Hiking in Torres del Paine
World class hiking and trekking awaits in Torres del Paine National Park. From the iconic W Trek to the park’s most hidden corners, each valley, peak and pass is a treasure.
Discover More
Plan your trip to Chile
Swoop work with a network of over 150 local partners in Patagonia: trekking companies, adventure activity specialists, off-the-beaten-track oracles, road trip operators and everything in between. To get on your way to Chile, here are our top questions to consider:
- Are you an independent traveller, or would you rather travel in a group?
- Is ticking of the highlights important, or would you rather go a little off-the-beaten-track?
- A one-week whirlwind, or a slower-paced month of travel?
- Luxurious hotels to soak in the atmosphere, or is the scenery more important than where you rest your head?
Hikers in front of Torres del Paine mountains
Rainforests, glaciers and waterfalls in Aysen
Kayaking on the Serrano Lagoon
.jpg?auto=format,enhance,compress&fit=crop&crop=entropy,faces,focalpoint&w=680&h=480&q=50)
Dunes of Atacama
Easter Island's moai
Lago General Carrera
Santiago, Chile
Hiking in the Chilean Lake District
Serene vineyard in the wine valley
.jpg?auto=format,enhance,compress&fit=crop&crop=entropy,faces,focalpoint&w=680&h=480&q=50)
Colourful houses in Valparaiso
Where to go in Chile
Travelling down Chile's long, snaking arm, you'll cross through dozens of different landscapes and regions. Our top places to visit are:
- The capital Santiago and nearby port town of Valparaiso.
- Lunar desert of Atacama in the North, stretching approximately 1000 km and one of the driest places on Earth.
- Lakes and volcanoes of the northern Lake District.
- Remote Aysen: a land of three contrasting landscapes: the steppe, the glaciated Andes and the coastal temperate rainforest.
- Carretera Austral: a rough road that runs 1,240km south from Puerto Montt, through Aysen.
- Granite peaks and glaciers of Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most popular destinations in Patagonia. Most famous for the W Trek, it also offers a lot of wilder hiking, horse riding, ice hiking and mountain biking.
- Wild and windswept islands of Tierra del Fuego with the Magellan Strait, the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn.
Our top things to do in Chile
Adventure cruises in Tierra del Fuego
Adventure cruises around Tierra del Fuego can take you to remote and beautiful glaciers, penguin islands and Cape Horn on the tip of South America.
Discover MoreHiking in the Chilean Lake District
With seven national parks and an abundance of volcanoes, ancient forest trails and lake views to enjoy, this region of Chile is perfect hiking country.
Discover MoreHiking in Aysen
Chile’s Aysen region is full of wild mountains, glacial lakes and lush forest, with epic trails waiting to be discovered by the pioneering hiker.
Discover MorePatagonia Kayaking Tours
Patagonia is a top destination for kayakers and white water rafters, who come from all over the world to take advantage of its amazing rapids and rivers. Patagonia also offers some…
Discover MoreBird Watching in Patagonia
Patagonia is home to over 460 species of birds, making a trip to Chile or Argentina an unforgettable experience for any birder. From the famous and dominating Andean Condor …
Discover MoreFishing in Torres del Paine
Wade in the runs of Torres del Paine’s pristine rivers, cast for trout and salmon under the watchful gaze of the park’s famous peaks.
Discover MoreMountain Biking in the Patagonian Lake District
Cycling offers an active way to explore the stunning lakes and mountains of the Patagonian Lake District. Immerse yourself in nature whilst covering a large distance in a …
Discover MoreHorseback Riding in Patagonia
The vast and rugged landscapes of Patagonia have been explored on horseback for hundreds of years, and horses are still preferred by the Gauchos today. Visitors to Patagonia, both …
Discover MoreWhat our customers think of Chile Tours
Flights, cruise and tours could not have gone any better and that is from seasoned world travellers. Congrats Swoop.
