Itinerary |
Day 1, Punta Arenas - Paine National Park
The trip starts in Punta Arenas city during the morning either at your hotel or at the airport. From Punta Arenas we drive to Cascada EcoCamp located in world famous Torres del Paine National Park. During summer the sun sets around 11 pm, so as you drive in you’ll have plenty of light to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanaco and snow-peaked mountain horizon. Before arriving though, there are a couple stops. One is at Puerto Natales, a small but lively town on the shores of Seno Ultima Esperanza - “Last Hope Sound”. You are invited to check out the town, leave any luggage you will not need for the trek in our office, and finally enjoy a hearty lunch with delicious local food. The other stop is at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s. The surrounding area is very scenic with plenty of wild birds to be seen. The day ends with an overnight at the EcoCamp.
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Day 2 : Paine National Park
After breakfast, we start our day driving towards Pudeto dock, located by the shores of Pehoe Lake. Once there we board the catamaran that will take us to the northern west sector of the Lake from where we will start the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), taking a steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. How deep we go depends on our groups’ rhythm. An active walk leads us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif. From this point, we can enjoy our first truly wonderful view and then continue up the trail until reaching the upper prospects of the valley. The entire group of geological formations of the high valley can be admired here: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza! (Fortress). It is time to have a picnic and recover from the walk. An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is available as well. Next, we descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest until reaching the Refugio Paine Grande, located in the peaceful shores of Lake Pehoe. Finally, upon reaching the Refugio, the luggage is organized and there is time to talk about the day while enjoying a replenishing dinner.
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Day 3: Paine National Park
Today we’ll hike from Paine Grande Lodge along the shores of mountain-lined Lake Pehoe to the northern end of glacial Lake Grey. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails to the blue face of Glacier Grey. You’ll have lots of time to marvel at this calving glacier before the boat ride across Lake Grey with its floating pieces of ice. You clothes and personal belongings are once again transported separately from the lodge in duffel bags. From Lake Grey’s southern end we transfer to the EcoCamp. If the weather conditions do not allow us to navigate Lake Grey, we’ll instead hike to Glacier Grey. Then at Pudeto we’ll board the catamaran to cross Lake Pehoe. From there, we’ll take a short drive back to Cascada EcoCamp in where we’ll enjoy the night. |
Day 4: Paine National Park
Time for a great breakfast and lots of enthusiasm! Our goal is to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine NP. We walk from the camp site towards Hostería Las Torres and connect with the winding uphill path to Ascencio Valley – the valley which supports the eastern face of the Towers’ base. Dry mountain spots, beech forests and small rivers are passed along the scenic walk into the valley. It’s not a difficult walk, but energy should nevertheless be saved for the final challenge: the moraine. This mass of boulders is the last guardian before our face to face meeting with the uplifting Torres del Paine. The moraine is sufficiently steep to consider doing it slowly and with an adequate amount of precaution. After a considerable effort, the Towers come into full view, rising majestically before us with the glacial lake visible below. This is one of the most breathtaking sights of the world! The famous Torres del Paine (2, 900 m/ 9, 400 ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. Is there any better place on this planet to have lunch? Of course! But since we are in Patagonia, at the feet of the mighty Torres del Paine, we will enjoy life, the view, and a bite to eat! Once everyone is ready, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley, and return to the EcoCamp. |
Day 5 : Paine National Park – Punta Arenas
We board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas on time to catch the evening fligh |
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The trails in the famed Torres del Paine craggy mountains are among the world’s greatest classic trekking routes. Breathtaking views, together with glaciers, rivers, lakes, forests and abundant wildlife combine to provide an environment with constantly changing scenarios and experiences. During summer (Nov-Mar), there are up to 18 hours of daylight, allowing explorers ample opportunity to maximise time enjoying trekking or walks. With condor circling overhead and guanacos grazing in the valleys, this amazing natural wonderland offers the chance of a genuine wilderness trekking experience.
We are pleased to present Eco Camp, the first eco-lodging in Patagonia. Eco Camp was designed to provide comfort with as little environmental impact as possible. It has 15 dome-shaped tents, each sited to ensure maximum privacy and comfort and offering resistance to the strongest Patagonian winds, rain and snow. The domes are equipped with 2 single beds or 1 double bed and bed linen including fleece sheets, blankets and feather quilts. There are round ‘windows’ in the ceiling, which, on clear nights, allows observation of the magnificent star-filled sky of the southern hemisphere.
Eco Camp provides the opportunity to explore the park and to undertake some of the famous treks in 2 programmes, the itineraries including the three most remarkable areas in the park: Ascencio Valley, French Valley and Grey Glacier.
7-day / 6-night programme, including 4 nights tented accommodation at Eco Camp, and shared dormitory accommodation (6 single beds) for 1 night at a Pehoe Lodge and 1 night at Los Cuernos Lodge. PRICE:
5-day / 4-night programme, including 3 nights at Eco Camp and 1 night’s dormitory accommodation at a Pehoe Lodge. PRICE:
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Length: 5 days (3 days trekking).
Season: October to April.
Departures: Every Wednesdays.
Accommodation: 3 nights at EcoCamp / 1 night at Refugio.
Meals : full board and drinks (soft drinks, beer or house wine)
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