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London, United Kingdom
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Santiago, Chile
Bellavista, Cerro San Cristóbal? Lastarria.
Stay Santiago (Lastarria or Bellavista)
Short walk: Plaza de Armas, Cerro Santa Lucia, early dinner.
Organise bus morning: Bus to Valparaíso
(~1.5–2h) Take the airport bus (Centropuerto Airport Bus Station) to the central bus terminal, takes about half an hour, then buy a ticket on Flixbus to Valparaiso. They leave very often so no need to prebook anything.
Or bus to Valpo and then two nights in Santiago after.
You need to exit the airport area, and travel to Pajaritos to take the bus to Valparaiso.
There are 4 differents lines:
Turbus
Pullman
Condor
Flexibus
The first 3 are the same price, the last one is a bit cheaper because they don’t have an office, the bus stops there to pick up passengers but everything else is done online.
No need to schedule ticket ahead, instead I would buy it at the station.
There is an option to travel directly from the airport to Viña del Mar, but I do not recommend it for various reasons, primarily because Viña is the city next to Valparaiso, so if your ultimate destination is Valparaiso (commonly known as Valpo), then once you get to Viña you’ll have to get yourself to Valpo and that’s more complicated and less safe.
Afternoon: Settle in Valpo, explore Cerro Alegre & street art.
When we come back to Santiago or not. Maipo valley vineyard, an hour by public transport.
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Valparaíso, Chile
Day 3-5 4th-7th Feb
Valparaiso &
Viña del Mar?
Morning: Bus or transfer to Valparaíso (~1.5–2h)
Afternoon: Settle in Valpo, explore Cerro Alegre & street art
Valparaíso is culturally rich, street art hub, coastal vibes.
Viña del Mar is more a modern beach town with less character.
Second full day Valparaíso or day trip (Isla Negra or local markets)
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Santiago, Chile
How far is the airport? Flight 10:22. Stay Santiago (Lastarria or Bellavista)
Short walk: Plaza de Armas, Cerro Santa Lucia, what else for a full day?
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Temuco, Chile
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Pucón, Chile
fly to Temuco (Pucón)
Two and a half hours? to Pucon.
Chillán or Pucón (start of Lake District)
Days 8–11 – Mon 9 Feb to Thurs 12 Feb
Oficina de turismo, peruse libros de reclamos for complaints before booking tours. Take time to acquaint yourself about Pucon before making decisions.
Pucón: Villarrica Volcano (guided hike if desired), hot springs, lake walks, horse trekking, kayaking.
→ bus to Puerto Varas organise. Flight would take similar with waiting etc.
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Puerto Varas, Chile
Day 12 – Fri 13 Feb
Bus to Puerto Varas (~5h)
Afternoon settle in Puerto Varas
Days 13–14 – Sat 14 Feb to Sun 15 Feb
Puerto Varas: Osorno Volcano, Petrohue Falls, lakefront walks.
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Chiloé Island, Chile
🚍 Bus + Ferry Route (Recommended)
1. Bus from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt
Short 30-minute ride to the main bus terminal.
2. Direct bus from Puerto Montt to Castro or Ancud. Maybe spend a couple of nights in Ancud, hire car.
Buses operate every 30–60 minutes, taking ~5–5½ hours.
They drive onto the Pargua–Chacao ferry, which crosses in ~35 minutes, then continue to the island town.
For cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and your travel style, go with the Puerto Varas → Puerto Montt → Castro/Ancud bus route. You can book
local bus tickets on the day and enjoy the ferry crossing seamlessly.
Penguins, houses on stilts.
Typical cost: $20–30 USD.
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Puerto Montt, Chile
Day 18? –
Return Puerto Montt
✈️ Puerto Montt → Puerto Natales by Flight
Airlines: Sky Airline (low-cost) and LATAM both operate non-stop flights on this route .
Flight time: Approximately 2 hours and 1–3 minutes .
Frequency: Sky: ~7 flights/week (daily except Saturdays or flexible seasonally) .
LATAM: ~4 flights/week (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri at early morning, e.g. around 07:22 am) .
Cost: Budget fares typically start around USD 32–44 one-way.
Sky Flight H2 421:
Departs Puerto Montt ~11:26 am
Arrives Puerto Natales ~13:10 pm (2 hr flight)
Operates most weekdays
LATAM Flight LA 269:
Departs Puerto Montt ~07:22 am
Arrives Puerto Natales ~09:23 am
Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri only
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Puerto Natales, Chile
Days 20–21 – Sat 21 Feb to Sun 22 Feb
Bus tickets can be booked online or at the Puerto Natales bus terminal to El Calafate.
TO DO FROM PUERTO NATALES.
Torres del Paine day trips (base of towers, Grey Glacier boat if desired)
Long day, best to organise a tour. 6-7 am 8-10pm , couple hours travel each way, food, layers, coats as weather unpredictable.
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Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
TO DO FROM PUERTO NATALES.
Long day, best to organise a tour. 6-7 am 8-10pm , couple hours travel each way, food, layers, coats as weather unpredictable.
Days 20–21 – Sat 21 Feb to Sun 22 Feb
Torres del Paine day trips (base of towers, Grey Glacier boat if desired)
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Puerto Natales, Chile
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El Calafate, Argentina
DO I NEED TO BOOK BOAT TRIP TO THE GLACIERS IN ADVANCE? Do the boat tour that goes to the other glaciers. It is much better. Just look at Perito Moreno from the walkways.
Day 22 – Mon 23 Feb
Chalten travel for bus between El Calafate and El Chalten. Busbud
Bus Puerto Natales → El Calafate
Days 23–24 – Tues 24 Feb to Wed 25 Feb
El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier (boat + viewing platforms)
No more than top temp of 11c.
