Patagonia Trekking Adventure: Torres del Paine 9 Day Circuit
Dates: Best time to go is between October – April.
Price: $5,200 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
DAY 3 - ECOCAMP TO CAMP DICKSON
DAY 4 - CAMP DICKSON TO CAMP PERROS
DAY 5 - CAMP PERROS TO CAMP GREY, THROUGH JOHN GARDNER PASS
DAY 6 - CAMP GREY TO PEHOE LAKE
DAY 7 - VALLE FRANCES
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.
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.
DAY 9 - BASE TREK LAS TORRES
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).
DAY 10 - ADIOS TORRES DEL PAINE!
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.