In a joint effort with the AAC, MSR, OR & LNT, erratic rock has started the first Patagonian Travelers Recycle Center at the new Puerto Natales Base Camp...
Patagonia Adventure
Patagonia Adventure: The Torres del Paine Circuit & Cabo Froward
2500 USD 1-3 trekkers / 2250 USD 3-6 trekkers
2500 USD 1-3 trekkers / 2250 USD 3-6 trekkers
Summary:
We begin our trip with a visit to the Seno Otway penguin colony. Right after we take our transfer to the Torres del Paine gateway town, Puerto Natales. Eight days are spent in Torres del Paine trekking the entire 120 kilometers. After a rest day in Puerto Natales, we catch a transport to Punta Arenas where we gear up to trek to Cabo Froward, the bottom of the continent. We’ll take a short van trip to historical sites and national monuments on the way to the road’s end, where we begin our trek. It continues along isolated beaches, coves and bays, offering a wide variety of hiking terrain. Aside from the quiet beaches, we enter dense forests, cross open “turba” (a cross between tundra and moss) and wade two river crossings. Daily travel must be carefully timed to coincide with the low tides in order to make crossings as safe as possible. Our goal is to reach the five-story white cross that marks the end of the South American land mass.
This trek is a self-sufficient tour, which means that each person is responsible for carrying his or her share of food and equipment. We camp each night along rivers, deserted whaling stations, abandoned ranch houses and in Patagonian forests. Roughing it is the name of the game, and this challenge is what makes this a truly unique experience. There’s bird and sea life abound, and weather permitting, wonderful views of Dawson Island, the Darwin Range and the twin peaks of Mt. Sarmiento. This trek isn’t for everyone, but it’s guaranteed to be a legendary one.
This trek is a self-sufficient tour, which means that each person is responsible for carrying his or her share of food and equipment. We camp each night along rivers, deserted whaling stations, abandoned ranch houses and in Patagonian forests. Roughing it is the name of the game, and this challenge is what makes this a truly unique experience. There’s bird and sea life abound, and weather permitting, wonderful views of Dawson Island, the Darwin Range and the twin peaks of Mt. Sarmiento. This trek isn’t for everyone, but it’s guaranteed to be a legendary one.
Difficulty:
Many of our programs are physically demanding. You should be in very good physical condition for these programs. We recommend folks be able to hike long distances, uphill and downhill, up to 10 hours a day 
and with a 15 kilogram pack. We typically cover elevations from 200m to 1200m per day. You should also have keen mental strength and sense of determination to resist tough elements like strong winds and frozen rain or snowfall--even in the summer. Be well-accustomed to sleeping in two-person tents, and willing to support the group with all camp activities. The weather in Patagonia is as unpredictable as the landscape, and dealing with different levels of discomfort is one of the biggest challenges of Patagonian trekking.
and with a 15 kilogram pack. We typically cover elevations from 200m to 1200m per day. You should also have keen mental strength and sense of determination to resist tough elements like strong winds and frozen rain or snowfall--even in the summer. Be well-accustomed to sleeping in two-person tents, and willing to support the group with all camp activities. The weather in Patagonia is as unpredictable as the landscape, and dealing with different levels of discomfort is one of the biggest challenges of Patagonian trekking. Itinerary:
Day 1: After you arrive in Punta Arenas, your private airport pick up will start by taking you exploring at the penguin colony at Seno Otway. From there we transfer to Puerto Natales were we make preparations and do a gear check for Torres Del Paine. On the trip to Natales we have the chance of seeing out first rheas and guanacos. Travel time including penguin colony - 6 hours.
Day 2: After a good breakfast we transfer to Torres del Paine National Park. We begin at the south end of the Park, near the Administration Center. This is where your adventure begins. The park stretches in front of you like a dream. This part of the trek is not quite as impressive if you do it on the way out, because the views lay behind you. We enjoy every step of this hike. We camp this first night at camping Pehoe, on the edge of Lago Pehoe.
