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 Fire
Patagonia Fire
Torres del Paine • Tierra del Fuego
2530 USD 1-3 people / 2350 USD 3-6 people
Summary:
As soon as you land in Punta Arenas, Chile your trip has begun. Day one starts by visiting the Otway penguin colony before the transfer to Puerto Natales. Ten days are spent in Torres del Paine trekking the entire Torres circuit, completing almost 120 kilometers. The next leg of the program visits the real Tierra del Fuego the old fashioned way, overland. Named by renowned explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the Land of Fire has sweet mixture of history, folklore and an abundant of nature that makes for a one-of-a-kind trip. We visit the island’s oldest estancia (sheep ranch), an extensive plain filled with glacial erratics, pristine lakes and rivers where you can try your luck at fishing for world-famous Tierra del Fuego trout. Day hikes to some beautiful peaks such as Cerro Cochillo, Cerro Piedra and Cerro Condor make the days fly by. This is a “roughing it” style camping trip, complete with cozy campfires, and if we’re lucky, trout dinners. After crossing the Strait of Magellen, this van and hike combo tour covers the big island, top to bottom, and we don’t stop until the road ends!
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.
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.
Day 11: Today we transfer to Punta Arenas. In the afternoon you have time to explore Punta Arenas, the capital city of Patagonia.
Day 12: Today we take the ferry crossing onto Tierra del Fuego. Our next adventure begins.
Day 13-16: We explore and absorb all Tierra del Fuego has to offer. We dont stop until the road ends!
Included services:
• Accommodation: All the days in Torre Del Paine National Park will be in two or three person tents. Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales - choice of 2 or 3 star hotels. On Tierra del Fuego we will be camping in two or three person tents.
• Meals: All breakfasts and dinners in the field.
• Guide: English / Spanish speaking local guides.
• Camping gear: Tents, sleeping pads, all kitchen needs
• Transfers: All private and regular transfers and the catamaran trip on day 7. Ferry crossing to Tierra del Fuego and luxury vans.
• Entrance fee: In the national parks as well as the penguin colony.
Not included services:
• Travel cancellation insurance or any other kind travel insurance package, meals and beverages in towns (Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, Tierra del Fuego), single room supplement, tips, personal payments, either transatlantic flights nor domestic flights – , optional ice-hiking on grey glacier on day 6.
| 2010 | |
| Oct 07, 2010 | |
| October 12, 2010 | confirmed |
| October 29, 2010 | |
| November 09, 2010 | pending |
| November 22, 2010 | |
| December 8, 2010 | pending |
| December 25, 2010 | confirmed |
| 2011 | |
| January 09, 2011 | pending |
| January 18, 2011 | confirmed |
| February 11, 2011 | |
| February 21, 2011 | |
| March 04, 2011 | pending |
| March 15, 2011 | confirmed |
| April 02, 2011 |
