Trekking Torres del Paine

The trails in between the Torres del Paine famous craggy mountains are among the world’s classic trekking routes. Breathtaking views together with glaciers, rivers, lakes, forests and abundant wildlife provide the trip with constantly changing scenarios and experiences. During summer (Nov-Mar) there are 18 hours of daylight, which gives the explorers plenty of time for the walking journey. This program stays in a “luxury” permanent campsite on days 2, 5, 6 & 7, complete with large tents, cots, mattresses, dining tent with refrigerator, shower& toilet tents.

2007-8 Departure dates:

Every Sunday from October 1 to April 13-- with a minimum of two passengers.

2007-8 Prices:

• $2025 per person, based on double accommodations
• $2265 per person based on single occupancy (sharing while in camps, single room in hotels)
• Low season special—save $170 per person for trips originating in October 2007, or March 16-Apr 13, 2008

Itinerary:

Day 1/Sunday:  Arrival in Santiago. After clearing customs and immigration (note that you need to pay an entry tax in Chile before going through immigration & receive a stapled receipt in your passport. Current fee is $100, subject to change) proceed outside the airport where our local representative will be waiting to transfer you to the Hotel Eurotel, Rugendas or Orly or similar, located in the Providencia/Las Condes districts of Santiago. Remainder of the day to rest and explore Santiago. Optional tours available.

Day 2/Monday: Travel to Torres del Paine National Park.  Breakfast is included at your hotel. You will be picked up at the prearranged time for your transfer to the airport for your flights to Punta Arenas, which need to be scheduled to arrive around 1:00 PM. Suggested flight is Lan Chile’s 7:30 AM departure, 11:50 AM arrival. (note: our office can assist with arrangements for these tickets). Transfer (345km/216 miles/ 5 hrs) to Camp Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. You’ll make short stops in Puerto Natales to take a look at the town and enjoy lunch. Note: If you are not returning to Santiago after this trip, and have luggage with you that is not needed for the trek, you can also leave this at our office in town, and pick it up on your return to the Punta Arenas airport on Sunday. Continue a short distance to the enormous Milodon Cave, a geologic wonder that once sheltered a prehistoric sloth. Overnight camping at eco-camp at Las Torres. (Two person dome tents built on platforms with cots & bedding, gas stoves, separate dining & kitchen tent + bathroom & shower facilities) (B, D)

Day 3/Tuesday: Paso Los Cuernos . Today is fairly easy trekking along Sendero Los Cuernos, starting at Las Torres Eco Camp and ending at Refugio Cuernos, of approximately 5-6 hours. A few gradual ups and downs take you through changing landscape along the shores of Lago Nordenskjold. Time to stop along the way to look for condors, and enjoy the changing colors of the lake and a picnic lunch along the way. The name of the trail is taken from the fact that it passes under the Cuernos (horns) of the Paine massif. These are peaks with beautiful black “horns” of slate atop gray granite. (Your clothes and personal belongings needed for this night and the following are transported separately in duffel bags we provide you with on day 1). Overnight refugio Los Cuernos. (Refugio with dormitory style rooms for 4-6 people with shared baths & hot water. Facilities are heated with a dining area) (B, L, D)

Day 4: French Valley - Valle del Frances to Pehoe . Today the trekking will go over 8 kms/5 mi (2,5-3,5 hrs) up to Campamento Italiano and will continue with a round trip to Mirador del Frances (3 km/2 mi, 1,5-2,5 hrs), one of the most spectacular cirques in the Paine Range. We start walking (1hr) by the shore of lake Nordenskjold until arriving at Campamento Italiano. We continue following the river Frances upstreams until El Mirador (lookout point) facing Glaciar Frances which descends from Paine Grande, the highest summit in the Paine range. From here we have a magnificent view of the lakes below. Optional trek (2 hrs) to Mirador Britanico available. Once back at Camp Italiano, the trail between Camp Italiano and Camp Pehoe makes its way over flat terrain of mixed grassland and light forest until reaching Refugio Pehoe for overnight. Duffel bags are carried in by porters from Refuge Los Cuernos to Refugio Pehoe (B, L, D)

