Patagonia Trekking Adventure

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Patagonia Trekking Adventure: Torres del Paine 9 Day Circuit

Dates: November 2017 TBA

Trekking Experience can start on November 22nd or November 29th

Price: $4,979 CAD plus GST

Minimum of 4 people – Maximum 10 people.

Journey to the Edge of the World! 

Experience one of the most beautiful and intense treks on Earth: the Paine Trek! Circle the immense Paine Massif for nine days of epic views and endurance, all led by our expert guides who help escort you on this unbelievable adventure through the heart of this vast and untamed wilderness.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Superb Trekking
  • John Gardner Pass
  • Grey and Dickson Glaciers
  • Kayaking around the Grey Glacier (Optional)
  • Complete Paine Massif Round
  • Torres del Paine Towers
  • Start in Calafate, Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales
  • Ask to start in Santiago or Buenos Aires

TREKKING ITINERARY

Day 1 (Wed): Travel from Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Calafate to Torres del Paine
Day 2 (Thu): Trek to Dickson Lake
Day 3 (Fri): Trek to Los Perros
Day 4 (Sat): Trek to Grey, Gardner Pass
Day 5 (Sun): Trek to Pehoe Lake – Optional Kayaking
Day 6 (Mon): Trek Valle del Frances
Day 7 (Tue): Trek Los Cuernos Trail
Day 8 (Wed): Trek to the Towers
Day 9 (Thu): Leave Torres del Paine

This journey includes your domestic flight from either Santiago or Buenos Aires to Punta Arenas. Plus overnight in Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, and/or Santiago prior and after the trek.

DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN SANTIAGO CHILE

Arrive in beautiful Santiago Chile - settle into your Hotel and relax before heading down South to the edge of the world in Patagonia.

Day 2 - THE PATAGONIAN ADVENTURE STARTS

Torres del Paine NP, Chile
The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas or Punta Arenas airport in the morning and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia, located in the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park.  En route we make a couple of stops - First in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of "Seno de Ultima Esperanza", where we enjoy a hearty local lunch, and second at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s. The journey is scenic and highly atmospheric, featuring many wild birds and wonderful Patagonian landscapes.
The day ends with our arrival at our camping site nestled in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park and with a prime view of the majestic Torres. Sunset is usually around 11pm during the summer months, meaning that there will still be enough daylight for you to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon once you arrive.
Overnight camping in Las Torres area (Optional upgrade to EcoCamp domes)

DAY 3 -  ECOCAMP TO CAMP DICKSON

Torres del Paine NP, Chile
The day will start at EcoCamp as you prepare for your hike to Dickson Lake. The trail will leads you northwards along the eastern bank of the Rio Paine. We will stop at a natural lookout point which will afford us a stunning panoramic view of the Lago Paine below, before we descend and continue west across open grasslands towards Refugio Dickson. Our campsite will be situated in the Dickson Valley, surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks and the crystalline waters of Lake Dickson. The stunning Dickson Glacier and parts of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field can be spotted in the distance from the campsite, where we will spend the night complete with a nutritious dinner and soothing hot shower.
Overnight camping in Dickson area
Trekking time: 11 hours
Distance: 29 kms
Max. Altitude: 300 m

DAY 4 - CAMP DICKSON TO CAMP PERROS

Torres del Paine NP, Chile
We will continue our trail along the Los Perros river in what will be the wildest and most remote grounds that we will cover on the trek. We will pass under the Los Perros Glacier, which merges into a small lake, and cross a virgin beech forest before reaching the beautiful Laguna Los Perros. Here, we will set up camp at Camping Los Perros and enjoy the tranquil evening.
Overnight camping in Los Perros area
Trekking time: 5 hours
Distance: 9 kms
Max. Altitude: 500 m

DAY 5 - CAMP PERROS TO CAMP GREY, THROUGH JOHN GARDNER PASS

Torres del Paine NP, Chile
This day marks our ascent to the highest point of the circuit as we reach altitudes of around 1300 mts (4000 ft) from which we will be able to feast our eyes on an awe-inspiring view of Grey glacier, an enormous fractured mass of ice with towers in the valley. The John Gardner pass is one of the most famous sectors of Torres del Paine and a must-do for any serious trekker. We will then continue south along forested slopes with beautiful views of the enormous Grey Glacier (more than 28 km in length) before spending the night camping at Grey Campground on the shores of Lake Grey.
Overnight camping in Grey area
Trekking time: 12 hours
Distance: 22 kms
Max. Altitude: 1200 m

