Chile

Day by day

Santiago + Torres del Paine — 8 nights

A weekend in Santiago to acclimate, then four days deep in Torres del Paine, and back to Santiago for one more day before flying home. January is high summer — pack for 90s in the city and 40–60s in the park.

1. 1

   Day 1

   Fly south

   • 🛫Evening

     Overnight flight to Santiago

     Long-haul red-eye — sleep on the plane if you can.

2. 2

   Day 2

   Santiago arrival

   • 🛬Morning

     Land in Santiago

     Drop bags at the hotel and pre-check in for the next night so it's waiting when you return from the park.

   • 🚡Midday

     Cerro San Cristóbal cable car

     Ride up from Oasis Station for the first big-picture view of the city and the Andes.

   • 🚶Afternoon

     3-hour history walking tour

     Best way to get oriented — covers Plaza de Armas, La Moneda, and the old quarter.

   • 🍽️Evening

     Dinner at Viva la Vida

     Easy, lively spot to land on day one.

3. 3

   Day 3

   Maipo Valley wine

   • 🍷Early morning

     Maipo Valley wine tour

     Full-day (~10 hours) — three vineyards plus the country town of Isla de Maipo.

   • 📞

     Pre-order tomorrow's lodge dinner

     Konkashken Lodge needs dinner ordered in advance — call or email before you fly out.

4. 4

   Day 4

   Fly to Patagonia

   • ✈️Morning

     Santiago → Punta Arenas

     Direct flight, about 3 hours. Land around midday.

   • 🚗Afternoon

     Pick up rental car & drive north

     Pick up by 1pm. Lunch in Puerto Natales (try La Escondida), then ~1.5 hours into the park.

   • ⛽

     Grab an extra gas can in Puerto Natales

     Stop at Copec — you'll be driving 10+ hours in and around the park with limited fuel.

   • 🥾

     Rent hiking poles

     DoPatagonia in Puerto Natales has them — much better than buying.

   • 🏞️Late afternoon

     Mirador Río Serrano

     Easy first viewpoint on the way to the lodge.

   • 🛏️Evening

     Check in at Konkashken Lodge

     Inside the park — your base for the next four nights.

5. 5

   Day 5

   Salto Grande & Los Cuernos

   • 🚗Morning

     40-min drive to Salto Grande

     Park trailhead for the day.

   • 🥾Midday

     Los Cuernos via Salto Grande

     About 3 hours round-trip with the iconic horns of Paine in view the whole way.

   • 🍖Lunch

     Pehoé BBQ

     Lakeside lunch stop.

   • 🥾Afternoon

     Mirador Cóndor

     Short, steep — about 1.5 hours for a sweeping view of the Paine massif.

   • 📷

     Drive-by stop: Lago Nordenskjöld viewpoint

     Pull over on the way back — one of the best roadside views in the park.

6. 6

   Day 6

   Base of the Towers

   • 🚗Early morning

     1.5-hour drive to Hotel Las Torres

     Trailhead for the big hike. Start early.

   • 🥾All day

     Mirador Base Torres

     9–10 hours, ~12 miles round-trip with a punishing final scramble. The payoff view is the reason you came.

   • 🛏️Evening

     Back to Konkashken Lodge

     Dinner and crash.

7. 7

   Day 7

   Grey Glacier & exit

   • 🚗Early morning

     30-min drive to Hotel Lago Grey

     Departure point for the boat.

   • 🚢Morning

     Grey Glacier navigation cruise

     9:00am–12:45pm — get right up to the face of the glacier.

   • 🚗Afternoon

     2-hour drive to Puerto Natales

     Drop the rental car and return the hiking poles. Overnight in town.

8. 8

   Day 8

   Back to Santiago

   • ✈️Morning

     Punta Arenas → Santiago

     Land early afternoon. Lunch and check back in to the hotel.

   • 🌳Afternoon

     Cerro Santa Lucía

     Small hill in the city center with great views and old fortifications — easy to fit in.

9. 9

   Day 9

   Fly home

   • 🛫Late evening

     Overnight flight to JFK

     Use the day for anything you missed (see below) before heading to the airport.