Patagonia Overland: Ushuaia to Santiago (Self-Launched)

Fly into Ushuaia (via Buenos Aires or El Calafate) and settle into a hostel near the waterfront. Pick up a local SIM, withdraw cash (bring USD cash to change at 'cuevas' for a better rate than ATMs) and stock up on camp food at the supermarket. Evening walk along the Beagle Channel and an early night before the long haul north.

🚌Arrival by air or bus from El Calafate; local taxis/minibus from airport ~£5

🛏Hostel dorm or private in Ushuaia (~£18-25/night)

• →Beagle Channel waterfront walk
• →Supermarket and cash run
• →Hostel check-in and route planning

Free day. Take the local minibus or shared shuttle to Tierra del Fuego National Park (~£20 return plus ~£9 park entry) and walk the coastal Sendero Costera trail. In the afternoon, book a Beagle Channel boat trip to Isla Martillo penguin colony or the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse via a local agency on the seafront (roughly £90-125 per person, book a day ahead). Or visit the Maritime & Prison Museum (~£28).

🚌Local park shuttle buses; boat from Ushuaia pier

🛏Hostel dorm or private in Ushuaia (~£18-25/night)

• →Tierra del Fuego National Park day trip
• →Beagle Channel boat cruise (optional)
• →End of the World Museum (optional)

Cross into Chile overland. Local buses run from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas via the San Sebastián border crossing — usually an early-morning departure with a change or through-ticket, roughly 10-12 hours (~£35-45). Get your PDI entry card from Chilean immigration and keep it safe. Arrive Punta Arenas in the evening and check into a hostel near the plaza.

🚌Local/through bus Ushuaia-Punta Arenas ~£35-45, 10-12 hrs

🛏Hostel in Punta Arenas (~£18-25/night)

• →Overland border crossing
• →Punta Arenas plaza and waterfront stroll

Morning bus to Puerto Natales (~3 hrs, ~£10-14). Spend the afternoon in this gateway town renting camping gear (tent if you don't have one, sleeping mat, stove), buying park supplies and booking your Torres del Paine park entry and campsite reservations online in advance (CONAF portal — limited capacity in high season, book weeks ahead). Check the catamaran or bus timings into the park for tomorrow.

🚌Local bus Punta Arenas-Puerto Natales ~£10-14, 3 hrs

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puerto Natales (~£18-25/night)

• →Gear rental and supply run
• →Book Torres del Paine entry and campsites
• →Waterfront walk in Puerto Natales

Take the early public bus from Puerto Natales to Laguna Amarga park entrance (~2 hrs, ~£12 return-ish if pre-booked round trip) and pay the park entrance (~£25 for foreigners). From Hotel Las Torres, hike the famous Base of the Towers trail — 19 km return, 8-10 hrs, a stiff climb with a stunning granite-tower finish. Camp at Campamento Chileno or Refugio Torre Central (book ahead) and eat a hot dinner at the campsite.

🚌Public bus Puerto Natales-Laguna Amarga ~£8-12, 2 hrs

🛏Camping at Chileno/Refugio Torre Central or nearby campsite (~£10-20)

• →Base of the Towers hike
• →Camp dinner at the foot of the towers

Walk back down and catch the park shuttle or catamaran to the Grey sector for views of the Grey Glacier (the catamaran crossing is optional, ~£30-40). Alternatively do a shorter viewpoint trek — Sendero Salto Grande, Mirador Cuernos — and keep your eyes open for guanacos and condors. Camp again in the park or return to Puerto Natales for a hot shower and a bed.

🚌Park shuttle or catamaran transfers; return bus to Puerto Natales

🛏Camp in park (~£10-20) or hostel in Puerto Natales (~£20)

• →Grey Glacier viewpoint
• →Mirador Cuernos / Salto Grande walk
• →Wildlife spotting: guanacos, condors

Cross the border back into Argentina on the local bus (Puerto Natales-El Calafate, ~5-6 hrs, ~£25-30). Settle into a hostel in El Calafate, buy your Los Glaciares National Park entry ticket (~£12, valid 3 days) and pre-book your Perito Moreno transfer for tomorrow.

🚌Local bus Puerto Natales-El Calafate ~£25-30, 5-6 hrs

🛏Hostel in El Calafate (~£18-25/night)

• →Border crossing back to Argentina
• →El Calafate town and Lago Argentino shoreline

Take a shared shuttle bus from El Calafate to the Perito Moreno boardwalks (~1.5 hrs, ~£18-25 return plus park entry). Spend hours watching huge ice walls calve into Lago Argentino. Optional extras: a boat trip close to the glacier face (~£60-80) or a kayak excursion. Return to El Calafate in the late afternoon for dinner in town.

