|
|
Patagonia is a privileged destination, one of those ever rarer sites of astounding natural beauty, still largely
undiscovered and untouched. It is a geographical myth with scenery ranging from dramatic mountain formations and
smoky volcanoes to flat barren pampas and expansive ice fields.
During this unique hiking adventure, you explore Patagonia
on foot on both Chilean and Argentinean sides. You trek to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, may be
the two most emblematic mountains of Patagonia, Perito Moreno Glacier (only one
in the world that shows a closure and rupture process), Torres del Paine National Park in Chile
and eventually across the Magellan Strait into Tierra del Fuego to end our tour in Ushuaia,
the “city of the end of the world”.
The tour offers the very best of Patagonia, which you will travel in an active way, enjoying the company of fellow travellers.
The Itinerary
Day 1: El Calafate
We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check in at your hostel. By 7 pm the group
meets in the lobby of the Hostel del Glaciar Pioneros, street Pioneros 251, El Calafate, to meet your
guide, discuss details of your program and enjoy your welcome dinner together with your fellow
travellers.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Dinner.
Day 2: El Chalten - Capri Lagoon
Alter breakfast we take our bus for the 220 km long drive to El Chaltén, a small and picturesque
village at the foot of Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre massif. We make a stop half way to enjoy local pastries
and hot coffee. Once in Chaltén, we’ll meet fellow travellers coming from up north Ruta 40 Road Movie and
start our trek. We carry in our packs only the necessary items for this 3 nights and 4 days in which
we’ll overnight in our Full Camps inside the National Park.
We hike up a gentle slope on Fitz Roy trail to gain height over the River de las Vueltas valley up
to the first viewpoints over Fitz Roy massif. Our hike to Laguna Capri will take us no more than 2
hours and a half, in a clear and easy trail. Once on our Laguna Capri Full Camp, we leave our stuff
in our tent and we enjoy an afternoon walk to the sightseeing points around the lagoon.
Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the camp ready upon arrival. It offers
comfortable 3 people igloo type tents for each 2 passengers, with mattresses and sleeping bags.
An inside cotton sheet is provided as inner clothing for the sleeping bag. The camp also features
a spacious dinning tent, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service
and kitchenware. The sanitary services are latrine-type.
Lodging at Laguna Capri Full Camp in double or single tent (rural area)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 3: Mount Fitz Roy, De los Tres Lagoon
Early in the morning, before the first coffee, we can try to match up the morning Light getting pink in Fitz Roy granite walls. You only need this to feel the trip is worthwhile. But of course the day offers much more.
After breakfast, carrying only day personal items such as our parka, gloves, our camera, water bottle and box lunch, we hike along Fitz Roy trail up to Rio Blanco, climbers basecamp to the east side of the mountain. From here a steep 1 h trail leads us to one of the most spectaculars viewpoints of the National Park: Laguna de los Tres, with its zephyr blue colour, lays at the foot of the massif, offering full close up views of Fitz Roy massif spires and glaciers. Each wall rises something from 600 to 1500 mts above the surrounding glaciers. Fitz Roy, with its 3405 mts above sea level, is considered the “King of Patagonia” and also considered one of the three most beautiful mountains on Earth (together with Alpamayo in Perú and K2 in the Karakoram). We hike back to Laguna Capri in the late afternoon. Walking time is 5 to 6 hs.
Lodging at Laguna Capri Full Camp in double or single tent (rural area)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 4: Mount Torre
Today we make it around Laguna Capri to get to the Lagoons Madre and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet Cerro Torre trail and we get to Cerro Torre Full Camp. The trail runs along beech forest, bogs and shrubland. From the camp, a short hike takes us to Laguna Torre, enclosed by morraines and with the Glacier Grande calving in its west side. It is usual to see icebergs pushed by the wind in the coast of the lagoon. The thin and elegant 3128 mts of Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background complete this spectacular view. Walking time 3 to 4 hs.
Lodging at Cerro Torre Full Camp in double or single tent (rural area)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 5: Torre Glacier and Lagoon - El Chalten
In the morning we visit Laguna Torre again to reach the old Maestri base camp, located in a high site up along the north moraine of the lagoon. For keen hikers, we offer an optional excursion, the so called “Holiday on Ice”: early start, crampons and harnesses, a tyrolean (horizontal fixed rope attached to both sides of a river) to cross Fitz Roy river, and we visit Glacier Grande, where we will visit crevices, ice caves and we’ll practice ice climbing with the proper advice of experienced mountain guides.
