Single Supplement, if
requested.
Note: Does not include single room in Torres del
Paine. |
$525 |
TRIP FEE INCLUDES:
• Airline tickets; international and domestic (with all-inclusive packages)..
• Airport Taxes; international and domestic. (with all-inclusive packages).
• Airport check-in and baggage assistance in Chile & Argentina.
• All airport transfers as scheduled on itinerary.
• All ground transportation in comfortable private buses.
• 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.
• 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). Rooms and bathrooms are shared among the group, and men and women may be accommodated in separate rooms some nights. 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!
• If you are traveling alone and prefer single accommodations you
must pay the single supplement. If you are willing to share accommodations,
we will try our best to find a roommate and if that is not possible
you will pay only 75% of the single supplement cost.
• 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:
• Travel insurance, passport fees, excess
baggage fees, Chilean reciprocity tax*, optional tipping to leader,
guides and local staff. All items of personal nature such as: personal gear, laundry, telephone calls, beverages, bottled water, etc.
* U.S. citizens are charged a one-time “Reciprocity fee” of $160 (Canadians pay $132, Australians pay US$95 and Mexicans pay US$23) upon landing at the Santiago international airport.
This is charged in reciprocity for the fee the USA charges Chileans;
it is good for the life of the passport and there is no need to pay again
for subsequent trips to Chile. Argentina also requires the payment of a Reciprocity fee. U.S. citizens are charged $160 (Canadians pay US$75 and Australians pay US$100).
Note: All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions and flight schedules.
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Dec. 19,
2013- Jan. 4, 2014 Itinerary (PDF)
Jan. 4
- Jan. 20, 2014 Itinerary (PDF)
Jan.
20 - Feb. 5, 2014 Itinerary (PDF)
Feb.
5 - Feb. 21, 2014 Itinerary (PDF)
Day 1: Departure to Santiago
Day 2: Santiago/Punta Arenas
Early morning arrival in Santiago, where you will be met by your trip leader outside the 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: D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.
Day 3: Punta Arenas/Torres del Paine
After a nice overnight rest, we drive north through the Patagonian rolling plains and begin our Patagonia Hiking Adventure. Weather permitting, we plan a detour to visit a colony of Magellanic penguins in Otway Sound. We stop for lunch at the quaint town of Puerto Natales, situated on the shores of Seno Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Afterwards we continue our drive to Torres del Paine National Park, on the way 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. It is likely we will also enjoy sightings of herds of guanacos, condors, 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
Optional upgrade to Hosteria Torres
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Optional distances around the refugio in Torres del Paine.
Driving distance: About 240 miles plus additional 40 miles to the rookery.
Day 4: Torres del Paine - Hike to the towers
After reviewing the day's route with our guide, we hike 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 back to the refugio. Overnight at refugio Torres.
Overnight: Refugio Torres
Optional upgrade to Hosteria Torres
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 12.5 miles or about 6 to 8 hours, including the out-and-back hike to the towers. A shorter hike is optional.
Day 5: Torres del Paine
This morning we explore our surroundings and hike along the north shore of Lago Nordenskjold following the “W” circuit of the Park. Overnight at refugio Cuernos.
Overnight: Refugio Cuernos
Optional upgrade to Cabaña
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 9.5 miles or about 5 hours.
Day 6: Torres del Paine - French Valley
We hike west of Lago Scottsberg and follow a trail along rolling foothills arriving at the Italian camp. You will have views of the enormous horns Cuernos del Paine (7,217’, 7,874’ and 8,530’) on the east and the glaciated Cerro Paine Grande (10,006’) on the west, as well as Lago Nordenskjold and Lago Pehoé. Overnight at Paine Grande Mountain Lodge on the shore of Pehoé Lake. Elevation: About 270'.
Overnight: Paine Grande Mountain Lodge
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 8 miles or about 4 hours. An optional out-and-back hike up the French valley, offers beautiful vistas of the Cuernos del Paine.
Day 7: Torres del Paine - Grey Lake & Glacier
We hike toward Lago Grey and Glacier Grey - a 4 mile wide glacier originating in the Continental Ice Cap. As we hike along Lago Grey, we will see turquoise-colored icebergs blown to the opposite side of the lake by the strong winds. We hike to Grey glacier and return late in the afternoon. The hiking group overnights at Paine Grande Mountain Lodge on the shore of Pehoé Lake.
Overnight: Paine Grande Mountain Lodge
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: About 12 miles or 6 to 7 hours.
Day 8: Torres del Paine/El Calafate
We take a catamaran across Lago Pehoé and arrive at Refugio Pudeto where our vehicle is waiting for us. (Depending on wind conditions we may hike to the park headquarters). As we drive to the park entrance, we enjoy the best views of Lago Pehoé, Lago Nordenskjold and Lago Sarmiento as well as the Horns and Towers. We cross the Argentine border and arrive in the village of El Calafate on the shore of Lago Argentino.
Overnight: Tehuel Plaza
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.
This is a long day of driving (about 5 1/2 hours), partly over dirt roads across the pampas. There is no other alternative way to travel, however there is always something to see along the way. Grazing sheep, wildlife and the unusual open range Patagonian steppes scenery.
Day 9: Parque los Glaciares - El Chaltén
We drive along Lago Argentino to the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier – the world’s only glacier outside the polar region that is still advancing. Afterward we continue our drive north crossing Río (river) Santa Cruz and along Río La Leona to the shores of Lago Viedma till we reach the village of El Chaltén at 800 feet. As we approach El Chaltén we can see our first view of Mount Fitz Roy (11,171’) and Cerro Torre (10,177’). Overnight in El Chaltén.
