Valid Until:Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Itinerary Day 1, Monday - The Patagonian Adventure Begins
The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas or the Punta Arenas airport in the morning and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia. En route, we make a couple of stops - first for lunch in Puerto Natales, a small town on the shores of “Seno de Ultima Esperanza”, and second at Cueva de Milodon, a prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890s. The day ends with your overnight stay at EcoCamp Patagonia in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park.
Overnight EcoCamp Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park
Day 2, Tuesday - Base of the Towers Trek
Today we embark on one of the most famous parts of the W Trek - the trek to the base of the Towers! We will walk towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley, passing mountain ridges, beech forests and small rivers. We then start climbing uphill climb through a moraine of boulders,with the Towers eventually coming into full view at the top, rising majestically before us, with the glacial lake visible below. After enjoying the view and lunch, we backtrack along the same trail and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner.
Overnight EcoCamp Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park
Day 3, Wednesday - Los Cuernos Trail
We start the day with a pleasant walk along the Cuernos Trail which leads us alongside the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. We will have the opportunity to admire the park’s exquisite flora and fauna, enjoying magnificent views of the park’s central lakes and the Paine’s Horns. The trek ends at Refugio Los Cuernos, a small and cozy mountain refuge located by the shores of Lake Nordenskjold, where we’ll spend the night.
Overnight Refugio Cuernos, Torres del Paine National Park
Day 4, Thursday - The Heart of the Paine Massif: Valle Francés
After breakfast, we begin the challenging trek to Valle Francés (French Valley), at 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, where we will be treated to fantastic views of the valley. We will then continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley where we can marvel at geological formations like the Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress). We will pause for a picnic before descending out of the massif to Refugio Paine Grande for the night.
Overnight Refugio Paine Grande, Torres del Paine National Park
Day 5, Friday - Grey Glacier Trail
Today we hike from Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern end of glacial Grey Lake, admiring different views of this breathtaking glacier and and the southern ice fields along the way. Once we arrive, those who want to continue walking will have the chance to approach the glacier and get a closer look at different lookouts.
Overnight Refugio Grey, Torres del Paine National Park
Day 6, Saturday - Boat ride to Grey Glacier
After breakfast we will board the boat which sails right up to the huge, crystalline facade of Grey Glacier, where we will have plenty of time to marvel at the calving glacier and its various shades of blue and white. Disembarking near the southern end of the glacier, we will transfer back to EcoCamp.
Overnight EcoCamp Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park
Day 7, Sunday - Adios Patagonia!