🚌Shared shuttle El Calafate-Perito Moreno return ~£18-25

🛏Hostel in El Calafate (~£18-25/night)

• →Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalks
• →Optional glacier boat trip or kayak
• →Glacier museum and viewing platforms

Morning local bus along Ruta 40 to El Chaltén (~3 hrs, ~£18-22), the tiny trekking village under Fitz Roy. Afternoon free to walk to the Chorillo del Salto waterfall or the Mirador de los Cóndores for sunset views of the Fitz Roy massif. Stock up on supplies — prices in El Chaltén are high.

🚌Local bus El Calafate-El Chaltén ~£18-22, 3 hrs

🛏Hostel or campsite in El Chaltén (~£15-22)

• →Chorillo del Salto waterfall walk
• →Mirador de los Cóndores sunset

Do the classic Laguna de los Tres trek — 20-25 km return, 8-10 hours, ending at a turquoise glacial lagoon right beneath Fitz Roy. Start early, carry plenty of water and food. Free trail, no park fee. Alternative: shorter Laguna Capri or Piedras Blancas glacier walk if you want an easier day.

🚌Walk from village trailhead

🛏Hostel or campsite in El Chaltén (~£15-22)

• →Laguna de los Tres / Fitz Roy hike
• →Optional Laguna Capri or Piedras Blancas hike

Take the early long-distance bus north along the wild Ruta 40 towards Los Antiguos (~11-13 hrs; book in advance through Buses/El Calafate offices or online, ~£30-40). Break the journey at the Cueva de las Manos turnoff near Perito Moreno town and arrange a local tour or hitching/lift to the UNESCO cave site to see 9,000-year-old handprints (~£20-25 including entry). Continue to Los Antiguos for the night.

🚌Long-distance bus El Calafate-Los Antiguos ~£30-40, plus local transfer to cave

🛏Guesthouse or campsite in Los Antiguos (~£15-20)

• →Ruta 40 long-distance drive
• →Cueva de las Manos UNESCO site visit

Cross the border at Chile Chico and take the local bus/ferry combination to join the Carretera Austral. Buses run from Chile Chico to Coyhaique (~5-7 hrs, ~£15-18, sometimes with a short lake crossing). Arrive in Coyhaique — the capital of the Aysén region — and check into a hostel. Pick up a few days' supplies here; things get remote fast.

🚌Local bus Chile Chico-Coyhaique with ferry ~£15-18, 5-7 hrs

🛏Hostel in Coyhaique (~£18-25/night)

• →Chile Chico border crossing
• →Carretera Austral scenery
• →Coyhaique town and plaza

Free day. Book a day excursion south to Puerto Río Tranquilo for the Marble Caves boat trip (~£60-90 including road transfer and boat) — swirling blue-and-white marble formations on Lago General Carrera, best reached by kayak or small boat. If you'd rather stay local, hike the Cerro Cinchao or Reserva Nacional Coyhaique trails or visit the artisan market.

🚌Shared van to Puerto Río Tranquilo or local trailhead

🛏Hostel in Coyhaique (~£18-25/night)

• →Marble Caves boat/kayak excursion
• →Reserva Nacional Coyhaique hike (alternative)

Spend the morning on the Carretera Austral heading north — this is remote bus territory. Piece together local buses via Villa Santa Lucía or La Junta to Futaleufú (~8-10 hrs total, ~£25-35). Futaleufú sits at the meeting of the Espolón and Futaleufú rivers and is a famous rafting base. Camp or hostel by the river for the night.

🚌Local buses via La Junta ~£25-35, 8-10 hrs with changes

🛏Campsite or hostel in Futaleufú (~£12-20)

• →Carretera Austral northbound bus journey
• →Futaleufú riverside walk

Free day for adventure activities. Book direct with local operators in town: whitewater rafting on the Futaleufú (half-day from ~£70-90), canyoning (~£45-60), mountain biking or a guided horseback ride (~£35-50). Alternatively hike to the Espolón Falls or a nearby mirador and rest burning legs.

🚌Walk or local taxi to activity providers

🛏Campsite or hostel in Futaleufú (~£12-20)

• →Whitewater rafting or canyoning
• →Mountain biking or horse riding
• →Espolón Falls hike

Cross back into Argentina at the Futaleufú border and take the bus to Esquel or Bariloche, then continue into Chile's Lake District — realistically two buses over a full day (~£30-40). Land in Puerto Varas on the shore of Lago Llanquihue with Osorno Volcano on the horizon. Check into a hostel near the plaza.

🚌Local buses via Argentina border ~£30-40, most of the day

🛏Hostel in Puerto Varas (~£18-25/night)

• →Border crossing back to Argentina and on to Chile
• →Lago Llanquihue waterfront stroll

Free day. Take a local bus or shared tour to the Osorno Volcano base area for a hike on the Desolación route or up to the ski area (day tours ~£80-160). Alternatively head to Chiloé Island via ferry from Pargua for the day — palafitos (coloured stilt houses) in Castro and the UNESCO churches (~£120-180 including ferry and transport).

