The Trail of the Valleys 2007 - 2008
This is the most visited route in the Torres del Paine, giving you the chance to visit the three main valleys, walking six hours daily on average, staying overnight in cosy mountain lodges. We will visit glaciers, pass through southern beech forests and enjoy impressive views of the famous Torres. This route invites you to live a unique experience at the boundaries of the world.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(HK-9692-P) |
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All the private transportation indicated in the schedule |
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Entrance fee to Seno Otway Penguin colony-Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park |
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One night at Weskar Lodge or similar in Puerto Natales(Twin Standard room) (Single supplement applies) |
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Boat to Glacier Grey |
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Five nights lodging in mountain lodges (Refugios) (comfortable rooms with 6 beds and shared bathroom) (No singles available) |
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Sleeping bags and liners |
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Porter to carry the food and Chile Nativo supplies. |
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All meals indicated in the schedule (B: breakfast, BL: box lunch, L: Lunch, D: dinner) |
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Guide (English-Spanish languages) |
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Price Excludes |
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-Flight to Santiago, Chile
-Internal Flight Santiago - Punta Arenas
-Any additional nights
-Medical expenses
-Insurance of any kind
-Personal expenses
-Ice Hike on Grey glacier with technical equipment (Cost per person USD $ 160)
-Porters to carry personal belongings (available upon request, cost of USD $70 per day with a maximum of 15K per porter, usually good to share one in between two hikers)
-Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.
-Gratuities for guide & driver |
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Suitability / Level |
Moderate |
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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 (Fri)
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 Puerto Natales. (Chile Nativo will offer a pick-up from the airport at 3:20 PM, corresponding with LAN airline, Flight # LA293, or at 3 PM from your hotel in town).
As we leave Punta Arenas we will be able to see the Strait of Magellan and the island Tierra del Fuego. Shortly after leaving the airport, we will stop at the Magellan penguin colony on Otway Sound. Our 3-hour drive will take us through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias) and chances are we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (similar to ostrich). We arrive to Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a typical fishing town surrounded by mountains and our lodging for the first night, the Weskar Lodge, with an amazing view of the mountains and located in front of the ocean. After we settle in, we’ll have a welcome dinner with the Chile Nativo guide regarding the program.
(4 hours by private transfer) (D) (Night at Weskar Lodge or similar)
Day 2 (Sat)
Early in the morning our transfer takes us along an unpaved road heading to Torres Del Paine. When entering the Park, we will have excellent picture taking opportunities of guanacos (llama family) and Grey foxes, driving alongside lagoons frequented by Chilean flamencos and black-necked swans. We will then drive toward Lago Grey with its impressive glacier of the same name, forming part of the South Patagonian Ice Field, third largest reserve of ice in the world, 350 kms. long. We will stop to enjoy a picnic lunch alongside the Pingo River. Then we go up to the Grey Lake by boat. In order to get to the boat we will walk through a mature beech forest where we might observe woodpeckers. We will navigate about one hour through icebergs of different tones of blue up to the Grey glacier. We stop at the peninsula Grey and stay overnight at Refugio Grey.
(2 hours by private transfer, 30 minutes walk, 1 hour by boat) (B-BL-D) (Night at Refugio Grey)
Day 3 (Sun)
Today you have the opportunity to take an optional adventure on the Glacier Grey. (The Ice Hike excursion is not included in the price; average cost US$ 120 per person.) The ice hikers will take a zodiac for 20 minutes until arriving on the western side of the glacier, where specialized guides will supply you with the necessary technical equipment (crampons, harness and piolet). You will walk on the glacier, observing unique deep blue cracks, where, weather permitting, will have the opportunity of doing some ice climbing. The way back will be the same until arriving back at the refugio to enjoy lunch. For those in the group who prefer to stay close to camp, we’ll offer a morning hike to a lookout point above the Grey Glacier. In the afternoon we start a walk to the Pehoé Lake to spend the night in Paine Grande lodge.
Morning: Optional Ice Hike Excursion: 1 hour by zodiac (30 minutes each-way), 3-hour ice hike.
Optional Hike to Glacier Grey look out point, 1 hours walk.
Afternoon: 3 hours walk. (B-BL-D) (Night at Lodge Paine Grande)
Day 4 (Mon)
We will start our day with a 2-hour walk going around the southwest side of Paine Grande, the highest peak in the Park, through native forests of Chilean fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the hanging bridge over the French River for our first glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend (300 M) for one hour through a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach the French valley viewpoint gifting us with a magnificent view of both mountains and lakes. We will lunch here with good possibilities of seeing avalanches from the hanging glacier or simply observe the west side of the Cuernos (2600 M), Espada (2400 M) and Fortaleza (2800 M). Our way back will be the same until we reach the entrance of the valley where we will continue on a different undulating path for an hour or so until reaching the Refugio Los Cuernos along the shores of Lake Nordenskjold.
(7 hours hike) (B-BL-D) (Night at Refugio Los Cuernos)
Day 5 (Tue)
We will start early morning to enjoy, weather permitting, a magnificent dawn filled with orange-pink colors. As we leave the refugio we will follow the path until crossing the Bader River to start ascending around (200 mts.) toward the base of Almirante Nieto mountain (2750 mts.). Chances are, on this path, we may see the flight of an Andean condor or eagles hunting hares or small rodents. We will arrive at Inge lagoon and keep ascending for one hour (300 mts.) to reach the start of Valle Ascencio. We will descend for half hour until reaching the Refugio Chileno where we will stay overnight
(6 hours hike) (B-BL-D) (Night at Refugio Chileno)
Day 6 (Wed)
From the refugio we will start our walk through incredible tall-deciduous beech forests (Nothofagus Pumilio), with views of glaciers and waterfalls to continue ascending through a huge terminal moraine up to a view point (900 mts.) with excellent picture taking opportunities. From here we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850 mts.) and a lagoon with slurry waters fed by glacial erosion. We will enjoy lunch in front of this breathtaking scenery. We will descend, following the same path down to the Refugio Las Torres, located at the mountain\'s plateau where we will spend the night.
(6 hours hike) (B-BL-D) (Night at Refugio Las Torres)
Day 7 (Thu)
We will take a private transfer to Punta Arenas. (Clients should take the flight at 05:00 PM, from LAN airline, flight #LA996, arriving to Santiago at 8:20 PM), if you decide to stay the night in Punta Arenas; we will drop you at your hotel.
(5 hours by private transfer) (B) |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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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.
Mountain Lodges (Refugios)
All mountain lodges used by us for our expeditions are located in strategic places in the park and with fantastic views. There are 6 beds to each room (bunk-bed style) and have shared bathrooms with hot water. |
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Holidays
Extras |
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