Day-by-day experiences

Use this itinerary to inspire your customized trip 

Day 1: San Carlos de Bariloche - Nahuel Huapi lake

Arrival at the local airport (direct flight from B.A.)

Starting our expedition, we will visit the area, one of the most beautiful in the entire lake region.

Driving distance: 100 km

Day 2: San Carlos de Bariloche - San Martín de los Andes

We will leave Bariloche and continue through the Patagonian steppe. Later, we will leave the asphalt and go into the mountain to Paso del Cordoba.

We will take an ascending path that advances through slopes, green valleys and steep mountains with rock walls that the wind, water and ice have been in charge of modeling for millions of years.

Driving distance: 160 km

4 hours. plus stopping times

Day 3: San Martín de Los Andes - Route of the Seven Lakes - Seno Reloncavi - Hornopiren (Chile)

This day we will cross the Andes mountain range and enter Chile, by dream roads.

Before crossing the border to Chile, we will cross majestic lakes, native forests and snow-capped mountains, this route is one of the most beautiful and well-known roads in Patagonia.

After crossing the mountain range and entering Chile, we will continue visiting beautiful lakes; we will arrive at “Reloncavi”, a fjord in the Pacific Ocean with calm blue waters, incorporating the sea into the ancient native larch forests. 

In addition to the incredible natural landscapes, you will see several fishing villages, some of them staying and looking magical.

Driving distance: 460 Km.

Approximately 8 h. (Plus stopping times and border control stops) 

Day 4: Carretera Austral: Hornopiren - Chaiten

Start of one spectacular journey through combined sea and land routes. This is the "North Gate of the Carretera Austral" (Austral road) during the day we will use two ferryboat tours, the first during four hours, then another more for fourth five minutes. From the boats, you can appreciate all the splendor and beauty of the fjords with imposing landscapes of the native forests and the stones walls that make up the beauty of the passage tour.

Driving & sailing distances: 250 km. about 7 hr. (Plus stopping times)

Day 5: Carretera Austral: Chaiten - Hanging snowdrift - Coyhaique

Continuing along this dreamed path through large forests, rivers and fjords, in a kind off a cold jungle environment. Around noon, we stop to visit the Queulat National Park and appreciate its attractive star: the hanging snowdrift. It is possible to enjoy it even not walking, we will take some time to see it from a short distance as well. 

Then we will continue the trip to arrive in the evening to Coyhaique Town, passing through charming towns like Puyuhuapi and some others.

Driving distance: 430 km. about 6.30 hr. (Plus stopping times)

Note:

At this point, it is possible to finish the ground tour, if you do this, a minimum adjustment to the itinerary must be made, and the transfer out to the BALMACEDA airport. 

Day 6: Coyhaique – Balmaceda - Marble Chapels

From Coyhaique we will go to Balmaceda where there is a domestic airport from here flight to Santiago City connecting to the whole world.

continue along Carretera Austral (gravel road), on the way we will cross the Cerro Castillo National Park through remote mountains, steep descents to valleys and gorges of Patagonia, until we reach General Carrera Lake. Arriving at Puerto Tranquilo we will visit the Marble Caves (or chapels), a group of islets, sculpted by the winds, the rains and the time after having remained for millennia under glaciers. (Sailing in small boats from Puerto Rio Tranquilo). Overnight close to Puerto Rio Tranquilo.

Driving and sailing distances: 215 km, about 6,30 Hr. (Plus stopping times)

Optional day: If you can add a day, it is suggested:

Full Day trip to San Rafael National Park:

The San Rafael lagoon is undoubtedly one of the most impressive places in southern Chile. It is a bluish-white scene, where the imposing San Rafael glacier that descends from the Los Andes Ice Field is located; the excursion lasts all day, but is subject to a minimum number of passengers.

Day 7: From Chile to Argentina. Puerto Tranquilo - Posadas Lake

We continue along a spectacular gravel mountain road that borders the south and west banks of the largest lake in Patagonia.

When we cross to the Argentine side, we will take a high-impact detour heading south with spectacular views of the snowy mountain range, very colorful lakes and abundant wildlife, to reach the town of Lago Posadas.

The beauty of the place is given thanks to the different nuances generated by two lakes separated by an isthmus of a few meters, added to an amazing tunnel-shaped rock formation known as "El Arco" (The Arch) in the middle of the lake. In addition, Mount San Lorenzo stands tall, which stands imposingly with its eternal snow over the entire area.

