Multisport in Torres Del Paine 2007 - 2008
We begin riding on strong Criollo horses, experiencing the Gaucho culture of Patagonia and feeling the wind in our faces as we gallop across the pampas (steppe). Next, strap on your hiking boots as we enter into Torres del Paine National Park and hike the famous "W"; experiencing up close the magic of the granite peaks of the Towers and a navigation through icebergs of different tones of blue up to the Grey glacier. Finally we start paddling our sea kayaks to follow the Serrano River, floating by un-touched forests and snow capped mountains, visiting two hanging glaciers at the remote Bernardo O'Higgins National Park.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(MT-9687-P) |
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All the private transportation indicated in the schedule |
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All the horses, saddles and pack horses on the excursion -Helmets, leather chaps, leather gloves, saddle bags, dry bags |
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All meals indicated in the schedule (B: breakfast, BL: box lunch, D: dinner) |
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Two nights at Estancia Las Chinas (Cozy farm house with bunk beds and sharing bathroom) (No single available) |
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Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park-Entrance fee to Bernardo O´Higgins National Park |
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Six nights Camping in Torres del Paine & Bernardo O’Higgins National Parks. (North Face VE 25 tents) (Based on double occupancy) (no single available) |
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Catamaran to cross Pehoe Lake-Navigation from Monte Balmaceda to Puerto Natales |
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Kayaks double or singles - All paddling equipment (neoprene gloves, paddling jackets, life jackets, skirts, and neoprene boots). |
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One night at Weskar Lodge or similar in Puerto Natales(Double standard rooms) (Single supplement apply) |
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Guide (English-Spanish languages)-Baqueano (Local Cowboy) for the rides |
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Price Excludes |
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-Flight to Santiago, Chile
-Internal Flight Santiago - Punta Arenas
-Any additional night
-Medical expenses
-Insurance of any kind
-Personal expenses
-Sleeping bag and mattress
-Lunch on days 1 & 10
-Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks at the Estancias
-Gratuities for guide, baqueano and driver. |
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Countries / Places Visited |
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Chile - Patagonia - Torres del Paine |
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Activities Included |
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horseback riding, trekking, kayaking |
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Suitability / Level |
Demanding |
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Minimum Age |
12 |
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Theme |
Activity Days
(Click to Search All) |
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Max Group Size |
8 |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Day 1
We recommend you take the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4 hours), flying over the Andes and observing incredible views of the Patagonian Ice Fields. Upon your arrival in Punta Arenas, the most southern city on the continent, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to Estancia Las Chinas. (Chile Nativo will offer a pick-up from the airport at 3:20 PM, corresponding with LAN airline, Flight # 293, or at 3 PM from your hotel in town).
As we leave the airport we can see the Straits of Magellan and the mystical Tierra del Fuego. During a five hours we drive across open pampas passing huge ranches (estancias) and with luck we will be able to see one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (a rare South American ostrich). We head north to Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a small fishing town surrounded by mountains. From there we will follow an unpaved road to Las Chinas Valley. Our final destination is Estancia Las Chinas (a typical example of an estancia in the region), with an amazing view of Torres Del Paine.
(5 hours by private transfer) (D) (Night at Estancia Las Chinas)
Day 2
Early morning, and after a country style breakfast, we meet our baqueano (local cowboy), who is going to join us for the next days of riding. We choose our horses and start a round trip ride to the Sierra Contreras Mountain Range. Our baqueano leads us through a typical Patagonian landscape, a vast terrain call “Pampa”, at the foot of the Sierra Contreras mountain range. Here we have the chance to observe Guanaco herds, and maybe a few Rheas. Our trail becomes steep as we head to the top of the Sierra, with a magnificent view of the Las Chinas Valley with the famous Torres Del Paine granite peaks in the background. After enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch we return to our cozy ranch-house. In the evening we will gather in front of the fireplace, with a Pisco sour in hand (Chilean brandy made from Muscatel grapes).
(5 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering) (B-BL-D) (Night at Estancia Las Chinas)
Day 3
Today we will ride south from Estancia Las Chinas crossing the valley. The first couple of hours will be across the Patagonian steppe, which is found on flatlands and plateaus with semi-arid, cold climates and an annual precipitation of up to 400 mm. After 5 hours riding we will reach Laguna Azul, which is located at the limit of Torres del Paine National park and with spectacular view of the Towers. From here we take a private transfer all the way to Estancia Cerro Paine, located at the bottom of the path leading to the viewing point of Torres del Paine and Valle del Silencio. After an amazing day riding, you may want to visit the hotel spa for a massage, sauna or Jacuzzi.
