Things to do in Patagonia
The unmissables
Most booked
Torres del Paine tour: Gray Lake & Towers hike from Puerto Natales★ 4.95 (546) · 9h
Top rated
Villarrica Volcano Climb Pucón: Active Summit & Glacier Trek★ 4.98 (529) · 6h–8h
Best value
Puerto Varas: Petrohue River Rafting & Private Transport★ 4.95 (374) · 5h
Recommended (7)
Punta Arenas: Whale & Glacier Watching Cruise, Francisco Coloane★ 4.83 (286) · 12h–14hUS$ 390View ›
Torres del Paine: Full-Day Scenic Tour from Puerto Natales★ 4.65 (265) · 8h–10hUS$ 110View ›
Pucón: Villarrica Volcano Climb & Crater Descent with Sleds★ 4.95 (237) · 8h–11hUS$ 215View ›
Torres del Paine & Milodon Cave: Full-Day Park Tour from Puerto Natales★ 4.67 (197) · 11h–12hUS$ 88View ›
Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Falls tour: Small-group day trip★ 4.86 (175) · 8h–10hUS$ 90View ›
Patagonia Kayak Tour with Local Tea & Safety Gear Included★ 4.99 (163) · 4hUS$ 115View ›
Punta Arenas Shore Excursion: Fort Bulnes & Strait of Magellan★ 4.77 (151) · 6h–8hUS$ 257View ›Top rated (7)
Villa la Angostura: Kayak Tour & Lakeside Picnic Nahuel HuapiYou’ll paddle through glacier-blue waters near Villa la Angostura with a small group led by an expert guide, spotting birds and ancient rocks before settling in for a laid-back picnic on shore. Expect laughter over local cakes and moments of real quiet as Nahuel Huapi unfolds around you.
Pucón: Villarrica Volcano Summit Trek & Lake ViewsYou climb from Pucón's base to Villarrica's 2,847-meter summit in five hours, with a certified guide leading you past eruption scars and up to the crater rim. From the top, you see five lakes and the surrounding volcanoes spread across the Patagonian landscape. The descent takes three hours. Park entry, technical gear, transport from your hotel, and insurance are all included—you just show up ready to walk.Is it for me?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want to reach an active volcano's summit without mountaineering training. Expect a full day of walking—five hours up, three down—at altitude where the air is thin and the views stretch across five lakes and the Patagonian landscape.
Villarrica Volcano: Guided Ascent, Glacier Crossing & Snow SlideYou’ll climb Villarrica Volcano with certified guides, feeling every shift from forest trail to snowy glacier under your boots. Expect real mountain gear, glacier crossing, wild crater views—and a fast snow slide back down that’ll leave you grinning long after you’ve left Pucón.
Petrohué River rafting: Small-group descent with volcano viewsRaft the Petrohué River, a Class III descent through Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park in Chile, with a professional guide, helmet, wetsuit and all safety gear included. The route runs for an hour and a half past Calbuco, Osorno and Puntiagudo volcanoes, with hotel pickup and drop-off arranged. Children from age 12 are welcome when accompanied by an adult; guides speak English, Spanish and Italian.Is it for me?Hotel pickup means you do not need a car or directions to the river—the guide collects you and handles the logistics, so the morning stays simple whether you are staying in town or elsewhere in the area.
Torres del Paine & Milodon Cave Day Trip from Punta ArenasYou’ll ride out from Punta Arenas into Patagonia’s wild heart: stare up at Torres del Paine’s blue peaks, cross a swinging bridge to see glacier ice at Lake Grey, then wander through Milodon Cave’s cool shadows with your local guide sharing stories along the way. Expect moments of quiet awe — and maybe a little windburn.
Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Waterfalls tour from Puerto VarasA 10-hour tour from Puerto Varas visits Osorno Volcano, a stratovolcano on the edge of Lake Llanquihue, and Petrohué Waterfalls inside Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, with a professional guide in English or Spanish and round-trip shared transfer from selected hotels. Food, park entrance fees and the optional boat ride on Todos los Santos Lake are separate costs.Is it for me?Choose the Puerto Varas option if you're based there and want the shortest pickup window; choose the Puerto Montt option if that's where you're staying and prefer not to drive between cities. The ski-lift up Osorno Volcano is optional, so skip it if you want to keep costs down or if you're short on time at that stop.
Magdalena Island: Magellan Penguins & Sea Lions from Punta ArenasYou're transferred to the boat, sail across the Magellan Strait, pass Marta Island's sea lion colony, then spend an hour walking among thousands of Magellan penguins on Magdalena Island. The return crossing takes another 45 minutes. Plan for a 4-hour outing that finishes by 3 PM, and bring your passport—it's required at booking for all passengers.Is it for me?Book this if your ship is in port until at least 3:30 PM and you want to see a massive penguin colony without arranging your own transport—the fixed schedule and included transfers mean you show up at the office and the boat handles the rest.
Lowest price (10)
Punta Arenas Airport - City: Private transfer with driverYou’ll step off your flight in Punta Arenas and find your private driver waiting for you—no stress or searching for taxis. Enjoy a comfortable ride into town with local tips along the way and help with your luggage if you need it. The little details—like a warm car and friendly advice—make arriving here something you’ll remember long after the trip.
