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| Perito Moreno Glacier, Fitz Roy, Torres del Paine National Park |
intense trekking |
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Patagonia Wild Trails is the most popular program among passengers seeking for outdoors activities that wish to go one step beyond a moderate trek. No previous technical requirements are necessary.
In Fitz Roy area we trek from north to south visiting Fitz Roy massif and Cerro Torre group (probably two of the most beautiful mountains on Earth) and we end hiking up to Paso del Viento to have a good look to the Patagonian Ice Field.
With the extra bonus of one day of glacier hike in the Cerro Torre glacier. In Paine National Park we trek the 3 valleys of the famous "W" circuit (Ascensio river valley, French valley and Grey valley)
We use our camps to lodge inside the National Parks.
We also take care of taking all the necessary equipment and part of the luggage of the passengers so you can enjoy the trekking without making any effort.
You need to be fit enough to walk an average of 7 hs a day, at a moderate pace and with the necessary stops.
No pass over 1500 mts above sea level in this program.
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El Calafate airport - El Calafate
We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check in at your hostel. You get the rest of the day to enjoy the town and later you have your welcome dinner.
Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Dinner.
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El Calafate - El Chaltén
After breakfast, we take our bus to El Chaltén, 220 km to get to this picturesque village at the foot of Fitz Roy. Stop over on road for coffee and home made cakes. While we approach, we get spectacular views of Viedma lake and glacier, and Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre groups.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast |
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Piedra del Fraile
Today we start our trek in the National Park. We go in a short drive to the Electrico river bridge and a gentle hike inside a beautiful southern beech forest to get to Piedra del Fraile. From Piedra del Fraile, we hike on to the viewpoints of Fitz Roy north face and Pollone glacier and the viewpoints of Marconi Glacier, entrance to the Patagonian Ice field. We hike back to our Full Camp in Piedra del Fraile.
Lodging in Full Camp at Piedra del Fraile in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
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Río Blanco, Laguna De los Tres
Today we retrace our steps to the Rio Blanco valley, which we hike upriver to visit the Piedras Blancas glacier and lagoon. Further on, we get to Rio Blanco (Fitz Roy base camp for climbers in the east walls of the group) and we hike up to Laguna de los Tres, viewpoint of Fitz Roy and probably one of the most spectaculars locations in the National Park. WE hike down to Rio Blanco and to Laguna Capri.
Lodging in Full Camp at Laguna Capri in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
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Cerro Torre
Today we make it around Laguna Capri to get to the Lagoons Madre and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet Cerro Torre trail and we get to Cerro Torre Full Camp.
The trail runs along beech forest, bogs and shrub land. From the camp, a short hike takes us to Laguna Torre, enclosed by moraines and with the Glacier Grande calving in its west side. It is usual to see icebergs pushed by the wind in the coast of the lagoon. The thin and elegant 3128 mts of Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background complete this spectacular view. Walking time 3 to 4 hs.
Lodging at Cerro Torre Full Camp in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
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Cerro Torre glacier trek
This day is a highlight of the trip. We provide crampons, harnesses, and we set out to hike in the cerro Torre glacier. We cross river Fitz Roy river through a tyrolean (horizontal fixed rope attached to both sides of the river). We walk on the moraine around the lagoon and then down to the glacier visiting crevices, ice caves and holes and all the interesting places that a glacier can show. The bonus is the close up views of Cerro Torre group spires. We hike back to our camp in the afternoon.
Lodging at Cerro Torre Full Camp in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
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Pliegue Tumbado, Laguna Toro
We again cross the tyrolean but now to hike up to Paso de las Agachonas, a 1300 mts pass on top of Pliegue Tumbado, which divides the Cerro Torre valley from the River Tunel valley. Full views on Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the glacier valley in between the two mountains. From the pass we hike down to Laguna Toro.
Lodging at Laguna Toro Full Camp in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
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Paso del Viento
A full day hike from Laguna Toro to Paso del Viento (1500 mts above sea level) and back, across moraines, glacier and alpine meadows, to get to a spectacular view of the Patagonian Ice field, including the Mariano Moreno Range and many other mountains rarely seen by men. The hike is demanding, with a day pack, 9 hs round trip from Laguna Toro, to climb 800 mts from our camp to the Pass.
Lodging at Laguna Toro Full Camp in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
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Río Túnel, El Chaltén
We follow a trail along the River Tunel valley and up Pliegue Tumbado. On the ridge, we get again splendid views of most of the mountains and lakes of the area. Gentle downhill to El Chaltén.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch. |
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El Chaltén - El Calafate
Morning at your own in El Chaltén, to relax after the trek and visit the town. By 5 pm we take our bus back to El Calafate.
Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom
Meals we provide: Breakfast |
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El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World's Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Ice field, and big sheet of ice that with its 22.000 square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process.
The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints.
The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds.
Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom
Meals we provide: Breakfast. |
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El Calafate - Torres del Paine
Early start for a 6 hs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo.
After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. We enter the Park by Porteria Laguna Amarga. A rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds, will be available for our eyes and cameras.
Lodging in Full Camp at Las Torres in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. |
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Paine Towers - Ascensio River Valley
From pour camp, we cross the Ascensio river hanging bridge and hike a steep one hour slope, to get inside the Ascensio river valley, a narrow "V" shape alpine valley coming from inside the Paine massif. A gentle downhill leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cozy and comfortable mountain lodge, which can be a good turnaround point for those not willing to make a full day hike.
