South America Tours - Chile

Trekking - Patagonia

16 Days / 15 Nights (Moderate)

Season: September - May

Just enjoy nature and sport! For all those who love trekking, Patagonia hides two beautiful national parks: Torres del Paine National Park (Chile) and Los Glaciares National Park (Argentina). Throughout this roundtrip we invite you to discover all the wonders of these natural reserves on foot. Paine Towers, Mount Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Perito Moreno Glacier: all these famous places welcome you. This is a unique opportunity for you to enjoy Patagonia´s most beautiful places and observe its abundant fauna: guanacos, ñandues, foxes, condors, etc. We circle the solid walls of granite with their snow covered peaks, a challenge to dozens of daring climbers every year. A sport journey for walking, camping and photography lovers.

DAY 1:        (SANTIAGO) - PUNTA ARENAS - PUERTO NATALES

Reception at Punta Arenas airport. Transfer to Puerto Natales visiting the Otway penguin colonies. Arrival to Puerto Natales, transfer to the hotel. (L)

DAY 2:        PUERTO NATALES-LAGUNA AZUL

Transfer to Torres del Paine National park. Paine means dark blue in Tehuelche language as it is the color the mountains take at dawn. The park, created in 1959, is a paradise for nature lovers: the fauna, flora and landscapes are just fabulous! We set our camp in laguna Azul. (B,L,D)

DAY 3:        LAGUNA AZUL-DICKSON LAKE

First trekking day. We head north up the Paine river. We will discover great landscapes and take time to watch and learn about the fauna and flora. We circle the cordillera northwise and we reach the great Dickson lake where we set our camp. (B,L,D)

DAY 4:        DICKSON LAKE-LOS PERROS CAMP (4h)

Long walk up along the Perros river. We camp near the river. (B,L,D)

DAY 5:    LOS PERROS CAMP- PASO JOHN GADNER (1241m)-GREY GLACIER (8h)

We  keep going to the most impressive part of our trek. We walk down the morrains located at the foot of the Grey glacier and of the fascinating granit peaks. We cross the John Gadner pass and enjoy a spectacular view on the tremendous ice mass of the  Continental Ice Fields (Hielos Continentales). We walk down on a trail that borders the Grey glacier. We camp close to the eternal ice. (B,L,D)

DAY 6:        GREY GLACIER-PEHOE LAKE (5h)

We walk alongside lake Grey and take in the landscape and the atmosphere. We enjoy the fantastic view on the Paine Grande peak and lake Grey. We set our next camp on the shores of the beautiful lake Pehoe. (B,L,D)

DAY 7:        LAKE PEHOE - FRENCH VALLEY - CUERNOS REFUGE

We to the French Valley, to the feet of Mount Fortaleza with its incredible granit towers. The Paine Grande reaches 3.248m, and still fascinates entire generations of climbers. We trek to Cuernos refuge where we spend the night. (B,L,D)

DAY 8:        CUERNOS REFUGE-TORRES CAMPING

Trekking along Lake Nordenskjoeld to reach camping Torres. Camp. (B,L,D)

DAY 9:        CAMPING TORRES -TORRES DEL PAINE- PUERTO NATALES

Full day hike to the foot of the Torres del Paine, granit pinacles of more than 1000m high. There is a beautiful lake on the tower’s feet. Back to camping Torres and transfer to Puerto Natales. Hotel.  (B,L)

DAY 10:        PUERTO NATALES - CALAFATE *

Long drive to Calafate (Argentina) We leave Chile and cross the Argentinian Pampa to Calafate. Excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier. Walk to the view point of the great Perito Moreno glacier. Huge blocs of ice fall down into the icy waters of the lake. Return to Calafate. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 11:        CALAFATE - EL CHALTEN

Transfer to El Chalten. We reach the park and relax. Hotel (B,L)

DAY 12:   EL CHALTEN - LAKE TORRE - LAKE CAPRI (6 h trek)

Transportation of the common equipment to Lake Capri where we stay for 2 nights. Trek to the Torre Lagoon. We walk in a virgin forest. In front of us rises the impressive Cerro Torre with its clear water lake. Trek back to Capri where we set our camp. Camp at Lake Capri. From our camp we have a complete view of the Fitz Roy. (B,L,D).

DAY 13:        LAKE CAPRI - LAGUNA DE LOS TRES- LAKE CAPRI (4-6 h trek)

Trek to the base of the Fitz Roy (3 hours) and climb to the Laguna Los tres at the feet of the emerging glaciers. Above rise the granit towers. Trek back to capri. Camp. (B,L,D)

DAY 14:        LAKE CAPRI - PIEDRA DEL FRAILE - EL CHALTEN (8h trek)

Easy downhill and flat trek to Piedra del Fraile. On the way we pass by Piedras Blancas glacier. Our vehicle picks us up at the crossroad of Rio Electrico and the road. Transfer to El Chalten (30-45 min).  Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 15:   EL CHALTEN-PUERTO NATALES

Long transfer to Puerto Natales. Hotel (B,L)

DAY 16:        PUERTO NATALES - PUNTA ARENAS - (SANTIAGO)

Transfer to Punta Arenas airport. Afternoon flight to Santiago. (B)

SERVICE DETAILS

Included Services

15 nights in Hotel, Pousada (Inn) camping. Standard Room, including room and government taxes 
15 breakfasts

15 Lunches

09 Dinners

Land transfers as detailed in the itinerary
Guided Tours as detailed, including National park taxes. Tours can change due to operational, safety or weather condition.

Not Included  

Flights 

Optional Tours  

Travel Insurance

Meals not included in the itinerary. 

Drinks, Laundry, Tips, Telephone calls, and any other personal expenses etc…. 

Meals
Meals included in the program are detailed in the following chart.

Accommodation:

Double rooms can have separate beds or not. A third person depending on the hotel has the possibility of using a sofa bed. Consult for children policy.  

Payment:

Deposit of 30% to guarantee your reservation. The remaining amount must be paid a minimum 30 days before start of the tour. If reservation is made within 30 days of the tour full payment required to make a reservation.   

Cancellation:

Up to 30 days before full refund is given unless the flight tickets have been emitted. In this case there will be a penalty due to the cancellation of the tickets. This depends on the rules of the airline used.  No refund is given when a cancellation is made within 30 days of departure.  

Operation of tour:

Minimum of 1 pax to operate. 

Responsability:

Brasil Travel / Melchior & Hodson Ltda and/or agencies involved with the packages, flights and tours shall act only as agents of the tour members in making arrangements for hotels and any other services and do not assume any liability what so ever for any injury, damage, death, loss, accident or delay to persons or property due to an act of God, default by any hotel, company or person rendering any of services included on the tours or flights. Furthermore, no responsability is accepted for quarentine, government restrains, weather or other causes beyond control. No responsability is accepted for any additional expenses, omissions, delays, re-routing or acts of government authority.

Insurance:

Not included (optional)