Day 1 / SANTIAGO
Upon arrival into Santiago Airport you are personally met and transferred to your hotel. After freshening up you explore the city on your own or relax to get before your journey down to Patagonia !
Overnight Hotel Meridiano Sur (Bed & Breakfast)
Day 2 / PUNTO ARENAS / TORRES DEL PAINE
This morning you are transferred to the airport to connect with your flight to Punto Arenas. Upon landing in Punta Arenas your Patagonian adventure begins! You road transfer to Torres del Paine National Park, en route you make a couple of stops. First, in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of ͞Seno de Ultima Esperanza͟, where you enjoy a hearty local lunch, and second at Cueva de Miolodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s. The whole journey is very scenic, with plenty of wild birds and wonderful landscapes to be seen. The day ends with your arrival and overnight stay EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of the park with a view of the Torres. During summer the sun sets around 11pm, so upon arrival there’s plenty of light to admire the Patagonian steppe wit its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon.
Overnight EcoCamp Patagonia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3 / TORRES DEL PAINE / LOS CUERNOS
You start your adventure in the Park with a pleasant walk through the curly Cuernos trail located beside beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. During this appetizer walk you admire the park’s flora and fauna, its strong wind and the curious, rapidly-changing weather that will accompany us in the upcoming days. As you walk along the trail you enjoy magnificent views of the park’s central lakes and the Paine’s Horns, majestic black horn-like peaks of slate atop gray granite which crown the center of the Massif. The trek ends at Domes Frances, a small and cozy mountain refuge located by the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. The evening is free for relaxing and enjoying dinner.
Overnight Domes Frances (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4 / TORRES DEL PAINE / VALLE FRANCES
After breakfast, you begin a challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley) along a steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. An active walk leads you to the hanging bridge over the French river, located at the foot of the south-eastern face of the Massif, where there is a truly wonderful view. Then you continue up the trail to the upper section of the valley where you admire the valley’s entire group of geological formations: Hoja (Bladen), Mascara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburon (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress). Here you picnic and rest for a while. An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is available as well, if the group is not keen on resting. Then, you descend through a rippling terrain of grassland and light forest until reaching the Refugio Paine Grande, located on the peaceful shores of Lake Pehoe. You organize your luggage, relax and enjoy a replenishing dinner.
Overnight Refugio Paine Grande (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5 / TORRES DEL PAINE / GLACIER GREY
Today you hike from Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern end of glacial Lake Grey. You enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails to the blue face of Glacier Grey. There is lots of time to marvel at this calving glacier during the boat ride across this lake, with its floating pieces of ice. From Lake Grey’s southern end you transfer to EcoCamp.
Overnight EcoCamp Patagonia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6 / TORRES DEL PAINE / LAS TORRES
Time for a big breakfast and lots of enthusiasm – your goal today is to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine NP! You walk from EcoCamp towards Hosteria Las Torres and join the uphill path to Ascencio Valley on the Tower’s eastern face. Dry mountain spots, beach forests and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. Our big challenge comes as we climb the steep moraine, a mass of boulders leading us towards one of the world’s most famous views overlooking the Towers. The famous Torres del Paine (2,900m / 9,400ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. After an uphill slog, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before you, with the glacial lake visible below. Is there a better place in the world to have lunch? After feasting on the view and your picnic, you backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp.
Overnight EcoCamp Patagonia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7 / TORRES DEL PAINE / EASTERN LAKES
Today is a relaxed day after yesterday’s challenge. You set off leisurely after breakfast and drive to Laguna Azul passing by Canadon Macho, home to rich fauna including guanacos and nandues. You stop en route to enjoy views of the Patagonian steppe and the towers from a different angle. At Laguna Azul you hike to the viewpoint where you have a gorgeous view of both the lagoon and granite towers. After lunch you drive to the northern shore of Sarmiento Lake where the Fauna Trail begins. As you walk northwards along the trail you see fauna on the Patagonian plains including guanacos, ostrich-like nandus and maybe the occasional puma print! You pass by Goic lagoon and after an approx. 5 kms relaxed walk you reach the Laguna Amarga ranger station where you are picked up and driven back to EcoCamp to celebrate over a farewell dinner.
Overnight EcoCamp Patagonia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8 / PUNTO ARENAS / SANTIAGO
Today you depart early from the lodge armed with picnic lunches. The road transfer is 5-6 hours and you catch an early afternoon flight back to Santiago. Upon arrival you are transferred to your hotel to relax and freshen up.
Overnight Hotel Meridiano Sur (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 9 / DEPART
You are transferred to Santiago Airport for departures. (Breakfast)
