Patagonia Wilderness and Wildlife Holiday
18 days from £7,616 pp
This Patagonia Wilderness and Wildlife Holiday is an 18-day tailor-made journey through the wildest corners of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia, timed around its wildlife: southern right whales and penguins at Península Valdés, sea lions and penguins on the Beagle Channel, hiking in El Chaltén, the Upsala Glacier from remote Estancia Cristina, and pumas at Estancia Cerro Guido in Torres del Paine. Prices start from £7,616 per person, including hand-picked hotels and lodges, flights within Argentina and Chile, transfers and small-group excursions with expert local guides. It suits wildlife lovers and walkers who want to see Patagonia away from the crowds.
Trip Highlights
- Watch southern right whales just metres from the shore at El Doradillo, near Puerto Madryn
- Walk among penguins at Península Valdés and on an island in the Beagle Channel
- Track pumas with expert trackers from Estancia Cerro Guido in Torres del Paine
Our Expert Tip
”Southern right whales can be seen in the Peninsula Valdes from August through to December. For the stunning landscapes of Ushuaia, El Calafate and Torres del Paine, the best time to visit is from late September onwards. To maximise your chances of both, consider travelling in late September/October.”
Scarlett, Patagonia Expert
Patagonia Wildlife Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1: Buenos aires
Your journey begins in Buenos Aires with a night at Palo Santo Hotel in Palermo, a good place to shake off the long-haul flight. If you’re up to it, wander the leafy streets of Palermo or Recoleta, or ask us for a private guide to show you the city’s highlights.
Day 2-4: Puerto Madryn and Península Valdés
Puerto Madryn, on Argentina’s Atlantic coast, is your base for three nights at Territorio Hotel, looking out over the bay. Spend a full day on Península Valdés, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where elephant seals haul out on the beaches, guanacos roam the steppe and Estancia San Lorenzo is home to one of Patagonia’s largest Magellanic penguin colonies. On another morning, head to El Doradillo beach, where in the right season, southern right whales come so close to shore you can hear them breathe.
Puerto Madryn was founded by Welsh settlers who arrived in 1865, and their story lives on in nearby Gaiman, where Welsh tea houses still serve traditional teas and cakes. Ask us to add an afternoon there.
Day 5-7: Ushuaia
At the very end of the road lies Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, and your home for three nights is Tierra de Leyendas Hotel, high above the Beagle Channel. Head out in a small boat to Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, past rocks crowded with sea lions and seabirds, then spend a day on Gable Island visiting its penguin colony.
Leave time, too, for the coastal trails of Tierra del Fuego National Park. Along the way, your guides will share the story of the Yámana people, who lived on these shores for thousands of years.
Day 8-10: El Chaltén
El Chaltén was only founded in 1985, and it still feels like a frontier village, with Fitz Roy towering over the rooftops. After a short flight to El Calafate and a three-hour bus ride north, you’ll have three nights at Chaltén Suites to explore on foot. Pick a short walk to a viewpoint for your first afternoon, then build up to a full day beneath Fitz Roy or Cerro Torre if you’re feeling fit.
Day 11-13: El Calafate
The day everyone remembers here is the trip to Estancia Cristina: a boat ride across Lago Argentino between icebergs the size of houses, then a 4×4 climb to a viewpoint over the Upsala Glacier. Your base in El Calafate is Kosten Aike Hotel for three nights, which also leaves time for a guided trek above the lake and an afternoon learning how the Tehuelche people lived here before the first settlers arrived.
Day 14-16: Torres del Paine
Estancia Cerro Guido is one of the best places in Patagonia to look for pumas, and you have three nights to try. It’s a working sheep farm on the edge of Torres del Paine National Park, and stays are all-inclusive, with home-cooked meals and a daily choice of guided outings on horseback or on foot, looking across to the park’s granite towers. Join the Cerro Guido Foundation for a half-day conservation safari, seeing how the team monitors pumas and protects the wildlife on the estancia’s land, then head out with the trackers in search of a sighting.
Day 17-18: Santiago
End your trip in Santiago with a final night at a well located hotel. Wander the colourful streets of Lastarria and Bellavista, visit the moving Museum of Memory and Human Rights, or toast your adventure with a rooftop pisco sour. Want more time? Read our 10 best things to do in Chile.
When to Go
Best time for a Patagonia wildlife holiday
For the widest range of wildlife, travel from late September to November: southern right whales are still at Península Valdés, the penguins are back at their colonies, and the south is warming up for walking. December to March brings the warmest weather and longest days in Ushuaia, El Chaltén and Torres del Paine, though the whales have mostly left by then check. Ask Scarlett which month suits your wildlife wish list.
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to
Need More Inspiration?
Want to combine multi-countries, take less flights, or include a hike in Patagonia? Thinking of a longer sabbatical holiday, or staying in some luxury yurts? It’s all possible; all our holidays are tailor-made with a focus on responsible travel. Take a look at more ideas below, and contact our experts.
