CHILEARGENTINA.....Puerto MonttBarilocheTo SantiagoEl Calafate(Perito Moreno Glacier)Puerto VarasPunta ArenasPatagonia in style 16 days, 13 nightsSantiago 1 night, Puerto Varas 2n, Bariloche 2n, Los Glaciares National Park (El Calafate area) 3n, Torres del Paine National Park 4n, Santiago 1n.Day 1 Fly from the UK. Day 2 Arrive Santiago, transfer to luxury hotel Ritz Carlton, rest of the day at leisure. Days 3&4 Fly to Puerto Montt and short drive to lakeside Puerto Varas and the new first class hotel Cumbres Patagónicas with views to the snow-capped peak of Mt Osorno. Day 5 By boat and by road, follow the most beautiful of Andean passes to Bariloche in the Argentine lake district. Spend two nights at the grand countryside resort Llao Llao (pp162-163). Day 6 At leisure to enjoy the resort's extensive facilities. Days 7-9 Fly from Bariloche to El Calafate and on to Eolo (p159), a modern hotel built in the style of a traditional Patagonian ranch but with top quality facilities. It's in an isolated location surrounded by savagely wild scenery off the road to the Perito Moreno glacier, to which an excursion is organised. All meals are included as are various activities such as mountain-biking and bird-watching. Days 10-13 By road across the steppes to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile with accommodation for 4 nights at explora en Patagonia with a choice of excursions included as well as all meals. Day 14 Drive to Punta Arenas airport and fly to Santiago for a final night at the Ritz Carlton. Day 15 Fly to the UK, arriving day 16. Prices from £4,714pp based on two sharing, excluding transatlantic flights. Regular departures from the UK 020 8747 8315 / journeylatinamerica.co.uk bookings, consultant advice and additional information 145exploraexploraTorres del Paine National Park

Cascada ExpedicionesThe Trails of Torres del Paine Chile's most spectacular national park offers rewarding walking and trekking opportunities. Clear trails lead you across wind-buffeted plains, alongside torrential streams, across meadows on the flanks of granite cliffs, to the snouts of glaciers and the feet of vertical towers and pinnacles of ice-clad rock. There are trails you can follow on your own, guided day-walks and longer hikes of several days' duration, camping or staying in refuges.The mini-trek combines a few days at the igloo-style walk-in dome tents of the Eco Camp (below) with a night at a mountain refuge and visits some of the most remarkable areas of the park. Boat over Lago Pehoé and hike up to the Mirador del Francés, hike across the moraines alongside the shores of Lago Grey and board a boat that will take you up to the walls of the glacier. The trek ends with a walk up to the foot of the Paine massif (above).The comprehensive W trek involves moderate 5-8 hour walks over 5 consecutive days. There are 4 nights at the Eco Camp and 2 in mountain refuges. You start with a hike along the undulating Los Cuernos Trail, spending a night at a refuge. Over the following 3 days, visit the Mirador del Francés, Glacier Grey and the foot of El Paine granite massif. Finally, hike via the Mirador Laguna Azul to Lago Sarmiento and over a pass with good views over Paine and Lago Pehoé.If you're looking for more comfort and just a taste of the park's wonderful trails, spend 3 or 4 nights in the Eco Camp's newer en suite domes and choose from a menu of easy or active walks to suit different interests. You can also combine walking in Torres del Paine with Argentina's Fitz Roy mountains. Following a stay at explora en Patagonia (p144), drive to El Chaltén in Los Glaciares National Park and, based at a cosy inn, hike in the surrounding wilderness of soaring glacial peaks and dense forests. Camping in Torres del Paine?weather and scenery together with walks were stunning. JD, Reading 146 ChileBelow Whether you're a relaxed rambler or keen hiker, the imaginative Eco Camp is a great base for exploring the park on foot. A few of its domes now have en-suite facilities.Cascada Expediciones