Day 3: Today we push on another two hours to Campamento Italiano. Italiano is a magnificent camp area and sits at the mouth of spectacular Valle Frances. We camp next to a beautiful river, protected nicely by a forest of old Lenga trees. We have some free time on this day, so weather permitting, we head up into the valley for a sneek-peek.
Day 4: This morning, we leave everything behind and we only pack up our backpacks with some food, rain gear, camera, and just a few basics, and head up into Valle Frances light. It’s a steep hike, so going light is nice. The valley offers natural lookouts; ice falls, avalanches, condors... impressive. A true highlight of Torres del Paine national Park. And after a day exploring Valle Frances, we head down again and pack up our camp and progress another two hours to Refugio Los Cuernos. A great camp site, located directly under the Cuernos and a stones throw from the beach. We retire to our tents that night for a well deserved night's sleep.
Day 5: Today, after a big breakfast we take on our longest day yet. Our trek takes us around the base of Mount Almirante Nieto (2500m), up into Valle Asencio, to our camp at Campamento Las Torres. This is a long day and we take many breaks for view points and photo stops. Here again we make camp in a thick Lenga forest which protects us from harsh winds.
Day 6: On this morning we get up and ready before dawn. This is our big chance to see the three famous Towers of Paine (2800m) get hit by the first morning rays of sun, which can turn the towers bright red. We again leave our camp behind and only bring our packs loaded with our warm layers. We head up the steep trail for 1 hour to the Towers view point, and some of the most amazing photos ever. We get warm, have some hot drinks at the base of the Towers and do this morning right! We pack up and head downhill to our next campsite next to Refugio Las Torres. It's been a long day. We close the book on the first half of our trek, and take a long afternoon to repack, reassess and we call it a day.
Day 7: Today, we start the back side of the circuit, early and refreshed. And it’s a good thing because we have an 8-10 hour trek to Refugio Dickson. It seems like a real distance, but the terrain is milder then the ‘W’ and you cover a lot of ground fast. This is a much different experience than the ‘W.’ We canp this night at camping Dickson, next to Lago Dickson.
Day 8: Today, we progress to Campamento Perros, only 4 hours. We are not in an hurry today, so we can enjoy a late sleep or an early morning hike. But our next camp, Los Perros, is a remote campsite, and although it seems like a short day, we only have enough time to make it to this next camp by dark. At Perros we call it camp for the day.
Day 9: This is the day of the famous John Garner Pass. The hardest thing about the Paso John Gardner is the wind. The terrain is manageable, and the view from the top of the pass is breathtaking. The view below of Glacier Grey (and the Patagonian Ice Field on a clear day) is one of the most amazing moments you’ll experience in Patagonia, hands down. We push on and make camp at the Glacier Grey camp site.
Day 10: After a good breakfast we trek 4 hours to camping Pehoe, where we spent out first night. We cross Lago Pehoe via catamaran and head back to Puerto Natales. Congratulations, you did the Q.
Day 1: After you arrive in Punta Arenas, your private airport pick up will start by taking you exploring at the penguin colony at Seno Otway. From there we transfer to Puerto Natales were we make preparations and do a gear check for Torres Del Paine. On the trip to Natales we have the chance of seeing out first rheas and guanacos. Travel time including penguin colony - 6 hours.
Day 2: After a good breakfast we transfer to Torres del Paine National Park. We begin at the south end of the Park, near the Administration Center. This is where your adventure begins. The park stretches in front of you like a dream. This part of the trek is not quite as impressive if you do it on the way out, because the views lay behind you. We enjoy every step of this hike. We camp this first night at camping Pehoe, on the edge of Lago Pehoe.
Day 3: Today we push on another two hours to Campamento Italiano. Italiano is a magnificent camp area and sits at the mouth of spectacular Valle Frances. We camp next to a beautiful river, protected nicely by a forest of old Lenga trees. We have some free time on this day, so weather permitting, we head up into the valley for a sneek-peek.
