What's the best time of year to start a Patagonia tour from Santiago?

Plan your Patagonia adventure from Santiago between October and March when the Southern Hemisphere's spring and summer offer the most reliable weather conditions. Santiago sees pleasant temperatures of 20-30°C (68-86°F) while Patagonia maintains a cooler 10-15°C (50-59°F). These months bring clear skies and moderate winds perfect for hiking and photography. Accommodations like Hotel Ibis Manquehue and Hotel Marina Las Condes in Santiago tend to fill quickly during these peak months.

What activities are typically included in Santiago before heading to Patagonia?

Most itineraries dedicate 2-3 days to exploring Santiago's cultural landmarks. Visitors explore the historic Plaza de Armas the bustling streets around San Cristóbal Hill and the Presidential Palace. Day trips often venture to the colorful port city of Valparaíso or the renowned vineyards of Maipo Valley. Hotels like Plaza el Bosque Ebro and Hotel Marina Las Condes serve as convenient bases. A recent TourRadar traveler shared: "the initial days in Santiago provided an excellent cultural introduction before the Patagonian adventure."

What are the key Patagonian destinations typically included after starting in Santiago?

The Patagonian segment focuses on natural wonders including Torres del Paine National Park Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas in Chile. Many tours cross into Argentina to visit El Calafate and the massive Perito Moreno Glacier. The transition begins with a flight from Santiago to either Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt. TourRadar travelers note the stark contrast between Santiago's urban energy and Patagonia's untouched landscapes.

What transportation methods are used from Santiago to Patagonia?

Getting to Patagonia combines air and ground travel. The journey starts with a 3-4 hour flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt followed by private vehicle transfers to various destinations. Between legs travelers rest at properties like Hotel Weskar in Puerto Natales or Hotel Cabo de Hornos in Punta Arenas. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "the seamless combination of flights and ground transportation made the long journey comfortable."

What type of accommodations can I expect throughout the journey?

The accommodation mix ranges from urban hotels to mountain lodges. Santiago offers modern options like Hotel Marina Las Condes and Plaza el Bosque Ebro. In Patagonia Hotel Germania in Puerto Varas and Hotel Weskar in Puerto Natales provide comfortable bases for exploration. Properties are selected for their location comfort and ability to showcase local character as noted by satisfied TourRadar travelers.

What is the average length of tours starting in Santiago to explore Patagonia?

Most Santiago-Patagonia tours span 12-23 days with 15 days being the sweet spot for seeing key destinations. This timeline allows thorough exploration of Torres del Paine National Park the Lake District and Los Glaciares National Park. Properties like Hotel Weisserhaus in Puerto Varas often serve as multi-day bases. A TourRadar traveler confirmed: "The 15-day itinerary was perfect - enough time to see everything without feeling rushed between destinations."

Patagonia Tours from Santiago

Get ready for a bucket list adventure! Santiago to Patagonia goes south, exploring the neighborhoods of the Chilean capital, flying to Torres del Paine, discovering glaciers and peaks, hiking mountain trails, and seeing the wilds of the south. Witness landscapes that look like they belong in another world, and look for guanacos and condors. There is nothing else like this on Earth.