Driving distances: 350 km. about 8,30 hr. (Plus stopping times) 

Day 8: Posadas Lake - Portal Cañadón Rio Pinturas

In a few kilometers, we will go from the humid mountain range Patagonia to the infinite steppe, a punished land, swept by the wind, rugged and wild, almost uninhabited, but which at the same time exerts an attraction impossible to forget.

In the afternoon, we will arrive at the Portal of the Patagonia National Park. A very little known attraction, located in a prehistoric world: the canyon of the Rio Pinturas (River paintings), of brutal beauty. In the place we will stay in a cozy inn and we will be able to do a low level walk to the Cueva de las Manos Pintadas, a World Heritage site, whose walls contain cave of paintings hands of the hunter-gatherers who populated this region and who lived in the cave and eaves under rock 10,000 years ago. You can also walk to the lands of colors, of singular beauty.

Driving distances: 150 km. about 4 hr (Plus service stops)

Note:

From this point, a variant of the itinerary is also possible: through a driving descent to the south through Route 40 (another of the emblematic routes of South America), towards the Lakes of the extreme south and the Region of the glaciers.

Day 9: Portal Cañadón Rio Pinturas - Cave of the Hands - Petrified Forest

Continuing through the Steppe, we reached the Atlantic Ocean and continued to the historic port where sailors like Magallanes, pirates like Cavendish, and scientists like Darwin, made landfall.

After entering a footprint in the desert, we will arrive at the Darwin Viewpoints, a hidden gem that is virtually unknown to mass tourism.

The spectacle that is presented in front is sublime: A steep and wide reddish canyon hundreds of meters high, at the base of which runs a turquoise watercourse.

From this place, extraordinary views of the Deseado River can be reached towards the infinite interior or until it becomes an estuary and enters the Ocean.

This is, the very same place where Charles Darwin camped together with the Beagle's crew in 1833, we will stay in an old ranch in the middle of nowhere with full board meals. (No alcoholic beverages included).

Driving distances: 370 km. about 6 hr. (Plus service stops)

Note: It is possible to end the trip in Comodoro Rivadavia City, from where you can flight to Buenos Aires City.

Day 10: Petrified Forest - Atlantic Patagonia - Puerto Deseado

Continuing through the Steppe, we reached the Atlantic Ocean and continued to the historic port where sailors like Magallanes, pirates like Cavendish, and scientists like Darwin, made landfall.

After entering a footprint in the desert, we will arrive at the Darwin Viewpoints, a hidden gem that is virtually unknown to mass tourism.

The spectacle that is presented in front is sublime: A steep and wide reddish canyon hundreds of meters high, at the base of which runs a turquoise watercourse. From this place, extraordinary views of the Deseado River can be reached towards the infinite interior or until it becomes an estuary and enters the Ocean.

In this very place, the same place where Charles Darwin camped together with the Beagle's crew in 1833, we will stay in an old ranch in the middle of nowhere with full board meals. (No alcoholic beverages included).

Driving distances: 450 km. about 6.00 hr. (Plus service stops)

Day 11: In the Ría de Puerto Deseado - On the trail of Darwin

The landscapes of Puerto Deseado captivate the visitor, as they captivated Charles Darwin, who commented on this place that he did not remember having seen a rock crevice in the middle of the plain so isolated from the rest of the world.

During these days, you will discover that great crack that so surprised the English naturalist almost 200 years ago and you will understand the validity of his comments.

Driving distances: 150 km. about 8 to 9 hr. (Plus service stops)

Day 12: Puerto Deseado

In the morning, you will continue to enjoy activities at the estancia. After lunch, we will move to the town of Puerto Deseado.

The Deseado river estuary was declared an Intangible Nature Reserve and exploring its waters is essential, this activity is reserved for the afternoon.

Sailing with the enormous amount of marine fauna will make you feel like the protagonist in a wildlife documentary.

The dolphins will approach and play alongside the boat throughout the journey.

In addition to this spectacle, it is possible to see the cormorants, their nests incredibly close, and later on, you can see a large number of one-haired sea lions a few meters away.

However, the final destination of the tour is an islet where you will disembark to have a close encounter with the Magallanes Penguins.

Day 13: Puerto Deseado - Comodoro Rivadavia.

Transportation to the airport. End of our services

Driving distances: 300 Km.