Patagonia Trekking

Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas

Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile on the northern shore of the Strait of Magellan. Your trip leader will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. In the evening the group will gather for a pre-trip briefing.

Day 2: Paine National Park

From Punta Arenas we’ll drive about three hours across the Patagonian plains to the quiet fishing and mining town of Puerto Natales on the shores of Seno Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Here we’ll stretch our legs a bit and have lunch. Continue driving toward Paine National Park and take in the first spectacular views of the Paine range (weather permitting). There is also a very good chance to see guanacos (relatives of the camel and llama) up close in this area of the park. We will arrive at our Eco-Camp accommodations early in the evening. Because it does not get dark in the Austral summer until around 11:00 p.m., you will have plenty of time to admire the landscape and photograph as we drive toward the park. Eco-Camp is designed exactly as it sounds—a seasonal “camp” or hotel that is built to have as little impact as possible on the environment. Inspired by the traditional Kawesar—a native Patagonian hut resembling an igloo or a geodesic dome—these structures hold up well to the severe wind often experienced in Patagonia. While the Kawesqar people built their huts of bent branches covered with guanaco and sea lion skins, ours are made of modern materials. The basic premise of Eco-Camp's design was to maintain the nomadic spirit of these ancient inhabitants who lived in harmony with Mother Nature. The hotel is meant not to be seen, but to blend in with the environment. You will be amazed by the four-star amenities (including available hot showers) and service at this hotel, and equally awed by the outdoor experience these incredible structures provide. With transparent ceilings and flexible walls, you will be able to experience the elements—stars, moon, clouds, and wind—while being completely protected from them. And you’ll have incredible views of the surrounding vistas, including the granite pillars of the Torres del Paine. [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 3: Torres del Paine

We'll get an early start for our all-day hike to the Torres del Paine. First we walk towards the Ascension River, crossing it via a suspension bridge, then continue hiking along the river over a low pass into the Ascencion Valley, where we'll pass through beech forests before reaching the talus-covered slopes below the towers. A 30-minute hike up the rough talus and boulders will bring us to a spectacular viewpoint where the towers rise majestically before us, and the glacial lake is visible below. This is one of the most scenic spots in the world! We'll enjoy a box lunch en route, and return hike to Eco-Camp. (Approx. hiking time: 8 hours, 2,296ft elevation gain) [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 4: Hike to Campamento Seron

We get another early start today so we can enjoy impressive views of the Paine Towers and the peak of Almirante Nieto. We begin our walk through a tall deciduous beech forest, where we may spot the Magellanic woodpecker. Our path leads through the foothills of Cerro Paine and grassland areas before arriving at the old Seron Camp. (Approx. hiking time: 6 hours; Approx. distance: 10 miles, 656 ft elevation gain) [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 5: Lago Dickson

This is a long day, and though our hike has some ups and downs, it is mostly flat. We'll continue hiking west, skirting Lago Paine. Along the way we’ll have incredible views of the northeast peaks of the Paine Massif, including Cabeza del Indio (Indian Head), Escudo Cubo, and Dickson. Camp at Lago Dickson. The horses will be turned back at this point, but porters will arrive to carry the communal camping gear over the pass (you will still carry your raingear, gaiters, jacket, lunch, etc. in your daypack). You will be given waterproof bags for the clothing and other items you’ll need for the next three days. The rest of your belongings will go back with the horses and you’ll meet up with them again at Lago Grey. (Approx. hiking time: 6-8 hours; Approx. distance: about 11 miles, 670ft elevation gain) [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 6: Lago de los Perros

Today we'll hike west toward the Paine Pass and the immense Patagonia Ice Cap. The Dickson Glacier is visible here, pouring into Dickson Lake from the ice cap above. We enter into primeval beech forests and hike up the Río de los Perros, reaching Lago de los Perros and the hanging glacier in the mid-afternoon. Continue hiking for a halfhour to reach the Perros campsite, located in a peaceful old-growth forest. (Approx. hiking time: 6 hours, 1,148ft elevation gain) [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 7: Cross the Paine Pass

We start early and ascend along the banks of the Rio Perros to reach Paine Pass (4,000') after about three hours (altitude gain of 1,500 feet). Once on top, we'll have fantastic views of the Patagonia Ice Cap and the 25-mile-long Grey Glacier, lying 2,000 feet below us on the west side of the pass. We'll descend scree slopes to the treeline and enter the forest along the left bank of the Grey Glacier. This part of the hike is very strenuous; we'll have to pick our way carefully over numerous fallen logs and descend steep, slippery trails that can get very muddy at times. We'll continue to skirt the Grey Glacier, encountering buttresses, climbing and descending steep and slippery trails, crossing avalanche gullies, and fording some fast-moving streams. Arrive at Lago Grey and camp overnight near the refugio, where hot showers are available. (Approx. hiking time: 10-12 hours, 3,280ft elevation gain) [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 8: Grey Glacier – Lago Pehoe

Today we have two options on how to spend our day. The first option takes us to visit the Grey Glacier, a 30-minute walk from the refugio, with the opportunity to observe icebergs calving into Lago Grey—a truly spectacular experience. Then we can take off for a leisurely hike to our next camp at Lago Pehoe, with fantastic views of the glacier behind us and the Paine massif rearing up above us on our left. The second option is a half-day hike on the Grey Glacier with crampons. (This activity is at extra cost and includes gear rental). From the campsite, we board a Zodiac for a 10-minute ride on Lago Grey to the starting point of the hike. Once on the glacier we'll rope up in teams and receive thorough instruction on how to walk on the glacier with crampons before we start hiking (this is usually two to three hours and depends on the weather). This is a great way to see the glacier up close! No previous glacier hiking experience is needed. After the glacier hike we’ll return to camp and make the four-hour hike to Lago Pehoe. (Approx. hiking time: 4 hours. 600ft elevation gain) [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 9: French Valley

Today's hike takes us into the French Valley, one of the most spectacular cirques in the Paine Range. During this hike into the southern cirque, we'll walk below massive glaciers that descend from Paine Grande (the highest summit in the Paine range), and below the enormous granite sweep of the horn-like cuernos. The views are fantastic from here. Again, we have two hiking options. We can hike straight back to camp (Approx hiking time: 4-5 hours, 1,900ft elevation gain) or up to the mirador (viewpoint) above Camp Británico—another 4-5 hours roundtrip hike—for one of the most impressive views in the park (weather permitting)! [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 10: End Trek

From our camp we'll take a catamaran across the lake, enjoying fantastic final views of the cuernos and Paine Grande. We’ll meet with our vehicle and drive to the impressive waterfalls of Salto Grande, then continue to Puerto Natales. Later we'll have a celebration dinner at a restaurant in town. [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 11: Punta Arenas – Depart

After breakfast we'll depart Puerto Natales for a three-hour drive to Punta Arenas. In the afternoon we'll board a flight to Santiago, where you'll connect with your international flight home. If you can't bring yourself to depart South America just yet (and we certainly couldn't blame you!), consider joining one of our extensions, including Easter Island and the Atacama Desert, among others. Ask our Regional Specialist for details! [Breakfast]