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| TORRES DEL PAINE W CIRCUIT TREKKING |
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This superb trek guarantees us to enjoy intensely and in depth the Torres del Paine National Park, traveling its three more spectacular valleys: The Torres Valley, Frances Valley (Cuernos del Paine and Paine Grande) and the GreyGlacier Valley. Stunning mountains, lakes and forests, and a variety wildlife are offered in this classical and very popular tour. It's a must for those who love trekking and outdoor lifestyle.
Torres del Paine W Circuit Trekking offers to us the very best of Paine. We visit its 3 main valleys: Ascensio river valley (Towers), French valley (Paine Grande and Horns) and Grey lake and glacier valley.
Mountains, lakes, glaciers, forests and a rich flora and fauna make this trek a classic of Southern Patagonia. All lovers of outdoors will love this trip.
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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 - 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. |
Intense Trekking
Our Intense Trekking & Camping programs use Full Camp lodging in most nights, to allow the group to trekking extensively across the parks and natural trails. You travel as part of a group with a Mountain Guide dedicated to the group. Some of these Full Camp are pre-mounted, while others are mounted by our crew when arriving to the campsite.
We use to transport all the equipment and the passengers luggage (until 15 kg/33 lb per passenger) by horses, with very few specific tracks where we expect the passenger to carry his/her own sleeping bag and personal items he/she will use for one night. These cartage service and all our service allow the group to trek most part of the time, not wasting time and efforts on carrying their luggage and resolving supported services, meals, etc.
To get the most out of these Intense Trekking & Camping programs you should be in good physical condition. Previous technical skills on trekking are not necessary, because this program is not technically difficult. We trek approximately six to nine hours on same days, at gentle pace, with intermediate stops.
The treks involve several ascents and descents (some long and steep). Previous experience of walking and camping in remote areas would be beneficial, because we use extensively camp sites. We do not go above 1500 meters/4920 ft. In fact it’s one of the strong points of this trips, where you can trek wonderful mountains trails without have to reach high altitude.
Security
The trip doesn't include medical assistance. The guides will carry a basic first-aid kit along the walks and VHF communication equipment for any emergency that could take place.
Transports
Transports will be done combining private and regular services.
Meeting Point
The Meeting Point for the Group on Day 1 is at 7 pm at the Hostal del Lago Libertador,Del Libertador 587, El Calafate. This Meeting Point can be modified and will be confirmed when confirming the booking for the passenger.
Cartage Service. Carrying equipment and luggage
We provide the Cartage Service carrying the passengers personal luggage and sleeping bags, with the exception of the trek before and after Los Cuernos refuge, were each passenger will carry their own sleeping bag, or decide to rent one at the refuge. The passengers carry a daily light pack (raincoat, box lunch, water, sunglasses, camera). We carry 15 kg of luggage for each passenger, in the same way as the equipment is transported.
Is this tour for me?
To get the most out of this tour you should be in good physical condition. We have classified this trek as intense. Previous technical skills on trekking are not necessary, because this program is not technically difficult. We trek approximately six to nine hours on same days, at gentle pace, with intermediate stops. The treks involve several ascents and descents (some long and steep). Previous experience of walking and camping in remote areas would be beneficial, because we use extensively camp sites.
Altitude
We do not go above 1500 meters/4920 ft. In fact it’s one of the strong points of this trip, you can trek wonderful mountains trails without have to reach high altitude. Nevertheless, the strong winds which periodically affect Patagonia during the summer months can make walking much more strenuous.
Important
Do not forget your personal documents necessaries to pass the international border between Argentina and Chile (passport). It’s forbidden to cross the border with fresh meals as fruits, meat, prosciutto, etc.
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SERVICES INCLUDED. Bilingual tour leader (Spanish - English)
Mountain guide
2 nights lodging in a hostel room with private bathroom
6 nights lodging in Full Camp
1 night lodging in a mountain refuge
Transportation El Calafate - Torres del Paine National Park - El Calafate and all transfers inside the National Park.
During the trip we combine private and regular buses.
Boat trip across lake Pehoe.
9 breakfasts, 7 lunch box and 7 dinners as shown below.
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED. 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
Services not detailed in the program
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| List of suggested personal equipment |
Backpack, 50 lts or so
Sleeping bag down or synthetic for -10ºC
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
Trekking poles (recommended, if you are use to them)
Personal medication
Personal documents to cross the border between Argentina and Chile.
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