Self-Launched Chile & Argentina: Capital Cities & Hiking Patagonia

Fly into Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. Take the Centropuerto bus (~£2) or Turbus (~£3) from the airport directly into the city centre — far cheaper than a private transfer. Check into your hostel in the lively Barrio Italia or Lastarria neighbourhood. Spend the evening exploring the local streets, grab a pisco sour at a local bar, and grab dinner at a neighbourhood picada (traditional eatery).

🚌Airport bus to city centre (~£2-3 via Centropuerto or Turbus)

🛏Hostel in Barrio Italia or Lastarria (e.g. The Singular Hostel or Happy House Hostel), ~£18-25/night

• →Arrive and settle into Santiago hostel
• →Explore Barrio Italia or Lastarria on foot
• →Try a pisco sour and local Chilean cuisine for dinner

Book a self-guided or small-group bike tour through the Maipo Valley vineyards via GetYourGuide or directly with operators like Uncorked Wine Tours (~£40-55pp). This replicates the G Adventures included cycle experience at a fraction of the tour cost. Alternatively, rent a bike in the city (~£10/day) and head to Parque Metropolitano or cycle along the Mapocho river path. In the afternoon, visit the free Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes or the colourful open-air market at Mercado Central for fresh seafood.

🚌City metro and bike rental — Metro day pass ~£3

🛏Same hostel as Day 1, ~£18-25/night

• →Guided bike tour through Maipo Valley vineyards with wine tasting (~£40-55 via GetYourGuide)
• →Visit Mercado Central for fresh seafood lunch
• →Explore Bellavista neighbourhood and La Chascona (Pablo Neruda's house)

Fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales (LATAM or Sky Airline, ~£80-120 booked in advance). If flying to Punta Arenas, take a shared bus transfer to Puerto Natales (~£10, ~3 hrs via Bus Fernández or Transfer Austral). Puerto Natales is a charming frontier town and the base for Torres del Paine. Check into your guesthouse, stock up on supplies at the local supermarket for trail snacks, and book/confirm your CONAF park entry permit (~£25) if not done online already.

🚌Domestic flight Santiago–Punta Arenas/Puerto Natales (~£80-120); shared bus to Puerto Natales (~£10)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Puerto Natales (e.g. Hostel Indigo or Erratic Rock Hostel), ~£20-28/night

• →Fly Santiago to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales (book LATAM/Sky Airline in advance)
• →Bus transfer to Puerto Natales if flying via Punta Arenas (~£10)
• →Stock up on trail supplies at the local supermarket
• →Book Torres del Paine CONAF park entry permit online (~£25)

Take the early morning bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park (~£10-12 one way via Bus Sur or Buses JB). Enter via the park's main entrance — CONAF entry paid online in advance is essential in high season. Begin hiking the legendary W Circuit or a day section. Today, aim for the base of Las Torres (the iconic three granite towers) — a ~18km round trip, ~7-8 hrs. Book a dorm bed at a refugio inside the park (e.g. Refugio Las Torres or EcoCamp budget options) — essential to book months ahead in peak season (Oct-Mar).

🚌Bus from Puerto Natales to park entrance (~£10-12 via Bus Sur or Buses JB)

🛏Refugio dorm inside the park (e.g. Refugio Las Torres dorm), ~£35-50/night — book months ahead

• →Morning bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine (~£10-12)
• →Hike to the Mirador Las Torres base — iconic granite towers (~18km return, ~7-8 hrs)
• →Enter park via CONAF checkpoint (permit pre-booked online)

Trek the Valle del Francés, one of the most dramatic sections of the W Circuit. The trail winds through ancient lenga beech forest and up to a natural amphitheatre surrounded by hanging glaciers and jagged peaks. This is a ~9-10 hr day with significant elevation gain — start early, pack a packed lunch from the refugio. The catamaran crossing from Pudeto to Paine Grande is a highlight (~£15-20) and connects trail sections efficiently.

