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Chile Tours and Travel

Multiple Destinations / Santiago area / Patagonia / Lake District
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Patagonia Tours

Torres del Paine National Park

The towering granite "cuernos" or horns as they are called in Torres del Paine National Park (pronounced tore-race del pie-nay) are perhaps the best known image of Chile. For years a distinct part Chile's national tourism campaign abroad consisted of simply one large photograph of these granite towers with the underlying caption "There is a place on earth where if you were any closer to your creator you could shake his hand." The majesty of this park effortlessly stands up to the metaphor The entire zone north Puerto Natales with its low altitude and proximity to the Pacific ocean enjoys a very particular microclimate. For its relatively extreme southern latitude it is notably temperate though unpredictable in its weather pattern. Good wind and rain gear to protect you against the elements is a must traveling here. More importantly though, do not dishearten when rain threatens because the weather here changes often. As one of our guides once aptly commented "if you don't like the weather just wait fifteen minutes." Enormous glaciers mark the northern boundary of the park. This is the southern extreme of the Patagonia Icefield-- the world's largest. Glacier Grey melts slowly into Lago Grey providing spectacular crashing ice and tremendous green and blue icebergs. The park is also home to a great deal of unique wildlife from guanacos to Nanus (a relative of the Ostrich) as welt as hundreds of species of birds including the Condor.

More Patagonia Tours in Argentina

MAGIC OF PATAGONIA (4 days / 3 nights)

Day 1: Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales)
PRIVATE: Arrival at Punta Arenas. Transfer to your hotel in Punta Arenas. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure. Overnight in Punta Arenas.
SEAT-IN-BUS (SIB): Upon arrival late afternoon, transfer to Puerto Natales; on our way to the town we will visit the penguin colony at Seno Otway. Overnight at Puerto Natales.

Day 2: Punta Arenas - Torres del Paine
PRIVATE: Same excursion as SIB tour, plus a visit to the penguin colony at Seno Otway.
SEAT-IN-BUS (SIB): Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park. We will go on a tour through the Pampa steppes and watch out for typical animals like the ñandu and a variety of smaller birds. We will stop to visit the Milodon Cave, where a herbivore giant sloth lived about12.000 years ago. Arriving at Torres del Paine National Park, we will pass the Laguna Amarga and Lake Pehoé (depending on the hostería we stay in). We will have beautiful views of the Paine Massif, Almirante Nieto, and Torres del Paine and can observe the wildlife of the area that includes guanacos, rheas, foxes, skunks, cauquenes, black-necked swans, flocks of flamingos, condors, and eagles. Overnight at Torres del Paine. (B)

Day 3: Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales
PRIVATE: We will go on a full day excursion inside the Torres del Paine National Park, visiting Lake Pehoé, Lake Nordenskjöld, Lake Sarmiento, and the Salto Grande with beautiful views of the Paine Mountain Range and Torres del Paine. Return to Puerto Natales, overnight in Puerto Natales. (B, BL)
SEAT-IN-BUS (SIB): After breakfast, you will have the rest of the day at your leisure. Enjoy a hike near the lodge or one of the optional excursions offered by the lodge; please, ask at the reception of your hostería upon arrival on Day 2 which tours they offer. In the afternoon, you will return
to Puerto Natales. Overnight in Puerto Natales. (B)

Day 4: Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas
PRIVATE: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Punta Arenas to board the departure flight. (B)
SEAT-IN-BUS (SIB): After a breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken to Punta Arenas Airport for your afternoon flight. (B)

Price per person in US$:

PATAGONIA, ADVENTURES AT THE END OF THE EARTH – TORRES DEL PAINE 4 days / 3 nights All year long

Important: In winter, navigations to the Serrano & Balmaceda glaciers are subject to weather conditions and definite days (Consult).

Route:
DAY 1: PUNTA ARENAS - PUERTO NATALES.
Reception at the Punta Arenas airport. Transfer through the Patagonian pampas to the little town of Puerto Natales. Arrival and lodging in Puerto Natales.

