Torres del Paine W Trek in Patagonia
Torres del Paine W Trek in Patagonia
This is a packed itinerary specially designed for active people. It features the famous hike in Torres del Paine, the W-Trek. However, that’s not all: you will discover Punta Arenas' city by bicycle, navigate the Strait of Magellan and visit the islands to spot penguins. Other highlights of the trip are visiting a ranch to spot condors and horseback riding up to Cerro Dorotea's summit. In other words, an opportunity to experience Patagonia intensely, taking advantage of every minute and enjoying complete independence.
11-Day Trekking Tour
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SEASON: October to April
DURATION: 11 days. Starts and ends in Santiago de Chile.
PARTICIPANTS: Small groups 2 to 4 people.
Highlights
Self-guided W-trek in Torres del Paine National Park
Explore Punta Arenas by bicycle.
Navigation in the Magellan Strait with penguins watching in Magdalena Island.
Condor watching in Estancia Olga Teresa.
Horseback riding in Cerro Dorotea, with a local gaucho ( Patagonian cowboy)
Discover the city of Santiago de Chile in a guided walking tour.
Great opportunities to see/photograph wildlife.
Difficulty: Moderate to high.
Experience required: Trekking skills, and some trekking days may be strenuous.
Rates
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Services included in this program
Transportation as mentioned in the day by day program: Bus from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales. Shared transport for the shared tours. Private transport for the W-Trek tour.
Private airport transfers (4).
Half day private guided walking tour in Santiago de Chile
Half day shared navigation tour Marta & Magdalena Islands for penguin watching in the Magellan Strait.
Half day shared tour Estancia Olga Teresa for condor watching in the nearest of Punta Arenas.
Half day Punta Arenas bike tour with focus on local history and architecture.
Half day Cerro Dorotea horseback riding tour with a Gaucho local guide, includes mate and snack.
Maps for the self-guided W-Trek
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: full board on trekking days. In all 10 breakfast, 5 box-lunches and 4 dinners.
Accommodation in hotels as mentioned in the itinerary or similar. 1 night in hotel****, 5 nights in hotel***, 4 nights camp (upgrade to hut available, extra fee US $65 per person per night.)
Accommodation in double tent in camps, includes: tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag with its liner.
Torres del Paine National Park entrance fee
All activities as mentioned in the program.
All camping fees.
24 hours assistance.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN SANTIAGO DE CHILE
Private transfer from Santiago airport to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will discover downtown on a walking tour with an English-speaking guide.Lodging: Hotel Bonaparte Boutique **** or similar
Meals: No meals included
Day 2: SANTIAGO – PUNTA ARENAS
Private transfer to Santiago airport for the 3-hour flight to Punta Arenas. You will be met at Punta Arenas airport and transferred to your hotel. (Private transfer) In the evening, time to walk along the Magellan Strait's shores, with dramatic views of the ocean and the sky.Lodging: Apart Hotel Endurance *** or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: BIKE TOUR OF PUNTA ARENAS – ESTANCIA OLGA TERESA & CONDORS WATCHING
In the morning, half-day biking tour to discover Punta Arenas town in southern Chilean Patagonia. Your guide will be a passionate local cyclist. He will share with you his knowledge of this strategic corner's history and culture on the earth's southern tip. (Shared tour) In the afternoon, a shared tour to Estancia Olga Teresa, for the best condors watching ever. It is a 4-hour tour to see and photograph the largest flying bird, the famous and majestic Andean Condor. Besides, you will have the opportunity to take some "trophy photos" through the telescope using your smartphones and standard format cameras.Lodging: Apart Hotel Endurance *** or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: PUNTA ARENAS – MARTA MADGALENA ISLAND & PENGUINS WATCHING - PUERTO NATALES
Early morning start to take a boat tour in the Magellan Strait and visit Marta and Magdalena island, where big colonies of Magellan penguins will be nesting from October to April. This visit includes disembarking in Magdalena island and free time to discover the penguin colony. Excellent opportunity to take photographs. You will be back for lunch at Punta Arenas. In the afternoon, you will be assisted to take the bus to Puerto Natales: a 3-hour transfer across the Patagonian steppe. You will be met at arrival to Puerto Natales and transferred to your hotel. (Private transfer)Lodging: Hotel Florence Dixie*** or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: PUERTO NATALES – TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK – TORRES DEL PAINE TREK
Early in the morning, we pick you up from your hotel in Puerto Natales and take you to Torres del Paine National Park. The trip takes about two and a half hours (112 Kms./70 miles). After check-in at the Central sector, you will hike to the Chilean Mountain Hostel, enjoying the Ascencio Valley and the lakes' incredible views. Before walking up the Morrena, a challenging rocky path, you will cross a beautiful lenga forest. Once you reach the Las Torres Viewpoint, you will be rewarded with spectacular views. After enjoying your box lunch, you will begin to descend towards the Central sector to enjoy dinner and rest for the night.Drive: 2,5 hours
Hike: 8 to 10 hours
Initial altitude: 120m/394ft.