Day 5: Pehoe--Grey Glacier. We’ll hike about 4 hours from Refuge Pehoe at the shores of Lago Pehoe to the northern end of Lago Grey. At 4 PM we will board the boat which sails alongside the Glaciar Grey. We will have ample time to marvel at this calving glacier before crossing Lago Grey (40 min.). Your clothes and personal belongings are transported separately from the Refuge in duffel bags. Transfer (1,5 hrs) from Lake Grey's southern end to the Ecocamp. 1) 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. From there we drive 45 minutes to Ecocamp at Las Torres for overnight (B,L, D)

Day 6/Friday: In Paine National Park (Valle Asencio). Today the trekking (10 km, 8 hrs round-trip) takes us to the foot of the impressive granite massif of El Paine. From here admire the most typical sight of the Paine Towers (weather permitting). The famous Torres del Paine (2.900m/9.400ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, remains of a great cirque that has been sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. If the weather is poor with no chances to view the Torres del Paine, we will hike instead (40 min.) to the lookout point of Laguna Azul from where we have a beautiful view of Laguna Azul and the Torres. Transfer to Lago Sarmiento where we continue walking along the eastern side of Lago Sarmiento until the calcium formations at the shores of Lake Sarmiento where we have a good chance to see guanacos. Later we trek (3 hrs) the Paso Las Cornizas with views of Rio Paine, Lake Pehoe and the massif of Paine. Depending on the group, we could also hike (1-1,5 hrs) to lookout point Toro with views to Lago Toro and typical pampa (steppe). (B,L,D)

Day 7/Saturday: In Paine National Park (Eco-Camp LasTorres). Today you’ll have the opportunity to do whichever route that was not hiked on the previous day. Once back at Las Torres refuge, enjoy a typical lamb barbecue cooked in the Patagonian way and celebrate the last day achievements. Overnight camping at Las Torres. (B,L,D)

Day 8/Sunday: Travel to Punta Arenas. Early in the morning board the vehicle back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight back to Santiago. (flights should be scheduled for departure approximately 6:00 PM). After you collect your luggage, you will need to exit the airport, where our local representative will be waiting to transfer you the Hotel Eurotel, Rugendas or Orly or similar, for a one night stay. (B)

Day 9/Monday: Free day in Santiago. Optional city sightseeing can be arranged for you, or you can explore the city on your own. You will be picked up at your hotel at a pre-arranged time for your transfer to the airport for your return fights. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner

Trip Notes:

• Single supplement provides for transfers and accommodations in Santiago only and applies to passengers who are traveling alone. We do not “match-up” single participants for the Santiago hotel portions. There are no single accommodations available during the camping/trekking portion of the program.
• During shoulder season months of October, November, 2nd half of March and April, boat schedules at Lake Grey and Pehoe can change, slightly modifying our itineraries
• Itinerary Modifications . We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary under the sole discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations. The trip guide can also modified, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.
• Weather: The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Patagonian Andes very exposed to the saturated winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. Also, both the strong marine and the South Patagonic Ice field influence make the weather hard to predict. In spring or early summer fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, bringing rains and eventually snow. Even in summer (December to march) you should come prepared to find cold- strong winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfalls. The summer’s average temperature is 11ºC/52ºF (24ºCmax, 2ºC min).
• Arrangements can be made to extend your stay in Chile, Argentina, or other parts of Latin America either before or after your group program.  We suggest---

ARGENTINA:

• Add our extension to El Chalten in Los Glaciares National Park for a full 15 day program —includes 3 nights in Fitzroy & 2 ½ days of guided hiking & meals in camp, transportation from Torres del Paine Eco-Camp via public bus, two nights in Calafate & 1 night in Puerto Natales. For standard option the rate is $3265 per person double occupancy/ $3425 for superior option. Single rates are $3800 standard and $3885 superior. Different categories apply to Argentina lodging options. Offered immediately following any departure of the Trekking Torres del Paine trips, with a minimum of 2 passengers. Please visit Trekking Torres del Paine and Fitzroy for complete details

