Come with us to travel one of the most splendid Patagonia National Parks, hiking at Torres del Paine in Chile. In this hiking trip you will walk along the most spectacular landscapes of Southern Patagonia, at Torres del Paine (Chile). The tour combines the very best of the Chilean Patagonia with the comfort of our fine selection of lodges in the area. We do not use Full Camps in this tour. The design of the program includes some moderate treks, which are performed at a slow pace with all the necessary stops, meaning you do not need to be in excellent fit to take these trips. All treks include a mid way turn around point. The trip offers a perfect balance of outdoors and comfort, making special emphasis in the Natural History and discovery of Patagonia. We visit, hike and enjoy one of the most important National Parks of Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, Worl Heritage by the UNESCO. This is a group travel departure with a minimum of 2 travelers.

Departures 2016/2017:


    6 days - 5 nights

    Season: October to April

    Begins: Fridays

    Starts at: El Calafate Airport (FTE).

    Ends at: El Calafate Airport (FTE).


Itinerary
Day 1: El Calafate Airport (FTE) - El Calafate
We welcome you at El Calafate Airport and and transfer to town, where we check in at our lodge.The rest of the day will be free for us to enjoy the town.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals : none

Day 2: El Calafate – Torres del Paine
We leave early in the morning towards Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. We follow a typical Patagonian gravel road, part of the legendary Route 40, with guanacos, lesser rheas, flamingos, condors and eagles. We enter Chile through Cancha Carrera / Cerro Castillo pass. Approaching Paine National Park (World Heritage by the UNESCO) we will see the different mountains that feature the massif: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. We will have the chance of close up pictures of guanacos and lesser rheas. On our way we make all the necessary stops for pictures. We check inn in our hosteria by 4 PM.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 3: Torres del Paine
We go in one of the classic hikes in Paine National Park: the Towers trail. Our goal are the three spectacular and vertical spires known as Las Torres (Towers), 1000 m of vertical granite, challenge for climbers of all over the World. We start walking crossing Ascensio river through a hanging bridge. An hour of climb in a steep slope lead us to the gate of the valley and a short downhill get us to Refugio Chileno, a mountain hut in a beautiful location, which can be the turn around point for those who want to avoid the final effort. For those who want to go to the end, which we strongly recommend, we go on walking in the forest up valley, until our final 1 hour climb in the moraine that comes down from the Towers. The trail, though demanding, rewards you with fantastic close up views of the walls. 4 hs round trip to Refugio Chileno, 8 hs round trip to the Towers viewpoint. In the evening we drive to Puerto Natales, a picturesque fishermen town located in the shores of the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) fjord.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL)

Day 4: Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers
This morning by 8 am we will be navigating already through the Ultima Esperanza Fjord. In our way to the glaciers Balmaceda and Serrano, we will see ice waterfalls, beautiful landscapes and a wide variety of animals of the area. Once there, we will take a walking tour. This area of the National Park Bernardo O'Higgins is one of the most fascinating parts of the Chilenean south. We will be back around 18 hs. so we can have enough time to enjoy the town at night.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 5: Puerto Natales - Calafate
After breakfast, we start our trip back to El Calafate where we will have the rest of the evening free to enjoy the town.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 6: El Calafate - El Calafate airport
After breakfast we transfer to El Calafate Airport. End of the Discovery Trip.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Price (u$d):

Included services: Bilingual tour leader (Spanish – English) during all the trip, trekking /mountain guide while on trek, 5 nights hosterias or inn double or single room with private bathroom, 5 breakfast (B), 2 box lunch (BL) and 1 dinners (D), all transfers in Patagonia and trekking activities. All excursions as shown in the itinerary. More information

Not included services: international and domestic flights, airport taxes, transfers in Buenos Aires, nights in Buenos Aires, drinks, foods not detailed, tickets entrance to 2 National Parks (5/10 u$d ea.), Lago Argentino Navigation, medical covering, tips, optional excursion Holiday On Ice, services not detailed in the program. More information

List of suggested personal equipment:
• Backpack, 40 lts
• Trekking shoes or boots
• Thermal underwear
• Trekking pants
• Fleece
• Breathable parka and over pants
• Gaiters
• Gloves
• Thermal socks
• Swim suit & towel (for a warm bath at Atacama geysers)
• The necessary spare cloth
• Wool hat
• Sun hat
• Sun glasses
• Sun screen / block (UV is strong)
• Personal items
• Lamp
• Trekking poles (recommended, if you are used to them)
• Water bottle
• Photo camera & batteries
• Personal medication
• Personal documents (passport, visa if needed) to cross the Argentina and Chile border.
• Garbage bags (we Leave No Trace)