciers and blue lagoons are just the tip of the iceberg in Chile’s Patagonia region. Spend five days exploring ancient caves, hiking through native forests, sailing in search of glaciers and watching out for wildlife in the diverse landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park and Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. Your base in the small city of Puerto Natales is the perfect place to put your feet up after an adventurous day and enjoy a glass of Chilean wine.
Trip overview
- Start
- Puerto Natales, Chile
- Finish
- Puerto Natales, Chile
- Theme
- Short breaks
- Destinations
- Chile
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Comfort
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- GPAP
- 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.
- On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.
- This trip is operated by one of our local partners in Chile and therefore you may be joined by a mixture of Intrepid-booked passengers and other travellers during activities.
- A good level of fitness is required to get the most out of the multiple treks available on this trip. This is especially important for the 8-hour trek to Base Torres.
- Weather in Patagonia can be wild, so it's important to prepare for all elements. Rain, wind and extreme cold are all part of the adventure. As a result of this wild weather the hikes and activities within Torres del Paine National Park may not always be possible, so if you are prepared to be a little flexible, you will have a great time!
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Itinerary
Inclusions
4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner
Private vehicle
Hotel (4 nights)
- 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
- Torres del Paine NP - Milodon Cave Guided Visit
- Torres del Paine NP - Full day guided sightseeing tour
- Torres del Paine NP - Full day Serrano & Balmaceda Glacier sailing and tour
- Torres del Paine NP - Trekking to Base Torres
- Puerto Natales- Panoramic Half-day tour (only available if the trekking is not chosen)
- Local bus ticket to El Calafate
- Complimentary Puerto Natales Airport or bus station Departure Transfer
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. The order of the activities included may vary due to weather conditions..
2. This trip will run with a minimum of one person, so you may be joined by other travellers booked on the same date as you, or you may be on your own. This trip is operated by one of our local partners in Chile and therefore you may be joined by a mixture of Intrepid-booked passengers and other travellers during activities.
3. The maximum number of travelers is indicative of maximum number of travelers during join-in activities only.
4. During low season (May-September) the Day 3 activity ( Balmaceda & Serrano Glacier Navigation) may not be available due to weather conditions as well as other factors. In case this happens, the activity can be replaced by either an in-depth Full Day Grey Glacier-including boat tour (different from the Lago Grey visit on Day 2) or a city tour of Puerto Natales & Puerto Bories. Your sales agent will inform you of these options before confirming your booking.
5. Arrival transfer from Puerto Natales airport or Puerto Natales bus station is included. Please ensure you provide us with your flight details at time of booking.
6. Before departure make sure you confirm with your Intrepid Agent if you will choose the Base Torres Trek or the Puerto Natales panoramic tour as your Day 4 activity.
7. Private Transfers from Punta Arenas Airport or El Calafate Airport are available as additional services only. Please enquire at the time of booking.
8. If you decide to fly out of El Calafate Airport on Day 5 please choose a flight in late afternoon, after 3 pm only. This will give you time to arrive in El Calafate.
9. If you decide to fly into El Calafate and then take the bus to Puerto Natales on Day 1 you'll need to choose a flight that will allow you plenty of time to catch the bus. The travel time between El Calafate Airport and the bus station is about 25 min (by taxi). The bus schedule is: From April to September (Mon: 11:45 am; Tue: 8:00 am; Wed: 8:00 am and 11:45 am; Thu: 8:00 am; Fri: 8:00 am and 11:45 am; Sat and Sun: 8 am). From October to March ( Mon: 11:45 am and16:30 pm; Tue: 8:00am, 11:45 am and 16:30 pm; Wed: 8:00am, 11:45 am and 16:30 pm; Thu: 8:00am, 11:45 am and 16:30 pm; Fri: 8:00am, 11:45 am and 16:30 pm; Sat: 8:00am, 11:45 am and 16:30 pm; Sun: 8:00 am and 11:45 am). The bus journey is around 5h:40min.
10. Entry into Chile does not currently require any proof of COVID-19 vaccination, however, we recommend that you bring a proof of vaccination with you.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
Read Essential Trip InformationReviews
Filter by rating