Overnight: Hosteria Kalenshen.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Short hike in Perito Moreno.
Day 10: Parque los Glaciares - Laguna de los Tres
We drive to north side of the park and hike through a beech and lenga forest. We have views of Piedras Blancas Glacier and Mount Fitz Roy. We cross the Poincenot camp and reach the basecamp of Río Blanco. You can continue on the optional hike to Laguna de los Tres, from where you will have outstanding views of Fitz Roy, the adjacent Poincenot neddle (9,849’), Rafael, Saint Exupery and other granite spires. Optional visit to Laguna Capri on your way down. Overnight in El Chaltén.
Overnight: Hosteria Kalenshen.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: About 8 miles or 6 hours, plus an optional out-and-back hike up to Laguna de los Tres.
Day 11: Parque los Glaciares - Laguna Torre
This morning we hike to Laguna Torre at 2,164’ at the base of Cerro Torre (you have the option to admire the view from the Fitz Roy valley). Cerro Torre (10,177’) is one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb, because of its vertical walls topped by an overhanging mushrooms of ice. With some luck Patagonia’s unpredictable weather will cooperate and it will be clear enough to see Cerro Torre. Note that the height of the vertical east granite face of Cerro Torre is about 4,000 feet – nearly 1000 feet taller than Yosemite’s El Capitan. The hike continues through Laguna Madre e Hija and descends to El Chaltén. Overnight in our familiar lodge.
Overnight: Hosteria Kalenshen.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: About 9 miles or 6 hours. You also have the option to make your hike shorter or longer.
Day 12: Flight to Ushuaia
We drive to El Calafate and fly to Ushuaia the “Southernmost
City in the World” on the island of Tierra del Fuego.
After lunch we board a boat or catamaran for a 3 hour
cruise along the Beagle Channel. We cruise south to Isla de Los Pájaros
(Birds' Island) and Isla de los Lobos (Sea Lion Island) where you can
observe the Sea Lions and Imperial Cormorants. You will also see brown
hooded Gulls, South American Terns, Black-browed Albatross, Giant Petrels,
Great Skuas and other marine wildlife. After circling the Eclaireurs Light
House, we return to Ushuaia sailing along the northern shore of the channel.
Overnight in Ushuaia.
Overnight: Hotel Tierra del Fuego.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.
Driving time: About 3 1/2 hours.
Flight: About an hour.
Day 13: Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego
After breakfast we drive to Tierra del Fuego National Park west of Ushuaia. We start our hike at the Pampa Alta Trail. Our guide will lead us through lovely sub-Antarctic forests of beech, ñire, lenga, coihue and an abundance of moss and ferns. After reaching the top (about 1,000’) we enjoy a panoramic view of the Beagle Channel, Isla Redonda and Ensenada Bay. We descend and connect with Sendero de La Costa (Coastal Trail) and continue along the rocky shores of the bay finishing at Roca Lake. After lunch we visit Bahia Lapataia.
The park offers great opportunities for bird-watching. Some of the species that you will see are the Black-browed Albatross, Giant Petrels, Steamer Ducks, Magellanic Woodpecker, Thorn-tailed Rayadito, Chimango Caracaras, Black-Chested Buzzard Eagles and others. Overnight in Ushuaia.
Overnight: Hotel Tierra del Fuego.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Today's hike: 8 miles with options for more or less.
Driving distance: 25 miles.
Day 14: Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Morning flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan
capital. We arrive at Aeroparque Jorge Newberry Airport
and transfer to our centrally located hotel, a few blocks from the city’s
landmark, the Obelisco.
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
Overnight: Hotel NH Latino.
Meals: B, L.
Flight time: About 3 hours 20 minutes.
Day 15: Buenos Aires
We start our tour of Buenos Aires from the
hotel. This tour shows you the city’s highlights, looking through
its history and culture, the historic development, the immigration process,
the architectural heritage, Peronismo era and other features of the Argentinean
society. You’ll learn about cultural topics like tango music and
soccer.
Starting from Plaza de Mayo we will enjoy a tour of the
most remarkable highlights of this unique metropolis. Our
itinerary will focus on the main places of interest of
the southern and northern region of Buenos Aires: major
plazas, colonial churches, old-time cafes, bohemian artist's
quarter, colorfully painted metal houses, grand avenues, palatial mansions
and spacious parks. We arrive in the neighborhood of San Telmo and complete
our tour by bus, visiting the neighborhoods of La Boca,
Puerto Madero, Palermo and Recoleta.
After lunch, time on your
own for shopping and sightseeing in Buenos Aires.
Optional tango show and dinner. (See note below.)
Overnight: Hotel NH Latino.
Meals: B, L, D*.
Today's hike: None scheduled.
*A popular tango show and dinner is offered at a
special discounted price, otherwise dinner is on your own and not included.
Day 16: Buenos Aires
Free day to enjoy Buenos Aires on your own.
Afternoon transfer to the Ezeiza International
Airport for our evening flight home.
Meals: B.
Day 17: Arrival Home
Please Note:
The December 19 to January 4 Patagonia Hiking Adventures are held at the same time and overlaps much of the itinerary with the December 19 to January 4 Patagonia Running Adventures. It is possible for one person to participate on the Hiking Adventure and another on the Running Adventure and spend every night together.
It is possible to follow only part of the running itinerary, skipping
the difficult running days in Torres del Paine. A 10 day
trip option is also available.
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.
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