Whether you’re looking for a complete structured itinerary to take the reigns of your trip planning or just some ideas to inspire a tailored trip, this ultimate Chile and Patagonia 3-week itinerary and travel guide will be the help you need. The guide provides a detailed day-by-day account of what to see and do in Patagonia and Chile in general including Torres del Paine, the Chilean Wine Region, and Valparaiso. After reading, you’ll be sure to have gained clarity for the places and activities you don’t want to miss off your own luxury Chile and Patagonia itinerary. This inspiring trip overview will give you an idea:
Chile and Patagonia Itinerary Overview
The Chile and Patagonia itinerary starts strong with an immersive stay in the capital of Santiago exploring its history and progress through architecture, art, and artifacts. Whilst here, take the opportunity to indulge in Chile’s best shopping and dining scenes by visiting designer boutiques and Michelin restaurants.
Having soaked up the city’s cosmopolitan energy, rent a luxury car to begin a road trip around Chile’s gorgeous wine region starting at world-famous wineries in Maipo Valley and ending at prestigious boutique wineries in Colchagua Valley. Spend your days cycling through vineyards and sipping delicious cabernet sauvignons expertly paired with farm-fresh cuisine.
The next leg of the journey explores the wild and wistful mountain landscapes of Chilean Patagonia beginning in Torres del Paine National Park. Here, the days will be blissfully balanced between moderately challenging hikes to the park’s must-see natural wonders including the Mirador de Las Torres, French Valley, and Grey Glacier, and restful days at the spa and suites of a five-star Patagonia retreat.
Afterward, venture around the country’s most scenic region, the Chilean Lake District, in search of active volcanos, temperate forests, and rugged coastlines that large penguin colonies call home. Before saying goodbye to Chile, spend a final few days exploring the cool and colorful culture-filled streets of Valparaiso, a city that will leave everyone doting on this enigmatic country for years to come.
Day-By-Day Chile and Patagonia Itinerary
Day 1-3 Santiago de Chile
Day 1
On the first day of your Chile and Patagonia itinerary, you’ll arrive at the country’s proud capital, Santiago. Your private transfer will take you to your hotel and leave you to spend the rest of the day recuperating from the journey and settling into this new and exciting country.
Day 2
Day two marks the start of your adventure with a private guided tour around the city from Plaza de Armas in its historic center to the high-rise buildings of modern Santiago. Along the way, stop to admire the stately La Moneda Palace, eat local delicacies in the Central Market, and watch the sunset over the city from the Metropolitan Park hilltop. Let the guide know if you have any other stops in mind!
Day 3
Today offers the chance to delve into Santiago’s elite arts and culture scene by visiting its most influential museums, Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino and the Museum of Memory and Human Rights. Next, browse the branded boutiques at the Costanera Center, the building dominating Santiago’s impressive cityscape which offers indelible views from its observatory.
Day 4-8 Chilean Wine Region
Day 4
From Santiago, pick up your hire car and embark on a scenic road trip to your next destination, the Chilean wine region where the the sun always glows and the wine always flows. Choose from a selection of rustic wineries and estancias to stay at throughout the region where you will undoubtedly be pampered as you enjoy life in the slower lane.
Day 5
Located 50 miles south of Santiago, Cachapoal Valley is the ideal place to be introduced to Chilean wine. Tour the valley’s wineries the old-fashioned way, on horseback, to enjoy a large and varied selection of tastings and experience one of central Chile’s favorite pastimes.
Day 6
Today will be dedicated to downtime, allowing you to indulge in the luxuries of life in the Chilean wine region. Take the time to cycle through the fragrant vineyards, receive your favorite spa treatments, and lay by the pool.
Day 7
Heading down to the Colchagua Valley, you’ll have the privilege of tasting some of Chile’s most prestigious wines. Choose between exclusive tours and tastings in wineries such as Clos Apalta and Altura. Stop at the Clos Apalta Residence for a gourmet dinner and wine pairing — the most satisfying way to enjoy Chilean wine.