We then walk in a gentle slope along the river side and inside beech forest. A final climb on moraine take us to the Towers viewpoint: a glacier origin lagoon and the three towers rising vertically 1000 mts from the glacier. The lack of breath will be either because the climb and the sight!!!! We go back to our camp on the same way we came. Walking time: 7 to 8 hs.
Lodging in Full Camp at Las Torres in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. |
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Las Torres - Paso Cuernos
Today we start a 2 days traverse from Las Torres to Refugio Pehoe Full Camp, with one night at Refugio Los Cuernos. The so called "Nordenskjöld lake traverse" or "Traverse of the Horns". We take in our packs the necessary items for this 2 days trek, which are personal items, some spare clothing and our sleeping bag. The walk goes along lake Nordenskjöld and at the foot of Admiral Nieto and the Horns. We stay in Refugio Los Cuernos this night.
Lodging at Refugio Los Cuernos with shared room and bathroom
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. |
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French valley - Refugio Pehoé
After an early start, we walk to the Italian Camp, gate to the French valley, with splendid views of the south east Himalayan style face of Paine Grande and the Horns. We hike up valley to the upper viewpoints, at the entrance of a unique cirque surrounded by granite spires that feature the high valley: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (The Fortress). Back to Italian camp, we head to lake Skkotberg and finally to lake Pehoe, where our Full Camp is waiting together with the rest of our luggage.
Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. |
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Lake & Glacier Grey viewpoints
Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe Valley across ridges to reach Grey valley. This magnificent valley flows down somewhat of 60 km from the Patagonian Ice field, featuring the huge glacier calving down in the grey colour lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the westerns slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park.
From the high sections of the trail, many different viewpoints allow us to see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rising far in the distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall, and of course lake and glacier Grey. The trail reaches a close up point to the front of the glacier.
We come back along the same trail, crossing bogs, shrub lands and forest. In the evening we take the boat to cross lake Pehoe back to Pudeto and get back to our Camping Pehoe Full Camp.
Time to walk 8 hs. To the half way viewpoints, round way from our camp, 4 to 5 hs.
Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. |
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Lake Pehoe boat trip - Salto Grande - Camping Pehoe
Morning at leisure in our camp to get some relax after the trek. By noon we take the boat across lake Pehoe to Port Pudeto. Short drive to our Full Camp at Camping Pehoe. After lunch, we visit Salto Grande and the Nordenskjöld trail, leading to the lake and with full views of the French valley from this side of the Park.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. |
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Lake Grey - Camping Pehoe
We visit the western section of the Park. A short and gentle hike in lake Grey south shore and a steep uphill to Cerro Ferrier viewpoint to get our final views of this splendid National Park.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. |
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Torres del Paine - El Calafate
We leave early in the morning our camp and get back to the border to re-enter Argentina and drive back to El Calafate. Upon arrival to El Calafate you will be met by our local representative and transferred to you hostel. The rest of the day is at your own to visit town.
Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast |
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El Calafate - El Calafate airport
Alter breakfast we transfer to El Calafate airport where our services ends.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Click here to see: Accommodations of the trekking
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Season: October to April. Group Departures (Minimun of pax: 3 passengers). It's offered in guaranted group departures all saturdays in the season to facilitate you always could have a scheduled date available in the required date. Medium Trek. |
Cartage service
Argentinian Explorer will provide the transportation of all the general equipment for the trek (tents, dinning tent or dinning place, and kitchen tents, tables and benches, table service and kitchenware, food, first aid kits).
Beside, Argentinian Explorer will carry the passengers' luggage up to a maximum of 8 kg, including your own sleeping bag and mattress.
During the Nordenskjöld traverse, each passenger should carry all its personal equipment for those 2 days & 1 night (a pack including your personal belongings, sleeping bag and mattress, spare clothing for the traverse, box lunch for that day)
Argentinian Explorer will carry the rest of the luggage by bus and boat from Las Torres to Refugio Pehoe Camp.
Notes
Argentinian Explorer holds the right to change the itinerary or to cancel any of the activities when any natural cause (or any other cause of any type) justifies it in order to look after the group safety.
Is this tour for me?
We qualify this tour as "Intense". This means that you need to be fit to enjoy it. No previous technical knowledge is required. The group will walk an average of 6 to 7 hours a day, may be 9 in some specific days, at a moderate pace and with all the necessary stops for water, snacks or rest. The trek includes up hills and down hills, some of them quite steady.
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INCLUDED SERVICES:. Bilingual tour leader (Spanish - English)
Mountain guide
4 nights lodging in a hostel room with private bathroom
2 nights lodging in a hostel room with shared bathroom
12 nights lodging in Full Camp
1 night lodging in a mountain refuge
Transportation El Calafate airport - El Chaltén - Torres del Paine National Park -
El Calafate - El Calafate airport.
During the trip we combine private and regular buses.
Perito Moreno glacier excursion.
Boat trip across lake Pehoe.
19 breakfasts, 14 lunch box and 14 dinners as shown below.
NOT INCLUDED SERVICES: The Intense Trekking tours don't include sleeping bag or Sleeping mattress
National Parks fees
Life and medical insurance
Drinks
Tips
Air tickets and airport taxes
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| List of suggested personal equipment |
Backpack, 50 lts or so
Sleeping bag down or synthetic for -10şC
Sleeping mattress
Trekking shoes or boots
Thermal underwear
Trekking pants
Fleece
Breathable parka and over pants
Gaiters
Gloves
Thermal socks
The necessary spare cloth
Wool hat
Sun hat
Sun glasses
Sun screen (UV is very strong during the southern spring, from september thru december)
Personal items
Lamp
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