Afternoon arrival into Punta Arenas. Private transfer into town for a night at the Hotel Rey Don Felipe in town.

Depending on your arrival time today, we can arrange a City Tour.

Hotel night. Dinner at leisure.

After breakfast meet transfser vehicle for the drive to the Magellanic penguin colony at Otway Sound. Plenty of time to photograph and walk amongst these fascinating burrowing penguins.

When we have had our fill of penguins we will continue a short distance to Estancia Lolita. A real one of its kind estancia, this local farming family has been taking in sick, injured or orphaned animals from the local area and looking after them for a number of years.

For many of the locals and especially the children in the city of Punta Arenas, this will be the only opportunity they get to observe some of the unusual wildlife that exists in their backyard. Obviously the animals they have at a given time is uncertain but you can usually see armadillos, condors, pumas, Jeffrey's cat and more. 

Continue onto Puerto Natales, the capital of the Ultima Esperanza region of Chile for lunch in one of the many good restaurants.

After lunch we will be driving to the Milodon Cave which contains a full sized replica of a giant sloth (made famous by Bruce Chatwin). Situated in a lovely forested area there are good walks in the area and a cafe to enjoy a snack or coffee. After some time spent here, continue on to the outpost town of Cerro Castillo where we will be spending a night in the comfortable converted estancia house of El Pionero.

Family rooms available and good restaurant. Additional activities for the kids: Wildlife spotting and hide and seek in the hotel gardens. Breakfast and dinner included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

After breakfast, join our private transfer for a drive into Torres del Paine with its myriad of scenic highlights.

Today we will be hiking from the Sarmiento Park entrance to the salt encrusted shores of Laguna Amarga (bitter lake). This is a beautiful hike that takes us through the summer breeding grounds of large family groups of guanaco. It is short enough for the kids to tolerate on their first hiking day and loaded with wildlife, great scenery and (hopefully) calafate bushes for fresh fruit snacks en route.

Our destination is our base for the next two nights, Estancia Tercera Barranca. The estancia offers a lovely family welcome, awesome views and local walks in the area.

Additional activities for the kids: Walks and horseriding around the estancia and armadillo spotting.

All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

Using the estancia as a base, today we can choose from a ride up to the pretty and rarely visited Zamora Falls or take a tour with a private driver and vehicle. The ride is suitable for beginners and could be a great opportunity to acquaint the kids with western riding. We offer comfortable saddles, safe horses and expert instruction and this is a lovely, steady ride with great scenery.

Alternatively if you prefer to stay on two legs, we can drive out to Laguna Azul for a picnic in this pretty forested area with beautiful lake views and lots of wildlife or visit one of the Park's pretty waterfalls for short walks and photography.

In the evening (weather permitting) we'll enjoy a traditional gaucho barbeque under the stars before turning in to our rooms for a silent and peaceful night's sleep.

All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

After a breakfast of home baked bread and cakes, we will transfer from Estancia Tercera to Laguna Verde situated on the southern perimeters of the park. After a coffee in the lovely converted estancia - now a comfortable hosteria, we can start our stunning hike (or ride if preferred).

The trail takes us round the shores of Laguna Verde through southern-beech forests, past lakes and with amazing mountain views before ascending to the spectacular lookout of the Park below. From here there is a birds eye view of the glaciers, rivers, lakes and mountains that make up the landscape.

We will then start the steep descent of Sierra del Toro to the flat plains below. Picnic in the valley before continuing on to the park headquarters to see the Park relief map. After meeting our driver we will drive across the wide-open pampas to our beautiful accommodation beside the emerald green waters of the Serrano River.

Night at Cabanas del Paine. Additional activities for the kids: Fishing and river walks.

All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

After breakfast guests can choose from fishing, hiking or joining the Grey II boat through the iceberg-choked waters of Grey Lake to the face of the huge towering Grey Glacier.

There are also lots of opportunities for wildlife spotting and short walks in the area so the day can be kept completely flexible depending on both the weather and energy levels.

Afternoon return to our comfortable accommodation at the Serrano River. Night at Cabanas del Paine.

All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

After breakfast we will walk to the river and board Zodiacs for our exciting downriver journey through the pristine wilderness area known as the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. Great fun for both adults and children alike.

Where the river spills into the Sound, we will connect with the Cutter 21 de Mayo that takes us across the fjords of Last Hope Sound and ends up at the quayside in Puerto Natales.

Boat trip includes an estancia BBQ lunch and fantastic wilderness scenery.

Night at the contemporary and centrally located Hotel If in Puerto Natales or the wooden, chalet-style waterside Hotel Weskar a short walk from town.

Additional activities for the kids: Souvenir shopping and a visit to the small Museum.

All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).

Leisurely morning in town followed by a transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas.

Breakfast only included today.