Highest point: 870m/2854ft.
Distance: 19,5 k / 12 miles
Difficulty: High
Lodging: Camp, Las Torres, Central Sector
Meals: Breakfast, Box-Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: ESTANCIA LAS TORRES– FRENCH CAMP (14 km)
With the spectacular Cuernos del Paine on the right, and the colors of Lake Nordenskjöld on the left, you will walk towards the French sector. This day the walk will be easier, there will be no big slopes and the journey will be shorter and faster than the previous day. On the way, you will hike at the foothill of the Cuernos del Paine and Mount Almirante Nieto (2,670 m.a.s.l.), a massif of temperamental climate.Hike: 3 to 4 hours
Initial altitude: 120m/394ft.
Highest point: 270m
Distance: 11 k / 6,8 miles
Difficulty: Low
Lodging: Camp, French Sector
Meals: Breakfast, Box-Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: FRENCH CAMP – PAINE GRANDE (20 kms)
Today you will visit another of the most emblematic and magical places of the Park, the impressive French Valley. The trekking will begin with a smooth walk in the direction of the Italian camp. Here, you will begin to climb through the valley and after an hour and a half of ascent, you will arrive at the “French Viewpoint”. Here you will see very closely one of the hanging glaciers of Cerro Paine Grande and, with any luck, you can witness an ice detachment (avalanche). With that impressive view circling in your head you will continue advancing through a forest of oak trees, to the British sector. Get ready, it is probably the only time in your life that you see such a show: the magnificent Valle del Francés, flooded by its colossal mountains and granite walls whose unique shapes and colors will leave you breathless. The return will be along the same downhill path until we reach the Italian camp, and then turn west towards the Paine Grande Sector, where we will spend the night.Hike: 8 to 10 hours
Initial altitude: 120m/393ft
Highest point: 800m/2625ft
Distance: 20,5 k / 12,7 miles
Difficulty: High
Lodging: Camp, Paine Grande Sector
Meals: Breakfast, Box-Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: PAINE GRANDE – GREY GLACIER VIEWPOINT - GREY CAMP (16 kms)
PAINE GRANDE – GREY GLACIER VIEWPOINT - GREY CAMP (16 kms) This will be a smoother hike day. The trail presents some ascents and descents, crossing forests of ñirres, cohigues and notros, ( all different kinds of Patagonian oak) and with the majestic and heavily glaciated Cerro Paine Grande (the highest summit of the massif with 3050 m.a.s.l.) and its hanging glaciers to your left. We will get at Grey Camp and continue to Grey Glacier viewpoint. From there you will see the Patagonian icefield.Hike: 4 to 5 hours
Initial altitude: 120m/393ft
Highest point: 450m/1476ft
Distance: 16 k / 9,9 miles
Difficulty: Low
Lodging: Camp, Grey Sector
Meals: Breakfast, Box-Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: GREY CAMP – PAINE GRANDE CAMP – LAKE PEHUE CROSSING – TRANSFER TO PUERTO NATALES
Easy hike back to Paine Grande Camp, (3 hours). In the afternoon, you will take a catamaran across Lake Pehue ( 20 minutes) and get to Pudeto. Then take a bus to Puerto Natales ( 3 hours) and transferred to your hotel.Hike: 3 hours
Difficulty: Low
Optional: In the morning you will have the option to take a Kayak excursion to the Grey Glacier (not included in the cost, must be booked in advance), then start the trek to Paine Grande area. Extra cost per person: U$d 120
Lodging: Lady Florence Dixie Hotel *** or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Box-Lunch
Day 10: PUERTO NATALES – HORSEBACK RIDING CERRO DOROTEA
In the morning, half day horseback riding with a “Gaucho” local guide. Shared tour. You will reach the summit of Cerro Dorotea and have a panoramic view of the fiords. In the afternoon, time at leisure to walk the streets of the village, get local souvenirs, or just relax and take photos at the shores orf Sound Pedro Montt, with its dramatic sky and wonderful black neck swamsLodging: Lady Florence Dixie Hotel *** or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Snack for the horseback riding
Day 11: PUERTO NATALES – FLIGHT TO SANTIAGO – INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
Private transfer to the Puerto Natales airport. At arrival to Santiago, connection with your international flight.Lodging:
Meals: Breakfast