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Patagonia Luxury Trek

Day 1 El Calafate

El Calafate was for several decades a tiny staging post for the wagons transporting wool between remote estancias (sheep stations) and the coast. It lies near the shore of the vast, turquoise lake Argentino and is today a gateway to the natural wonders of the Los Glaciares national park. (1 night hotel)

Day 2 Perito Moreno Glacier day trip, bus El Chaltén

This day is dedicated to observing close-up the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier. Vast in scale (over four miles wide and 60 metres high at its face!), this almost surreal spectacle is set amid a system of iceberg-filled waterways, and backed by deciduous beech forests and snow peaks. Spectacular even by the standards of the Los Glaciares National Park, this glacier also represents an anomaly: The Perito Moreno, unlike the other glaciers of the region, is still growing. Periodically (every so many years) its advancing edge reaches the near shore, cutting off and damming up the Brazo Sur ice-berg channel. When this occurs, the steadily-building water pressure forces a breach in the ice and eventually a huge volume of water bursts forth and surges through to Lake Argentino. A feature of the glacier is the frequent, ear-splitting calving of ice-bergs.

In the evening, travel by bus north then west across Patagonia’s ‘flat, endless’ plains, and finally through rolling pre-Andean heath. Your destination is El Chalten, a small settlement on the floodplain of the Rio de Las Vueltas. It is set amid the magnificent surroundings of the Fitzroy Range on the edge of Los Glaciares National Park. The park comprises some 2300 square miles of forested mountains, sheer granitic spires and immense glaciers and lakes. It is one of the great glacial regions of the world. Transfer to your adventure camp. There will be a trip briefing before dinner to explain what awaits you in the days ahead. (B,D)

Day 3 Adventure Camp

The adventure camp is set on the banks of Rio De Las Vueltas.

Today it’s up to you how you wish to start your trip, as there is a menu of options to choose from, or you can simply relax by the fire place after your long journey. Cyclists can hop on our mountain bikes, (guided or independent biking), and head to Lago del Desierto. The road has little traffic and it a good chance to visit this beautiful setting. For those keen to get the trekking legs stretched, there is a magnificent hike up Loma del Diablo. You can choose to hit the ridge only, or trek all the way to the summit (1,800m), depending on weather conditions. Water lovers can canoe Rio de las Vueltas. River guides can take you down a couple of kilometres of the river, hopefully with Mt. Fitzroy in the background. Return to camp (B, L, D)

Day 4 Fitz Roy Base Camp – Cerro Torre Base Camp

After breakfast, a short drive brings you to the trail head for your trek. You ascend gradually all morning along the Rio Blanco to the base camp of the same name. This is the camp where climbers wait for a break in the weather when attempting the always-difficult ascents of the granite monolith Fitzroy, named after Darwin’s boat captain. The ascent starts to steepen as you approach Laguna De Los Tres. From here, you have close-up views of several of the routes used to climb Fitz Roy, weather permitting. The afternoon’s walk is mostly downhill, with some sections of flat trail, through the valley of Lagunas Madre e Hija, to Thorwood Base Camp at the edge of Lago Torre. All your gear, other than what’s in your day-pack, is carried to this camp by porters. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Ice Trek on Torre Glacier

Today’s walk atop the Cerro Torre glacier is an experience not to be forgotten. Begin with a crossing of the Fitz Roy River via a Tyrolean traverse, then trek through a native beech forest and along the glacial moraine. When you descend to the edge of the ice, you will strap on your crampons, and then spend several hours walking on the ice, with Cerro Torre’s spectacular South Face rising directly above you. All necessary technical equipment for your glacier hike is provided and there are some easy, introductory ice climbs which the guide will assist all interested trekkers in tackling. Return to Thorwood camp for dinner (B,L, D)

Day 6 Laguna Toro

You set off again to the Tyrolean traverse and cross the river. Instead of heading for the glacier, you now turn south and west and begin the long ascent to Paso De Las Agachonas. As you gain altitude, the views of the surrounding peaks get ever more dramatic. Once across the pass you descend into the Rio Tunel Valley, with occasional views of tomorrow’s destination, El Paso Del Viento, the Windy Pass. Upon reaching Rio Tunel, you follow it west to your camp just below Laguna Toro. This will be your camp for two nights, nicely protected by a small beech grove (B, L, D)

Day 7 Del Viento Pass – Patagonian Ice Cap lookout

Today is the longest and hardest day of our trip, but if the weather cooperates with clear skies, you will be treated to one of the most unforgettable views in Patagonia. You begin with a crossing (by wading or Tyrolean traverse, depending on the levels) of the river, then begin the long ascent (2,700m) to the Windy Pass. Early on there is a short stretch of the Tunel Glacier to cross, followed by the steepest terrain you’ve encountered so far. It can often live up to its name and it is usually windy enough that even taking photographs can be difficult. Having said that, the views are breathtaking and you are free to stay and enjoy the views of the Ice Field as long as you like (or are able to endure the wind!). If the sky is clear, you will see, rising up in the middle of the Ice Field, a range of mountains, some of which have no names and have never been visited by humans. This is one of the least seen and visited places outside of the polar regions, and one of the most breathtakingly beautiful as well.

