National Parks of Patagonia CME

Today we’ll hike from Paine Grande Lodge along the shores of mountain-lined Lake Pehoe to the northern end of glacial Lake Grey. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails to the blue face of Glacier Grey. You’ll have lots of time to marvel at this calving glacier before the boat ride across Lake Grey with its floating pieces of ice. You clothes and personal belongings are once again transported separately from the lodge in duffel bags. From Lake Grey’s southern end we transfer to the EcoCamp. If the weather does not allow us to navigate Lake Grey, we’ll instead hike to Glacier Grey. Then at Pudeto we’ll board the catamaran to cross Lake Pehoe. From there, we’ll take a short drive back to Cascada EcoCamp where we’ll enjoy the night. (B+L+D)

Walking duration: 2 hours.

Walking distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles.

Boat ride on Grey Lake: 2 hours round trip.

Time for a great breakfast and lots of enthusiasm! Our goal is to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine NP. We walk from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres and connect with the winding uphill path to Ascencio Valley – the valley which supports the eastern face of the Towers’ base. Dry mountain spots, beech forests and small rivers are passed along the scenic walk into the valley. It’s not a difficult walk, but energy should nevertheless be saved for the final challenge: the moraine. This mass of boulders is the last guardian before our face to face meeting with the uplifting Torres del Paine. The moraine is sufficiently steep to consider doing it slowly and with an adequate amount of precaution. After a considerable effort, the Towers come into full view, rising majestically before us with the glacial lake visible below. This is one of the most breathtaking sights of the world! The famous Torres del Paine (2, 900 m/ 9, 400 ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. Is there any better place on this planet to have lunch? Of course! But since we are in Patagonia, at the feet of the mighty Torres del Paine, we will enjoy life, the view, and a bite to eat! Once everyone is ready, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley, and return to the EcoCamp. (B+L+D)

Trekking duration: 10 hours round trip.

Trekking distance: 21 km /13 miles round trip.

After breakfast, we start our day driving towards Pudeto dock, located by the shores of Pehoe Lake. Once there we board the catamaran that will take us to the northern west sector of the Lake from where we will start the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), taking a steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. How deep we go depends on our groups’ rhythm. An active walk leads us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif. From this point, we can enjoy our first truly wonderful view and then continue up the trail until reaching the upper prospects of the valley. The entire group of geological formations of the high valley can be admired here: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza! (Fortress). It is time to have a picnic and recover from the walk. Overnight Eco Camp. (B+L+D)

Boat ride on Pehoe Lake: 30 minutes each way.

Trekking duration: 6 hours round trip.

Trekking distance: 11 km / 7 miles round trip.

The group will take a transfer from the hotel to Hosteria El Pilar, where the trail starts. (17 km from the town). Soft activity: Hike up rio Blanco and panoramic point of the Piedras Blancas glacier and back to El Pilar. Transfer will be waiting for return to El Chalten. Trekking duration: 4 hours Hard activity: Continue hiking from the panoramic point of Piedras Blancas glaciar to Poicenot campsite. Returning to El Chalten by Laguna Capri trail. If the group wants they can do the hike up to “Laguna De Los Tres” (the best panoramic point of the Fitz Roy!!!)

Trekking duration: 6 hours. If you decide to go to Laguna de los Tres it's about 8 hours.

Lodging & dinner at the Hosteria Senderos. (B+L+D)

Trekking to Cerro Torre. We start with a short uphill section until reaching the first viewpoint. From here the Cerro Torre and valley entirely visible in its entirety. For those willing to walk further, our guide leads you to Laguna Torre, approximately 9km away from town. The trail runs through a glacier-originated valley. The lagoon features the Torre Glacier calving on the far side, and the Cerro Torre group & spires rising in the background.

Soft activity: 3 hours trekking duration.

Hard activity: 6-7 hours trekking duration.

Lodging at the Hosteria Senderos. (B+L+D)

Hike to Pampa de las Carretas, where a beautiful and panoramic view of the Fitz Roy and Torre hills. Continue to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. Taking the Laguna Toro trailhead from El Chalten, after an hour of hiking we reach our first look out of Cerro Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and Cerro Huemul. Once above the vegetation level (approx. 1000m/a/s/l), you can find yourself amongst fossils such as ammonites and belemonites. This lookout offers a view outside of the conventional views of Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy and Paso del Viento (gate to the ice fields). This trek also has the advantage of not being as popular, so you will not be among too many tourists. Return to El Chalten by the same trail.

Trekking duration: 8 hours (There is an option for a less strenuous hike).

Lodging at the Hosteria Senderos. (B+L+D)

Time to explore the Viedma Glacier, the largest in the “Los Glaciares National Park”. Soft activity: Viedma boat trip. It's a 2 hour boat trip with spectacular views of the lagoon and Viedma Glacier. Time duration: 4 hours Hard activity: Viedma ice trekking. The excursion starts at 09.00 am, once on board we will navigate in Lake Viedma and enjoy views of Mount Fitz Roy and Huemul. We will arrive at Viedma Glacier and land on a rocky promontory where the group will put on crampons and start a guided hike to the ice caverns and other interesting formations. Expert guides will lead you to the front of Viedma Glacier, where you will be able to observe the traces of ice erosion and ice caverns. After this hike, you return to the boat and navigate by the front of the glacier, where you will see its 55 m. ice walls of innumerable tints of blue.

Time duration: 7 hours