Epic Patagonia Multisport Adventure

Experience Chilean Patagonia on this epic multisport adventure to explore the best destinations in Torres del Paine National Park. Your days are action-packed with hiking, biking, kayaking, and horseback riding, while at night you relax in comfort with good food and wine at the EcoCamp, located in the heart of the park.

Trip Length: 6 days
Destination: Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile
Lodging: Tourist Superior to Luxury Class EcoCamp Dome
Activities: Wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, biking

WHY THIS TRIP

TRIP DESCRIPTION

Experience the very best of Chilean Patagonia on an epic, multi sport adventure, affording you the magnificent natural highlights of Torres del Paine! This adrenaline-pumping adventure features action-packed days of hiking, cycling, kayaking and horse riding. Relaxing evenings at EcoCamp offer the perfect opportunity for epic adventurers to wind down as they enjoy the fantastic food, wine and company of EcoCamp’s community domes, in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park.

The EcoCamp Patagonia, the Patagonia region’s first fully sustainable accommodations option, is a series of comfortable hotel rooms in geodesic domes, and travelers have the option of staying in Standard Domes or Suite Domes (additional cost). The domes were designed to withstand the strong Patagonian winds while allowing guests to enjoy the Patagonian night sky through the windows in the ceiling.

LOCAL OPERATOR: Cascada Expediciones

Since 1991 Cascada Expediciones has been offering eco-friendly opportunities for travelers to let go of normal life and refresh with energizing connections to nature. With a strong focus on providing innovative, high-quality experiences — trips in which each traveler enjoys every moment of a trip — Cascada has refreshed nearly 30,000 people.

Headquartered in Santiago, a trip of a lifetime with Cascada can include activities ranging from trekking, mountaineering, horseback riding, biking, rafting, fly fishing, kayaking, skiing, wildlife safari and photography, multisport itineraries to winery tours. In engaging the outdoors Cascada-style, every traveler is made to feel relaxed and energized by each activity; nourished rather than weary.

More good feeling comes in knowing the money spent on a Cascada trip stays in the Chilean economy. Moreover, the money stays with a company and people who have a deep respect for the environment. The staff and guides live an eco-friendly life, sharing the environmentally sustainable philosophy put into practice over the life of the company.

So firm in its understanding of nature’s importance, Cascada became a carbon neutral company in 2008 and, between June 2009 and 2010, offset more than 183 tons of CO2 emissions. With a goal of becoming entirely CO2-free, Cascada encourages its travelers, suppliers and shareholders to help by standing by its philosophy.

Itinerary

Click the Abbreviated Itinerary to see the Detailed Itinerary

Itinerary

DAY 1: Your Patagonian Adventure Starts! (Dome at EcoCamp)
DAY 2: Cycling to Laguna Azul (Dome at EcoCamp)
DAY 3: Kayak at Grey Glacier (Dome at EcoCamp)
DAY 4: Patagonia Horseback Riding (Dome at EcoCamp)
DAY 5: Cerro Paine Trek (Dome at EcoCamp)
DAY 6: Leave Torres del Paine National Park
Note: This is a sample itinerary. It's possible that the daily activities will be in a different order.

DAY 1: Your Patagonian Adventure Starts (Any day of the week)

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 we make a couple of stops – First in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of “Seno de Ultima Esperanza”, where we enjoy a hearty local lunch, and second at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s.

The journey is scenic and highly atmospheric, featuring many wild birds and wonderful Patagonian landscapes. The day ends with our arrival and overnight stay at EcoCamp Patagonia (optional), nestled in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park and with a prime view of the majestic Torres. Sunset is usually around 11pm during the summer months, meaning that there will still be enough daylight for you to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon once you arrive.

Overnight: Standard, Superior, or Suite Dome at EcoCamp Patagonia
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: Cycling Through Estancia Laguna & Cañadón Macho (Monday or Thursday)

After breakfast, we start our biking adventure. The roughly 7 km morning bike excursion follows a route inside the Laguna Azul estancia close to where it meets Baguales, heading up to Saltos Las Chinas.

Once we are back at Laguna Azul, we will enjoy our box lunch with a beautiful view of the Towers and when we are ready to continue, the van will take us to the next bike track.

This 4 km biking excursion follows a single track through Cañadón Macho, finishing at a junction with the road near Cascada Paine. Although the cycling is not too demanding, there are some sections of the trail that have some difficulty at the point where Cañadón Macho crosses a meadow and starts climbing, followed by an undulating stretch of descent, which is a little steep and rocky.