DAY 6 - CAMP GREY TO PEHOE LAKE

Torres del Paine NP, Chile
During the morning, we will take some time to rest, replenish and revel in Lake Grey's surroundings before making our way along the eastern side of Lake Grey through clearings of gorgeous Calafate bushes. The view over the lake, with numerous giant icebergs drifting across the waters, is a true wonder to behold. The trail after this point becomes flatter as we descend through a shallow dry valley headed towards the turquoise waters of Lake Pehoe, where we will set-up camp and rest for the night.
*Optional Kayaking around Glacier Grey: This excursion starts at 9:00 and lasts 2,5 hours where you will discover the amazing glacier and kayak around huge floating icebergs, towards the east side of the glacier to get closer to the giant ice wall. Min. age is 15 years old / Max. age is 65 years old. (Note: Kayaking option is only available until March 19th)
Overnight camping in Pehoe area
Trekking time: 5 hours
Distance: 11 kms
Max. Altitude: 400 m

DAY 7 - VALLE FRANCES

Torres del Paine NP, Chile

After breakfast at Lake Pehoe, we will begin the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), along a steep trail that leads to the very heart of the Paine Massif. How far in we go depends on our group's trekking rhythm. A swifter walk will lead us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif, where we will be treated to fantastic views of the valley. We will then continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley where we will be able to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley's geological formations: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress). After our upward trek, we will pause for a picnic and relax a while. This day's trek will end as we descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest which will take us to camp Frances.N.B. An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is also available.

Overnight camping in Francés area
Trekking time: 8 hours
Distance: 25 kms
Max. Altitude: 686 m

DAY 8 - LOS CUERNOS

Torres del Paine NP, Chile
Once we have finished breakfast, we will begin our day's trek to EcoCamp Patagonia through the Cuernos trail, which will take us along the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. Today's walk is less strenuous yet richer in the diversity of terrain that we will cover. It will therefore be the perfect opportunity to take in the park’s charming flora and fauna and learn more about the vast variety of species along the way. We will pause throughout the walk in order to have a box-lunch, rest our legs and admire the stunning surroundings.The trek ends as we arrive at EcoCamp (optional) where we will enjoy a hearty meal and prepare for tomorrow's big challenge.

Overnight camping in Las Torres area (Optional upgrade to EcoCamp domes)
Trekking time: 7 hours
Distance: 16 kms
Max. Altitude: 244 m

DAY 9 - BASE TREK LAS TORRES

Torres del Paine NP, Chile
The goal of our penultimate day of the Paine Circuit will be to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park! We will walk from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley on the Tower's eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. Our big challenge comes in the form of the steep moraine, a huge mass of boulders which will lead us to that iconic  base-view of the Towers - Three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. After a tough uphill climb, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us, with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch? After feasting on the view and our picnic, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner (optional).
Overnight camping in Las Torres area (Optional upgrade to EcoCamp domes)
Trekking time: 10 hours
Distance: 21 kms
Max. Altitude: 914 m

DAY 10 - ADIOS TORRES DEL PAINE!

Punta Arenas, Chile
We will board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight to Santiago or stay an extra night in Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas.

INCLUDED

  • Domestic Flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas
  • All ground transport as indicated in the itinerary
  • 2 nights stay before and after the trek in either Santiago, Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales
  • 8 nights camping*, including all equipment EXCEPT mat and sleeping bag
  • Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park
  • One expert English speaking trekking guide
  • The porter service for this trip (see note below)
  • Meals:
    • day 2: B, L, D
    • day 3: B, BL, D
    • day 4: B, BL, D
    • day 5: B, BL, D
    • day 6: B, BL, D
    • day 7: B, BL, D
    • day 8: B, BL, D
    • day 9: B, BL, D
    • day 10: B, BL
    • B: breakfast, BL: box lunch, L: Lunch, D: dinner.

EXCLUDED

  • International Flight tickets.
  • Insurance (it is mandatory you purchase appropriate insurance for this trip).
  • Voluntary tipping of guides and staff.
  • Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp. Bringing US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP is suggested.
  • Items of personal nature.
  • Sleeping bag and mat rental if needed
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

Prior to trekking:

Prior to the trekking experience you have one night's stay in either Santiago, Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales depending on when your flight gets in - we will help accommodate accordingly. You will stay in a 3 star hotel or guesthouse.

Camping during the Trek: Typical mountain tents are used with enough room for 2 people overnight in comfortable conditions. We provide all the camping gear. But you should bring your own mat and sleeping bag. Our team will set up the tents in the camping site.  On nights 1, 7 & 8 at Las Torres you enjoy dinner and breakfast at EcoCamp (600m away from the campsite, a short walk up the hill). On nights 4, 5, 6 at Grey, Pehoe and Francés, you enjoy dinner and breakfast in the refugios. On nights 2 and 3 there will be a comfortable dining tent for dinners and breakfasts. Additionally, the camping sites along the trek will have mountain bathroom facilities in good condition. On nights 1, 7 & 8 all Circuit hikers are welcome to join evening activities in EcoCamp's bar and Yoga Dome before returning to their campsite to sleep!

Ask about the Eco Camp Dome upgrade!

After trekking:

After your trekking experience you have one night's stay in either Santiago, Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales depending on when your flight gets in and if you want to spend more time in Patagonia - we will help accommodate accordingly. You will stay in a 3 star hotel or guesthouse.

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