Late in the afternoon we walk back to Chaltén along Fitz Roy river valley. Total estimated time of the standard day: 4 to 5 hs. If you go on the “Holiday on Ice”, it is 7 hs plus the trail back to Chalten which is 2 and a half hours more.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom or alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Optional excursion: Holiday On Ice
Day 6: El Chalten - El Calafate
Morning at your own to visit the picturesque village or to make optional excursions such as Lago del Desierto (in spite of its name, its a beautiful, beech forest surrounded lake, with hanging glaciers in its west side), or to see very interesting information at the National Park Visitor Centre.
By 5 pm we take our bus to our next destination, El Calafate, gateway for the glaciers area of the Park. Arrival time is scheduled for 9 pm. Driving distance: 220 km
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom or alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Icefield, a big sheet of ice that with its 22.000 square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints. The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom or alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 8: El Calafate - Torres del Paine
Early start for a 6 hs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo. After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. We enter the Park by Porteria Sarmiento. A rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds, will be available for our eyes and cameras. We’ll stop in the Lake Nordenskjöld and in Salto Grande viewpoints for short walks. In the afternoon we continue to visit the westernmost side of the National Park, lake Grey area, where a short and easy hike along the south shore of the lake allow us to enjoy the blue icebergs that calving from the glacier in the northern side of the lake are pushed by the wind to this side.
Lake Pehoe Full Camp keeps the style of Laguna Capri and Cerro Torre Full Camps, but combined with the first class facilities provided by the campsite: good and clean bathrooms and hot water showers, water and electricity in each camping site.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 9: Paine Towers – Ascensio River Valley
We drive an tour to get to Estancia Cerro Paine, headtrail for the world famous Paine towers. We “warm up” hiking a steep one hour slope, to get inside the Ascensio river valley, a narrow “V” shape alpine valley coming from inside the Paine massif. A gentle downhill leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cozy and comfortable mountain lodge, which can be a good turnaround point for those not willing to make a full day hike. We then walk in a gentle slope along the river side and inside beech forest. A final climb on moraine take us to the Towers viewpoint: a glacier origin lagoon and the three towers rising vertically 1000 mts from the glacier. The lack of breath will be either because the climb and the sight!!!! We go back to our camp on the same way we came. Walking time: 7 to 8 hs.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 10: Lake Pehoe crossing – French Valley
Early in the morning a short drive takes us to Port Pudeto to board the catamarán that cross lake Pehoe twice a day. We carry only the necessary stuff to be 2 days and 1 night away from our Camping Pehoe Full Camp, where the rest of our luggage will stay. One in the far side of the lake, we leave unnecessary items in our tents and we set out to the French Valley trail. The trail skirts Paine Grande south slopes and lake Skottberg, to take us after 2 hs and a half of continuous ups and downs, to the hanging bridge upon the French River. This breathtaking location is at the foot of both the 2700 mts south east face of Paine Grande (to the west) and the Horns, with its characteristic black sedimentary topping, to the east. Keen hikers can go on and reach the upper viewpoints of the valley, from where you see the whole group of spires that feature the high valley: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (The Fortress).
Walking time for those who reach the upper viewpoints: 8 to 9 hs. For those reaching the lower viewpoints: 5 to 6.
We retrace our steps back to Refugio Pehoe Full Camp.
Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 11: Lake & Glaciar Grey viewpoints
Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe Valley across ridges to reach Grey valley. This magnificent valley flows down somewhat of 60 km from the Patagonian Icefield, featuring the huge glacier calving down in the grey colour lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the westerns slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park. From the high sections of the trail, many different viewpoints allow us to see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rising far in the distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall, and of course lake and glacier Grey. The trail reaches a close up point to the front of the glacier. We come back along the same trail, crossing bogs, shrublands and forest. In the evening we take the boat to cross lake Pehoe back to Pudeto and get back to our Camping Pehoe Full Camp.
Time to walk 8 hs. To the half way viewpoints, round way from our camp, 4 to 5 hs.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 12: Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales – Río Grande
Long drive today, though quite worthwhile. We leave Paine National Park with first light (6 am) to face the southernmost part of the continent. We go southbound to Puerto Natales, head town to the area, a picturesque fishermen town located in the shores of the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) fiord. Breakfast in town or in our bus, time depending. We continue south to reach the legendary Magellan Strait, which we will keep on sight up to Primera Angostura, where we board the Ferry in which we will cross the Strait. This Pass, discovered by Hernando de Magallanes in 1520, was the natural and logical way to all vessels until de Panama Channel was open at the beginning of the XXth century. You will find yourselves wondering how those brave men dare to sail those waters in such fragile caravels!!!
Once in Tierra del Fuego (literally, Land of Fire, due to the fires seen by the first white sailors in the coast, done by the local Indians to cook and heat) we enter back Argentina through Paso San Sebastián. A couple more of hours to reach Estancia Las Hijas, where our Full Camp will be waiting for us, as well as a lamb cooked in the classical Patagonian barbecue style. A dinning saloon, toilettes and showers are available tonight.
