In Detail
DAY 1 –
SANTIAGO
Upon arrival in Santiago,
and once you have cleared customs and immigration, you are met by your guide
and transferred to your accommodation. Once you have freshened up your guide
will brief you on the wonderful journey you have in store and answer any
questions you may have. Following your briefing we embark on a city tour
highlighting the historic aspects of the Chilean culture. This is a walking tour to get our
legs moving after a long flight as well as provide a chance to see the
amazing cultural sights Santiago has to offer. The tour will stop in the fertile valley for a rest and insight
from our bilingual historical expert.
The tour will also visit the Santa Lucia Hill where the Spanish
Conquistador, Pedro de Valdivia, founded the city of Santiago on February 12,
1541. Following the tour we will have a welcome dinner at an authentic
restaurant to experience the Chilean cuisine.
Overnight
Novotel Santiago (dinner)
DAY 2 –
PATAGONIA
This morning we are transferred to the airport to connect with our flight to Punta Arenas. Upon landing in Punta Arenas we marry up with our road transfer and travel into the park region where we arrive to the Hosteria La Torres. The park covers over 2,400 square kilometres and was founded in 1959. In 1978 UNESCO established the park as one of the few world biospheres. Upon arrival at the park we have time to take in the breathtaking views the park has to offer as the sun dips below the mountains. We also have the opportunity to stop and see the local ‘guanacos’, a member of the camel family, and the ‘nandu’, a member of the Ostrich family. Once we arrive at the Hosteria Las Torres we have time to freshen up prior to dinner.
Overnight
Hosteria Las Torres (breakfast - lunch - dinner)
DAY 3 –
HIKE / TORRES DEL PAINE
This morning we head up to view the Torres. Following breakfast
we will undergo a gear check to ensure everyone’s gear is fitting properly
and all essentials are accounted for. We will hike up 5.5 miles to Refugio
Chileno crossing at the Rio Ascensio before we unload our gear, have lunch,
and prepare for our afternoon trek up to view the Torres. We continue on up
the western slope of the gorge gradually rising away from the river. Crossing
several streams on log bridges and stepping stones the trail will lead up to
the base of a large moraine field. After about an hour of scrambling up the
rocks we will discover a view of the Torres del Paine, the mighty columns of
granite, which the park is famous for. After our viewing we will make our way
back down to Hosteria Las Torres for a well-deserved hot dinner. Today’s hike
covers approximately 11 miles (18 km) and is rated easy to moderate.
Overnight
Hosteria Las Torres (breakfast - lunch - dinner)
DAY 4 –
HIKE / REFUGIO CHILENO
Following
breakfast we depart on the short hike to Refugio Chileno. Our 7 mile (11 km)
hike is a relatively flat hike along Lago Nordenskjold. We will make our way
to Albergue Los Cuernos where will have a nice relaxing evening with
spectacular view of the imposing Cuernos del Paine. This is a rest day for the most part making sure everyone
is adjusting to the terrain and all our gear is functioning as it is
intended. We will need a good rest tonight to ensure we are ready for our big
day upcoming. Today’s hiking is rated as easy.
Overnight
Refugio Los Cuernos (breakfast - lunch - dinner)
DAY 5 –
HIKE / VALLE DEL FRANCES
This
will be our longest day on the trail and the reason why our training and
preparation is so important. This is our 4th day in the park and offers
possibly the best views of the entire hike. Everyone in our group will be prepared and your experience
will be enhanced greatly as a result of your dedication and perseverance.
Following breakfast we will trek to Campamento Italiano where we will leave
our packs behind to climb up the Valle de Frances “French Valley”. The trail hugs the Rio del Frances
with great views of Cerro Principal.
This peak is the largest in the park rising just over 10,000 ft (3,048
m). The afternoon will consist of a climb up through the Valle del Frances
with views of Los Cuernos and a 360-degree cirque with awe-inspiring
granite. After spending some
time in the valley we make our way back down to Campamento Italiano for lunch
and to collect our gear. After lunch we hike beside Lago Pehoe and its
intense blue glacial waters. We conclude the day at Refugio Pehoe. Today’s
hike is 15 ½ miles (25 km) and is graded moderate to strenuous.
Overnight
Refugio Pehoe (breakfast - lunch - dinner)
DAY 6 –
HIKE / LAGO GREY
Today we have a moderate
day on the trail consisting of roughly 7 miles (11 km) of hiking passing by the
back of Cerro Paine Grande on our approach to the massive Glacier Grey.
Glacier Grey is over 2 miles wide and has an ice field that covers over 11
miles. After lunch we will have time to explore the glacier before we board a
ferry for a scenic ride down Lago Grey.
Our ferry will take us up close to the glacier for amazing photo
opportunities and potentially the rare ice calving. When we return to shore
we are transferred by vehicle to Hosteria Grey, which offers spectacular
views of the park. Today’s hike is rated as easy to moderate.
Overnight
Hosteria Lago Grey (breakfast - lunch - dinner)
DAY 7 –
KAYAK / RIO SERRANO
Today you give your feet
a rest and take to the kayaks. Following breakfast we will be met by our
kayak guide and transferred to the Rio Serrano. Before we launch our boats
our river guides will provide a safety overview and daily instructions. We
begin our kayak adventure paddling through the glacial waters and seeing the
unique wildlife as well as views of the park in the distance. This day we will paddle across the first section of Rio Serrano, this
is a calm area of the river allowing us to become comfortable with our kayaks
and paddling. After approximately two hours we arrive at a small waterfall in
the river where we will have our first teamwork experience in portaging our
kayaks 100m down to calmer waters. Depending on the weather conditions and
the hours of light left in the day, we will continue for 1 or 2 hrs more to
arrive at our campsite. Today you kayak a distance of around 6 miles (10 km)
at an easy to moderate rating.
Overnight
Serrano River Camp (breakfast - lunch - dinner)
DAY 8 –
KAYAK / GLACIERS
After
breakfast we collect our gear, pack the kayaks and embark on our longest day
down the river. In this section
of the river there are National Park and privately owned lands and in these
we will see the typical cold forest vegetation of Magallanes and the
associated fauna. We are able to
observe, from a distance, the glaciers of the Southern Patagonian ice field.
Finally we’ll arrive at Bernardo O´Higgins National Park. This is the largest
protected area in Chile. The park is named after Chile’s first head of state.
Time and weather permitting we will paddle up close to the Serrano glacier to
have a true experience of the sheer size of these massive walls of ice. While
paddling around the glaciers face we will discover astounding views of this
amazing mountain of constantly calving ice. Today you paddle 8 miles (13 km)
with a rating of moderate to strenuous.
Overnight
Hosteria Monte Balmaceda (breakfast - lunch - dinner)
DAY 9 –
KAYAK / PUERTO NATALES
Today is our final day in the park. This morning
we paddle for approximately two hours prior to packing up our gear and
heading by boat to Puerto Natales. On the return journey we stop off at the
"Estancia Perales" to enjoy a barbecue at a traditional Chilean
Ranch. Upon arrival at Puerto Natales we are
transferred to the Hotel Indigo for a well-deserved night in luxury and a
chance to reflect back on our adventure. The distance paddled today is only 4
miles (6 ½ km) and is rated moderate.
Overnight
Hotel Indigo (breakfast - lunch - dinner)
DAY 10 –
PATAGONIA / DEPART
Following breakfast at the Hotel Indigo we say
farewell to Patagonia. We are met and transferred to the Punta Arenas
airport, a drive of around 2 ½ hours, to connect with our flight to Santiago
and subsequently our outbound flights.
(breakfast)
End of Services
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