Brief Itinerary:
Day 1, Sunday: Arrive in Punta Arenas, enter Torres del Paine.
Day 2, Monday: Drive, navigate and walk around the beautiful west lakes.
Day 3, Tuesday: Wildlife watching and nature walk in the Park’s east pampas.
Day 4, Wednesday: Drive to Punta Arenas.
Starting/Finishing in Calafate Optional 1 day Extension.
Day 1, Saturday: Arrive in El Calafate, ARG.
Day 2, Sunday: Bus to Puerto Natales, enter Torres del Paine, CHI.
Day 5, Wednesday: Bus back to El Calafate, ARG.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1, Monday: the Patagonic Adventure Starts. Torres del Paine NP, Chile.
The trip starts in Punta Arenas city during the morning either at your hotel or at the airport. From Punta Arenas we drive to Cascada EcoCamp located in world famous Torres del Paine National Park. During summer the sun sets around 11 pm, so as you drive in you’ll have plenty of light to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanaco and snow-peaked mountain horizon.
Before arriving though, there are a couple stops. One is at Puerto Natales, a small but lively town on the shores of Seno Última Esperanza - “Last Hope Sound”. You are invited to check out the town and to leave any luggage you will not need for the trek in our office. The other stop is at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s. The surrounding area is very scenic with plenty of wild birds to be seen. The day ends with an overnight at the EcoCamp in Las Torres.
Day 2, Monday: In the realms of Glacier Grey. Torres del Paine NP, Chile.
We drive across the park with views of Paine Grande and its snowy peaks, as well as of Los Cuernos – the famous mountain with black granite horn-like spires. Walking along the shores of stunning Lake Pehoe, you visit the furious Salto Grande falls which pour the waters of Lake Nordenskjold over Pehoe. The walk continues over the gentle Nordenskjold trail until reaching its picture-perfect lookout point. Later, back at Lake Pehoe, a vehicle takes you on a drive south to a beach along the shores of glacial Lake Grey.
After relaxing with a box-lunch by the lake, you embark on a boat ride across icy water to the towering blue-colored walls of Glacier Grey. This is an incredible sight! After visiting the glacier, you are driven back to EcoCamp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3, Tuesday: Soft Day in the Eastern Lakes. Torres del Paine NP, Chile.
We hike to the Laguna Azul lookout where we have a gorgeous view of both the lagoon and granite towers. We continue along the eastern side of Lago Sarmiento to the calcium formations on the lake’s shores where guanacos are often seen. Later we trek to Paso Las Corneas with spectacular views of Rio Paine, Lake Pehoe and the massif of Paine. Depending on the group, we can also hike to the Toro lookout point that offers more soul-candy scenery - Lago Toro and the pampa, or steppe!
Upon returning to the Ecocamp, a farewell dinner is celebrated with a regional favorite – Patagonian lamb barbecue! This is sadly our last night in Torres del Paine, we take notes and talk with our friends, relax, feel the strong Patagonic wind while watching the heavens above, all these days in the Park will be profound memories when we return home.
Day 4, Wednesday: Adios Torres del Paine! Punta Arenas, Chile.
We board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas on time to catch the evening flight to Santiago.
For details about walking times / distances check FACT’s ‘distances and other details’
Starting/Finishing in Calafate Optional 1 Day Extension
Day 1: Saturday, Arrive in Calafate, Argentina
We arrive at the airport and take a transfer to Calafate, a small town set amidst dramatic scenery and natural beauty. Once we reach the hotel, check-in and relax for the rest of the day or go exploring the shop-filled main street of its down town. We overnight in this cozy town.
Day 1, Sunday: Heading to Puerto Natales, Chile
After a repairing breakfast we take a short transfer to the bus terminal and there we board the regular public bus going through the Chilean borderline heading to Puerto Natales which will take about 6 hours. Once we reach this town – beautifully located in the shores of Last Hope Sound- we will wait for the group coming from Punta Arenas city and then we start driving to Torres del Paine, following the same itinerary as indicated on first day 1 above.
Day 4, Wednesday: Back to Calafate, Argentina
We board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride until we reach Cerro Castillo (Chilean borderline). In this point we step off of the van and wait for the regular public bus coming from Puerto Natales heading to Calafate. Once the bus arrives, we get in and accommodate ourselves for the ride back to Argentina. Once we reach Calafate there will be a transfer waiting for us and then we drive to Calafate Airport on time to reach your flight or transfer to the hotel to continue with another adventure with Cascada in the awesome Los Glaciares NP.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Season 2008-09 Regular Departures
High: US$1,059 p.p. (Nov 2nd ’08 to Mar 8th ’09)
Shoulder: US$911 p.p. (Oct ’08 and Mar 15th to Apr 12th ’09)
Notes:
- Season 2008-09 departures Dec 21st and 28th have a Christmas surcharge of US$200 p.p.
- Domestic flight tickets not included; referential SCL/PUQ/SCL ticket cost: US$ 400 p.p.
Starting/Finishing in Calafate Optional Extension 4 + 1 days
Season 2008-09:
*2 star hotel, dbl basis: US$277 p.p. / sgl supp: US$23
*3 star hotel, dbl basis: US$332 p.p. / sgl supp: US$56
*4 star hotel, dbl basis: US$426 p.p. / sgl supp: US$94
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Chile
National Parks
Ecotourism
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
, ext: 06028
