Blue Paine itinerary
This tour encompasses
some of southern Chile's most stunning scenery, featuring
Paine National Park.
Condors, rheas and guanacos can be seen in the area. A wonder of natural sculpture, the two thousand metre high Cuernos (Horns) and Torres (Towers) must be seen to be believed.
The massif is encircled by a glacial hydrological system linking numerous opaque, silica-rich lakes of various hues of blue. Our days in the park take us up to the vertical Torres, into the spectacular French valley, and to the vast iceberg-filled Grey Lake.
Joining the tour
On booking, you will be
sent the following information: name and address of hotel,
advice on being met, and any additional information you require.
Itinerary details
Note: If circumstances
dictate, certain details, such as overnight stops, may vary from
those shown in the day-by-day itinerary below.
Day 1
Our guide will meet you at Punta Arenas airport. Transfer to Puerto Natales, a three-hour drive through the Patagonian pampa. Overnight Puerto Natales - dinner, slide show and briefing meeting.
Day 2
Transfer by vehicle to Torres del Paine National Park. Two-hour journey through ranch country crossing the Patagonian pampa. Arrival at Torres del Paine.
Trek to the base of The Towers (7 hours roundtrip, 16 km), a spectacular hike to view the three pink granite towers that make the park famous. Overnight with dinner at Refugio Chileno, situated in the Ascencio Valley.
Day 3
Trek along Lake Nordenskjold, below the hanging glaciers of Mount Admiral Nieto, to the base of Los Cuernos (5 hours, 11 km). Lodging and dinner at Refugio Los Cuernos.
Day 4
Trek up French Valley (6 hours round trip). This valley, the most beautiful in the park and unique in the world, is surrounded by hanging glaciers and an amphitheatre of granite walls and spires. Afterward, we will trek to the extraordinary turquoise Lake Pehoe (2 hours). Total 24 km, overnight with dinner at Refugio Paine Grande.
Day 5
Trek along enchanting Lake Grey (3-4 hours 11 km) with magnificent views of Glacier Grey and floating icebergs. Visit the glacier lookout point and to the lakeshore for close up views of vibrant-blue icebergs (Paine is a Tehuelche Indian word for "blue"). Free afternoon for relaxing. In the evening, we will meet to plan a walk on Glacier Grey the following day. Overnight and dinner at Camp Grey.
Day 6
After breakfast, we board the Grey II boat and spend 2 hours navigating in this magical lake surrounded by ice bergs. Next, we transfer from Hosteria Grey to Camp Pehoe Ruta and trek to the Mirador del Condor lookout where you can take in the spectacular view of the whole Paine mountain Range, and Laguna Honda, Sarmiento and Verde.
We continue trekking to Quebrada la Feria, crossing an ancient Lenga Forest, where our van will be waiting at Weber bridge. We transfer by the new road to Puerto Natales, dinner at Pez Glaciar restaurant (included) and to our hotel.
Day 7
Transfer to Punta Arenas airport, with a stop at the Seno Otway penguin reserve. End of trip.
What's included: Accommodation and all meals from Puerto Natales-Paine, guide, transfers as listed, camping gear (not sleeping bags and backpacks), park entrance fees.
You will carry your pack every day, about 10kg. A porter, who carries 20kg and can be shared among two travellers, costs GBP 30 per day extra.
Not included: International or domestic flights, tips, insurance, personal items
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