
moderate
4 days
Suitable for travelers with average fitness; includes short walks (15–60 minutes) and boarding small boats; not a technical trek.
Four days of Patagonia condensed into an efficient route: Puerto Natales lodging, a full-day Torres del Paine circuit, and a small-boat expedition to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. Expect winds, close glacier encounters, and short treks through ancient beech forest.
You step off the bus into a wind that feels older than the town — a cold, clean breath blown across a salt-dark fjord. Puerto Natales' corrugated rooftops huddle against the water while the Andes lay out a jagged invitation to the east: granite spires, glacial blue, and lakes that cut the land into glass. Over the next four days that breath becomes the rhythm of the trip — a steady reminder that this is a place shaped by ice and weather, not whim.

Patagonian wind can be as impactful as cold; pack a windproof shell and moisture-wicking layers to stay comfortable during boat crossings and roadside treks.
Trails around Grey Lake and Serrano can be wet and muddy after rain — waterproof hiking shoes with good tread are recommended.
Operators reduce navigation schedules in low season (May–Aug); confirm departures and add flexibility to flight plans if traveling in winter.
Spray from waterfalls and glacier calving can douse equipment — use waterproof covers and quick-dry microfibre cloths.
The Milodon Cave yielded remains of a giant ground sloth and served as an archaeological site for early human occupation; sheep ranching shaped the region’s 19th-century settlement patterns.
Torres del Paine faces pressures from tourism and wildfires; stick to marked trails, carry out waste, and follow CONAF guidelines to limit impact.
Keeps feet dry and provides traction on rocky, wet trails near lakes and glaciers.
Blocks fierce Patagonian winds and layers easily over fleeces or down.
Allows you to capture iceberg calving and wide landscapes; bring protective casing for spray.
Carries layers, water, and lunch; rain cover protects gear during sudden showers.