Osorno Volcano tour from Puerto Varas: Half-day with lake viewsA half-day tour from Puerto Varas takes you by car to the shore of Llanquihue Lake, where Osorno Volcano—a stratovolcano often compared to Mount Fuji—rises above the water alongside Calbuco. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. A minimum of three travelers is required per departure; if your date does not fill, you can reschedule or receive a full refund.Is it for me?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon and want to see two major volcanoes without arranging your own transport or spending a full day away from Puerto Varas. The four-hour window keeps the commitment manageable, and the lake-shore route means you don't need hiking experience or high fitness to enjoy the landscape.
Puerto Varas & Osorno Volcano: Guided Day Tour with PickupYou’ll travel from Puerto Varas along Llanquihue Lake with a local guide, explore Osorno Volcano’s slopes, stand beside Petrohué’s roaring waterfalls, and breathe in the forest air by Todos los Santos lake. Expect laughter, quiet moments, hotel pickup and drop-off — plus stories you’ll want to tell later.
Rafting Pucón: River Trancura with guideRafting on the River Trancura near Pucón is a three-hour activity where you paddle through Patagonian river valleys with a live guide steering the group through rapids and calm stretches. The guide speaks English or Spanish; children are welcome from age 12. All rafting gear and appropriate clothing are included.Is it for me?You paddle the whole time rather than watching others take turns, which is what makes this a workout and not a sightseeing float—book it if you want to operate the boat yourself instead of ride in one.
Bike Tour Punta Arenas: Local neighborhoods and city historyA bike tour of Punta Arenas led by local cyclists who navigate the city's historic neighborhoods—the ones with colorful roofs and street art that sit away from the tourist center. You ride MTB bikes with hydraulic brakes and front suspension, stop at several points where the guide explains the regional history from indigenous peoples to today's economy, and end with a hilltop perspective of why the city exists as it does. The tour runs 3.5 hours and includes helmet, reflective harness, snack and hotel pickup; guides speak English and Spanish, and children from age 2 are welcome.Is it for me?The route climbs to the city's higher sectors, so steady pedaling and a moderate fitness level help you enjoy the pace—this is a working tour of real neighborhoods, not a flat cruise, and the guide stops often to explain what you're seeing.
Pucón Liucura River: Guided kayak trip with local guideYou’ll join a small group for a guided kayak trip down Pucón’s Liucura River—learning from locals, paddling past waterfalls and wildflowers, feeling both thrill and calm as you master gentle rapids together. With all gear provided plus pickup and photos included, it’s an experience you’ll remember long after your feet are dry.
Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Tour with Ski LiftThis six-hour shore excursion from Puerto Montt visits Osorno Volcano, Petrohue Falls and Puerto Varas with a professional guide, round-trip transfer and complimentary lunch. You ride an air-conditioned vehicle to Petrohue Waterfalls in Vicente Peres Rosales National Park for an easy walk to cascades framed by volcanic rock and forest, then drive up Osorno Volcano where you can hike or take the year-round ski lift to views of Volcano Calbuco and Lake Llanquihue. Lunch is a baked beef empanada with red and white wine at the summit. The tour ends in Puerto Varas, the German-settled lakeside town known for roses and local crafts. Available as private tours for 2–14 people or small-group shared departures.Is it for me?Book the private tour if your group wants the schedule and stops to stay exactly as planned without waiting for other travelers; choose the small-group shared option if you're traveling solo or with one or two others and prefer to split the cost while still having a guide and transport arranged.
Perito Moreno Glacier tour from Puerto Natales no vehicle changesA full-day tour from Puerto Natales to Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, departing at 6:20 am with hotel pickup and a bilingual guide who boards in El Calafate. The operator's vehicles are authorized to cross the border and enter the park directly, so you don't change vehicles or agencies en route. Park entry ($45,000 Argentine pesos for foreigners) is separate; you spend roughly 2 hours on the glacier's walkways and viewpoints, with the option to book a boat tour separately. The return arrives around 10 pm.Is it for me?Small groups of 6 to 15 passengers suit this tour well—large enough to share the cost of the long drive, small enough that the vehicle feels manageable and the pace stays flexible. It works best if you're comfortable with a full day (departure at 6:20 am, return around 10 pm) and want to avoid the logistics of switching between tour operators at the border.
Quetrupillán Volcano Ascent from Pucón: Guided Summit ClimbA full-day guided ascent of Quetrupillán volcano from Pucón takes you 40km into the Andes to reach a 2,370-meter summit ringed by glaciers, crater views and a 360° panorama of lakes, volcanoes and the Argentine border. Private transport, all climbing gear, a certified guide in your language, and park entry are included; when snow covers the peak, the descent becomes a sled run down the mountainside. Children from age 10 can join.Is it for me?The nine-hour day and moderate-to-strenuous climbing mean this ascent suits travelers with solid fitness who want a full mountain experience, not a short walk—the pace is steady and the guide adjusts it to the group, but there's no shortcut to the summit or the views.
Villarrica Volcano Climb from Pucón: Summit & Snow SlidesA full-day mountaineering activity from Pucón to the summit of Villarrica volcano, South America's most active peak and one of only seven volcanoes in the world with an open lava crater. You climb with a certified bilingual guide, all technical equipment provided, and national park entry included. The descent is done by sliding down the snow fields—a unique way to return that sets this apart from a standard hike.Is it for me?Book this climb if you have moderate fitness and want to stand at an active volcano crater and experience the unique descent by snow slide. The nine-hour commitment and the technical terrain mean it is built for people ready for a full day of mountaineering, not a casual walk—the reward is the crater itself and a descent you won't find anywhere else.