Travelled: October 2017
Peter - Australia
The people at Swoop were so helpful and had such great advice. The Swoop website has so much information on Patagonia, and Swoop made such a difference in helping us figure out where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see and create a plan to make it happen.
Travelled: August 2016
Stuart & Sandra -
Swoop were careful to ask us not just what we wanted from our trip but also what we didn't want, and clearly listened to what we said. The only point of ‘conflict’ with the proposal was the cruise at the end of the trip - Sally persuaded us it was a ‘cruise for people that didn’t do cruises’ and as with the whole trip, she was right.
Travelled: March 2016
Peter & Mary -
We took some ideas along to Sally at Swoop, who also made some helpful suggestions, found great places to stay and put it all together for us, so that our month travelling went almost like clockwork (when our Navimag boat was delayed 12 hrs by bad weather, our taxi was still there to meet us). We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Swoop.
Travelled: January 2016
Chris & Alison -
We really valued Swoop's expertise, and the fact that you had been to the places we were going.
Travelled: December 2015
Greg & Michelle -
Six ways to explore Chile
1. Private tours
Our years of experience and extensive network of local partners can help you build your dream trip from the endless possibilities of Chile. We'll talk through your ideas, give you some suggestions, set it all up and advise on travel, kit and preparation, so that you get the Chilean adventure you've always wanted.
We'll be on hand to help you before, during and after your trip; from the moment we've booked it all for you to the moment you return home.
2. Hiking tours
Everyone knows Torres del Paine, and the W Trek and the Full Circuit Trek are some of our most requested trips. They are spectacular, world-class hikes amongst scenery and mountains unlike anywhere else in the world, just challenging enough to be an earned achievement for any hiker.
We love Torres del Paine, but it's by no means alone in Patagonia. The Lake District has some completely contrasting landscapes, with beautifully lush national parks and smoking volcanoes to be climbed. In Aysen, you can hike through the steppe, rainforest and up to glaciers without leaving the region.
View of Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine
3. Group tours
For us, the recipe to a great group tour is the right destinations, the best guides and top activities. Our group tours vary from road trips, wildlife-watching, hiking, or just seeing all the highlights.
Tours range from 10 days to three weeks, have set departures and fixed pricing, and there are often optional adventure activities such as kayaking, ice hiking and biking to get you closer to your scenery.
No matter what you choose, you're guaranteed to maximise the time you have in each area, and to spend your trip learning about everything from history to culture from the encyclopedic local knowledge of your tour guides.
Hiking Group, Torres del Paine
4. Specialist tours
Use Swoop's network of specialist guides to ensure that you have the local expert you need (and any equipment) for a few days or an entire holiday.
Our specialist areas include birdwatching, kayaking, mountain biking, horse riding, puma tracking, fishing, climbing, mountaineering and white water rafting - ask us how to incorporate these into your trip.
Serrano River with views of the Paine massif, Torres del Paine
5. Extraordinary journeys
Spend three or more weeks getting under the skin of Chile, on a trip designed by people who have spent decades exploring Chile's wilder, secret side. These trips are tailored to each individual traveller, designed to help you understand the nuances and variety Chile has to offer.
You can still see the highlights, but may find yourself a few days later in a remote, lakeside lodge that you can only access by boat, or hiking through rainforest to a hidden glacier or clattering along boardwalks in a car-free wooden village.
Caleta Tortel
6. Semi-independent travellers
Tours for people who just want to book one or two bits of their trip with us, but are confident bookings their hotels and flights themselves.
Let us help you get that great deal on a W Trek, a more challenging multi-day hike across the Dientes de Navarino range, or an adventure cruise through the Chilean Fjords. The rest? That's up to you.
Glacier cruising in Tierra del Fuego
Swoop says
Flights are regular between the regions, and the major tourist hubs tend to have buses and taxis on good schedules. If you're looking to go a little off the beaten track or want more flexibility, consider a self-drive, a group tour, or ask us about private transport.
Ready to plan your Patagonia adventure?
1. Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.