Patagonia Lakes Crossing

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred from your hotel to the domestic airport for your flight to Bariloche, Argentina, a picturesque resort town on the shores of serene Lake Nahuel Huapi. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, getting acquainted with this idyllic mountain town. (B)

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred from your hotel to the trailhead to begin your Patagonia hiking. According to your pace, you’ll hike for two to three hours into the alpine zone, stopping to enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch a midst pristine lakes, glaciated summits, forests and Andean peaks. Replenished, you’ll complete the final three to four hours of Patagonia hiking. You’ll be brought back to your hotel in time to prepare for an enjoyable evening on your own at one of the city’s fine restaurants. (B,L)

This peaceful day of kayaking may be enjoyed by all, regardless of fitness level. After breakfast, you’ll be taken from the hotel to a boat-launching beach. Accompanied by guides, today’s full day of paddling will be divided by a lakeside picnic in an idyllic setting. The trip ends at the landmark Llao Llao Hotel where you will be transferred back to your Bariloche accommodations in time to enjoy a last evening in this heavenly part of the Lakes District. (B,L)

Patagonia Hike & Kayak Option: If your group prefers to pair gentle trekking with kayaking today, a full day of both may be arranged. Begin by driving to Lopez Bay in the morning and hiking the well-traveled trail to the Tristeza lookout point. Atop this granite dome with breathtaking views, you will enjoy a scenic lunch. After returning to the trailhead and receiving a safety briefing, you will paddle the Moreno Lake for the remainder of the afternoon before returning to your Bariloche hotel. (B,L)

After breakfast, you board a catamaran at the Puerto Panuelo pier near Bariloche to cruise vast Lake Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Blest. From here, a bus will take you to Puerto Alegre via an Andean larch forest. You’ll have superb cloud forest views as you cross Lake Frias on the way to Puerto Frias and the border to start your Chile Patagonia vacation. From there, a quick bus ride gets you to the village of Peulla for a delicious lunch. From there, you’ll cruise the emerald waters of Todos los Santos Lake to the Petrohue River. The volcanoes from this vantage point are stunning with 11,453-ft Tronador, famous for the thunderous sounds of ice falling from its summit; 7,185-ft Puntiagudo and 8,530-ft Osorno all in view. Reaching the pier on the Petrohue River, you will travel to today’s final destination, the quaint town of Puerto Varas and your comfortable hotel for the night. (B,L)

The most iconic sights of the Lakes District are easily the majestic Osorno Volcano and the gorgeous Petrohue Falls. The snow-capped image of Osorno adorns most photos of the area, as it stands looking over Todos los Santos and Llanquihue Lake. The falls are gentle and serene and bring an elegant beauty to this already spectacular landscape.

Departing from Puerto Varas, you’ll travel in vehicle to the beginning of the El Solitario trail. You will trek at the base of the Osorno Volcano, taking in amazing views of the surrounding scenery. The trek will lead you through an ancient forest, over volcanic rock, and between renewed native forests. You will be surrounded by beautiful views of three volcanoes: Osorno, Calbuco, and Puntiagudo. Ending the trek, you’ll head to the Petrohue Falls, where turquoise waters flow mightily over the rocks, a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch. Finally, you’ll make a stop at Lake Todos los Santos, where the Andes provide a magnificent backdrop for a peaceful rest and gorgeous photos. You return to your Puerto Varas hotel in the afternoon and have the evening on your own before a restful night at your lodgings. (B,L)

On your last day in the Puerto Varas region, you have your choice of activity and then return to your hotel for a final free evening here in Chile Patagonia. (B,L)

OPTION I: LOS ALERCE ANDINO NATIONAL PARK
Alerce Andino National Park – Leaving Puerto Varas heading south toward Puerto Montt, you will enter the Lenca sector and the Alerce Andino Park. You will trek along the Chaicas river, through large forests of Maos, Tepas, Arrayanes, and Alerce trees. You will enjoy beautiful views of two mountain lakes as well as a diverse array for birds and local wildlife. Alerce Andino is one of the regions most emblematic and best conserved national parks.

OPTION II: ANCUD – PENGUIN COLONIES
This trip to the island of Chilo off the Chile Patagonia coast is for penguin lovers. Chilo is an island full of fishing legends and superstitions about old monsters who roam the night seas on elaborately painted ghost ships. The stop in the quaint former capital of Ancud is full of great photographic subjects. You’ll start out early, driving south toward the Pacific, crossing the Straights of Pargua by ferry to the island of Chilo. You’ll drive first to the Bay of Caulin to experience the solitude of this untouched place. It is an ideal spot to observe swans and other species. When the tide is out, you may go beachcombing as the local residents do. You’ll continue on to Ancud, where there will be time to enjoy the picturesque surroundings of rustic homes and traditional fishing boats. You’ll visit the historic Spanish forts and local market of traders and artisans. When you reach the northern coast of the island, you visit the World Wildlife Fund sponsored penguin colony, one of the few places where Magellanic and Humboldt penguins live together. A small zodiac boat will transport you around the small islands of penguin rookeries. Under the right weather conditions, you may also observe a sea lion colony as well. You’ll enjoy a picnic on the beach. Head back to Puerto Varas and arrive at your hotel in the evening in time for a final dinner.

After breakfast, you are transferred to the Puerto Montt Airport, marking the end of your Patagonia trip. From here, you’ll fly to Santiago, Chile to make your connecting international flight home or to continue on the next leg of your South America tour. (B)