Departure/Return Dates:
December 16, 2006 to December 25, 2006

$2,895

(We also offer a longer version of this adventure. See the Patagonia Running Adventure.)

How strong a runner do I need to be?

Information for Runners Traveling from Europe or other Countries

Note: The pricing for this adventure will be based on land cost starting in January 2008. Please see the updated itinerary.

RETURN TO TRIP SUMMARY Trip cost from Los Angeles. $2,895* Single Supplement, if requested. $95** *Airline tickets for the 10 day adventures are not reserved and price may change – please call! **Does not include single room in Torres del Paine. TRIP FEE INCLUDES: • Round trip airfare from Los Angeles or Miami, including U.S. airport fees and taxes. • All internal flights and airport taxes in Chile & Argentina. • Airport check-in and baggage assistance in Chile & Argentina. • All airport transfers and ground transportation in Chile and Argentina for flights scheduled by Andes Adventures. • BEST VALUE FOR SINGLE TRAVELERS! If you are traveling alone, are willing to share accommodations, and reserve at least 180 days in advance, we will not charge a single supplement, even if we can't find you a roommate. If you reserve later we will try our best to find a roommate and if that is not possible we will only charge you half of the single supplement. If you prefer single accommodations, they can be requested at a supplemental cost. • All accommodations in Patagonia: Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales (10 day), El Calafate, El Chalten (Parque Los Glaciares), Ushuaia and Buenos Aires are in fine hotels. Rooms are shared by two people unless a single supplement is purchased. In Torres del Paine National Park we stay in very comfortable mountain lodges (refugios). Men and women are accommodated in separate rooms. Bathrooms for men and for women are separate and they are shared among the group. Hot showers are available all day long. There is no camping – we spend all nights indoors. Options for private rooms in Torres del Paine National Park are subject to availability. Inquire and reserve early! • All meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Vegetarian meals can be accommodated (please request in advance). • All sightseeing tours and park entrance fees to destinations on the itinerary. • The services of professional tour guides. • Our local leaders and guides are knowledgeable about the language, customs, culture and history of their country. They are detail oriented and take great pleasure in sharing their insight and expertise. They help make sure everything runs as safely and smoothly as possible. NOT INCLUDED: • International airport departure tax in Argentina (approx. $30.50 U.S), travel insurance, passport fees, excess baggage fees, gratuity to professional tour guide/leader. All items of personal nature such as: personal gear, laundry, telephone calls, beverages, bottled water, etc. Note: All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions and flight schedules. 1323 12th Street, Suite F Santa Monica, CA  90401 Toll Free (800) 289-9470 Phone (310) 395-5265  FAX (310) 395-7343 Request Information © 2000-2010 Andes Adventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved. CST #2030675-40 Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Plan your 2011 Travel Adventure today!

Day 1 Friday — December 16: Departure USA/Santiago

Afternoon departure to Santiago.

Day 2 Saturday — December 17: Santiago/Punta Arenas

Arrive in Santiago, where you will be met by your trip leader outside the immigration and customs area at the airport and continue together on your flight to Punta Arenas, located on the northern shore of the Strait of Magellan (S 53° 9.6', W 70° 54.5). Overnight in Punta Arenas.

Overnight: Los Navegantes Hotel
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's run: None scheduled.

Day 3 Sunday — December 18: Punta Arenas/Torres del Paine

After a nice overnight rest, we drive north through the Patagonian rolling plains. Weather permitting, we plan a detour to visit a colony of Magellanic penguins in Otway Sound. We stop at the quaint town of Puerto Natales for lunch and continue our drive to Torres del Paine National Park. We will see large herds of sheep and baqueanos (cowboys). As we approach the park along Laguna Amarga, we will have our first views of the spectacular Granite Towers of Paine. We will also enjoy likely sightings of herds of guanacos, flocks of pink flamingos, a variety of foxes, geese, ñandus (wild ostriches) and other wildlife. After entering the park, we get settled at refugio Torres.

Overnight: Refugio Torres
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's run: Optional distances around the refugio in Torres del Paine.

Driving distance: About 240 miles plus additional 40 miles to the rookery.

