Patagonia: Torres del Paine Circuit & Fitz Roy Area
Tour Description This exciting trek surrounds the
worldly renowned Torres del Paine circuit. Hiking through fields
covered
with flowers enjoying amazing views of blue and emerald colored
lakes, in the friendly shadows of Lenga forests, and climb
up to the bases of the most impressive granite rock formations
of the famous Cuernos and Torres of the National Park. After
finishing the circuit, we cross the border to the Argentine
side of Patagonia to visit the immense Perito Moreno glacier
in the south of National Park Los Glaciares. We will then do
some more trekking in the Northern part of Los Glaciares from
the picturesque village of El Chalten. The famous peaks of
Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre will be our continuous company during
this final 3-day trekking.
Duration
16 days
Difficulty
In Good Shape
Departures
AET003-01 November 21-December 06, 2009.
AET003-02 December 05-December 20, 2009.
AET002-03 January 09-January 24, 2010.
AET002-04 February 06-February 21, 2010.
Trekking cost
US $3,800 per person minimum 6 clients
Single Supplement
US $ 800
Reservation
USD 700
Balance payment date
75 days before departure
Space available
12 persons
Service include
Professional Bilingual Trekking Guide
Ratio Guide Clients 1-6
All local organization and supervision
by KL Adventure Staff
Airport assistance at Punta Arenas.
Private transfers the entire
tour.
Hotel two nights base double occupancy with breakfast in
Puerto Natales.
Hotel one night base on double occupancy with breakfast
in Calafate.
Shelter three nights common rooms.
Entry fee to Torres del Paine & Los
Glaciares National park.
Camping fees.
Full board on the trekking and camping days, box
lunch included.
All common gear equipment: The North Face,, Mountain
Hardware and Marmot tents, isolate mattress,
stoves & gas, etc…
Walking & Climbing on the Southern
Ice Cap.
Porters for carrying common equipment tents,
gas & stoves.
Radio communications equipment
VHF.
First aid kit
Service does not include
All personal climbing equipment gear.
Excess gear on mules.
Porter for personal gear.
Any costs involved in an early departure.
Any meals & drinks in the cities and during transfer days.
Accident and
rescue insurance.
Cash for extra expenses.
Any other service not mentioned in the
list.
Gratuities are not included.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1Punta Arenas – Puerto Natales.
A Acocnagua Express Guide will meet you at the Punta Arenas airport
and immediately transfer to
Puerto Natales, a three-hour drive through the Patagonian pampa.
Lodging in Puerto Natales at hostal Concepto Indigo or Aquaterra
Lodge, dinner and meeting to discuss trip program. Hotel. Transfer
time 152 miles / 246 km / 3 hours.
Day 2Puerto Natales – Hostería Las
Torres – Camp Seron. Transfer by van to Torres del Paine National
Park. This 2,5 hour journey through ranch country includes a quick
stop in Cerro Castillo, the principal site of wool and meat exportation
to Europe during the 1960s. We arrive directly at Hosteria Las Torres
to start our 4 hours trekking to the Serón camp. Along the
way, we come across a meadow blanketed in a kaleidoscope of wild
flowers and breathtaking views of the Laguna Azul to the East of
our destination. Common and personal gear is carried by horses or
porters. Tent. Transfer time 85.5 miles / 138 kms / 2 ½ hours.
Trekking time 8 ¾ miles / 16 km / 4 hours.
Day 3Camp Seron – Camp Dickson. We continue our trek towards
Lake Dickson. This walk is marked by a marvelous view of Lake Paine
from above. We stop for a picnic at the Coirón Camp. The
surrounding terrain is mostly easy going, giving us plenty of time
to admire the middle Torre in the background and a spectacular
view of the Paine mountain range. As we get closer to our camp,
we can see the glacier in the distance flowing into Lake Dickson.
Tent. Trekking time 11 ¼ miles / 18 km / 6 hours.
Day 4 Camp Dickson – Camp Los Perros. Today's trek takes us
through a vast forest leading to our next camping site, Los Perros,
some 4 hours away. The trail follows Los Perros River with beautiful
views on Lake and Glacier Dickson and the North Face of the Paine
Massif. Approaching our camp, we catch a view of the wonderful Los
Perros Glacier. (Cut the piece about horses and carrying gear) Tent.
Trekking time 6 ¼ miles / 10 km / 4 hours.
Day
5 Camp Los Perros – Gardner Pass – Camp Grey. Today’s
hike is tougher, since just after starting out we will cross a swampy
area that can take as long as an hour to work our way through. We
then cross the Paso River and hike up to the John Garner pass at
1,241m. After the pass we begin to make our way down to the Grey
Camp through a forest of native lenga trees with spectacular views
of the Southern Ice Cap and the Grey Glacier. Today's trek is by
far the most difficult and tiring of the entire circuit. Tent. Trekking
time 8 1/4 miles / 13.5 km / 9 hours.
