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Trekking in the Torres del Paine NP |
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For
a slightly different view of the Park, we
invite you to experience this unique
expedition. We hike the three most famous
valleys, visiting glaciers, passing through
southern beech forests and enjoying
impressive views of the famous Torres. Then
our final hike takes us through a less
visited part of the Park, where we will walk
through a hidden valley that leads us to our
final destination, an authentic Patagonian
estancia, waiting for us with a Patagonian
style lamb barbecue. |
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
(Sunday) We recommend you take
the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4 hours),
flying over the Andes and observing incredible views of the
Patagonian Ice Fields. Upon your arrival in Punta Arenas,
the most southern city on the continent, a private transfer
will be waiting to take you to Torres Del Paine. (pick-up from the airport at 3:35 PM,
corresponding with LAN airline, Flight # 285, or at 3 PM
from your hotel in town).
As we leave Punta Arenas we will be able to see the Strait
of Magellan and the island of Tierra del Fuego. Shortly
after leaving the airport, we will stop at the Magellan
penguin colony on Otway Sound. The beginning of our drive
will take us through open pampas and huge ranches
(estancias) and chances are we will be able to observe one
of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu,
(similar to ostrich). Then we will head north, passing
Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a typical
fishing town surrounded by mountains. We will follow an
unpaved road heading to the park and the Refugio Las Torres
to spend our first night.
(6 hours by private transfer) (D) (Night at Refugio Las
Torres)
Day 2
(Monday) We will start our first day trekking to the
base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter
the Ascencio Valley. Our walk will be uphill for one hour
before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley
surrounded by unbelievable beech forests (Nothofagus
family), glaciers and waterfalls. We’ll continue through the
valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge
terminal moraine to a lookout (900 M), excellent for picture
taking. At this point we will be surrounded by three giant
granite towers (2850 M) and a lagoon with slurry waters due
to erosion produced by glaciers. This amazing view will be
accompanied by lunch to add to the enjoyment. After being
awed by the towers we’ll start our descent, following the
same path back to the hut.
(7-8 hours round-trip, 18 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Refugio Las
Torres)
Day 3
(Tuesday) A private transfer will take us to the west
side of the Park going around Almirante Nieto Mountain (2750
M) with Nordenskjold Lake at its base. We will take a
catamaran across the Pehoe Lake. From here we commence our
out and back trek to the French valley. We will start going
around the south-west side of Paine Grande, the highest
summit in the Park, through native forests of fire bush and
evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the hanging
bridge over the French River to observe the first glimpses
of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend (300m) for one
hour amidst a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing
beech forests, to reach a view point, gifting us with
magnificent panoramic views, where we enjoy a good lunch.
Our way back will be the same, spending our first night at
Lodge Paine Grande.
(30 minutes by private transfer, 35 minutes by catamaran,
6-7 hours, 17 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Lodge Paine Grande)
Day 4
(Wednesday) We will begin early morning with our hike
to the Grey Glacier. Initially we will ascend 200mts up a
winding narrow path leading us to Laguna Negra, and our
first glimpses of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field with its
many unclimbed mountains. We will advance through forests
and crossing rivers, with possible sightings of spectacle
and flying steamer ducks, up to the glacier view point. We
will enjoy lunch at this place and if we are lucky, witness
ice calving from the huge glacier wall into Lake Grey. We
return, following the same path, with views of Cordon Olguín
and Paine Grande, to reach the same hut at the Shore of
Pehoe Lake to spend our second overnight.
(7-8 hours walking, 22 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Lodge Paine
Grande)
Day 5
(Thursday) Early today we board the catamaran again.
Our transfer will be waiting on the other side of Lake Pehoe
to drive us to our walk. Our direction is toward Estancia
Lazo-Hosteria Mirador Del Payne, and we’ll follow a one-way
path, rarely visited, with panoramic glimpses of almost all
the park. According to the season we should be able to see
specific flowers such as orchids, calceolarias, and neneos
or maybe even experience the flight of the condor. The
Estancia Lazo, it is a huge cattle center dating from the
last century, with magnificent views of the Paine Massive
and Laguna Verde. The rooms are very comfortable; the main
Estancia's house has been remodeled as a dining room-bar,
keeping it cozy and country style. A typical Patagonian
style lamb barbecue will be waiting for us at the Estancia-Hosteria
where we will spend the night.
(35 minutes by catamaran, 20 minutes by private transfer, 5
hours walking, 12KM) (B-BL-BBQ) (Night at Estancia-Hosteria
Mirador Del Payne or Estancia Cerro Guido.)
Day 6
(Friday) We will take a private transfer to Punta
Arenas. (Clients should take the flight at 4:25 PM, from LAN
airline, flight #284, arriving to Santiago at 8:40 PM), if
you decide to stay the night in Punta Arenas; we will drop
you at your hotel.
(5 hours by private transfer) (B)
REGARDING THE SCHEDULE The schedules indicated above are
subject to change due to weather conditions or unexpected
circumstances beyond our control, but we will try our best
to keep them unaltered.
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Chile
Trekking Tours