Lodging at Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 13: Río Grande - Tierra Mayor valley
In the morning we learn about the ranch activities and how dogs deal with the sheep. By mid morning we continue south to Solar del Bosque, a small and cozy mountain refuge located in the Tierra Mayor valley, where we’ll spend the rest of the day. After lunch, we go hiking to Laguna Esmeralda, a beautiful lagoon with Glacier Ojos del Albino in the background. We walk back to our lodge across terrain that has been modified by the beavers, which were introduced in the area from Canada by middle of the last century.
Lodging in Mountain Lodge with shared bedrooms and bathrooms
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 14: Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park– Beagle Channel boat trip
We leave behind the valley and a half an hour drive leads us to Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the World. We leave our luggage in our hostel or hotel (we will not check in, as it is still early in the morning) and continue to Tierra del Fuego National Park. This National Park is in the south west corner of the argentinean side of the Island, thus in the border with Chile. The main attraction of the Park and the whole Island actually are the mountains coming down to the sea. We make a short hike in this area. In the afternoon, a boat trip in the Beagle channel allows us to see the different species of sea birds and mammals that leave in this corner of Earth.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom or alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast and box lunch.
Day 15: Ushuaia – Ushuaia Airport
Morning at your own to visit the town, which is located in the north coast of the Beagle channel. Then town features interesting museums and its typical architecture. In the afternoon we are transferred to Ushauaia airport to take our flight to Buenos Aires. Our services end at the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Extensions
This itinerary is the natural continuation of Ruta 40 Road Movie Journey. Instead of flying, those who prefer to drive across the Patagonian steppes visiting highlights en route, should have alook at this pre-tour.
Maps of Patagonia
| Patagonia | Glaciares NP | El Chalten area | Torres del Paine |
|
|
|
|
General Information
Read our customers' feedback about this journey.
Weather is unpredictable in Patagonia. Not very cold, but it is usually windy. To dress in layers is the best advice. An open attitude towards outdoor activities is required.
You are required to carry no more than a light day pack.
This trek consists of 3 different modules (3 to 4 days hiking each) that can be booked separately.
Therefore, participants to each of this module may be different.
Rated: Moderate. Although some days you have to hike 5 to 7 hours,
the paths are really easy to follow. The maximum altitude is 4000 ft/ 1300 mts.
This is definitely not hard adventure. Those requiring more demanding treks should better consider
the Ice Cap Expedition or
Torres del Paine Circuit
In order to benefit of flight availability during the high season (December to March) we do recommend
that you book at least 4 months in advance.
Departure dates
Guaranteed departures every Saturday from October 14, 2006 to April 13, 2007
There are departures every 3 weeks with French or Italian and German (dates upon request) speaking guides
Private departure:
Any day between end of October and mid April
| Fixed Departures | |||||||||
| Hostel room | Inn double room | Inn single room | |||||||
| USD | $ 1650 | $ 1790 | $ 2090 | ||||||
| EUR | € 1369 | € 1485 | € 1734 | ||||||
| GBP | £ 924 | £ 1002 | £ 1170 | ||||||
| Private departures Hostel Room | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||
| USD | $ 4840 | $ 2970 | $ 2475 | $ 2152 | |||||
| EUR | € 4017 | € 2465 | € 2054 | € 1786 | |||||
| GBP | £ 2710 | £ 1663 | £ 1386 | £ 1205 | |||||
| Private departures Inn Room | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | SGL Supp. | |||||
| USD | $ 5133 | $ 3063 | $ 2568 | $ 2246 | $ 75 | ||||
| EUR | € 4261 | € 2542 | € 2132 | € 1864 | € 62 | ||||
| GBP | £ 2874 | £ 1715 | £ 1438 | £ 1257 | £ 42 | ||||
Included:
Bilingual tour leader during all the trip.
Mountain guides while on trek.
Moreno Glacier excursion.
Lake Pehoe boat trips (in and out).
Beagle channel boat trip.
All transfers El Calafate airport – El Calafate - El Chalten – El Calafate – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales - Río Grande – Ushuaia – Ushuaia Airport.
During the trip we combine private and regular buses.
Lodging in hostel room with shared bathroom or alternatively in Hotels, Hosterias or Inns with private bathroom.
14 breakfasts, 11 box lunch y 11 dinners.
Not included:
Entrance fees to National Parks.
Medical and life insurance.
Tips.
Drinks and beverages (all foods are without alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks).
Flights or airport taxes.
Port tax at Ushuaia.
Optional excursions.
Services not shown or detailed in the program.
Home
French
Belize
Bay Islands
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Nicaragua
Panama
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile & Easter Island
Colombia
Ecuador
Falklands
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Venezuela
Arctic
Antarctica