(5 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering, 45 minutes by private transfer) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Las Torres)
Day 4
We begin our first full day trek, heading to the base of the Towers lookout point following the Ascencio River before entering the Ascencio Valley. Our walk will be uphill for one hour, stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley and panoramic views of the Lake Nordenskjold. During the following 2 hours, we’ll walk through unbelievable forests of tall deciduous beech (Nothofagus Pumilio) and waterfalls, and then continue ascending through a huge terminal moraine up to a photographic view point (900m). From here we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850m) and a lagoon with slurry waters resulting from glacial erosion. We will stop here for lunch, taking our time to enjoy this astonishing scenery, before our descent returning along the same path back to our camp.
(7-8 hours back and forth, 18KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Torres)
Day 5
A private transfer will take us to the west side of the Park going around Almirante Nieto Mountain (2750 M) with Nordenskjold Lake at its base. We will take a catamaran across the Pehoe Lake. From here we commence our out and back trek to the French valley. We will start going around the south-west side of Paine Grande, the highest summit in the Park, through native forests of fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the hanging bridge over the French River to observe the first glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend (300m) for one hour amidst a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach a view point, gifting us with magnificent panoramic views, where we enjoy a good lunch. Our way back will be the same, spending our first night at Camping Paine Grande.
(30 minutes by private transfer, 35 minutes by catamaran, 6-7 hours, 17 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Paine Grande)
Day 6
We will begin early morning with our hike to the Grey Glacier. Initially we will ascend 200mts up a winding narrow path leading us to Laguna Negra, and our first glimpses of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field with its many unclimbed mountains. We will advance through forests and crossing rivers, with possible sightings of spectacle and flying steamer ducks, up to the glacier view point. We will enjoy lunch at this place and if we are lucky, witness ice calving from the huge glacier wall into Lake Grey. We return, following the same path, with views of Cordon Olguín and Paine Grande, to reach the same hut at the Shore of Pehoe Lake to spend our second overnight.
(7-8 hours walking, 22 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Paine Grande)
Day 7
We take the first catamaran to cross the Pehoe Lake and then we drive to the Serrano River, where we will prepare & distribute the kayaks so that we can then begin with the safety & paddling instructions. Our guides will help to recommend the appropriate equipment you’ll need to take during the trip, so that the rest of your luggage will be taken directly to Puerto Natales by a private transfer (to store in our office). This day we will paddle approximately 2 hrs across the first section of the Serrano River, this is a calm zone that is good for us to see the level & comfort of the kayakers paddling. After, we’ll arrive at a small waterfall in the river where we will have a teamwork experience in carrying the kayaks 100m approx. 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 the camp.
(35 minutes by catamaran, 20 minutes by private transfer, 3 hours paddling) (B-BL-D) (Night at the shore of the Serrano River by tent)
Day 8
We will start to paddle once we’ve packed away the camp. In this section of the river there are National Park lands & privately owned lands and in these we will see the typical cold forest vegetation of Magallanes & the associated fauna. We will also be able to observe from a distance, the glaciers of the Southern Patagonian ice field. Finally we’ll arrive at Puerto Toro (Bernardo O´Higgins National Park), our camp base here is near the Serrano glacier and this is where we’ll spend the second night
(6-7 hours paddling) (B-BL-D) (Night by tent)
Day 9
With an early start; depending on the weather conditions, we will carry the kayaks 100m to the lagoon of the Serrano glacier so that we can paddle in & amongst the ice-bergs until 11:00am, so we’ll have enough time to pack away the camp, before boarding the boat, which departs at 13:00 (either the 21 de Mayo or Agostini). We’ll stop off at the tourist complex “Estancia Perales” to enjoy a farewell BBQ of our experience. We spend the night in Puerto Natales
(2 hours paddling in the lagoon, 3 hours by boat) (B-BBQ-D) (Night at Hotel Weskar Lodge or similar)
Day 10
We will take a private transfer to Punta Arenas. (Clients should take the flight at 2:55 PM, from LAN airline, flight #LA284, arriving to Santiago at 06:15 PM), if you decide to stay the night in Punta Arenas; we will drop you at your hotel.
(3 hours by transfer) (B) |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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Estancia Las Chinas
A simple ranch house recently converted into a cozy guest house as an annex to the Lodge Cerro Guido. Each room has 2-4 bunk beds with warm down comforters. Shared baths have hot water and modern facilities. Relax next to the fireplace or walk around the ranch taking in the views of Las Chinas Valley, one of the most pristine valleys in the area.
Camping Chile Nativo
Our clients sleep in 4 seasons, North Face VE 25 (3 person capacity) tents, based on twin-share occupancy. We have a Mountain Hardwear domo dining tent.
Weskar Patagonian Lodge
Ideally located on the Sound of Last hope, with magnificent views of several mountain ranges. Weskar is a warm and friendly hotel decorated in ideas based on ethnic concepts and ecological guidelines. |
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Holidays
Extras |
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