Itinerary
Day 1 Our guide meets you at Punta Arenas airport. Transfer by private vehicle to Puerto Natales, a three-hour drive through the Patagonian pampa. Lodging in Puerto Natales (hotel or hostel), dinner, slide show and meeting to discuss trip programme. (D)
Day 2 Transfer by private vehicle to Torres del Paine National Park. This two-hour journey through ranch country gives beautiful views towards the Paine massif and Last Hope Sound. Arrival at Torres del Paine. We will begin trekking up the Ascencio Valley along side the river to refugio Chileno where we will be spending our 1st night.
Trek to the base of The Towers (7 hours round trip), a spectacular hike to view the three pink granite towers that made the park famous. Lodging and dinner at Refugio Chileno, situated in the Ascencio Valley. (B,L,D)
Day 3 Trek along Lake Nordenskjold and below the hanging glaciers of Mount Admiral Nieto, to the base of Los Cuernos (5 hours). Lodging and dinner at Refugio Los Cuernos. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Trek up the French Valley (4 hours). This valley, the most beautiful in the park and unique in the world, is dominated by hanging glaciers and an amphitheatre of granite walls and spires. There are amazing views throughout this trek and the further you trek into the valley the better they become! On the return journey you will notice the extraordinary turquoise colour of Lake Pehoe (hidden lake in the Tehuelche Indian language). The trekking is 6-8 hrs depending on how far up the valley you go (24 km). Lodging and dinner at Lodge Paine Grande where you can enjoy a pisco sour in the bar that overlooks Paine Grande and Los Cuernos in the beautiful evening light. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Trek along enchanting Lake Grey (3-4 hours, 11 KM ) with magnificent views of Glacier Grey and floating icebergs.
We visit the glacier lookout point and head up to the lakeshore for close views of vibrant-blue icebergs (Paine is a Tehuelche Indian word for "blue"). At lunchtime we board the Grey II boat, and spend two hours cruising this magic lake surrounded by bergs. The boat does a circuit and takes you right up to the front of the glacier whilst you stand on deck sipping your pisco sour served with glacial ice. Transfer from Hosteria Grey to Hosteria Tyndall, lodging and dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Today our trip begins at the Serrrano river sector (located at the southern border of Torres del Paine National Park), here we will prepare and distribute the kayaks and begin with safety and paddling instructions. Our guides will recommend the appropriate equipment you will need to take and the rest of your luggage will be taken directly to Puerto Natales and stored in our office. Today we paddle for approximately 2 hours down the first section of the Serrano river, a calm strectch of water. There may be some sections where we carry the kayaks. Depending on weather conditions and the number of daylight hours remaining we continue for either 1 or 2 hours before arriving at camp and preparing dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 7 We continue paddling towards Mount Balmaceda and Glacier Serrano, from where we will be able to see from a distance the glaciers of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. Finally we arrive at Puerto Toro (Bernardo O'Higgins National Park). Our camp base here is near the Serrano glacier and this is where we'll have dinner and spend the night. (B,L,D)
Day 8 With an early start, depending on the weather conditions, we carry the kayaks 100m to the lagoon of the Serrano glacier so that we can paddle in & amongst the ice-bergs until 11:00am.
We return to Puerto Natales by boat through the Last Hope Sound. Arrival time: 5 p.m. Lodging (hotel Indigo or local hostel) and farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Transfer to Punta Arenas airport, with a stop at the Seno Otway penguin reserve. End of services. (B)
Check our group and tailor made options. And you can always contact the office with questions or for advice.
See our Books and Maps section where you will find range of books and maps to help you get the most out of your South American adventure.
What's included: Accommodation and all meals from Puerto Natales-Paine, guide, transfers as listed, kayak equipment, camping gear (not sleeping bags and backpacks), park entrance fees.
You carry your own back-pack every day (we suggest you limit this to 10kg). Thre is the option to pay extra for a porter. A porter, who carries 20kg costs USD 60 per day extra and can be shared between two.
Not included: International or domestic flights, tips, insurance, personal items.
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