Day 4: This morning, we leave everything behind and we only pack up our backpacks with some food, rain gear, camera, and just a few basics, and head up into Valle Frances light. It’s a steep hike, so going light is nice. The valley offers natural lookouts; ice falls, avalanches, condors... impressive. A true highlight of Torres del Paine national Park. And after a day exploring Valle Frances, we head down again and pack up our camp and progress another two hours to Refugio Los Cuernos. A great camp site, located directly under the Cuernos and a stones throw from the beach. We retire to our tents that night for a well deserved night's sleep.
Day 5: Today, after a big breakfast we take on our longest day yet. Our trek takes us around the base of Mount Almirante Nieto (2500m), up into Valle Asencio, to our camp at Campamento Las Torres. This is a long day and we take many breaks for view points and photo stops. Here again we make camp in a thick Lenga forest which protects us from harsh winds.
Day 6: On this morning we get up and ready before dawn. This is our big chance to see the three famous Towers of Paine (2800m) get hit by the first morning rays of sun, which can turn the towers bright red. We again leave our camp behind and only bring our packs loaded with our warm layers. We head up the steep trail for 1 hour to the Towers view point, and some of the most amazing photos ever. We get warm, have some hot drinks at the base of the Towers and do this morning right! We pack up and head downhill to our next campsite next to Refugio Las Torres. It's been a long day. We close the book on the first half of our trek, and take a long afternoon to repack, reassess and we call it a day.
Day 7: Today, we start the back side of the circuit, early and refreshed. And it’s a good thing because we have an 8-10 hour trek to Refugio Dickson. It seems like a real distance, but the terrain is milder then the ‘W’ and you cover a lot of ground fast. This is a much different experience than the ‘W.’ We canp this night at camping Dickson, next to Lago Dickson.
Day 8: Today, we progress to Campamento Perros, only 4 hours. We are not in an hurry today, so we can enjoy a late sleep or an early morning hike. But our next camp, Los Perros, is a remote campsite, and although it seems like a short day, we only have enough time to make it to this next camp by dark. At Perros we call it camp for the day.
Day 9: This is the day of the famous John Garner Pass. The hardest thing about the Paso John Gardner is the wind. The terrain is manageable, and the view from the top of the pass is breathtaking. The view below of Glacier Grey (and the Patagonian Ice Field on a clear day) is one of the most amazing moments you’ll experience in Patagonia, hands down. We push on and make camp at the Glacier Grey camp site.
Day 10: After a good breakfast we trek 4 hours to camping Pehoe, where we spent out first night. We cross Lago Pehoe via catamaran and head back to Puerto Natales. Congratulations, you did the Q.
Day 11: Today we transfer to Punta Arenas. In the afternoon you have time to explore Punta Arenas, the capital city of Patagonia. ( B/H )
Day 12: In the morning we board out transport to the end of the road. We stop at Fort Bulnes for a break but soon find ourselves at our starting point.
Day 13 - 17: On these days we make our way south. Beaches, pampa, river crossings and beauty in all directions. On the last day out transport waits for us to return us to civilization and a much awaited victory dinner in town.
Included services:
• Accommodation: All the days in Torre Del Paine National Park in 2-person tents. Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales - choice of 2 or 3 star hotels. Cabo Froward is a all-camping leg of the trip.
• Meals: All breakfasts and dinners in the field.
• Guide: English / Spanish speaking local guides.
• Camping gear: 2-person tents, sleeping pads, all kitchen needs
• Transfers: All private and regular transfers and the catamaran trip on day 7.
• Entrance fee: In the national parks as well as the penguin colony.
Not included services:
• Travel cancellation insurance or any other kind of travel insurance package, meals and beverages in town (Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales), single room supplement, tips, personal payments, either transatlantic flights nor domestic flights, optional ice-hiking on grey glacier on day 6.
| 2010 | |
| November 02, 2010 | pending |
| November 18, 2010 | confirmed |
| December 6, 2010 | |
| December 19, 2010 | pending |
| 2011 | |
| January 02, 2011 | confirmed |
| January 15, 2011 | pending |
| February 11, 2011 | pending |
| February 22, 2011 | |
| March 01, 2011 |
