The Trail of the Valleys
7 days, 6 nights
Day 1
We suggest you take the early flight Santiago Punta Arenas (4 hours), flying over Los Andes and
observing incredible views of the Patagonian Ice Fields. Upon your arrival to Punta Arenas,
considered the most southern city on the continent, a private transfer will be waiting to drive you to
Puerto Natales. As we leave the airport, we start our drive to Seno Otway, where we visit a
huge colony of Magellanic penguins, doing a short hike in the area; on the way to the colony
you will be able to see the Straits of Magellan and the mystic Tierra del Fuego. During a
3 hour trip we will drive through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias), and chances are
we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (
rare South American ostrich).
Then we will head north, arriving in Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a
typical fishing town surrounded by mountains. We will spend the night in town after an
informative dinner regarding the program.
(4 hours by private transfer, 350 kms.) (LD) (Night at Aqua Terra lodge)b>
Day 2
Early morning we will take a private transfer along an unpaved road heading to Torres Del Paine.
When entering the Park, we will have excellent picture taking opportunities of guanacos
(llama family) and Grey foxes, driving alongside lagoons frequented by Chilean flamencos
and blacknecked swans. We will then drive toward Lago Grey with its impressive glacier
of the same name, forming part of the South Patagonian Ice Field, third largest reserve
of ice in the world, 350 kms. long. We will stop to enjoy a picnic lunch alongside the Pingo River.
Then we go up to the Grey Lake by boat. In order to get to the boat we will walk through a
mature beech forest where we might observe woodpeckers. We will navigate about one hour
through icebergs of different tones of blue up to the Grey glacier, where we will stay
for a while in front of the glacier in the hope of seeing icebergs calve. We stop at the
peninsula Grey and stay overnight at Refugio Grey.
(2 hours by private transfer, 30 minutes walk, 2 hours by boat) (BBLD) (Night at Refugio Grey)
Day 3
This day we start early for an exciting adventure on the ice. We will take a zodiac for 20 minutes
until arriving on the western side of the glacier, where specialized guides will supply us with the
necessary technical equipment (crampons, harness and piolet). We will walk on the glacier,
observing unique deep blue cracks, where, weather permitting, we will have the opportunity of
doing some ice climbing. Our way back will be the same until arriving back at the refuge to enjoy lunch.
By the afternoon we start a soft walk to the Pehoé Lake to spend the night in refugee Vertice.
(1 hour by zodiac, 3hour ice hike and 3 hours walk). (BLD) (Night at Refugio Vertice)
Day 4
We will start our day with a 2hour walk going around the Southwest side of Paine Grande,
the highest peak in the Park, through native forests of Chilean fire bush and evergreen beech
(Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the hanging bridge over the French River for our first
glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend (300M) for one hour through a surreal
Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach the French valley viewpoint
gifting us with a magnificent view of both mountains and lakes. We will lunch here with
good possibilities of seeing avalanches from the hanging glacier or simply observe the west
side of the Cuernos (2600 M), Espada (2400 M) and Fortaleza (2800 M). Our way back will be the
same until we reach the entrance of the valley where we will continue on a different
undulating path for an hour or so until reaching the Cuernos refuge along the shores of Lake Nordensjköld.
(300 mts. altitude gain, 7 hours hike, 18 kms.) (BBLD) (Night at Refugio Los Cuernos)
Day 5
We will start early morning to enjoy, weather permitting, a magnificent dawn filled with orangepink colors.
As we leave the refuge we will follow the path until crossing the Bader River to start ascending
around (200 mts.) from the base of Almirante Nieto mountain (2750 mts.). Chances are, on this path,
we may see the flight of an Andean condor or eagles hunting hares or small rodents. We will
arrive at Inge lagoon and keep ascending for one hour (300 mts.) to reach the start of Valle Ascencio.
We will descend for half hour until reaching the Chilean Refuge where we will stay overnight.
(500 mts. difference of level, 6 hours, 17 kms.) (BBLD) (Night at Refugio Chileno)
Day 6
From the refuge we will start our walk through incredible talldeciduous beech forests
(Nothofagus Pumilio), past glaciers and waterfalls to continue ascending through a huge
terminal moraine up to a view point (900 mts.) with excellent picture taking opportunities.
From here we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850 mts.) and a lagoon with slurry
waters fed by glacial erosion. We will enjoy lunch in front of this breathtaking scenery.
From here we will descend, following the same path down to the Torres Refuge, located at the mountain´s
plateau where we will spend the night. While dinner is being prepared we will enjoy an excellent Pisco Sour,
the favorite Chilean drink made from Pisco, liquor fermented from the Muscatel type grapes,
mixed with lemon juice, sugar and ice.
(400 mts. altitude gain, 5 hours, 12 km.) (BBLD) (Night at Refugio Torres)
Day 7
We will take a private transfer to Punta Arenas, to take the afternoon flight to Santiago.
(5 hours by transfer, 400 km.) (BL)
INCLUDED
All the private transportation indicated in the schedule
Entrance free to Penguin Colony
One night at Aqua Terra Lodge
Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park
Boat to Glacier Grey
Five nights lodging in mountain refuges (comfortable rooms with 6 beds and shared bathroom)
Sleeping bags and linners
Walking on Grey glacier with technical equipment
All meals indicated in the schedule (B: breakfast, BL: box lunch, Lunch, D: dinner
Guide (English Spanish languages)
An assistant for groups over four
NOT INCLUDED
Flight to Santiago, Chile
Internal Flight Santiago Punta Arenas
Any additional nights
Medical expenses
Insurance of any kind
Personal expenses
Porters to carry personal belongings (Porters available upon request)
Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks at Hostería Balmaceda
Fechas de Partidas
October 08 th - 14 th 2005
October 22 nd - 28 th 2005
November 12 th - 18 th 2005
November 26 th - December 2 nd 2005
December 17 th - 23 rd 2005
December 31 st 2005
January 06 th 2006
January 14 th - 20 th 2006
February 4 th - 10 th 2006
February 25 th - March 3 rd 2006
March 18 th - 24 th 2006
April 8 th - 14 th 2006
Rates per person
2 passengers: us$ 1.795
3 a 4 passengers: us$ 1.595
5 a 6 passengers: us$ 1.395
7 a 8 passengers: us$ 1.295
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Versión Español