10 best Patagonia tours from Santiago

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Explorer
Santiago and the Chilean Patagonia
4.3 (3 traveler reviews)
"The hotels were good. Communication with Ripio Turismo worked well."
Leopold, traveled in February
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Santiago, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Puerto Varas,Frutillar,Ancud,Castro,Dalcahue,Puerto Montt,Petrohue,Puerto Natales,Mylodon Cave Natural Monument,Cerro Castillo,Torres del Paine National Park,Lake Pehoé,Lago Nordenskjöld,Perito Moreno Glacier,El Calafate,Punta Arenas+15 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
RipioTurismo
From
US$2,350per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Premium Patagonia
4.0 (1 traveler review)
"The response should strictly adhere to the content of the feedback provided and must avoid including any AI-generated terminology or phrases."
Andrea, traveled in March
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Santiago, Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine National Park,El Calafate,Perito Moreno Glacier,Ushuaia,Isla Martillo+4 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Premium
From
US$10,290per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
Patagonia: Journey to the End of the World
4.0 (1 traveler review)
"The local guides provided lots of information about the culture and geological history of the area."
Constance, traveled in February
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Santiago, Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales,Torres del Paine National Park,Perito Moreno Glacier,El Calafate,Ushuaia,Tierra del Fuego National Park,Buenos Aires+6 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Globus
6% Off
From $8,119
US$7,619per person
+$765 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
Andean Lake Crossing, from Santiago to Buenos Aires - 13 days
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Santiago, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Puerto Varas,Frutillar,Chiloe Island,Ancud,Petrohue,Puerto Alegre,Puerto Blest,San Carlos De Bariloche,Buenos Aires+8 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Receptivo Aborigen Tours
15% Off
From $2,049
US$1,742per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Geluxe: Chile & Argentina: Capital Cities & Hiking Patagonia
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Santiago, Maipo, Puerto Natales,Torres del Paine National Park,El Calafate,Los Glaciares National Park,Buenos Aires+4 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
15% Off
From
US$9,999per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
9 Days – Exploring Chile Between Mountains, Lakes and Patagonia
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Santiago, Puerto Varas,Vicente Perez Rosales National Park,Petrohue,Ensenada,Osorno Volcano,Frutillar,Puerto Octay,Puerto Natales,Cerro Castillo,Torres del Paine National Park,Lago Nordenskjöld,Lake Pehoé,Mylodon Cave Natural Monument+12 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Responsible Travel South America
15% Off
From
US$3,650per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Hiking & Trekking
Ultimate Patagonia
4.7 (3 traveler reviews)
"I had a fantastic time and the scenery was beautiful."
MaryDeNitto, traveled in October
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Santiago, Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales,Torres del Paine National Park,El Chalten,Mount Fitz Roy,Perito Moreno Glacier,El Calafate+5 more
Age Range
Ages 16+
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
OneSeed Expeditions
15% Off
From
US$9,339per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Explorer
Santiago to Patagonia - 14 days
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Santiago, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, Petrohue,Chiloe Island,Castro,Punta Arenas,Torres del Paine National Park+4 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
15% Off
From
US$8,570per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Santiago to Buenos Aires: Volcanos, Valleys & the Lake District
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Santiago, Valparaiso, Pucon, Puerto Varas, Chiloe Island,San Carlos De Bariloche,Buenos Aires+2 more
Age Range
Ages 18-39
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
25% Off
From $1,599
US$1,199per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Patagonia Encompassed - 20 Days
Duration
20 days
Destinations
Chile Argentina Uruguay
Age Range
Ages 12+
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
25% Off
From
US$8,370per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
11 Days Ultimate Patagonian Adventure: Journey from Santiago to Chile and Argentina
4.0 (4 traveler reviews)
"Overall it was an extremely well organised tour and communication with torradar staff was excellent."
Jack, traveled in February
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Santiago, Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine National Park,El Calafate,Perito Moreno Glacier,Buenos Aires+3 more
Age Range
Ages 14+
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Responsible Travel South America
3% Off
From $3,900
US$3,800per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
City, Volcanoes and Glaciers in Chile
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"The sites visited were beautiful and guides were well-informed and friendly. The tour company made every effort to accommodate our needs."
Lori, traveled in March
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Santiago, Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, Puerto Varas,Llanquihue Lake,Vicente Perez Rosales National Park,Petrohue,Osorno Volcano,Ensenada,Puerto Natales,Cerro Castillo,Torres del Paine National Park,Lago Nordenskjöld,Lake Pehoé,Mylodon Cave Natural Monument,Balmaceda+12 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
People Travel and Experience
3% Off
From
US$2,660per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
South America Wonders: Patagonia Glaciers, Iguazu Falls & Rio | 18 Days · 4-Star
5.0 (6 traveler reviews)
"The perfect combination of natural wonders and beautiful cosmopolitan cities, especially Rio and Copacabana Beach."
Sean, traveled in January
Duration
18 days
Destinations
Chile Argentina Brazil
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Wanderful Holidays LLC
15% Off
From $5,299
US$4,504per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
Heart of Patagonia (Classic)
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Santiago, Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales,Torres del Paine National Park,Lake Pehoé,El Calafate,Los Glaciares National Park,Buenos Aires+5 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Andes MountainsPatagonia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Insight Vacations
10% Off
From $8,008
US$7,207per person
+$487 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
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Hiking & Trekking
Tailor-Made Chile Trip to Winery & Classic W Trek (Private Guide and Driver)
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Santiago, Maipo, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Punta Arenas,Magdalena Island,Marta Island,Torres del Paine National Park,Lago Nordenskjöld,Lake Pehoé,Puerto Natales+6 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Andes MountainsChile AustralPatagonia+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Agate Travel
10% Off
From
US$9,449per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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