Things to do in Patagonia
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Torres del Paine tour: Gray Lake & Towers hike from Puerto NatalesA full-day guided tour from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park includes park entry, shared transportation, a bilingual Spanish/English guide, and stops at Sarmiento Lake Viewpoint, Nordenskjöld Lake, Salto Grande Viewpoint, Pehoé Viewpoint, Weber Bridge, Paine River and Gray Lake. The tour departs from your accommodation and covers roughly 59 kilometers north to Villa Cerro Castillo before entering the park. Snacks and water are provided on board; lunch is not included.Is it for me?You'll hit all the major viewpoints—Sarmiento Lake, Nordenskjöld Lake, Salto Grande, Pehoé, Gray Lake and more—in one day from Puerto Natales, with shared transport handling the route and timing so you focus on the scenery.
Villarrica Volcano Climb Pucón: Active Summit & Glacier TrekYou climb to the summit of Villarrica volcano or trek through glacier caves depending on volcanic conditions, with all technical gear provided and a certified guide leading a small group. Transport from Pucón, park entry, and insurance are included. The full experience takes most of the day and requires moderate fitness; you'll need to check volcanic activity status before booking.Is it for me?Book this if you want to climb an active volcano without arranging your own permits, gear, or transport, and you're fit enough for sustained uphill terrain. The small group size and experienced guide are what make it safe, not casual.
Puerto Varas: Petrohue River Rafting & Private TransportYou’ll jump right into adventure rafting Petrohue’s wild rapids near Puerto Varas, guided by locals who know every twist of the river. Expect icy swims, laughter over snacks and cold beer after your run, plus private transport so you can just focus on the rush—and those moments when everything goes quiet.
Punta Arenas: Whale & Glacier Watching Cruise, Francisco ColoaneYou’ll feel Patagonia’s raw edge as you sail from Punta Arenas into Francisco Coloane Marine Park—spotting whales so close you can hear them breathe, watching glaciers spill into icy water, sharing hot coffee with fellow travelers and hearing local stories over lunch. It’s less about ticking boxes and more about feeling small—in a good way.
Torres del Paine: Full-Day Scenic Tour from Puerto NatalesYou’ll start your Torres del Paine day trip with hotel pickup in Puerto Natales and see wild guanacos, turquoise lakes, roaring waterfalls like Salto Grande, and ancient Milodon Cave with a local guide. Expect windy hikes, surprising wildlife moments, and stories that stick with you long after you return.
Pucón: Villarrica Volcano Climb & Crater Descent with SledsYou’ll climb Chile’s most active volcano with a local guide from Pucón, cross snowy slopes with crampons, peer into a steaming crater, then race down on sleds. Expect gear provided, snacks at the finish line, and stories that stick with you long after you’ve left Villarrica behind.
Torres del Paine & Milodon Cave: Full-Day Park Tour from Puerto NatalesYou start with hotel pickup and spend 12 hours exploring Torres del Paine National Park in a small shuttle bus with a bilingual guide. You stop at three major viewpoints, eat lunch overlooking Lake Pehoé, walk for an hour along Grey Lake to see the glacier, and visit Milodon Cave before returning to Puerto Natales by early evening. Transport, guide and lunch are included; the hiking is light enough for most fitness levels.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Torres del Paine's main attractions in one day without arranging their own transport or timing multiple stops — the fixed itinerary and small shuttle bus handle the logistics, leaving you to focus on the landscape.
Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Falls tour: Small-group day tripThis full-day small-group tour from Colon visits Lake Todos los Santos, Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Waterfalls with a local guide, hotel pickup and transport. The tour runs eight to ten hours and operates in all weather; the schedule is flexible and can be extended. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and children from age one are welcome.Is it for me?Most volcano-and-waterfall tours in the region run on a fixed schedule with large groups; this one keeps the group small and lets you adjust the day if you want to linger at any stop. The guide stays with you the whole time and speaks your language, so the history and the landscape make sense as you move through them.
Patagonia Kayak Tour with Local Tea & Safety Gear IncludedYou’ll paddle calm Patagonian waters with expert guides, try a special local tea in a hidden cove, and enjoy top-notch safety gear—no experience needed.
Punta Arenas Shore Excursion: Fort Bulnes & Strait of MagellanYou’ll feel Patagonia’s raw spirit on this day trip from Punta Arenas—wander historic Muñoz Gamero Square, walk among legends at the city cemetery, then stand above the wild Strait of Magellan at Fort Bulnes with your local guide. Expect salty air, quiet moments between old stones, maybe even dolphins if luck is on your side—and memories that linger long after you return.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Torres del Paine & Milodon Cave: Private Day Trip from Punta ArenasYou’ll leave Punta Arenas early for a private day trip through Patagonia’s wildest corners—exploring Milodon Cave’s chilly depths, seeing Torres del Paine’s turquoise lakes up close, pausing for coffee in Cerro Castillo with your guide leading the way. Expect small surprises: wildlife sightings, honest food, quiet moments by glacial water—and space to breathe.
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.
