| Itinerary details
Day 1
Take a taxi from Punta Arenas airport to Hotel. Meet leader in hotel lobby at 7.30 p.m. Dinner
Day 2
Morning collection from Hotel Terra Sur. Drive to penguin colony to see and photograph the ‘burrowing’ Magellanic penguins. Transfer vehicle across the Patagonian Steppe where you have your first opportunity to see some of the unusual plant and animal life that exists in this area. After a short lunch in Puerto Natales we continue on past mountain peaks and through the summer grazing grounds of herds of guanaco to our stunning campsite situated on the north eastern side of the park at Laguna Azul. Full of wild birds and many species of duck, this is a beautiful lake and the view of the Towers at sunset is amazing. Dinner will be served around the campfire or in the ‘quincho’ (a wooden cabin) if the weather is bad.
Day 3
After breakfast we meet our horses for a safety check and familiarisation with local saddles and riding styles. Then we pack our saddle bags with our packed lunch before heading off around this beautiful lake towards the northerly slopes of the Paine chain.
To get used to our horses we start with a leisurely ride through colourful woods and lush valleys with the granite peaks watching over us as we approach our lunch destination. After lunch we continue across wide, flat valleys towards the Rio de los Perros. We usually step up the pace a little here and canter along a pretty wooded path to the edge of this glacial river. If we are lucky, we can see icebergs floating in the adjoining lake before we board our boat to cross to Refugio Dickson. Tonight we stay in this beautiful valley only accessible by foot or horseback.
Day 4
We ride north past the beautiful Lago Quemado to our lunch spot overlooking Glacier Dickson, a beautiful iceberg-filled lake and glacier which seem to go on for ever. A leisurely lunch at this remote and seldom visited perch and n back to Dickson for our second night camping.
Day 5
Today we will hike up to the Los Perros Glacier for an up close and personal view of one of natures true wonders. This valley is only visited by those hardy enough to do the famous Paine 10 day circuit so we will enjoy one of the parks highlights with very few other visitors. The old growth beach forest, the views of “El Cubo” and the Dickson Glacier are a sight you will not soon forget and the Los Perros Glacier offers a very personal experience in this very remote setting. Return to Dickson for a third night camping.
Day 6
After crossing the Rio de los Perros for the last time, we set off early for our ride to Laguna Azul. Once again we pass the northerly peaks of the Paine chain. One of the peaks is topped by a black, craggy rock in the shape of a Tuhuelche Indian Face where the 'headband' is decorated with snowdrifts even in summer. From here we will see Laguna Azul coming into view as we pass through flower-filled meadows and southern beech forests.
During the evening we can enjoy views of the Towers across the lake. Hot showers.
Day 7
After breakfast, we are collected from Laguna Azul and driven to Camping Las Torres. A challenging hike today, we climb up to the base of the towers themselves. It starts with an uphill walk and then follows wooded mountain trails. The final section is a series of ‘hops’ over glacial moraine before finally reaching our lunch destination in the shadow of these fabulous granite peaks. In the foreground waterfalls flow off the hanging glaciers into a basin of green water where icebergs float. You can hear sounds like thunder as the ice breaks off the glacier.
In the afternoon we descend to our camping spot in the valley and enjoy a shower….and for those who have the energy to walk to the nearby hotel bar, pisco sours can be enjoyed while dinner is being prepared.
Day 8
After an early breakfast, we start our hike round the shores of Lake Nordjenskold. Our hike skirts this lake while always keeping close to the huge granite mountains which form the centrepiece of this geographical wonder.
Tonight we eat and sleep in the Refugio Los Cuernos next to a turquoise blue lake with the mountains behind. Dinner and wine included.
Day 9
We hike to another beautiful lake, Lago Pehoe.
Arriving there at lunchtime we have our picnic lunch on the shores before once again meeting our horses for an afternoon’s ride to the Serrano River. Our path first takes us along flower-lined trails skirting Pehoe Lake before opening out onto flat pampas where we enjoy an exhilarating canter to the emerald green waters of the Serrano River. Camp riverside.
Day 10
Today, we rise early to pack up camp and prepare for our river adventure. We start with a lecture on safety and technique before loading our equipment onto our two-man kayaks. Cameras will need to be kept handy as we enjoy beautiful views of the distant snow capped mountains and the variety of birdlife that inhabits these shores. In the afternoon we paddle “up stream” to enter Tyndall lake. This is a short but fairly strenuous leg that gets us into what one of the most stunning sights and areas in all of Patagonia - an up close view of a towering valley glacier that reaches 90 feet high in some areas. Visitors are extremely rare here so we can enjoy all this to ourselves while dinner is prepared, a fire is lit on the beach and some local Chilean wine is poured. Night camping in virgin wilderness (or under the stars if you prefer).
Day 11
Today, we once again board our sea kayaks to continue downriver to the start of our hike. This wilderness walk takes us into virgin glacier country and we are totally alone to enjoy views of Tyndall and Geike Glaciers and the Patagonian ice-sheet itself. Lunch will be alongside a lake containing hundreds of icebergs.
Returning to the river and our kayaks for the last leg of our journey, we spend the night in the shadow of Mount Balmaceda. After dinner we end the day with the sounds of the Serrano Glacier and its tumbling ice.
Day 12
After breakfast, time and weather allowing, we can take our kayaks into the meltwater lake fed by the Serrano Glacier. We spend the morning paddling amongst the floating icebergs. After lunch we board a modern cutter for a comfortable ride back across Last Hope Sound to the quayside at Puerto Natales.
On arrival in this interesting waterside town, we take a taxi to a comfortable and lively hotel situated on the water’s edge. Panoramic views and hot showers before going into town to enjoy a good meal in one of the town's many excellent seafood restaurants (wine excluded).
Day 13
Morning collection from hotel before transferring back to Hotel Terra Sur in Punta Arenas for night in twin shared accommodation.
Day 14
Taxi to airport for flight out/further travel.
PLEASE NOTE
We camp whilst in the Park and the hiking is supported by pack horses so you only need to carry a daypack. The riding section covers some fairly long riding days so you should be prepared for this and should be confident at walk, trot and canter. The hiking is moderate, with some steep up and downs, and you should have the appropriate level of fitness.
The kayaking part requires no previous experience although you should be confident around water. The trip is guided throughout and baqueanos will accompany us to care for the horses. We recommend that if you would like to do this trip you should love the outdoors, be comfortable travelling in remote areas, be prepared for weather changes and most of all have a sense of humour and a flexible attitude!
Check our Books and Maps section where you will find a range of literature to help you get the most out of your South American adventure.
Included
All riding/walking/kayaking; all equipment (except sleeping bags/mats), all transfers to and from Punta Arenas and whilst in park, camping based on twin share and meals with wine (except lunch on day 1 and 13 and wine on last night), 13 nights accommodation based on twin share (10 nights camping and 3 nights hotel), English speaking and local guides, baqueanos who care for horses; waterproof stuff sacks for trip, use of saddle bags and waterproof stuff sacks, river fees, camp fees, entrance fees to park and penguin colony.
Not Included
Flights, airport taxes, meals and airport transfers in Punta Arenas, lunch on days 2 and 13 in Pto. Natales, dinner on night 12 in Pto. Natales, travel insurance and tips (recommend $60).
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