HEART OF PATAGONIA - EXPLORA IN PATAGONIA

Day 01 PUNTA ARENAS
Upon arrival at the airport, assitance and transfer towards. TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
Arrival at Hotel Explora in Patagonia

Days
02-07 Full day tour to be chosen from menu EXPLORA EXCURSIONS
Day 08 PUNTA ARENAS
In due time, transfer to the airport in Punta Arenas to board your departure flight.

MENU OF EXCURSIONS EXPLORA IN PATAGONIA

1.- HIKE TO THE PENINSULA OF LAGO DE GREY. Easy exploration. DURATION : Half a day . ITINERARY : Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Río Paine, Guardería Lago de Grey. On foot : Suspension bridge of Río Pingo, Peninsula of Lago de Grey. Return. ATTRACTIONS : Hike through mature "lenga" forests. View of the magnificent Glaciar de Grey. Icebergs by the beach.

2.- NAVIGATION TO GLACIAR DE GREY . Easy exploration. DURATION: One day. Picnic . ITINERARY : Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Valle del Río de Grey, Guardería Lago de Grey, embark on Lago de Grey. Motorboat : Lago de Grey, Refugio de Grey. On foot : Glaciar de Grey, the permafrost of the Campo de Hielo Sur. Return. ATTRACTIONS : Opportunity to approach the glacier and touch the eternal snows. Breathtaking view of Glaciar de Grey and of Macizo Paine Grande. Icebergs watching.

3.- HIKE TO GLACIAR DE GREY AND CROSSING OF LAGO DE GREY . Difficult exploration. DURATION: One day. Picnic. ITINERARY : Depart from Salto Chico. Motorboat : Lago Pehoé, Refugio Pehoé. On foot : Refugio de Grey, Glaciar de Grey in Campo de Hielo Sur. Motorboat : Crossing of Lago de Grey, Playa Lago de Grey, Guardería de Grey, suspension bridge over Rio Pingo. Minivan : Valle del Río Grey, Lago Toro, Salto Chico. ATTRACTIONS : Beautiful views of Glaciar de Grey and of Macizo Paine Grande. Icebergs, walk through forests, rivers and streams with great vista points.

4.- HORSEBACK RIDING TO LAGUNA VERDE. Medium difficulty exploration. DURATION: One day. Lunch : Barbecued lamb and vegetables in Quincho . ITINERARY: Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Quebrada La Feria. Horseback : Laguna Honda, Laguna Verde, Estancia Lazo. Return by minivan. ATTRACTIONS : Dense lenga forests and many small lagoons. At the Quincho, a "asado magallánico" of lamb and vegetables is prepared. Spectacular view of the cuernos del Paine, and the southern shores of Lago Sarmiento with its bizarre lime formations.

NOTE: This exploration can be done with a later from Hotel Salto Chico directly to the Quincho.

5.- HIKE TO THE ALTURAS DEL LAGO DEL TORO. Medium difficulty exploration. Duration: Half a day . Short hike . ITINERARY: Departure from Salto Chico. Minivan: Quebrada La Feria, Laguna Honda, Alturas del Lago del Toro, Puente Weber. Return. ATTRACTIONS : Views of Lago Pehoé, Lago Nordenskjöld, Macizo Paine Grande, Cuernos del Paine, and of Glaciar de Grey. Ancient lenga forests, lagoons, unforgettable views of the enormous Lago del Toro with its deep blue color, emerald waters of the Río Paine and of the golden plains of the Valle del Río Serrano. Condors watching.

6.- PICNIC AT LAGUNA AZUL. Easy exploration. Duration: One day . Picnic. ITINERARY: Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Guardería Laguna Amarga, Cascadas del Río Paine, Laguna

Azúl. A short walk to the area. Return. ATTRACTIONS: Amusing and easy exploration. Along the way it is possible to observe a variety of fauna: guanacos, ñandúes, condors, foxes, ducks, geese, skunks, and many other species. Waterfall of Rio Paine.

NOTE: This exploration is offered from March to November.

7.- BARBECUE IN QUINCHO AT LAGUNA AZUL. Easy exploration. Duration: One day . Lunch: Magallanes-style barbecue of lamb and vegetables . ITINERARY: Departure from Salto Chico. Minivan : Waterfalls of Río Paine, Guardería Laguna Amarga, Laguna Azúl, Río Las Chinas, Explora Quincho. Short tour through the area. Return ATTRACTIONS : Easy and enjoyable exploration and the delicious barbecue. Along the way it is possible to observe numerous and varied fauna close by: guanacos, ñandúes, condors, foxes, ducks, geese, skunks, etc. Waterfall of Rio Paine.

8.- HIKE TO THE MIRADOR DE NORDENSKJOLD. Easy exploration. Duration: Half a day. Short hike. ITINERARY: Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Refugio Pudeto. On foot : Shores of Lago Pehoé, Salto Grande, Lago Nordenskjöld, Mirador del Nordenskjöld. Return. ATTRACTIONS : Great views of the spray and roar of the falls of Salto Grande. Breathtaking view of all Valle del Francés, Macizo Paine Grande, Cuernos del Paine. Close-up view of guanacos and condors.

NOTE: strong wind.