🚌Hiking and catamaran ferry within the park (~£15-20)

🛏Refugio dorm at Paine Grande or Cuernos, ~£35-50/night

• →Trek Valle del Francés — dramatic glacial amphitheatre (~20km, ~9-10 hrs)
• →Catamaran crossing from Pudeto to Paine Grande (~£15-20)
• →Spot condors, guanacos, and hanging glaciers along the trail

Hike to Mirador Grey and the Grey Glacier — one of the most accessible glaciers in Patagonia and utterly stunning. The trail from Paine Grande to Mirador Grey is ~11km return and relatively flat. For a closer glacier experience, book a kayaking or ice trekking excursion directly with Big Foot Patagonia or Antares Patagonia (~£60-80pp). Return to Puerto Natales by afternoon bus to rest and resupply for the next leg.

🚌Hiking within park; catamaran and bus back to Puerto Natales (~£12-15)

🛏Hostel in Puerto Natales, ~£20-28/night

• →Hike to Mirador Grey (~11km return, ~4-5 hrs)
• →Optional: kayaking or ice trekking on Grey Glacier via Big Foot Patagonia (~£60-80)
• →Afternoon bus back to Puerto Natales

Take the cross-border bus from Puerto Natales to El Calafate (~£20-25, ~5 hrs via Turismo Zaahj or Cootra). This is a classic Patagonian overland route crossing the Chilean-Argentine border at Cerro Castillo — spectacular scenery the whole way. Arrive in El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. Check into your hostel and rest up. Explore the main street (Avenida del Libertador) and book tomorrow's Perito Moreno visit directly at local tour desks or online.

🚌International bus Puerto Natales to El Calafate (~£20-25 via Turismo Zaahj or Cootra)

🛏Hostel in El Calafate (e.g. America del Sur Hostel or I Keu Ken Hostel), ~£18-25/night

• →Cross-border bus Puerto Natales to El Calafate (~£20-25, ~5 hrs)
• →Border crossing at Cerro Castillo — have passport and any visa documents ready
• →Book Perito Moreno Glacier visit for the next day (park entry + transport ~£25-35)

Visit the world-famous Perito Moreno Glacier — one of few advancing glaciers on Earth. Take a shared shuttle bus from El Calafate to Los Glaciares National Park (~£10-12 return via local operators). Walk the free boardwalk network for incredible close-up views of the glacier face — calving ice towers into the turquoise Lago Argentino. For a more immersive experience, book a 'Big Ice' or 'Mini Trekking' ice walk on the glacier via Hielo y Aventura (~£60-90pp, book direct or via GetYourGuide). Park entry ~£15.

🚌Shared shuttle from El Calafate to glacier (~£10-12 return)

🛏Same hostel in El Calafate, ~£18-25/night

• →Shuttle bus to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate (~£10-12 return)
• →Walk the free glacier boardwalk network — dramatic calving views
• →Optional: Mini Trekking or Big Ice glacier walk via Hielo y Aventura (~£60-90)

Today replaces the exclusive Estancia Cristina stay with an independently bookable glacier lake experience. Take a full-day Lago Argentino boat cruise past Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers — these can be booked directly with Tur-Tur Turismo or Solo Patagonia (~£80-100pp). This gives you the same sweeping glacier views that guests at Estancia Cristina enjoy, at a fraction of the cost. Alternatively, spend the day on a horseback riding excursion on the Patagonian steppe, available through local agencies (~£50-70pp). Return to El Calafate.

🚌Boat cruise included in tour price; taxi or local remis to port (~£5-8)

🛏Same hostel in El Calafate, ~£18-25/night

• →Full-day boat cruise on Lago Argentino past Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers (~£80-100 via Solo Patagonia or Tur-Tur)
• →Optional: horseback riding on Patagonian steppe (~£50-70 via local agencies)
• →Dinner in El Calafate — try regional lamb asado

Fly from El Calafate to Buenos Aires (Aeropuerto Jorge Newbery / AEP or Ezeiza / EZE via Aerolíneas Argentinas or LATAM, ~£70-110 booked ahead). Take the Tienda León bus or airport shuttle from Ezeiza to the city (~£8-10), or a remis (shared taxi) from Aeroparque (~£10). Check into a hostel in Palermo or San Telmo — two of Buenos Aires' most vibrant barrios. Spend the evening wandering the cobbled streets of San Telmo, browsing street art, and grabbing a classic Argentine steak dinner.