Day 8
End your Chilean wine tour at Maipo Valley, its most established wine region best known for its hearty cabernet sauvignons. Opt for a private tasting at Concha y Torro, one of Chile’s most famous wineries, to see why and how they became a household name — aside from their delicious wines. Afterward, steer towards the Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys to sample Chile’s best white wines before returning to Santiago.
Day 9-14 Torres del Paine
Day 9
Make the three-hour flight from Santiago to Torres del Paine, the heart of Chilean Patagonia. Take the rest of the day to relax and settle into your new luxury accommodation by making the most of the spa and dining facilities before beginning your grand Patagonian adventures tomorrow.
Day 10
Enjoy an early breakfast this morning to fuel up before your first hike in Chilean Patagonia. Today, you’ll be making your way to the Mirador de Las Torres, South America’s most scenic mountain peak. Reaching 22 km in total, the hike will take the full day.
Day 11
Having spent much of your energy completing the Mirador de Las Torres hike, today is about rest, recovery, and good food. After enjoying a slow day in and around the spacious grounds of your retreat, save the evening for a Patagonian-style feast at its fine dining restaurant.
Day 12
Prepare for another day of astonishing natural beauty as you feast your eyes on the Grey Glacier on a glacier suspension bridge tour. The tour begins with a short catamaran ride across Lake Pehoe and a walk through a lenga forest before reaching the suspension bridges that show off the extraordinary scale and grandeur of Grey Glacier.
Day 13
Yesterday’s glacier tour revealed part of Torres del Paine’s famous W trek and today’s will reveal another, this time through the French Valley. Prepare to walk along the Paine Grande Mountain, passing turquoise lakes along the way, then cross the French River and hike through the Lenga forest to reach Glacier de Frances which hangs impressively on the mountainside.
Day 14
Your last day in Torres del Paine will be free to spend as you wish, whether that’s on a horse-riding, fishing, or cycling tour, or simply another lazy day at your Patagonia retreat.
Day 15-18 Chilean Lake District
Day 15
Today you will catch a two-hour flight from Torres del Paine to Puerto Montt to spend the next few days exploring the breathtaking landscapes of the Chilean Lake District. Once you’ve arrived, take the time to settle into your new countryside accommodation and explore the local area.
Day 16
The Chilean Lake District is highly volcanic and today you will hike to the rim of one of its most active volcanos, the Osorno Volcano. At 20 km long and 1500 meters in elevation, the Osorno hike is tough but well worth the effort especially when rewarded with 360-degree views of the Chilean Lakes from the top.
Day 17
After another challenging day’s hiking, today will be dedicated to enjoying the Lake District’s more relaxed activities like fishing, kayaking, and cycling. Take the afternoon and evening to explore Puerto Montt’s cute streets and sample some beers at Puerto Varas’ local brewery.
Day 18
Wake up early to board a ferry crossing the Chacao Channel to Chiloe Island. Tour the island to discover quintessential fishing villages adorned with brightly painted wooden churches, observe its coastal penguin colonies, and get comfortably lost in its enchanted temperate forests.
Day 19-21 Valparaiso
Day 19
Today you will fly from Puerto Montt back to Santiago (two hours) but before your Chile and Patagonia trip ends, you’ll take a 1.5-hour detour to Valparaiso. Once you’ve arrived, spend the rest of the day wandering around the city and admiring its incredible street art.
Day 20
On your final full day in Chile, you’ll embark on a private tour around this tattooed city to find out why it’s so colorful, what its art represents, and what it’s like to live in such a unique and enigmatic place. Complete the day and your Chile and Patagonia itinerary by tucking into some artsy Chilean cuisine at a top city restaurant and toasting a successful and fulfilling trip.
Day 21
Return to Santiago International Airport (or your next destination) by private transfer.
Enquire about our Chile and Patagonia itinerary
This detailed Chile and Patagonia itinerary offers a thorough and exciting way to spend three weeks exploring one of the world’s longest and most naturally diverse countries. However, it’s not set in stone. Totally Latin America specializes in creating bespoke and tailor-made luxury Chile itineraries which means we can put all of the ideas you like most from this itinerary and put it into an itinerary that suits your time frame and other preferences. Contact us here or call toll-free at +1 855 217 9045 to find out more.