• Latin American Escapes, Inc. offers special contract airline rates to Latin America from most cities in the US, as well as special airpass rates for tickets with-in Latin America.  Please ask for a quote based on your trip itinerary.
• This itinerary requires flights Santiago- Punta Arenas-Santiago.  You must travel on any of the Lan Chile or Avant airlines morning flights that arrives by 12:00 noon and a return after 6:00 PM day 8. Your flights from Santiago can be at any time on day 9.  Costs for these flights generally average $400- $450 round-trip, and can be arranged through Latin American Escapes.
• Camping on this trip is in our private permanent camp-site, with full amenities on days 2, 5, 6 & 7.  We provide you with large tents (4 person capacity, sleeping 2), comfortable cots, bedding and mattresses. Our kitchen tent has a refrigerator, and the dining tent has tables and comfortable chairs.  We also have portable toilets and showers, a complete first aid kit and radio communications. A complete list of recommended clothing and equipment will be provided once you are confirmed on the trip.
• The stay at Refugio Cuernos on Day 3, and Refugio Pehoe on Day 4 are in rooms for 4-6 people with shared baths (one each for men & women) & hot water showers. Sleeping bags provided.
• This trip is rated moderate, and is recommended for people in good physical condition in the habit of walking long distances and camping outdoors. You will need to carry a day-pack with your personal gear (water, camera, rain gear, etc) on all hikes.
• Porters will help us on days 3 and 4 to carry part of you personal belongs from Refugio Pehoe to Refugio Cuernos and then to the Ecocamp Torres. Once you arrive into the Ecocamp on day 3, we will give you a small duffel bag where you will have to pack your clothes and personal belongs needed for the next 2 nights. We will send that small bag with the porters. The bigger duffel bag you brought into Patagonia will be stored at the Ecocamp until you arrive back on day 5.
• Minimum number of passengers required to operate this trip is 2 per departure date, maximum is 20, with an average group size of 8-12 passengers.  Guide to passenger ratio is 1:8.

To confirm reservations:

A deposit of $300 per person is required to confirm reservations. In addition, the following payment procedures apply:

Payment for airline tickets is due at the time tickets are issued, but no later than time of final payment.

Last Minute Bookings: Last minute reservations (less than 30 days before departure) will be accepted, subject to availability, if payment has been received, and documents can be delivered. Any special communication costs and delivery charges will be at the client's expense.

Revision Fee: Revision fees will apply once the initial deposit has been received. Charges will vary based on itinerary, and extent of changes, with a minimum charge of $50. Changes requested after documents have been issued (generally with-in 30 days) will incur a minimum $100 change fee, plus additional services requested.

International bookings: We gladly accept bookings from passengers outside the US. However, an additional surcharge of $50 per booking is applied to cover additional shipping charges.

CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS--At the time we receive written notification that you must cancel your trip, money will be returned less the following cancellation fees:

Note:  A change in travel dates is considered a cancellation

Trip Documents: Trip documents will be forwarded approximately 3 weeks prior to travel, and once all payments and completed application forms have been received.

Risk and Responsibility

In arranging these trips, Latin American Escapes, Inc. acts only as the agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers actually providing tour services for these trips with whom Latin American Escapes, Inc. has no legal connection or joint ownership. These local tour operators attempt to conduct these trips as described in the preceding itineraries. However, it is possible that due to transportation schedule changes, weather, delays and unforeseeable acts of God, humans or nature, itineraries may vary from what is described. Participants are responsible for extra costs due to travel delay or itinerary changes for reasons beyond our control and assume all risks, whether identified in advance or unforeseen, as described under Limitation of Liability, and Trip Member Responsibility, located in our Terms and Conditions, which all travelers agree to sign. Traveler's insurance is not included, but is offered, and is strongly recommended. CST # 2023695-40.