DAY 2: PUERTO NATALES –TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK-PUERTO NATALES
Trip to the Torres del Paine National Park. Stop in the Cave of Milodón National Monument.
Return to Puerto Natales. Lodging. (B,BL)

DAY 3: PUERTO NATALES - SERRANO Y BALMACEDA GLACIERS - PUERTO NATALES
Breakfast. Navigation to the Serrano y Balmaceda glaciers and lunch.
Return to Puerto Natales. Lodging (B,L)

DAY 4: PUERTO NATALES – PUNTA ARENAS.
Return to the Punta Arenas airport. (B)

Price per person in US$:

Includes:
- Transfers Punta Arenas airport / Puerto Natales hotel / hostel in Torres del Paine National Park / Punta
Arenas airport in regular services with bilingual guide.
- 01 night in Puerto Natales with breakfast
- 02 nights in Torres del Paine National Park with breakfast
- All excursions in regular service with bilingual guide
- Box Lunch day 2.

TWO NATIONAL PARKS 4 days / 3 nights November to March

Program which covers two national parks, the Bernardo O’Higgins and the Torres del Paine National Parks. Due to the changes in the flow of the Serrano river, the tour begins from November to March. Travelers who like adventure will enjoy the possibility to enter the Torres del Paine through a second national park.

DAY 1: PUNTA ARENAS - PUERTO NATALES
Reception at the Punta Arenas airport and transfer to Puerto Natales. Lodging.

DAY 2: PUERTO NATALES - BERNARDO O’HIGGINS - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK (September to April)
Departure from Puerto Natales (transfers from the hotel to the port and return are not included) to navigate through the Última Esperanza fiord. The excursion is now by zodiac to the Grey lake. Lodging in a small hotel. (B, BL)

DAY 3: TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
Visitors may choose between taking the excursions offered by the small hotel or knowing the park by their own. Lodging. (B)

DAY 4: TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK- PUNTA ARENAS
Leaving very early in the morning to return to the Punta Arenas airport. (B)

Important: Consider this is a five-hour transfer, so the flight is at 15:00 or you may consider an extra night in Punta Arenas.

Price per person in US$:

Includes:
- Transfer Airport Punta Arenas / Hotel Puerto Natales – Hosteria Torres del Paine / Airport in Punta Arenas
- All excursions in regular service with bilingual guide
- 01 nights in Puerto Natales, with breakfast
- 02 Nights in Torres del Paine, with breakfast
- Box Lunch day 2.

4 DAYS TORRES DEL PAINE PASSAGE

Day 1, Sunday, the Patagonic Adventure Starts…
Torres del Paine NP, Chile The trip starts in Punta Arenas city during the morning either at your hotel or at the airport. From Punta Arenas we drive to the EcoCamp located in world famous Torres del Paine National Park. During summer the sun sets around 11 pm, so as you drive in you’ll have plenty of light to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanaco and snow-peaked mountain horizon. Before arriving though, there are a couple stops. One is at Puerto Natales, a small but lively town on the shores of Seno Última Esperanza - “Last Hope Sound”. You are invited to check out the town and to leave any luggage you will not need for the trek in our office. The other 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 EcoCamp in Las Torres.

Day 2, Monday, In the realms of Glacier Grey Torres del Paine NP, Chile
We drive across the park with views of Paine Grande and its snowy peaks, as well as of Los Cuernos – the famous mountain with black granite horn-like spires. Walking along the shores of stunning Lake Pehoe, you visit the furious Salto Grande falls which pour the waters of Lake Nordenskjold over Pehoe. The walk continues over the gentle Nordenskjold trail until reaching its picture-perfect lookout point. Later, back at Lake Pehoe, a vehicle takes you on a drive south to a beach along the shores of glacial Lake Grey. After relaxing with a box-lunch by the lake, you embark on a boat ride across icy water to the towering blue-colored walls of Glacier Grey. This is an incredible sight! After visiting the glacier, you are driven back to EcoCamp for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3, Tuesday, Soft Day in the Eastern Lakes Torres del Paine NP, Chile
We hike to the Laguna Azul lookout where we have a gorgeous view of both the lagoon and granite towers. We continue along the eastern side of Lago Sarmiento to the calcium formations on the lake’s shores where guanacos are often seen. Later we trek to Paso Las Corneas with spectacular views of Rio Paine, Lake Pehoe and the massif of Paine. Depending on the group, we can also hike to the Toro lookout point that offers more soul-candy scenery - Lago Toro and the pampa, or steppe! Upon returning to the Ecocamp, a farewell dinner is celebrated with a regional favorite – Patagonian lamb barbecue! This is sadly our last night in Torres del Paine, we take notes and talk with our friends, relax, feel the strong Patagonic wind while watching the heavens above, all these days in the Park will be profound memories when we return home.

