Chilean Patagonia in 7 days, recommended itinerary

Four options to visit part of Chilean Patagonia in 7 days, with detailed itinerary day by day, recommendations where to stay and things to do.

Chilean Patagonia is divided into several regions, but mainly encompasses lakes, volcanoes, glaciers, mountains, fjords and forests. A region of the planet that is still quite unspoilt, and although it receives a large number of tourists in the summer, it still maintains that authentic touch without large crowds.

Getting to know this part of the country in depth requires at least a month, but if you have a week, we recommend, as born and bred Patagonia experts, these four options.

Is it possible to visit Chilean Patagonia in 7 days?

What we recommend is to focus on only one or two destinations. Chilean Patagonia is very long and there is no overland connection, except for crossing into Argentine Patagonia from Villa O’Higgins at the southern end of the Carretera Austral with Torres del Paine and Punta Arenas.

For this reason, we have made these four options based on our experience, so that you can choose what you want to visit in Chilean Patagonia in 7 days.

Option 1 – punta arenas and Torres del Paine

The first option only focuses on the southern tip of Chilean Patagonia. Flying from Santiago de Chile or Puerto Montt, you can reach Punta Arenas with Sky, Latam and JetSmart airlines.

To get from Punta Arenas airport to the city, you can use these transfers.

In this option the itinerary through Patagonia in 7 days is as follows:

• Day 1: Fort Bulnes, waterfront and city centre of Punta Arenas. More information and possible excursions in our article Punta Arenas in 2 days.
• Day 2: Excursion to see the penguins on Magdalena and Marta Islands plus cemetery and regional museum of Magallanes. More information and possible excursions in our article Punta Arenas in 2 days.
• Day 3: Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales. From the centre of Punta Arenas there are frequent daily buses that make the 3-hour journey to the bus terminal in Puerto Natales. There are also transfers from private agencies. If you have time, we recommend a tour along the Puerto Natales waterfront.
• Day 4 to 6: trekking the first three days along the W circuit, from Las Torres hut to Paine Grande. More information in our article on the guide to visit Torres del Paine.
• Day 7: Navigation on the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers, an experience worth having. More information in our article on the Balmaceda and Serrano glacier excursion.

If you don’t want to trek the W Circuit because of its physical difficulty, you can visit Torres del Paine in one day. There is the option of hiring a minibus excursion from Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, or renting a car. Another option is an excursion that combines a tour of Torres del Paine and sailing on Lake Grey. The remaining days you can cross to Argentina to visit El Calafate with its Perito Moreno glacier.

Where to stay in Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is an expensive place to stay. Depending on your budget, we recommend three options:

• If you have a low budget we recommend Hostel Entre Vientos.
• If you have an average budget, we recommend Hotel Ilaia.
• If you have a high budget we recommend Hotel José Nogueira.

In Puerto Natales there are also many options for all budgets. See our article on where to stay in Puerto Natales with recommendations.

Option 2 – Puerto Montt, chiloe and southern highway

In this alternative the first 3 days would be based in Puerto Montt, to get to know the city and do two day trips that are worthwhile. The rest of the days would be spent on a stretch of the legendary Carretera Austral.

• Day 1: Walk along the waterfront of Puerto Montt and visit Angelmó creek. More information and excursions in our article about Puerto Montt in 3 days.
• Day 2: Visit the Osorno volcano and the Petrohué waterfalls. More information and excursions in our article about Puerto Montt in 3 days.
• Day 3: Day trip to the island of Chiloé. More information and excursions in our article about Puerto Montt in 3 days.
• Day 4 to 7: Carretera Austral. The Carretera Austral stretches from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins, but it is impossible to do it in only four days. In that time, it is best to get to the first stretch in Puyuhuapi and then return to Puerto Montt, or to the Marmol chapels in Puerto Río Tranquilo, and then fly back from Balmaceda airport. More information in our article on things to do in the Carretera Austral.

Alternatively, you can skip the Carretera Austral and focus on a more in-depth tour of the island of Chiloé and the area around Puerto Varas. More information in our articles on Chiloé in 3 days and Puerto Varas in 3 days.

Where to stay in Puerto Montt

• If you have a low budget we recommend Islanet Hostel & Bar.
• If you have a low budget we recommend Hotel Gran Pacifico.
• If you have a high budget we recommend Casona Alemana.

Option 3 – combine Torres del Paine and puerto montt

This option is a combination of the southernmost tip of Chilean Patagonia with attractions in the vicinity of Puerto Montt.

To do this, you must first fly from Santiago de Chile to Puerto Natales and then fly from Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt.

• Day 1: Arrival in Puerto Natales plus a walk along the city’s waterfront.
• Day 2: Visit Torres del Paine in one day. There is the option of hiring a minibus excursion from Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, or renting a car. Another option is an excursion that combines a tour of Torres del Paine and sailing on Lake Grey.
• Day 3: Transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas plus visit to the cemetery, regional museum of Magallanes and waterfront.
• Day 4: Flight from Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt plus visit of the city centre and Angelmó creek.
• Day 5: Visit the Osorno volcano and the Petrohué waterfalls. More information and excursions in our article about Puerto Montt in 3 days.
• Day 6: Visit to the island of Chiloé for the day. More information and excursions in our article about Puerto Montt in 3 days.
• Day 7: Frutillar and the villages of Lake Llanquihue.

Option 4 – combine Torres del Paine and southern highway

This option to visit Chilean Patagonia in 7 days combines two of the most emblematic sites. First you fly from Santiago de Chile to Puerto Natales and then from Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt.

• Day 1: Arrival in Puerto Natales plus a walk along the city’s waterfront.
• Day 2: Visit Torres del Paine in one day. There is the option of hiring a minibus excursion from Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, or renting a car. Another option is an excursion that combines a tour of Torres del Paine and sailing on Lake Grey.
• Day 3: Transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas plus visit to the cemetery, regional museum of Magallanes and waterfront.
• Day 4: Flight from Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt plus visit of the city centre and Angelmó creek.
• Day 5 to 7: Drive a section of the Carretera Austral to Queulat National Park and then return to Puerto Montt, or drive to the Mármol chapels in Puerto Río Tranquilo, and fly back from Balmaceda airport. More information in our article on things to do in the Carretera Austral.