Overview & Highlights
An adventurous self-drive holiday with three separate hire car trips to Chilean and Argentine Patagonia's volcanoes, turquoise lakes, glaciers and skeletal peaks. Pre-booked accommodation.
- Buenos Aires: Guided walking tour along the Avenida de Mayo
This holiday showcases three contrasting regions of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile where independent self-drive opens up amazing landscapes for you to explore at your leisure and preferred speed. You have freedom as soon as you get behind the wheel but also the security of knowing your accommodation is booked for you at the end of a day on the road.
Discover Argentina’s glorious lake district, a feast of virgin forests and rugged mountains reflected in a necklace of glassy lakes. The highlight is the drive north along the poster-perfect Seven Lakes Route to tranquil San Martin de los Andes. Later, fly south to visit one of Patagonia’s finest national parks: Los Glaciares, featuring Mount Fitz Roy. Move on to Torres del Paine National park in Chile staying at 2 lodges in different areas. Each is situated in magnificent surroundings, offers a range of optional excursions and enables you to enter and leave the Park on different, scenic routes. Besides scenic drives all round, each offers uniquely different experiences once you’ve parked the car. As you drive through the magnificent natural theatre of Patagonia you’ll really appreciate the extra freedom to pause for photos or linger longer for yet another fabulous view.
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Buenos Aires. Transfer to hotel close to colonial centre and commercial district of the capital.
Day 2
Walking tour along the Avenida de Mayo.
Day 3
Fly to Bariloche in the lake district. Collect your hire car.
Day 4
Explore the Bariloche area.
Day 5
Self-drive to San Martín de los Andes.
Day 6
Explore the San Martín lakes area.
Day 7
Self-drive to Villa la Angostura.
Day 8
Explore the area independently.
Day 9
Drop off car in Bariloche; fly to El Calafate, collect car, self-drive to estancia.
Day 10
Self-drive to El Chaltén in southern Patagonia.
Day 11
Explore the area around the Fitz Roy massif.
Day 12
Self-drive to estancia close to El Calafate.
Day 13
Opportunity to visit Perito Moreno glacier independently.
Day 14
Drop off car at El Calafate; transfer to Puerto Natales in Chile, overnight.
Day 15
Collect car, drive to Torres del Paine National Park. 2 nights at a lodge.
Day 16
Explore the area around Las Torres (the towers).
Day 17
Self-drive to Lago Grey, 2 nights’ accommodation on the lake shore.
Day 18
Explore the area around the Cuernos del Paine and Grey glacier.
Day 19
Drive to Punta Arenas: drop off car, fly to Santiago, overnight at airport hotel.
Day 20
Transfer to airport.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.
What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
Very efficient with the booking process and very helpful with his service throughout. Adam was always prompt and helpful in answering all our questions prior to departure.
IR, London
Tailor made holiday
Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for 40 years. We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.
Hannah Donaldson - Travel Consultant
Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is an invaluable part of our Group Tours team.
Inspired by this trip
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
Papagaio
Your edit for Latin American inspiration
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
View Extraordinary Inspiration
Holidays Self-drive Patagonia: The open road to Torres del Paine
From expertly designed Pre-designed Holidays to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Private Journeys
Argentina
Active Argentina: Walking in Patagonia
14 days from £3,170pp
Private Journeys
Chile / Argentina / Patagonia
Active Patagonia: Classic treks in Argentina and Chile
14 days from £4,250pp
Private Journeys
Argentina / Iguazu Falls / Patagonia
Argentina Wildlife: Tropical wetlands and Patagonia
16 days from £6,475pp
Group - Discovery
Chile / Argentina / Patagonia
Charito: Pure Patagonia
12 days from £2,805pp
-
Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Consultant
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
-
Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Consultant
Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.
-
Carrie Gallagher - Travel Consultant
A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Escorted Groups team.
-
Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Consultant
After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.
-
Evie Oswald - Travel Consultant
It’s hard to believe that Evie has had time to cram so much in to her life so far. Having lived as a child in the Americas and Europe she found herself immediately attracted to Latin America.
-
Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Consultant
Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made team.