Horse riding.
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Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
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El Calafate, Argentina
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El Chaltén, Argentina
Day 25 – Thurs 26 Feb
Bus to El Chaltén (~3h)
Settle in El Chaltén
Days 26–28 – Fri 27 Feb to Sun 1 Mar
El Chaltén: Fitz Roy (Laguna de los Tres), Laguna Torre hikes.
Or maybe only stay two nights as early flight out of El Calafate...
Can we get bus straight back to the airport instead of staying another night in El Calafate?
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El Calafate Airport, Argentina
Day 29 – Mon 2 Mar
Bus back to El Calafate
Stay overnight or straight to airport.
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Bariloche airport, Argentina
Day 30 – Tues 3 Mar
✈️ Flight: El Calafate → Bariloche (direct morning flight if available)
Settle in Bariloche
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Villa La Angostura, Argentina
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San Martín de los Andes, Argentina
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San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
Day 30 – Tues 3 Mar
✈️ Flight: El Calafate → Bariloche (direct morning flight if available)
Settle in Bariloche
Sube card? for buses. Buses run to Colonial Suiza (10) Puerto Panuelo (20) and Cerro Catedral (55) Tourist o,five has bus schedules. Ask where to recharge SUBE cards and what cards work. Lago Nahuel Huapi. Boats leave from Puerto Panuelo at Llao Llao.
Ruta 40 La ruta SE los Siete Lagos. (seven lakes
drive) from Villea la Angostura to San Martin de los Andes.
Days 31–34 – Wed 4 Mar to Sat 7 Mar
Bariloche: Circuito Chico, Cerro Campanario, lake kayaking, local hikes
Day 35 – Sun 8 Mar
✈️ Fly Bariloche → Buenos Aires
Settle in Palermo.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina
Days 36–39 – Mon 9 Mar to Thurs 12 Mar
Buenos Aires (shortened stay): Recoleta, San Telmo, Palermo parks & cafés, tango show, Tigre Delta day trip
Day 40 – Fri 13 Mar
✈️ Flight: Buenos Aires → Salta
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Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Is it worth doing the Brazilian side? People talking about getting a bus across. Worth looking at Get your guide.
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Salta, Argentina
Salta, Cachi, Cafayate, Purmamarca loop
Highly recommended as a cohesive circuit:
Salta: Colonial city base.
Cachi: Quiet mountain town, great on the loop drive.
Cafayate: Wine and Quebrada de las Conchas landscapes.
Purmamarca (Hill of Seven Colours): Stunning; combines well with Tilcara and Humahuaca if time allows.
✅ Don’t rush this. Minimum 5-7 days ideal.
✅ Must rent a car for maximum flexibility here.
Great clarification. Here are your main options for crossing by bus to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile):
1. From Argentina – Typical route
✅ From Salta or Jujuy (NW Argentina):
Bus Salta → Jujuy (if not already there)
Bus Jujuy → Purmamarca (Hill of Seven Colours) → onward to San Pedro de Atacama.
Direct bus companies (e.g. Andesmar, Pullman, Geminis) run:
Salta → San Pedro de Atacama (~11-12h)
Jujuy → San Pedro de Atacama (~9-10h)
Purmamarca → San Pedro de Atacama (~7-8h)
2. Via Purmamarca (best scenic crossing)
If you do the NW loop (Salta → Cachi → Cafayate → Salta → Purmamarca), then:
✅ From Purmamarca:
Take a bus or organised transfer to San Pedro de Atacama via Paso de Jama. This is the standard
crossing, with stunning high-altitude desert landscapes and salt flats en-route.
3. Key points to note
🔴 Altitude considerations: Paso de Jama reaches 4,200–4,800m – acclimatise gradually if possible to avoid severe altitude sickness.
🔴 Border formalities: Straightforward but allow extra time; buses usually handle it efficiently.
🔴 Book in advance: Especially in high season (December–March).
Hire car?
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Cafayate, Argentina
Days 43–44 – Mon 16 Mar to Tues 17 Mar
Drive/tour to Cafayate (2 nights)
Day 45 – Wed 18 Mar
Return to Salta
Cafayate (smaller wine region in northwest Argentina) but different landscapes:
Mendoza: big wineries, Andes backdrop.
Cafayate: red canyons, desert vineyards.
✅ If pressed for time: Choose either Mendoza or Cafayate if wine isn’t your priority, keeping Cafayate if focusing on NW Argentina’s unique landscapes.
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Salta, Argentina
Day 46 – Thurs 19 Mar
Bus to Purmamarca
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Tilcara, Argentina
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Purmamarca, Argentina
Days 47–48 – Fri 20 Mar to Sat 21 Mar
Purmamarca: Hill of Seven Colours, Tilcara or Humahuaca optional
Day 49 – Sun 22 Mar
Bus Purmamarca → San Pedro de Atacama
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San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Day 49 – Sun 22 Mar
Bus Purmamarca → San Pedro de Atacama
Days 50–53 – Mon 23 Mar to Thurs 26 Mar
San Pedro de Atacama: Valle de la Luna, El Tatio geysers, salt flats, stargazing
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Calama, Chile
Day 54 – Fri 27 Mar
Bus to Calama ✈️ Fly to Santiago
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Santiago, Chile
Days 55–57 – Sat 28 Mar to Mon 31 Mar
Santiago final days: markets, Lastarria cafés, packing, buffer rest days
Day 58 – Tues 1 Apr
Buffer day, final errands
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London, United Kingdom