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 / VALLE FRANCES
After breakfast we drive toward Pudeto dock where we board the catamaran to Pehoe, from here we will begin the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), along a steep trail that leads to the very heart of the Paine Massif. How far in we go depends on our group’s trekking rhythm. A swifter walk will lead us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif, where we will be treated to fantastic views of the valley. We continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley where we will be able to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley’s geological formations. After our upward trek, we will pause for a picnic and relax a while. This day’s trek will end as we descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest which will take us to Refugio Paine Grande, located on the peaceful shores of Lake Pehoe. *An optional trek to Mirador Británico is also available.
Overnight Refugio Paine Grande (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4 / 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 5 / 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 6 / 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 7 / DEPART
You are transferred to Santiago Airport for departures.(Breakfast)