Day 4, Wednesday, Adios Torres del Paine! Puerto Natales, Chile
We board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Puerto Natales (if you want to finish in Punta Arenas please contact us)

STARTING/FINISHING IN CALAFATE OPTIONAL 1DAY EXTENSION
……. Saturday, Arrive in Calafate
Calafate, Argentina
We arrive at the airport and take a transfer to Calafate, a small town set amidst dramatic scenery and natural beauty. Once we reach the hotel, check-in and relax for the rest of the day or go exploring the shop-filled main street of its down town. We overnight in this cozy town.

Day 1, Sunday, Heading to Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales, Chile
After a repairing breakfast we take a short transfer to the bus terminal and there we board the regular public bus going through the Chilean borderline heading to Puerto Natales which will take about 6 hours. Once we reach this town – beautifully located in the shores of Last Hope Sound- we will wait for the group coming from Punta Arenas city and then we start driving to Torres del Paine, following the same itinerary as indicated on first day 1 above.

Day 4, Wednesday, Back to Calafate
Calafate, Argentina
We board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride until we reach Cerro Castillo (Chilean borderline). In this point we step off of the van and wait for the regular public bus coming from Puerto Natales heading to Calafate. Once the bus arrives, we get in and accommodate ourselves for the ride back to Argentina. Once we reach Calafate there will be a transfer waiting for us and then we drive to Calafate Airport on time to reach your flight or transfer to the hotel to continue with another adventure with Cascada in the awesome Los Glaciares NP.

2008-09 Regular Departure Prices: High: US$1,059 p.p. (Nov 2nd ’08 to Mar 8th ’09) . Shoulder: US$847 p.p. (Oct ’08 and Apr ’09)

Notes:
- Season 2008-09 departures Dec 21st and 28th have a Christmas surcharge of US$200 p.p.
- Domestic flight tickets not included; referential SCL/PUQ/SCL ticket cost: US$ 400 p.p.
Starting/Finishing in Calafate Optional Extension 4 + 1 days Season 2008-09
2star hotel, dbl basis: US$277 p.p. / sgl supp: US$23
3star hotel, dbl basis: US$332 p.p. / sgl supp: US$56
4star hotel, dbl basis: US$426 p.p. / sgl supp: US$94

Regular Departures Season 2008-09: Departures all Sundays from Oct 5th ’08 to Apr 12th ’09.
We have also opened additional regular departures the following Wednesdays: Nov 12th, 19th, 26th, Feb 11th and Mar 25th

Private or Custom Departures We can do it, please contact us.

Regular Departures
The trip starts on Sunday’s morning in the city of Punta Arenas, last pick-up time: 12:30 pm at the airport. The trip finishes on Wednesday at Puerto Natales at 1 pm. If you want to finish the trip in Punta Arenas then please contact us to arrange a regular bus or a private transfer.Please contact us for telling you which domestic flights fit with our regular transfer schedule.

Included
- All ground transport private and domestic as indicated in the itinerary.
- Boat crossing over Lake Grey.
- 3 nights accommodation sharing a 2 or 3 person domes at the EcoCamp.
- Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park.
- One expert English speaking trekking guide.
- Meals:
day 1: BL, D (+B if taking the Calafate Extension)
day 2: B, BL, D
day 3: B, BL, D
day 4: B
B: breakfast, BL: box lunch, D: dinner.

Excluded
- Flight tickets.
- Insurance (it is mandatory you purchase appropriate insurance for this kind of trips).
- Voluntary tipping to guides and staff.
- Items of personal nature.