🚌Domestic flight El Calafate to Buenos Aires (~£70-110); airport bus to city (~£8-10)

🛏Hostel in Palermo or San Telmo (e.g. Milhouse Avenue Hostel or América del Sur), ~£18-25/night

• →Morning flight El Calafate to Buenos Aires (~£70-110)
• →Airport bus or shuttle to city centre (~£8-10 via Tienda León)
• →Explore San Telmo neighbourhood — cobbled streets, antique markets, street art
• →Argentine steak dinner at a traditional parrilla

Hire a city bike via EcoBici (Buenos Aires' free public bike share) or rent from a local shop (~£6-8/day) and cycle through Palermo's leafy parks, past street murals, and through the colourful La Boca neighbourhood — including the famous Caminito alley. This mirrors the G Adventures included Buenos Aires cycling experience. Visit MALBA (Museum of Latin American Art) for ~£5 entry, or the free Recoleta Cemetery — one of the world's most spectacular. In the evening, watch a free milonga (tango dance session) at Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo.

🚌City bike hire (~£6-8) and metro/subte (~£0.50/ride)

🛏Same hostel in Buenos Aires, ~£18-25/night

• →Cycle through Palermo, La Boca, and San Telmo via EcoBici or rental bike (~£6-8)
• →Visit Caminito in La Boca — iconic colourful street
• →MALBA museum (~£5) or free Recoleta Cemetery
• →Free milonga (tango) at Plaza Dorrego, San Telmo in the evening

Spend the morning at the Feria de San Telmo antique market (open Sundays) or explore the Mercado de San Telmo food hall for empanadas, dulce de leche pastries, and fresh produce. In the afternoon, visit the Palermo Soho boutique district or take a free walking tour of the city (book via Guru Walk or BA Free Tour — tip-based). Book an optional tango show for the evening if desired — shows start from ~£30pp at venues like El Querandi or La Catedral (far cheaper than the $90 USD optional listed by G Adventures by booking direct).

🚌Walking and metro/subte (~£0.50/ride)

🛏Same hostel in Buenos Aires, ~£18-25/night

• →Mercado de San Telmo — empanadas, pastries, local produce
• →Free walking tour of Buenos Aires via Guru Walk or BA Free Tour (tip-based)
• →Palermo Soho boutique browsing
• →Optional: tango show at El Querandi or La Catedral (~£30-45 booked direct)

Visit the elegant Recoleta neighbourhood — stroll the famous cemetery, admire the Belle Époque architecture, and explore the weekend artisan market at Recoleta Cultural Centre (free entry). Head to Café Tortoni, one of Latin America's oldest cafes, for a cortado and medialunas. In the afternoon, visit the Puerto Madero waterfront for a riverside walk. This evening, splurge on a final Argentine meal — a proper parrilla (grill) with Malbec wine is a must before departure. Toast to your Patagonia adventure.

🚌Walking and metro (~£0.50/ride)

🛏Same hostel in Buenos Aires, ~£18-25/night

• →Recoleta Cemetery and neighbourhood stroll (free)
• →Weekend artisan market at Recoleta Cultural Centre (free)
• →Café Tortoni for coffee and medialunas (~£5)
• →Puerto Madero waterfront walk
• →Farewell parrilla dinner with Argentine Malbec

Depending on your flight time, grab a final breakfast at a local café — medialunas and café con leche is the classic Buenos Aires morning ritual. Head to Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) via the Tienda León bus (~£8-10) or a remis. If you have time before your flight, the airport itself has good shopping for last-minute Malbec and Argentine chocolate. Patagonia done — independently, authentically, and affordably.

🚌Tienda León bus or remis to Ezeiza airport (~£8-10)

🛏Check-out from hostel

• →Final Buenos Aires breakfast — café con leche and medialunas at a neighbourhood café
• →Tienda León bus or remis to Ezeiza International Airport (~£8-10)
• →Depart Buenos Aires