DAY 1 (Sunday): The Patagonian Adventure Starts

The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas or Punta Arenas airport in the morning and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia, located in the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park. Alternatively, you can start your trip in Calafate.  En route you make a couple of stops. The first is in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of “Seno de Ultima Esperanza,” where you enjoy a hearty local lunch. The second stop is at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890s. The whole journey is very scenic, with plenty of wild birds and wonderful landscapes to be seen.

The day ends with your arrival and overnight stay at EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of the park with a view of the Torres. During summer the sun sets around 11 p.m., so upon arrival there’s plenty of light to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon. (Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 2 (Monday): The Paine Massif’s Heart: Valle Frances

After breakfast, you start your day with a drive toward Pudeto dock, located by the shores of Pehoe Lake. Once there you board the catamaran that takes the group to the northern west sector of the Lake from where you’ll start the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), along a steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. How deep you go depends on our groups’ rhythm. An active walk leads you to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif. From this point there is a truly wonderful view. Then you continue up the trail until reaching the upper section 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’s time to have a picnic and recover from the walk. An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is available as well. Next, you descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest until reaching the Refugio Paine Grande, located in the peaceful shores of Lake Pehoe. Finally, upon reaching the Refugio, the luggage is organized and there’s time to talk about the day while enjoying a replenishing dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Trek: French Valley Trail
Approximate walking time: 8 hours
Distance: 25 kilometers / 15 miles
Altitude: low-altitude trails
Lake Pehoe Navigation time: 30 minutes

* The excursion to French Valley varies throughout the season depending on the catamaran connecting Pudeto and Refugio Pehoe: From October 1 to November 15 and from March 16 through April the navigation operates only once a day, therefore the hike will be limited and only reach Italian campsite. (From November 16 to March 15 the excursion operates on a regular basis)

DAY 3 (Tuesday): Glacier Grey

Today you hike from Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern end of glacial Lake Grey. We enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails to the blue face of Glacier Grey. There’s lots of time to marvel at this calving glacier during the boat ride across this lake, with its floating pieces of ice. From Lake Grey’s southern end you transfer to EcoCamp.

Occasionally the weather may not permit us to sail across the lake, or during Shoulder Season (October and April) the sailing might be cancelled if the required minimum of 10 passengers isn’t reached. In this case you will get up early and trek about two hours along the Grey Trail until reaching a sightseeing point offering a spectacular view of the glacier. Then you return to Paine Grande and take a catamaran to Pudeto’s dock, from where you ‘re driven back to Ecocamp. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Trek: Grey Trail
Approximate walking time: 4 hours
Distance: 14 kilometers / 9 miles
Altitude: low-altitude trails
Lake Grey Navigation time: 40 minutes

DAY 4 (Wednesday): The Big Challenge: Torres Del Paine

Time for a great breakfast and lots of enthusiasm! The goal today is to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park. You walk from the camp site toward 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 you might want to save some energy for the final challenge: the moraine. This mass of boulders is the last guardian before you come face to face with the uplifting Torres del Paine. The moraine is sufficiently steep to consider doing it slowly and with a fair amount of precaution. After a considerable effort, the Towers come into full view, rising majestically before you with the glacial lake visible below. This is one of the most breathtaking sights of the world, the famous Torres del Paine (2, 900 meters/ 9, 400 feet). These three gigantic granite monoliths are 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? At the feet of the mighty Torres del Paine, you will enjoy life, the view, and a bite to eat! Once everyone is ready, you backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley, and return to the EcoCamp. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Trek: The Tower’s Trail
Approximate walking time: 8 hours, round trip.
Distance: 21 kilometers /13 miles, round trip.
Altitude: low altitude trails

* During Shoulder Season (October and April) the Towers Trek excursion might be cancelled because of weather conditions and safety considerations.

DAY 5 (Thursday): Adios Torres Del Paine! 

In the early morning you board a vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas or Calafate in time to catch your flight or enjoy another evening. (Breakfast, Lunch)