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.
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1 Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales. A KL Expedition 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 2 Puerto 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 3 Camp 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 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
Duration: 16 days
Difficulty: Level II in Shape
Departures
October 15-30, 2005 Trip# KLT003-1
November 3-18, 2005 Trip# KLT003-2
December 3-18, 2005 Trip# KLT003-4
January 3-18, 2005 Trip# KLT003-6
February 3-18, 2005 Trip# KLT003-8
March 3-19, 2005 Trip# KLT003-10
March 15-30, 2005 Trip# KLT003-11
Trekking cost: US $3,150 per person minimum 4 clients
Reservation: USD $1,000
Balance payment date: 60 days prior to departure
Space available: 14 persons
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Service Includes:
Professional Bilingual Trekking Guide
Ratio Guide Clients 1-5
All local organization and supervision by KL Adventure Staff
Airport assistance at Punta Arenas.
Private transfers the entire tour.
Hotel 2 nights base on double occupancy with breakfast in Puerto Natales.
Hotel 1 night base on double occupancy with breakfast in Calafate
Shelter 3 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 tents, Mountain Hardware and Marmot tents, inflates & isolate mattress, stoves & gas, etc…
Walking & Climbing on the Southern Ice Cap
Porters for carrying personal equipment free till 10 kg.
Radio communications equipment VHF 2 mt
First aid kit
Service does not include:
Personal trekking equipment
Excess luggage on any flight
Excess gear on porter
Any meals on city days and transfers
Any beverage such as sodas, beer and or wine
Accident and rescue insurance
Cash for extra expenses
Important:
Any departure can be re-scheduled with a minimum of 4 persons
Promotion international airfare included applies only with prepaid reservation made it 90 days in advance.
Flights from USA is with LAN Chile www.lanchile.com and departure are from Los Angeles, New York and Miami.
Departure from Germany is with LAN Chile from Frankfurt and included the train ticket from any point of the
country to Frankfurt and return home. Also several cities in Germany are possible to connect by air:
Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Fr ankfurt. For other airport departures not listed,
please ask at jean@jpmountainguide.com
Departure from rest of West Europe: England, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria,
Spain, Norway, Denmark, Sweden & Finland are cover from main cities airport.
Please ask at jean@jpmountainguide.com
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