Wild Wonders of Patagonia: A Spectacular Safari Through Argentina and Chile

Explore the neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires

Start your adventure in style with a stay in Buenos Aires. Argentina’s capital is sometimes called ‘the Paris of South America’ due to its café culture, broad, tree-shaded boulevards and European architecture.

It also has a style that’s distinctively porteño – a word you’ll hear many residents use to describe themselves. Elegant squares with art deco and neoclassical buildings are backed by the skyscrapers of Downtown. 

Join locals in the cherished tradition of aperitivo hour, sipping a classic spritz at any of the pavement bars throughout the city. For dinner, typically eaten late, our team can recommend a steakhouse or a traditional bodegón.

Arrive at the ‘End of the World’

Ushuaia sits on the southernmost tip of South America and is the planet’s southernmost city, earning it the nickname the ‘End of the World’.

The gateway to Antarctica is suitably ethereal. This small city is partially located on the hillsides of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, clustered between the Martial Mountains and the Beagle Channel. The streets and buildings reach down to the waters edge and look out over channel and islands and fjords within it. The Southern beech trees, or ‘flag trees’, are permanently bent in the direction of prevailing winds.

Many of your safari excursions in Ushuaia will depart from the harbour, offering opportunities to view sea lions, colonies of Magellanic and gentoo penguins and the red-and-white striped Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse.

Marine life in Peninsula Valdes

A narrow band of land connects Peninsula Valdes to the mainland. Arriving here, it’s easy to imagine you’re completely at sea. Its seemingly endless coastline interlaces bays, islets, lagoons, mudflats, sandy beaches and pebbly coves, backed by rocky cliffs. Very few people live here, with most residing in the village of Puerto Pirámides, once a transport hub for the salt-mining industry.

The nature reserve is justifiably famous for incredible marine life. Across three unforgettable days here, you’ll discover why. The waters here provide important breeding grounds and habitat for orcas, elephant seals and sea lions. And look out for southern right whales, who migrate here to breed and birth their calves.

Glaciers in El Calafate

The gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, the town of El Calafate sits on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The biggest attraction here is the Perito Moreno Glacier, and you’ll spend the bulk of your time exploring its shifting mass.

On a private tour, you’ll view the glacier from different vantage points, while also scanning surrounding heathers and rocky outcrops for red and grey foxes, Patagonian hares and armadillos. The glacier is one of few in the world that’s advancing, not retreating. See its tall, turquoise ice walls up close, and follow purpose-built walkways as your guide explains the environmental and local importance of the glacier.

In town, visit the Glaciarium, a museum dedicated to glaciers, housed in a building modelled on icebergs. And head to the main street, Avenida del Libertador, for craft breweries and souvenir shops.

Icebergs and mountains in Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine National Park is a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Chilean Patagonia. The name, translating as ‘towers of blue’, refers to a trio of granite peaks rising sharply above the rest of the park. 

They share the landscape with glacial lakes, blue icebergs – cleaved from glaciers – and the jagged, horn-shaped mountains of Cuernos del Paine. The result is an area of incredible natural beauty that’s more than the sum of its parts.

The diversity of landscapes is mirrored by the wildlife here. Golden grasslands are home to guanacos, native camelids related to llamas. More than 100 bird species found here include Andean condors, Chilean flamingoes and magellanic woodpeckers, with distinctive black plumage and red heads. You’ll also spend time searching for the area’s most captivating creatures: pumas.

A night in Santiago

Chile’s capital, Santiago, is dizzying. Especially when viewed from 2,820 feet above sea level. A ride on the funicular railway to Cerro San Cristóbal is one of the best ways to appreciate the city’s contrasts, looking over the shiny ‘Sanhattan’ skyline that can’t quite compete with its dramatic Andes backdrop. You can also ascend South America’s tallest building, Gran Torre Santiago, for views from its observation deck.

The city fills a bowl-shaped valley in the centre of the country. Beyond its cosmopolitan heart, you’ll find arty districts with galleries, antique shops and tucked-away bars. Seek out urban wineries offering tasting flights and cellar tours, or simply raise a glass to an incredible journey.