9.- HIKE TO MIRADOR DEL TORO. Easy exploration. Duration: Half a day . Short hike. ITINERARY: Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Shores of Río Paine. On foot : Walk up-hill to Mirador del Toro. Downhill to Posada Río Serrano, Park Administration. Return. ATTRACTIONS: Interesting and complete scientific information about the geography, geology, fauna and flora of the Park presented by the CONAF park rangers. Observation of birds, local fauna and characteristic elements of regional aquatic flora. View of Lago Toro, Río Serrano and Río Grey flanked by large mountains such as Cerro Ferrier, Cerro Donoso and others.

10.- HIKE TROUGH LAS CORNISAS. Medium difficulty exploration. Duration: Half a day . Hiking ration. ITINERARY: On foot: Depart from Salto Chico, Cerros del Sud-Este, Mirador de los Cóndores, Cornisas, Mirador Alto Conaf, Quebrada La Feria. Return. ATTRACTIONS : During the winter, flocks of guanacos can be found on the path; all along the way there are views of the southeast section of the Park, including Lago Pehoé, Lago Nordenskjöld, Cuernos del Paine, Valle del Francés and different lakes. Pass by the nesting areas of the condors, and walk through the Cornisas to Mirador Alto, which drops to Quebrada La Feria, remarkable for its small lakes and forests.

11.- HIKE TO LAGUNA VERDE. Difficult exploration. Duration: One day . Lunch: barbecued lamb at Quincho Estancia Lazo . ITINERARY: Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Quebrada La Feria. On foot : Walk through the shoots of the forest and by many small lagoons in a unique landscape. Laguna Verde, Estancia Lazo. Return by minivan. ATTRACTIONS : At the Quincho

enjoy a barbecued Magallanes-style lamb and vegetables. Typical work of La Estancia. Spectacular view of the Cuernos del Paine, and the south shores of Lago Sarmiento with its bizarre lime formations.

12.- HIKE TO THE GLACIAR DEL VALLE DEL FRANCES . Medium difficulty exploration . Duration: One day. Picnic. ITINERARY : Depart from Salto Chico. Motorboat : Lago Pehoé, Refugio Pehoé. On foot : Lago Skottsberg, Valle del Francés, Campamento Italiano, Mirador del Glaciar. Return. ATTRACTIONS : Valle del Francés is one of the favorite places in the Park, penetrating into the Cordillera del Paine. Marvelous view of the Cuernos del Paine, the Macizo Paine Grande (3,050m), the Cerro Paine Grande, the Glaciar del Francés, the Lago Nordenskjöld and numerous other lakes and lagoons.

13.- HORSEBACK RIDING AROUND THE GRANITE OF VALLE DEL FRANCES . Difficult exploration. Duration : One day. Picnic . ITINERARY : Depart from Salto Chico. Motorboat : Refugio Pehoé. Horseback : Valle del Francés, Laguna Skottsberg, Campamento Italiano. On foot : Campo Morrénico del Ventisquero del Francés, Campamento Británico. Return. HIGHLIGHTS : The Valle del Francés, a favorite place in the Park, which penetrates the Cordillera del Paine. Marvelous view of the Cuernos del Paine, the Macizo Paine Grande (3,050m), the Cerro Paine Grande, the Glaciar del Francés, the Lago Nordenskjöld and numerous other lakes and lagoons. Spectacular granite walls at the end of the valley conform, among others, Cerros Espada, Hoja and Máscara and a quite impressive view confirming the difficulty of your completed journey

NOTE : This exploration includes a short training session of horseback riding the day before, for those who may require it.

14.- TREK TO THE BASE OF TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK. Difficult exploration. Duration: One day. Picnic . ITINERARY: Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Río Paine, Refugio Laguna Amarga, Estancia Cerro Paine, Cerro Almirante Nieto. Horseback : Valle del Río Ascencio, Campamento Chileno. On foot : Forests, Campamento Torres, Campo Morrénico, vista point from La Laguna to Torres del Paine. Return. ATTRACTIONS: This is one of the most complete and challenging explorations that can be done in the Park. Habitat of many animals and birds; lakes of many colors. View of the imposing Monte Almirante Nieto (2,640 Mts.), of the Lago Nordenskjöld, Laguna Amarga and Río Paine. Ancient lenga forest and one of the most privileged views of the famous Torres del Paine.

NOTE: The exploration requires an important degree of physical effort.

15.- ARCHAEOLOGICAL HIKE BETWEEN GUARDERIA LAGO SARMIENTO AND GUARDERIA LAGUNA AMARGA. Easy exploration. Duration: Half a day . Itinerary: Depart from Salto Chico. Minivan : Guardería Lago Sarmiento. On foot : Along the northern limits of the Park. Primitive paintings. Guardería Laguna Amarga. Return. ATTRACTIONS : The exploration allows wide overview of landscape. Primitive paintings of the Tehuelches, native inhabitants of the region, can be observed in the rock walls. Abundance of guanacos.

16.- TRIP TO LAS CUMBRES. Easy exploration. Duration: One day . Picnic. ITINERARY: Departure from Salto Chico. Minivan : Lago Sarmiento, Cerro Guido, Río de Las Chinas, Río Baguales, Sierra de Baguales, Estancia Las Cumbres. On foot : Short hike. Return by minivan. ATTRACTIONS : Open and clear landscape. Exploration of valley with unbroken view of Sierra de Baguales with its curious shapes. Possibility of encountering fossils.

Tour operators offering this trip:

Chile Tours and Travel : www.latintrails.com