Southern Patagonia: whales, glaciers and the end of the world

Southern Patagonia

Thirteen days between ice, steppe and sea. Walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier and have lunch facing its ice wall. Sail the Beagle Channel on a private yacht. On the Chubut coast, see whales or penguins depending on the season. Buenos Aires opens and closes the journey.

Duration

13 days, 12 nights

Season

October to March

Regions

Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego and Chubut

El Calafate · Ushuaia · Península Valdés

A private journey through Patagonia of ice and sea

The route brings together four landscapes. Glaciers and steppe in El Calafate. Forest, mountains and channel in Ushuaia. Atlantic coast and marine wildlife in Puerto Madryn. Buenos Aires serves as the gateway in and out.

Long distances are covered by air. On the ground, all transfers are private. Some excursions operate in small groups. If you prefer a fully private journey, we can quote it on request.

The itinerary at a glance

—Five stops: Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Buenos Aires.

—Three boat journeys: the Delta, Lake Argentino and the Beagle Channel.

—Choice of experiences in Ushuaia and Puerto Madryn.

—Four domestic flights. All transfers in private service.

Highlights

The journey’s highlights

01

Trekking on the Perito Moreno Glacier

A guided walk with crampons across the glacier ice.

02

Lunch facing the glacier

A cruise on Lake Argentino with lunch on board, facing the ice wall.

03

Private yacht on the Beagle Channel

A full day of exclusive sailing, with lunch on board.

04

Whales or penguins in Chubut

From June to December, southern right whales in Península Valdés. From September to April, Magellanic penguins in Punta Tombo.

Itinerary

Day by day

A suggested structure with a carefully paced rhythm. Each day is adjusted to your preferences in the tailor-made quotation.

Days 1–2

Stop 01

Buenos Aires: barbecue and the Delta

Day 1. Arrival at Ezeiza and private transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon to settle in. In the evening, welcome dinner at a Palermo fire-cooking restaurant listed as Recommended in the 2026 Michelin Guide. A multi-course Argentine barbecue, with optional wine pairing.

Day 2. Sail through the Paraná Delta to a private island. Contemporary art, a guided walk and a three-course lunch prepared by a chef. Private round-trip transfer.

Suggested hotel

Hub Porteño — Recoleta. An 11-room townhouse with the atmosphere of a private home.

Legado Mítico — Palermo. Each room is inspired by a different Argentine figure.

Alvear Palace — Recoleta, on Avenida Alvear. A classic city hotel.

Four Seasons Buenos Aires — Recoleta. A hotel tower and an early-20th-century mansion.

Algodon Mansion — Recoleta. A 1912 mansion converted into an all-suite hotel.

Faena Hotel Buenos Aires — Puerto Madero. A historic building beside the docks.

Included experiences

—Welcome dinner at a fire-cooking restaurant with Michelin recognition.

—Cruise and chef-prepared lunch on a private island in the Delta.

Days 3–5

Stop 02

El Calafate: estancia, ice and lake

Day 3. Private transfer to Aeroparque and flight to El Calafate. Private transfer to a local estancia. Country lunch and horseback ride across the steppe. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 4. Full day in Los Glaciares National Park. Walkways facing Perito Moreno, boat crossing and guided glacier trekking with crampons.

Day 5. Cruise on Lake Argentino with lunch on board facing the glacier.

Suggested hotel

EOLO Patagonia's Spirit — Relais & Châteaux. A 4,000-hectare estancia in the La Anita valley, on the road to Perito Moreno. All-inclusive format.

Pristine El Calafate Luxury Camp — Six domes at Estancia Dos Lagos, with views of Perito Moreno and an outdoor soaking tub. All-inclusive. Open October to April.

Estancia Cristina Lodge — Inside Los Glaciares National Park, facing Upsala Glacier. Access by boat. All-inclusive. Open October to April.

Included experiences

—Estancia visit with lunch and horseback ride.

—Trekking on the Perito Moreno Glacier.

—Cruise with lunch facing the glacier.

Days 6–8

Stop 03

Ushuaia: channel, forest and king crab

Day 6. Private transfer to the airport and flight to Ushuaia. Private transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon.

Day 7. Choose one of two experiences.

Option A

Journey to Gable Island and Estancia Harberton, the oldest estancia in Tierra del Fuego, founded in 1886. Patagonian lunch. From November to April.

Option B

Lakes Route along National Route 3, stopping at Lakes Escondido and Fagnano. Fine-dining king crab lunch in Puerto Almanza, on the Beagle Channel. Available year-round.

Day 8. Private yacht cruise on the Beagle Channel, with lunch on board.

Suggested hotel

Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa — In the Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve, high above the city, with views of the forest and channel.

Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa — Facing the Beagle Channel, 15 minutes from downtown. Its own boat for cruises.

Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort — On the forested slopes outside the city, with views of the channel.

Included experiences

—Gable Island and Estancia Harberton, or the Lakes Route with king crab in Puerto Almanza.

—Private yacht on the Beagle Channel with lunch on board.

Days 9–11

Stop 04

Puerto Madryn: whales and penguins

Day 9. Flight to Trelew and private transfer to Puerto Madryn. Free afternoon on the coast of Golfo Nuevo.

Days 10 and 11. Choose two days from three possible experiences, depending on the travel date.

Option A

Punta Tombo and Welsh afternoon tea in Gaiman. Visit the largest mainland colony of Magellanic penguins, around 180 km south of Puerto Madryn. Afterwards, enjoy tea in a town founded by Welsh settlers. From September to April.

Option B

Punta Tombo, vineyards and lunch at a winery. Visit the penguin colony in the morning, followed by lunch at a local winery. From September to April.

Option C

Whale watching and lunch at Estancia San Lorenzo. Boat trip to see southern right whales in Península Valdés, followed by lunch at the estancia. From June to December.

Suggested hotel

Hotel Territorio — Puerto Madryn, facing Golfo Nuevo.

Included experiences

—Two experiences chosen from the three options.

Day 12

Stop 05

Buenos Aires: free day

Private transfer to Trelew and flight to Buenos Aires. Private transfer to the hotel. Free day for walking, shopping or resting.

Day 13

Return

Private transfer to Ezeiza according to your departure time.

Season

When is the best time for this journey?

From October to March there are more daylight hours and better conditions for sailing and walking. Chubut experiences depend on wildlife seasons.

September to December

The best window for Chubut: whales and penguins at the same time. Gable Island and Harberton from November. In El Calafate, seasonal hotels open in October.

January to March

Austral summer and long days. Penguins in Punta Tombo, but no whales. In Chubut, the two experiences come from options A and B.

April

Penguins until Punta Tombo closes for the season. The last month for seasonal hotels in El Calafate.

May to August

No penguins in Punta Tombo. Whales from June. Snow in Ushuaia. The itinerary is redesigned with different hotels and experiences.

Important information

Itinerary conditions

—Suggested itinerary. We tailor it to your preferences.

—All transfers are provided in private service.

—Some excursions are shared in small groups. Ask us about making your selected experiences 100% private.

—Accommodation in the hotel category indicated in the quotation.

—Meals included as detailed for each day.

—Wildlife and sailing experiences depend on weather and season.

Code: #9

Itinerarios Patagonia Austral