Approximate Activity Time: 3 hours one way
Distance: 7 mi / 11 km
Maximum Altitude Point: 590 ft / 180 m

Overnight: Standard, Superior, or Suite Dome at EcoCamp Patagonia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Kayak on Grey Glacier (Tuesday or Friday)

After breakfast at EcoCamp, we will head off at 7:30 am to the Serrano area in the western sector of the park arriving at around 9:00 am at Serrano Base. From here, we will board another vehicle and head to the Pingo River where we shall take part in a safety talk (20 minutes approx.).

Afterward, it’s time to get into the water! Once our kayaks are in, we will move gently with the river’s current towards the Grey Lake Peninsula to see the glacier’s impressive icebergs. After enjoying the moment, it’s time to continue down the Grey River for the next 3 hours approx.

At Puente Grey, we stop to eat our boxed lunch before continuing downstream to the confluence of the Grey and Serrano rivers. Around 20 minutes later we return to where our adventure started, at Villa Serrano, after an amazing day on the water. Then we take the van returning to EcoCamp for our evening aperitif and meal.

Approximate Activity Time: 3.5 hours
Distance: 1.25 mi / 2 km
Maximum Altitude Point: 65 ft / 20 m

* Kayak: Minimum age is 15 years old, and the maximum age is 65 years old

Overnight: Standard, Superior, or Suite Dome at EcoCamp Patagonia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Patagonia Horseback Riding (Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday)

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the spectacular scenery of Patagonia is to ride through it on horseback. After a hearty breakfast at EcoCamp, we begin around 09:30 am with an induction talk (1 hour approx.) before heading out on our 13 km journey.

We start by making our way around the immense Lake Nordenskjold, with its heart-achingly beautiful views of Mount Almirante Nieto and Cerro Paine, and pass over the ice-cold Patagonian rivers. Keep your eyes peeled for the local flora and fauna who call this land their home, including foxes, condors, and dense groupings of lenga forests.

We pick up the pace on the beach, and at around 13:00 we stop for lunch at Paine River. After a full day taking in the sights and sounds of the area, we head back to EcoCamp around 15:00 to get some rest and enjoy an evening cocktail.

Approximate Activity Time: 6 hours
Distance: 18 mi / 30 km
Maximum Altitude Point: under 985 ft / 00 m

Overnight: Standard, Superior, or Suite Dome at EcoCamp Patagonia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Cerro Paine Trek (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday)

We leave after a tasty breakfast at EcoCamp to head to Cerro Paine, a nearby mountain characterized by its two imposing peaks. We hike along the mountain for half an hour, which allows us to warm up while admiring the view of the surrounding pampas. The challenge begins as we start climbing the eastern part of Cerro Paine.

We cross the lenga forest with the sound of the local birds and enjoy a few stops to observe the immense Almirante Nieto Mountain and its glacier on our left side. With any luck, we will follow the tracks of the puma as the towers come into full view. A nice place for lunch, isn’t it?

As we are ready to start the steepest part of the hike, we leave the forest and hike on the rock. As we go up, we admire the spectacular panoramic view of the immense pampas and the mountains in the distance, like the Balmaceda mountain. We walk upward for about an hour up to 1500m/4920ft to reach the eastern peak of Cerro Paine, which offers an unforgettable lookout of the towers and the Ascencio Valley. After chilling and taking in one of the most striking views of the national park, we backtrack along the same trail and return to EcoCamp.

Approximate Activity Time: 8 hours
Distance: 9 mi / 16 km
Maximum Altitude Point: 4,920 ft / 1,500 m

Overnight: Standard, Superior, or Suite Dome at EcoCamp Patagonia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Departure Day

We will board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, or El Calafte, in time to catch departing flights.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

travel logistics

Getting To and From the Trip:

Stating in Punta Arenas, Chile: If you are staying at hotel in Punta Arenas the night before this trip starts, you will be picked up at your hotel at 10:15am on Day 1. (We can help you arrange a hotel if needed.) If you are arriving by domestic flight into Punta Arenas in the morning, you will be picked up at the airport at 11:30am. If you are arriving by domestic flight in the afternoon, you will be picked up from the airport at 3:30pm.