Descend back to your camp by the same route for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Return To El Chaltén

Today’s hike back to El Chaltén is fairly long, but easy in comparison to yesterday’s visit to Windy Pass. You ascend all morning to Loma Del Pliegue Tumbado, where you will enjoy one of the best views encompassing Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, and all of their satellite peaks. From here, the descend to town is gradual and easy.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, and overnight at a local hostería and reflect on the previous day’s adventures. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Bus to Calafate

Transfer to your hostel. You can either end the trip here in Calafate, or continue on to Paine. (B)

Day 10 Calafate to Paine National Park

From here you drive to your eco camp, located in the world famous Torres del Paine National Park. During the summer the sun sets around 23.00, so as you drive in there is plenty of light lingering so you can admire the Patagonian steppe, with its resident guanacos and snow-peaked mountains horizon. Puerto Natales is a small but lively town on the shores of Seno Última Esperanza – “Last Hope Sound”. You can have a look around, buy any last minute necessities, and leave any luggage you don’t need on the trek at the agency office. The second stop is at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s. The surrounding area is very scenic with plenty of wild birds to be seen.

The day ends with an overnight at the eco camp at Las Torres. (B,D)

Day 11 Lake Nordenskjold trek to Los Cuernos

Start your adventure in the Park with a pleasant walk along the Cuernos trail, which skirts the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. During this walk you will get your first glimpses of the park’s charming flora and fauna, and will no doubt experience its strong wind and the changeable weather that will accompany you for the next few days. As you advance along the trail, you will be able to enjoy magnificent views of the park’s central lakes and the Horns of Paine – majestic black horn-like peaks of slate atop gray granite blocks which crown the centre of the Paine Massif.

The trek ends at Refugio Los Cuernos, a small and cozy mountain refugio located on the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. (B,L,D)

Day 12 Valle Frances

After breakfast, begin your trek up Valle Frances (French Valley), a steady and in places steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. The trail leads you to a bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif. From here you get a great view and then continue up the trail to the upper reaches of the valley. As you reach the top of the trail, you enter a vast cauldron, surrounded on almost all sides by impressive peaks and mountains. You can see Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress). Hee you can enjoy a picnic and relax after your ascent, and for those with lots of energy, there is an optional trek to Mirador Britanico. After lunch, retrace your steps and at the end of the valley, head west along some undulating terrains of mixed grassland and light forest until you reach Refugio Paine Grande, located on the shores of Lake Pehoe. (B,L,D)

Day 13 Glacier Grey

Today you hike from Paine Grande Lodge and along the shores of mountain-lined Lake Pehoe to the northern end of the glacial Lake Grey. When you reach the place where the glacier and water meet, you will stop for lunch. After sitting and admiring the view, you board a boat that sails close to the blue and icy faces of Glacier Grey. You have plenty of time to marvel at this calving glacier before the boat heads south and sails across the iceburg-filled Lake Grey to where your van awaits. From Lake Grey’s southern end hop into your van and drive to the eco camp. (B,L,D)

Note: If weather conditions prevent the Lake Grey crossing, you will hike to and from Glacier Grey instead. When you get back to camp, board a catamaran and cross Lake Pehoe to meet the van. Then it’s a short drive back to the eco camp.

Day 14 The Towers of Paine

Time for a big breakfast as today your goal is to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park – to the Towers of Paine viewpoint. Walk from the camp site towards Hostería Las Torres and then connect with a winding uphill path to Ascencio Valley. Pass by beech forests and small rivers along the way into the valley. The first stages are not difficult and energy should nevertheless be saved for the final ascent. There is a large area of moraine before the Towers, and this is sufficiently steep in places to involve a bit of clambering. After about 45 minutes of crossing the moraine, efforts are rewarded when the Towers come into full view, rising majestically with the its green glacial lake visible below. The famous Towers of Torres del Paine (2, 900 m/ 9, 400 ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great rock sheared away by the movement glacial ice. At the feet of the mighty Torres del Paine, admire the view and have lunch, and once everyone is ready, backtrack along the Ascencio Valley and return to the eco camp. (B,L,D)

Day 15 Relaxing day in the Eastern Lakes

A nice, lazy day where you will hike to the Laguna Azul lookout. From here we have a gorgeous view of both the lagoon and granite Towers. Continue along the eastern side of Lago Sarmiento – here guanacos are often spotted, as well as interesting calcium formations close to the water. Next you head to Paso Las Corneas, which offers spectacular views of Rio Paine, Lake Pehoe and the Massif of Paine. Depending on how the group is feeling, you can also hike to the Toro lookout point that offers more amazing scenery – Lago Toro and the pampa, or steppe.

Upon returning to the Ecocamp, a farewell dinner is prepared in true Patagonian style – barbecue! (B,L,D)