Argentina/Chile
Finis Terrae: Exploring the Wilds of Southern Patagonia
Program No. 20614RJ
Based in the Patagonia Mountains, explore the natural wonders of South America, learning about geology, local flora and fauna and the story of this beautiful place.
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15 days
14 nights
34 meals
12B 11L 11D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
3
La Boca, San Telmo, Recoleta, Tango Show
Buenos Aires
6
Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay
At Sea
9
Strait of Magellan, Magdalena, Disembark, Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine National Park
10
Torres del Paine - Western Lakes
Torres del Paine National Park
11
Northeastern Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine National Park
15
Arrivals in the U.S.
In Flight
At a Glance
With pink granite towers, colossal glaciers, emerald-colored fjords and a bleak and beautiful steppe, it is no wonder Chile’s and Argentina’s Patagonia has been inspiring travelers and explorers for centuries. Make your own voyage to the southern tip of South America, as you connect with the beauty of Patagonia via an expedition vessel from Tierra del Fuego National Park to Cape Horn and in the mountains in the heart of Patagonia’s rugged wilderness. By sea and on foot, learn about the landscape, abundant wildlife and hearty residents who call the “End of the Earth” their home.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Active program, includes walking, hiking and getting in/out of a Zodiac.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Sail the icy waters around the tip of the continent, past breathtaking glaciers to Cape Horn National Park.
- Enjoy the rugged wilderness and extreme beauty of Torres del Paine National Park.
- Discover Buenos Aires and Santiago.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Felipe Voigt
Felipe Voigt, a native of Germany, moved to Chile at age 13. Fluent in English, German, and Spanish, he studied journalism at Catholic University of Valparaiso. In 2005, his passion for trekking and oceanic exploration led him to become a local naturalist. Since 2009, he has been sharing the flora and wildlife of the most natural parts of South America. You may find him exploring remote corners of Patagonia, stargazing in the Atacama with fellow travelers, or playing soccer at home with his two sons.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Felipe Voigt
View biography
Felipe Voigt, a native of Germany, moved to Chile at age 13. Fluent in English, German, and Spanish, he studied journalism at Catholic University of Valparaiso. In 2005, his passion for trekking and oceanic exploration led him to become a local naturalist. Since 2009, he has been sharing the flora and wildlife of the most natural parts of South America. You may find him exploring remote corners of Patagonia, stargazing in the Atacama with fellow travelers, or playing soccer at home with his two sons.
Natalia Bertoni
View biography
Natalia Bertoni is a certified expedition leader from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She studied history at the Instituto de Enseñanza Superior Alicia Moreau de Justo and tourism at the Instituto Superior Perito Moreno. Natalia began her career in educational travel in 1995 and is a much sought-after leader due to her expertise in history and her fluency in English, Portuguese, and Italian. She is also a trained pastry chef and a mother of two who loves to dance the tango.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Finis Terrae: Exploring the Wilds of Southern Patagonia
Program Number: 20614
Tasting Chile, A Celebration of Authentic Chilean Foods and Wines
With recipes from restaurants and home chefs across Chile, this compilation is a great introduction to Chilean cuisine, and an excellent resource for anyone interested in trying out Chilean traditional dishes at home. Includes information on pairing wines with dishes and a basic overview of wine producers and varieties in Chile.
Moon Handbook Patagonia
A practical guide in the Moon series, packed not only with travel necessities (hotels, restaurants, sights), but also with a good overview of history and destinations throughout Patagonia.
A Wildlife Guide to Chile
Chester's splendid guide, featuring 120 color plates, covers the wildlife, plants and natural history of Chile from the Atacama Desert and Patagonia to Easter Island and Antarctica.
Eyewitness Top 10 Buenos Aires
A compact, illustrated guide in the popular series, featuring favorite attractions.
Buenos Aires, A Cultural History
An exhilarating, erudite guide to Buenos Aires as it has been portrayed by writers, poets and thinkers, with a street map and detailed neighborhood descriptions.
Ines of My Soul
Allende turns the amazing life of Spanish conquistadora and founder of Santiago, Ines Suarez (1507-1580), into a gripping novel.
In Patagonia
A masterpiece of travel, history and adventure, this award-winning book captures the spirit of the land, history, wildlife and people of Patagonia. There's no travel writer as engaging, insightful and just plain wonderful as Bruce Chatwin.
Far Away and Long Ago
Hudson's enthralling childhood remembrances are rich with descriptions of the landscapes, birds and nature of Argentina.
Patagonia, Nature's Last Frontier
The Argentine novelist Tomas Eloy Martinez (Santa Evita) provides the astute commentary for this collection of color photographs of Patagonia's windswept interiors, wild coast, mountains, glaciers and wildlife.
Torres del Paine Map
This detailed walking map (1:80,000) includes trekking routes, refuges and color topography.
Argentina, A Traveler's Literary Companion
These choice stories introduce the landscapes and culture of Argentina, from the Andes to the Pampas, through the eyes of its writers.
The Whispering Land
A sparkling account of an eight-month jaunt on the trail of fur seals, guanaco, parrots and other Patagonian marvels. Excellent family reading.
Birds of Southern South America & Antarctica
With color plates, range maps and brief descriptions, this is a compact regional guide.
Voyaging, Southward from the Strait of Magellan
An illustrated account of Rockwell's foolhardy voyage with a madman through magnificent Tierra del Fuego in a jury-rigged lifeboat. Both the text and striking woodcut illustrations communicate this dangerous landscape's dynamic character.
Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego Map
This handy map shows all Patagonia on one side (1:2,000,000), with a more detailed map of Tierra del Fuego (1:750,000) on the reverse.
Where the Earth Ends, A Journey Beyond Patagonia
A spirited tale of adventures in the southern tip of South America, south from the Pampas and Patagonia to Punta Arenas, the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia -- and Antarctica.
Travels in a Thin Country, A Journey through Chile
British author Sara Wheeler deploys her wit, intelligence and powerful investigative skills on the Republic of Chile in this insightful travelogue.
Around Cape Horn
Captain Irving Johnson memorably narrates this documentary of his 1929 voyage as a young man aboard the Peking, featuring a remarkable sequence about the ship rounding the Horn in a storm.
Wallpaper City Guide Santiago
A stylish, thin (it fits in your back pocket) city guide compiled by the design magazine Wallpaper's local reporters. Well-organized, with chapter tabs, many photographs and of-the-moment recommendations.
Rounding the Horn
A sailor at heart, Dallas Murphy gets himself down to Ushuaia, embarks a sturdy vessel and heads out to experience the wind and weather of Tierra del Fuego. In his informative account, Dallas interweaves plenty of history, a little rather naive politics and the story of his own adventures.