Starting in Puerto Natales, Chile: If you are staying the night before in a hotel in Puerto Natales, arriving by a domestic flight, or arriving by public bus, you will be picked up at 2:00pm on Day 1.

Starting in El Calafate, Argentina: You will be picked up from your hotel in El Calafate at 7:00am on Day 1 of this trip. Because of the early pick up, you would need to overnight in El Calafate the night before. We can help you arrange all necessary hotels and transportation.

Ending in Punta Arenas, Chile: If you have a departure flight leaving Punta Arenas on Day 9 of this trek, you will be dropped off at the Punta Arenas Airport at 2:00pm. Please make sure your flight departs at 4:00pm or later to give yourself time to check in. If you are staying the night in Punta Arenas, you will be dropped off at your hotel at 2:30pm. We can help you arrange a hotel.

Ending in Puerto Natales, Chile: You will be dropped off at your hotel at 11:00am. We can help you arrange a hotel and day tours.

Ending in El Calafate, Argentina: You will have a shared transfer from Torres del Paine National Park to the Cerro Castillo Chile-Argentina boarding crossing. Here you will board a public bus to El Calafate. Once you arrive at the El Calafate bus station, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. Ending your trip in El Calafate does not have an additional fee. We can help you arrange a hotel and other services in El Calafate.

Domestic Argentina or Chile Flights & International Flights: We at Detour do not arrange flights, but we can connect you with our travel partner Exito Travel. They specialize in international and domestic flights in Latin America.

Trip Start: The trip starts every day with pick ups and drop offs in Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or El Calafate. Please visit our Weekly Transfer Board for details of EcoCamp pick up and drop off times from both Chile and Argentina.

Trip End: The trip ends every day with pick ups and drop offs in Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or El Calafate.

Complete Your Trip

Depending on your international and domestic flights, you made need to spend the night in Santiago (Chile), Punta Arenas (Chile), Puerto Natales (Chile), or in El Calafate (Argentina). If this is the case, we can help you arrange hotels, transportation, day tours, and anything else you need to make this trip perfect for you.

Getting all the way down to Patagonia isn’t easy, what else can you do while you’re there? We recommend heading even further south and exploring Tierra del Fuego National Park (located in Argentina), either by hiking, paddling, or by naturalist cruise. Or we recommend riding with banqueanos (Patagonia cowboys), and learning about Patagonia through their eyes. We have packages for all of these trips, and we can help make your trip exactly the way you want it.

If you want to explore more of Chile, we recommend trekking in the Atacama desert, wine tasting outside of Santiago, exploring the colorful coastal town of Valparaiso, biking and paddling in the Lake District, whitewater rafting, and learning about the ancient culture of Napa Nui (Easter Island).

Prices & Dates

2023 PRICES:

For pricing, please inquire using the “I Am Interested” button above.

Solo Travelers: If you are a solo traveler, and there are no other travelers starting this trip on the same date you are, there is additional 1 person group supplement that will be added. It is possible for you to share a standard dome with another traveler of the same gender, rather than pay for a single dome. If you are interested in this option, please inquire for availability.

2024 PRICES:

For pricing, please inquire using the “I Am Interested” button above.

What's Included / Not Included

INCLUDED:

All ground transport private and domestic as indicated in the itinerary
Multisport activity equipment rental (bikes, kayaks, horses)
Accommodation at EcoCamp
Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park
Expert English speaking trekking guides
Meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day

View Terms and Conditions:
http://detourdestinations.com/terms-and-conditions/cascada-expediciones

NOT INCLUDED:

International and domestic flights (can be booked on your own, or with our flight partners at Exito Travel. For a quote, please let me know your home airport)
Insurance (it is mandatory you purchase appropriate insurance for this trip)
Voluntary tipping of guides and staff
Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp. Bringing US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP is suggested
Alcoholic beverages
Items of personal nature
Services not indicated in the itinerary
Chile reciprocity fee (if applicable)
Accommodations and services in Santiago, Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, or El Calafate (can be quoted for and arranged upon request)

Accommodations

EcoCamp Patagonia
Located in the heart of Torres del Paine, the EcoCamp consists of tented igloo-type domes built to minimize the environmental impact while providing a comfortable setting and maximum exposure to nature. There is electricity available for charging just camera batteries (voltage: 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, two round pins plug). Food at the EcoCamp has the same quality as the one you will have on a family dinner at your home, this means it is plenty and delicious!