🚌Local buses or shared tours

🛏Hostel in Puerto Varas (~£18-25/night)

• →Osorno Volcano hike
• →Chiloé Island day trip (alternative)

Do the scenic 'Ruta de los Siete Lagos' by local bus or shared van across the border to San Martín de los Andes — lake after lake, viewpoint after viewpoint (~5-6 hrs, ~£20-28). Or base in Bariloche for a night and day-trip. San Martín is a small, pretty mountain town on Lago Lácar; book a hostel and eat well.

🚌Local bus/shared van over Seven Lakes Route ~£20-28, 5-6 hrs

🛏Hostel in San Martín de los Andes (~£18-25/night)

• →Ruta de los Siete Lagos scenic drive
• →Town and lake walk in San Martín de los Andes

Free day for hiking. Take a local taxi or bus to the Lago Lácar trails, walk to Mirador Bandurrias, or do the longer hike up Cerro Colorado. In the afternoon, head to the beach at Playa Catritre and relax. Pre-book your onward bus towards Pucón for tomorrow morning.

🚌Local buses and taxis to trailheads

🛏Hostel in San Martín de los Andes (~£18-25/night)

• →Mirador Bandurrias hike
• →Cerro Colorado hike
• →Lake beach afternoon

A full travel day. Take the local bus across the Andes into Chile — usually via Hua Hum/Panguipulli or through Junín de los Andes to Pucón (~7-9 hrs, ~£30-40 with a change). Pucón sits under Volcán Villarrica on Lago Villarrica and is Chile's adventure capital. Check into a hostel and pick a volcano or park activity for tomorrow.

🚌Local buses via Hua Hum/Panguipulli ~£30-40, 7-9 hrs

🛏Hostel in Pucón (~£18-25/night)

• →Cross-border bus over the Andes
• →Pucón lakeside evening

Choose your adventure: guided ascent of Volcán Villarrica with a local agency (roughly £90-110 including gear, early start, 5-6 hrs), or a quieter day hiking in Parque Nacional Huerquehue, with its monkey puzzle trees and lakes (~£40-55 including transport and entry). Whitewater rafting on the Trancura is another solid option (~£35-50).

🚌Local buses to park entrance or agency pickup

🛏Hostel in Pucón (~£18-25/night)

• →Volcán Villarrica guided ascent
• →Huerquehue National Park hike (alternative)
• →Whitewater rafting (alternative)

Easy day. Take a local bus or shared taxi to Los Pozones hot springs (entry ~£10-15) and soak in river-rock pools fed by geothermal water with the forest around you. Alternatively visit the Termas Geometricas further north if you have a van-share. Back in Pucón, get an early night ahead of the long journey to Santiago.

🚌Local bus/shared taxi to hot springs ~£5-10

🛏Hostel in Pucón (~£18-25/night)

• →Los Pozones hot springs
• →Optional Termas Geometricas
• →Town and lakefront walk

Long-distance bus day (or night bus if you prefer to save a night's accommodation). Buses leave Pucón for Santiago regularly — around 10-11 hrs, ~£30-45. Alternatively, take a bus to Temuco and hop a cheaper onward bus from there. Arrive Santiago and check into a hostel in Bellavista or Barrio Lastarria.

🚌Long-distance bus Pucón-Santiago ~£30-45, 10-11 hrs

🛏Hostel in Santiago (~£20-28/night)

• →Long-distance bus to Santiago
• →Evening wander in Bellavista

Explore the capital on foot and by metro. Walk the historic centre — Plaza de Armas, Mercado Central for seafood, Cerro Santa Lucía — then take the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal for city and Andes views (~£3). Finish with dinner in Barrio Italia or Lastarria.

🚌Metro and walking; funicular ticket ~£3

🛏Hostel in Santiago (~£20-28/night)

• →Plaza de Armas and historic centre
• →Cerro San Cristóbal funicular
• →Mercado Central food stop

Free day. Take a local bus or shared tour to Valparaíso (~1.5 hrs, ~£6-10) — climb the cerros, ride a funicular, see the street art and eat lunch at the port market. Or do a day trip to a Casablanca Valley winery by public bus (~£35-50 including tasting). Last night in Santiago — pack and prep for departure.

🚌Public bus to Valparaíso ~£6-10 return

🛏Hostel in Santiago (~£20-28/night)

• →Valparaíso street art and funiculars
• →Casablanca Valley wine tasting (alternative)

Check out and head to Santiago airport for your onward flight. Take the Centropuerto or Turbus airport bus (~£4-5) or a shared transfer. If your flight isn't until later, squeeze in a final wander around Lastarria or a long breakfast.

🚌Airport bus ~£4-5 or shared transfer ~£10

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Airport transfer
• →Final city wander