Dec 3: Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile. Your guides will meet you at the airport  and transfer you to your historic hotel on the main plaza of Punta Arenas. Orientation meeting in evening followed by welcome dinner. Overnight Hotel Jose Nogueira.

Dec 4: Following breakfast we will depart for a boat tour to the Isla Magdalena Penguin Reserve in the Straits of Magellan where over 100,000 breeding pairs of Magellanic Penguins reside in springtime. Following the tour we will drive north to Puerto Natales on Last Hope Sound.  In the evening and the following morning we will have opportunities to photograph the many colorful fishing boats at the harbor as well as a variety of waterfowl that are found along the shoreline, including the gorgeous Black-necked Swans which are abundant here and that may be found at this time with their new born chicks that often ride upon their backs. Overnight at one of the most unique hotels found anywhere with commanding views over the Last Hope Sound.  Overnight Hotel Altiplanico.

Dec 5: Today begins with an optional dawn pre-breakfast outing to photograph swans along the shoreline close walking distance from the hotel. Following breakfast we will transfer to the iconic Torres del Paine National Park.  After shooting our first images of Torres del Paine’s unsurpassed mountain scenery we will check into our hotel with ample views of the spectacular Paine Massif.  Afternoon photography near our hotel.  Overnight Hosteria Pehoe.

Dec 6: Early pre-breakfast outing for first-light photography of the famous “Horns”.  Full-day exploring the park by road and or trail. Overnight Hosteria Pehoe.            

Dec 7: Early pre-breakfast outing for first-light photography of the famous ‘Horns” from another location.  Full-day exploring the park by road and or trail. Overnight Hosteria Pehoe.

Dec.  8: Early pre-breakfast outing for first-light photography of the famous ‘Towers”.  One last full-day exploring the park by road and or trail. Overnight Hosteria Pehoe.            

Dec.  9: One last early pre-breakfast outing for first-light photography of the famous ‘Towers”.  Following breakfast we depart for Argentina by way of the Cerro Castillo border crossing and continue on to El Calafate.  In the afternoon we can visit the Laguna Nimez Bird Sanctuary, a wetlands area on the edge of town bordering Lago Argentino,  Argentina’s largest lake.  Wonderful bird photography opportunities here, especially for Flamingos and a variety of birds of prey.  Hotel and dinner in El Calafate. Overnight Hotel Mirador del Lago.

Dec 10: Early departure following breakfast to visit the famous Moreno Glacier in  Los Glaciares National Park along with bilingual local guide.   We will spend several hours exploring different angles of the glacier’s massive terminus from the extensive walkway. This is a very active glacier and it is quite common to witness more than one large ice calving.  The bright red “Notro” will be in bloom at this time and will add a nice foreground accent to the brilliant blue of the glacial ice. Following a picnic lunch, we will return to El Calafate and then continue on for another 2 hours north to the town of El Chalten located at the base of the iconic Fitzroy Range.  Hotel in El Chalten and dinner at a wonderful local restaurant in town. Overnight Hotel Destino Sur.

Dec 11: Early pre-breakfast outing for first-light photography of the amazing Cerro Fitzroy and surrounding peaks. Following breakfast we will organize ourselves for a full-day hike into the park.  Alternatives include the Mirador Torre or the Piedras Blancas trails.  El Chalten is our best option for getting some laundry done so we will drop that off before we go hiking.  Those not up for a hike can opt for a road based tour up the Las Vueltas River. Hotel in El Chalten and dinner at a wonderful local restaurant in town.  Overnight Hotel Destino Sur.

Dec 12: Early pre-breakfast outing for first-light photography of the amazing Cerro Fitzroy and surrounding peaks..  Following breakfast there will be time to relax or take another short hike.  Following an early lunch we will make our way back towards El Calafate stopping mid-way for an excursion and hike through the arid Valle Los Leones, a private reserve where an extensive petrified forest is located.  The highlight being the many dinosaur bones from the Cretaceous Period that are encountered as well! Overnight Hotel Mirador del Lago in Calafate.

Dec 13: Following breakfast we will begin our journey back to Chile. After a couple hours drive we will cross the border back into Chile and then continue for about another hour to the Estancia Rio Penitente, a historic sheep ranch that still remains in the hands of the descendants of the original pioneering Scottish settlers. Here we learn some of the history of this ranch and emblematic industry that defined Patagonia’s early development. We may arrange for a photo shoot with some of the resident ranch hands working with the sheep, etc. In the evening we are treated to an authentic Patagonian “Asado” lamb roast as a final farewell celebration.            

Dec 14:      Following breakfast we will transfer (1.5 hrs) to the Punta Arenas Airport. Connect with your afternoon flight to Santiago and connect to an evening flight home.  End of tour…..            

Price: US$7,450p.p. based on shared room, US$8,850 single private room.

Included: All hotel accommodations, meals, ground transportation, local guides and photo instruction. 

Not Included: International and domestic airfare, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (bottled water included at meals), park entrance fees, optional boat tours, gratuities for local guides and hotel/restaurant staff, laundry service.  

*note: this itinerary may require some slight modifications prior to tour date.