Itinerary

DAY 1   (Wed)   PUNTA ARENAS - ECOCAMP
Trekkers will need to arrive around noon (12PM) to Punta Arenas on the earliest morning flight from Santiago.  From there, we will drive to EcoCamp (345 km/ 216 miles /5hrs) inside the famous Torres del Paine National Park.  In summer time (Dec-Mar), the sun sets around 11PM giving us plenty of light to admire the landscape en route and the craggy mountains as we enter the park.  We will make short stops in the township of Puerto Natales to check out the town (here you have the chance to leave any luggage that you will not need during the trek in our office), and at the enormous Milodón Cave, a giant geological wonder that once sheltered a prehistoric sloth.  Overnight at EcoCamp in Las Torres.  (L,D)

DAY 2   (Thu)    ECOCAMP - FRENCH VALLEY - PEHOE REFUGIO
Transfer to Pudeto (45 min) to board the catamaran which crosses Lake Pehoe (9 am).  Today our trek will start and end at Refugio Pehoe as we explore the beautiful French Valley, (5 mi/8 km - 3hrs) arriving to the Italian Camp and continuing with a round trip to El Mirador (lookout point) (2 mi/3 km - 2hrs), one of the most spectacular cirques in the Paine Range.  Retracing our steps out of the valley, we return to Refugio Pehoe where we will overnight (your clothes and personal belongings needed for this night are transported separately in duffel bags we provide you with on Day 1).  (B,L,D)

DAY 3   (Fri)   PEHOE LAKE - GREY GLACIER - ECOCAMP
Hike about 4 hrs towards the impressive Grey Glacier at the northern shore of Grey Lake, the largest glacier in the park.  At 4pm we board a boat which sails alongside the face of Glacier Grey.  We will have ample time to marvel at this calving glacier before the boat crosses Lago Grey (40 min.).  On the southern side we disembark and drive (1.5 hrs) across the park spotting frequent guanaco herds beside the road.  Return and overnight at comfortable EcoCamp. (B,L,D)  If the weather conditions do not allow us to navigate the Grey Lake, we’ll instead hike to the Grey Glacier (6-8 hrs, roundtrip) and then at Pudeto board the catamaran to cross Lake Pehoe.

DAY 4   (Sat)   ECOCAMP - TOWERS OF PAINE
Our hiking itinerary for the day is the most famous trek in the park.  From the EcoCamp we trek to the beginning of the trail up the Ascencio Valley.  We will do an all day hike (6 mi/10 km, 8 hrs round-trip) to the foot of the impressive granite massif of El Paine, where the towers rise majestically from the glacial lake at their base.  The famous Torres del Paine (9.400ft/2.900m) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, remains of a great cirque that has been sheared away by the forces of glacial ice.  Once back at the EcoCamp, a farewell dinner is prepared with a typical Patagonian lamb barbecue.  Overnight EcoCamp.  (B,L,D)

DAY 5   (Sun)   ECOCAMP - PUNTA ARENAS
Early in the morning board the vehicle back to Punta Arenas Airport (arrive ~4 pm) on time to catch the evening flight back to Santiago (End of Services).  (B,L)

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