Day 4 Monday — December 19: Torres del Paine - Run to the Towers

This morning we run up the Ascencio Valley. We cross the river and continue uphill along a lenga and cypress trail. As we pass by campamento Chileno and the foot of Mt. Almirante Nieto, the trail follows a southern beech forest, finally reaching a moraine that takes us to the cirque below the famous Towers of Paine; Torre Sur (9,350’), Torre Central (9,186’) and Torre Norte (8,530’). Downhill run back to the refugio. Additional sightseeing and optional running will be scheduled for the afternoon. Overnight at refugio Torres.

Overnight: Refugio Torres.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's run: 10.5 miles.

Day 5 Tuesday — December 20: Torres del Paine - Run to Dickson

We begin our counterclockwise circuit along the eastern side of the park. We will run along the Paine River valley through easy rolling meadows, fields of daisies, lupines and beech forests. We should have sightings of foxes and with some luck we may see the Magellanic woodpecker and other wildlife. Overnight at refugio Dickson near the southern shore of Lago Dickson.

Overnight: Refugio Dickson.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's run: 18.5 miles.

Note: You can follow the hiking itinerary, skipping the long distances from Torres to Dickson (18.5 miles) and from Dickson to Grey (19 miles). Please see the note below.

Day 6 Wednesday — December 21: Torres del Paine - Run to Grey

The trail climbs out of camp through a lenga forest. We will have excellent views of the surrounding glaciated mountains. We run by Glacier Los Perros, where we will see chunks of blue ice floating on the lake. As we pass the campground, we climb up a short very muddy section and continue the climb to the Gardner pass.

From the top we will have close view of an immense sea of ice “Grey Glacier”; this 4 mile wide glacier is part of the Continental Ice Cap. We will follow a trail down through a forest parallel and above the glacier to the refugio. Overnight at refugio Grey.

Overnight: Refugio Grey.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's run: 19 miles.

Day 7 Thursday — December 22: Torres del Paine - Run to Cuernos

As we run down along Lago Grey we will see the turquoise icebergs blown to the opposite side of the lake by the strong winds. We arrive at Pehoé, where we can see the Cuernos del Paine and continue on the west side of Lago Scottsberg. We follow a trail along rolling foothills, passing by campamento Italiano, before heading up the French valley. You will have views of the Cuernos (7,217’, 7,874’ and 8,530’) on the east side and the glaciated Cerro Paine Grande (10,006’) on the west. A run downhill followed by a run along Lago Nordenskjold takes us to our nice shelter at Los Cuernos.

Overnight: Refugio Cuernos.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's run: 15 miles, plus 0ptional out-and-back side trip up the French valley (up to 5 miles or less) to beautiful vistas of the Cuernos del Paine.

Day 8 Saturday — December 23: Torres del Paine/Puerto Natales

This morning we complete the circuit around the park finishing in Las Torres. Lunch and drive to Puerto Natales on the shores of Seno Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Overnight in Puerto Natales.

Overnight in Puerto Natales
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.

Day 9 Sunday — December 24: Flight to Santiago/USA

Morning transportation to Punta Arenas airport for your flight to Santiago and connection with the international flight back to the USA.

Meals: B, L.

Day 10 Monday — December 25: Morning arrival in the USA

Please Note:

This adventure offers options of shorter distances on most days. The only distances that you will “have” to run, if you want to follow the runners circuit, are from Torres to Dickson (18.5 miles) and from Dickson to Grey (19 miles). You will have all day to do it. Daylight in the park is until 10:00 p.m. Ask us about options with less running. A 18 day trip option is also available.

The December Torres del Paine Running Adventure is held at the same time as the December Torres del Paine Hiking Adventure. It is possible for one person to participate in the Hiking Adventure and another in the Running Adventure. If you choose this option, you can sleep all nights at the same lodges, except for 3 nights on the Torres del Paine portion of the trip. There is no additional charge, as long as you let use know in advance.

We can accommodate your choice! Check with us for details!

Notes about Patagonia:

• Weather in this region is wildly unpredictable and changeable and itinerary is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including weather, road or trail conditions and flight schedules.

• On some days we will be driving on dirt roads.

• Due to the very short season in Patagonia, it is very difficult to get flight reservations on short notice. You must make your trip reservation in advance in order to assure space on the trip.