Multi-sport | Horseback riding | Sea Kayaking | Skiing | Trekking |
Suggested itinerary:
Paine-Park-trekk-10.days tour
Day 1 Punta Arenas – Torres del Paine
Arrive around 12-13hrs. in Pta Arenas with the earliest morning flight from Santiago. Reception at the airport and transfer in domestic bus to Puerto natales and from there private transfer (345 km/ 216miles /5hrs) to Camp Las Torres inside the famous Torres del Paine National Park. In summer time, the sun sets around 11PM giving us plenty of light to admire the landscape en route and the craggy mountains while entering the park. We will make short stops in the township of Puerto Natales, to take a look of the town and enjoy lunch, and in the enormous Cueva del Milodón, a giant geological wander that once sheltered a prehistoric sloth. Overnight camping at the steady Eco-camp Las Torres (L-,D)
Day 2 Valle Ascencio (10 km, 8 hrs round-trip)
We start our trekking journeys with the celebrate hike to the foot of the impressive granite massif of El Paine. From here admire the most typical sight of the Paine Towers (weather permitting) rising above a green lagoon. The famous Torres del Paine (2.900m/9.400ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, remains of a great cirque that has been sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. Overnight camping at Eco-camp Torres (B,L-,D);
Day 3 Laguna Azul - Lago Paine (4 hrs)
Drive to Laguna Azul (blue lagoon), a very unique forest landscape from where you have a spectacular view over the Paine. This Lagoon hosts many species of birds including Parinas and black woodpeckers. From Laguna Azul trek to Lago Paine. On the way pass beautiful forest landscape as here the trees survived the great fire taking place at the beginning of the century. The size of the tree-trunk gives us an idea about the size of the ancient trees. In this sector you can observe many black woodpeckers, typical birds of Patagonia. Once arrived at Lago Paine, have a spectacular view on Glaciar Dickson and part of the Hielo Patagonico Sur. Overnigth camping Lago Paine. (B, L-, D)
Day 4 Lago Paine - Lago Dickson (3,5 hrs)
After breakfast at camp, the trek continues along the eastern bank of the Rio Paine. You will stop at a lookout point with a wonderful panoramic view of Lago Paine below. Descend to lake level and continue across open grasslands along the Rio Paine to Refugio Dickson. Optional trek to Mirador Glaciar Dickson (3 hrs round-trip). Overnight camping Dickson. (B,L-,D)
Day 5 Lago Dickson- Los Perros (81/2kms, 4 hrs)
The next three days you have to carry your backpack as well as part of the common equipment as the trail is to small for the packhorses. It follows Los Perros river and encounters the wildest and least accessible section of the trek. Virgin beech forests crossed by many water courses leads the way towards the lovely Laguna Los Perros where we set up camp. Spend the night camping at Los Perros (B,L-,D)
Day 6 Los Perros- Camp Paso
In this section we reach the highest point of the circuit at 1300 mts with an awe-inspiring view of the of the Ventisquero Grey, an enormous fractured mass of ice choking the valley. The route continues roughly south along forested slopes with occasional landslides until Camp Paso. Overnight camping. (B, L-, D)
Day 7 Camp Paso – Camp Grey (4 hrs)
We continue trekking along forested slopes with a beautiful view of the galciar Grey until arriving at Camp Grey. Overnight. (B,L-,D)
Day 8 Camp Grey - Camp Pehoe (14 kms, 6 to 7 hrs)
The trek continues down alongside Grey Glacier until it calves into the Lake Grey. Then it keeps going by the eastern side of the lake through clearings of Calafate bushes. The view over the lake, with numerous giant icebergs drifting across the waters is very impressive at this point. Finally, the track climbs onto flat ridges and passes a small lake one hour before descending through a shallow dry valley to arrive at Lago Pehoe. We spend the next two nights in our upgraded camp by the turquoise lake Pehoe. (B,L-,D)
Day 9 Valle Frances (22 kms, 8 to 10 hrs round trip)
The track makes its way north through undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest, passing two small lakes, and continues by the south-east slopes of Cerro Paine to meet river Frances. From here we follow the river upstream passing Camp Frances, below Glaciar Frances, and keep going until it reaches a small hut built by some British climbing expedition. This magnificent setting is surrounded by high peaks on all sides being especially spectacular the Cuernos del Paine. Overnight upgraded camp Pehoé. (B,L-,D)
Day 10 Camp Pehoe – Punta Arenas
Early in the morning board the earliest catamaran back to Pudeto and next the vehicle to Punta Arenas with box lunch en route. Arrive in the airport of Punta Arenas on time to catch the evening flight (approx. 18:30hrs) back to Santiago. (B)
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