Day 6 Camp Grey – Camp Pehoe. Before we continue our journey
to Pehoe camp, we have the option to make an easy mini trekking on
the Grey Glacier in the morning; an extraordinary experience! In
the afternoon we´ll reach Pehoe camp after 3-4 hours walking
on easy terrain with splendid views on Lake Grey and its Glacier.
Tent. Trekking time 6 ¼ miles / 10 km / 4 hours.
Day 7 Camp Pehoe – French Valley – Refugio Los Cuernos. Trek to the French Valley. The most beautiful valley in the park
and one of the most unique in the world, surrounded by hanging
glaciers and an amphitheater of granite walls and spires. Afterward,
we will
trek to the extraordinary turquoise Lake Nordenskjold and stop
at the magical refuge Los Cuernos for dinner and rest time. Refugio.
Trekking time 15.8 miles / 26 km / 9 hours.
Day 8 Refugio Los Cuernos – Refugio El Chileno. Trek along
Lake Nordenskjold and below the hanging glaciers of Mount Admiral
Nieto, to Refugio El Chileno in valley Ascencio. Refugio. Trekking
time 8 ¾ miles / 16 km / 5 hours.
Day
8 Refugio Los Cuernos – Refugio El Chileno. Trek along Lake
Nordenskjold and below the hanging glaciers of Mount Admiral Nieto,
to Refugio El Chileno in valley Ascencio. Refugio. Trekking
time 8 ¾ miles / 16 km / 5 hours.
Day 9 Refugio El Chileno – Refugio Las Torres. Today
we are finishing the circuit with a hike to the base of the spectacular
three granite towers that made the park famous: Torre D`Agostini
2850 m, also named Torre Sur, Torre Central 2800 m and Torre Norte
2600 m, also named Torre Monzino. On our way down to Refugio Las
Torres we will make a stop at the Refugio El Chileno to have our
lunch, rest and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Ascensio valley. Trekking
time 7.3 miles / 12 km / 6 hours.
Day 10 Refugio Las Torres – Calafate. Early transfer to Calafate,
Argentina through the border pass at Cerro Castillo. Dinner and
overnight at a local hotel in this beautiful Swiss style town. Hotel.
Transfer
time 169 miles / 273 km / 5-6 hours.
Day 11 Calafate – Perito Moreno – El Chalten. We travel
to the Los Glaciares National Park for a view at the impressive Perito
Moreno Glacier and to enjoy the spectacle of icebergs breaking off
and floating down Lake Argentino. In the afternoon, we move on to
our next base camp in the village of El Chaltén, from where
we will realize our next trekking circuit. Hotel. Transfer time 205.8
miles / 332 km / 8 hours.
Day 12 El Chalten – Maestri Look-out Point – Camp Poincenot. Today we will approach the Torre Glacier at the Maestri Look-out
Point starting from the El Chalten village and continue to the base
of the Fitz Roy mountain, Poincenot Camp. The trail leads us steeply
upwards to the Mirador Laguna Torre, which we will reach in aprox
1 hour. Following the Fitz Roy River we will reach the Maestri Look-out
3 hours later to enjoy the views on the Cordon Adela and the Cerro
Torre. The transition trail – Madre and Hija lakes will lead
us to our camp site in approx. 2,5 hours of easy walking. Tent. Trekking
time 14 miles / 22 km / 6 hours 15 minutes.
Day 13 Camp Poincenot – Laguna de los Tres – Camp
Piedra del Fraile. From Poincenot Camp we have an hour of steep climbing
to reach Laguna de los Tres to appreciate the precious view of the
Fitz Roy mountain. After climbing down to Rio Blanco we continue
to Piedra del Fraile Camp through Lenga forests along Rio Blanco
and Rio Electrico. Tent. Trekking time 9 miles / 14,5 km / 5,5 hours.
Day 14 Camp Piedra del Fraile – Paso del Quadrado – El
Chalten. From our camp we climb to the Paso del Quadrado to have
a splendid view at the North Face of the Fitz Roy. Back at Piedra
del Fraile we continue our trekking following Rio Electrico until
we reach the point where it meets Rio de las Vueltas, enjoying the
spectacular views at Cordon Gorra Blanca in the North and Cordon
de los Condores in the East. Here our private transport will be waiting
for us to take us back to the village of El Chalten for a good hot
shower and dinner. Hotel Trekking time 9.3 miles / 14 km / 8,5 hours.
Day 15 Transport to Puerto Natales, super final group dinner. Hotel
Transfer time 228 miles / 368 km / 6 hours.
Day 16 Early transfer to Punta Arenas airport to
connect domestic flight back Santiago and immediately international
flight. End of
service. Transfer time 152 miles / 246 km / 3 hours.
Important
Porter’s service available between camp Dickson and Grey
upon request at additional cost.
Any departure can be re-scheduled with a minimum of 6 persons