Accommodation Details
EcoCamp
Located in the Park’s center-west area, the EcoCamp consists of luxury tented igloo-type domes built to minimize the environmental impact while providing a comfortable setting and maximum exposure to nature. All accommodations at the EcoCamp are in a sharing basis only. There is not single accommodation availability unless a "forced" single accommodation is needed due to different gender single travelers not willing to share. Bathrooms are located in a single facility divided by gender and are shared by all the guests; they have showers with hot water. There is electricity available for charging just camera batteries (voltage: 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, two round pins plug). Food at the EcoCamp has the same quality as the one you will have on a family dinner at your home, this means it is plenty and delicious!
For more info about EcoCamp please visit the following web site: www.ecocamp.travel Group Size & Guiding Staff
8-12 travelers is the most typical group size plus guiding staff. Maximum is 14 clients. Guide to passenger ratio: 1:6

Transport
In Torres del Paine and throughout Patagonia transport is in minivans that normally seat from 8 to 14 persons. When we have only 2 to 4 persons we use smaller vehicles, usually 4x4, driven by the tour guide. On the regular departure trips you will share the vehicle with other EcoCamp guests joining other tours. On the private departure, the vehicle will be of your use exclusively although limited to the given itinerary and time schedules; additionally arrival and departure transfers for private groups might be shared with other passengers following our environmental policy which impel our operations to keep the ecological impact as low as possible and thus avoiding to drive the same way at the same time with two half-empty vehicles.

Weather
The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Patagonian Andes very exposed to the saturated winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. Also, both the strong marine and the South Patagonic Ice field influence make the weather hard to predict. In spring or early summer fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, bringing rains and eventually snow. Even in summer (December to march) you should come prepared to find cold- strong winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfalls. The summer’s average temperature is 11ºC/52ºF (24ºCmax, 2ºC min).

Physical Demands
This trip does not demand physical activity other than walking a maximum of two consecutive hours over rather flat terrain considering many stops as necessary to fit with the rhythm of the group.

What you need to bring
You must come prepare for summer and winter all together and consider al least two changes of clothes. One day backpack (10lts to carry your camera, glasses, rain coat, etc); -Trekking or hiking boots. - Extra shoes for evenings or in case others get wet; -Waterproof jacket; -Two pairs of wool socks; -Fleece Jacket or sweater; -Shorts or comfortable loose pants; -Sun protection (glasses, hat, lip balm and screen). Optionally consider bringing long synthetic fibre "capilene" underwear for the upper and lower body that maintains temperature when wet and dries quickly.

DISTANCES AND OTHER DETAILS
Day 1, Torres del Paine NP, Chile
Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: 254 km / 158 miles / 3 hrs driving.
From Natales to Torres del Paine C. Torres: 147 km / 91 miles / 2.5 hrs driving.
Day 2, Torres del Paine NP, Chile
Western lakes
Approximate walking time in the different trails: 2 hours
Distance: 3 to 5 km / 2 to 3 miles (depending on weather conditions and the group pace)
Navigation on Lake Grey: 2 hours approx.
Altitude: low altitude trails, no need to worry
Day 3, Torres del Paine NP, Chile
Eastern Lakes
Approximate walking time in the different trails: 3 hours
Distance: 3 to 5 km / 2 to 3 miles (depending on weather conditions and the group pace)
Altitude: low altitude trails, no need to worry.
Day 4, Torres del Paine NP, Chile
From Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales: 147 km / 91 miles / 2.5 hrs driving.
From Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas: 254 km / 158 miles / 3 hrs driving.

Starting/Finishing in Calafate Optional Extension 4 + 1 days
Day 0, Calafate, Argentina
From Calafate Airport to Calafate city: 23 km / 14 miles / 20 min driving.
Day 1, Puerto Natales, Chile
From Calafate to Puerto Natales: 362 km / 225 miles / 6 hrs driving.
Day 4, Calafate, Argentina
Torres del Paine to Torres to Cerro Castillo (borderline): 63 km / 39 miles / 1.5 hrs driving.
Cerro Castillo (borderline) to Calafate: 287 km / 180 miles / 3.5 hrs driving

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