Patagonia highlights tour

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Most of what you see in Patagonia you see on foot, from the full-day trek to the base of the Torres del Paine on Day 3 to the footbridges at Perito Moreno Glacier on Day 6 and the forest path at Spegazzini on Day 7.

Hotel Lago Grey, inside Torres del Paine National Park, has recycling bins throughout, uses regional building materials and aims to reduce single-use plastic. Cumbres Lastarria in Santiago is recognised for its sustainable tourism efforts and its efficient energy and water design.

Food is regional where possible. Lago Grey buys regional products to cut transport and serves Magellanic lamb, king crab and southern hake, the Alto Calafate restaurant serves regional cuisine typical of southern Argentina, and CasaSur Palermo cooks Argentine meat, fish and seafood on wood-fired grills. Day 10 at the estancia is built around Argentine food in the Pampas.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Day 4 is a half-day boat trip to Grey Glacier, past forested shores and drifting blue icebergs, and on Day 7 you sail Lago Argentino to the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers. The Torres del Paine and glacier days take place inside protected areas. Torres del Paine is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and Los Glaciares National Park, which holds Perito Moreno, Upsala and Spegazzini, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The price includes guides and entrance fees for the tours listed, so park access is arranged.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
Day 10 is spent at an estancia in the Pampas, where gauchos host you, talk about their way of life and serve Argentine food. The tango dinner on Day 9 is at La Ventana, a Buenos Aires venue, with transport included. Guides are included on the tours listed, and the four hotels, Cumbres Lastarria, Hotel Lago Grey, Alto Calafate and CasaSur Palermo, spread overnight spending across Santiago, Torres del Paine, El Calafate and Buenos Aires. A private tango lesson can be added on Day 9, and the estancia day is spent mostly outdoors on open plains of the Pampas.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
The Base of the Towers trek on Day 3 is demanding, with a rocky moraine climb in the last hour, though alternatives to trekking can be arranged. The glacier days involve boat boarding and boardwalk walking, and the other days are largely vehicle-based, so mobility needs are best discussed before booking.