Paine & Fitz Roy Trek

Please make your own way to the group hotel in Calafate. A pre-trip briefing will be given around 6pm in your hotel, please ensure you are in the hotel lobby at this time. Overnight: Hotel Quijote or similar.

Meals: Nil

Today is a full day tour to Perito Moreno glacier which is on a shared service basis with other travellers. This impressive glacier advances across Lago Argentino. We depart Calafate by bus and drive to the Perito Moreno Glacier Area. Here you have the option to do the Glacier Mini-Trekking (additional cost, must be booked in advance) or alternatively a boat ride on the lake in front of the glacier (additional cost, must be booked in advance). If you decided for the Glacier Mini-Trekking you will take a 20 minute boat ride across the lake before disembarking and hiking through a beautiful forest to the side of the glacier. Here you will be given a short lecture about the geography and how to walk in crampons. You spend approximately 1-3 hours walking through crevasses and exploring the peculiar ice landscape, before returning to the lake front via the forest, catching glimpses of the bright blue glacier through the trees. You then have the opportunity to take a look at the glacier from the viewing platforms. The ice trekking option on the Perito Moreno Glacier is unfortunately only available for people between 10 and 65 years of age without any type of special pre-existing medical condition (further information upon request). This is due to the insurance stipulations of the local authorities which are unfortunately non-negotiable and personal travel insurance will not suffice. For those over 65 (and those who would prefer not to participate in the Glacier Trek) we have great alternatives which provide the opportunity to see the south wall of the glacier. On arrival at Perito Moreno Glacier, you can embark on a boat trip in the Bajo de las Sombras Bay and journey towards the glacier wall (additional cost, must be booked in advance). A distance of around 300 m will be kept from its face, the perfect position to view the glacier and if luck is with us, witness the ice calving off. Following this, another area close to the glacier will be visited where we can enjoy a walk through the forest and view the ice from different angles. The rest of the group will rejoin us and everyone in the group can enjoy walking along the boardwalks and marvel at the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier from different viewing platforms. In the late afternoon we will have a private transfer to El Chalten (2.5-3 hours). Please remember to visit the supermarket in El Calafate the night before for lunch provisions. Alternatively there are a few snack kiosks and a restaurant at Perito Moreno. Overnight: Poincenot Hotel or similar. Please Note: the ice trekking option on the Perito Moreno Glacier is only available for travellers between 10 and 65 years of age without any type of special pre-existing medical condition (eg cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, pregnancy, etc). Our team in Argentina has the right to exclude you from the ice trekking if not all necessary criteria for participation are met.

Meals: B,L

After having breakfast in the dining room, we will leave in our private vehicle to Hosteria El Pilar. Once we arrive we start to walk on the trail to Poincenot camp thru a forest of “Lengas”, typical Patagonic tree, having the Blanco River on our right. During our way we do different stops to learn about the typical fauna and flora of this amazing National Park. After an hour, we will stop at Piedras Blancas glacier viewpoint where we’ll have the opportunity to take pictures and notice the trace left by the glacier during its setback along the last years. Following our way to Poincenot camp we will have an excellent view of Fitz Roy’s massif as it appears to get closer and closer. We then cross the Blanco river’s bridge heading to the last part of this trail all the way up to De los Tres lake. At this point, we’ll take some time to have our lunch, take pictures and have some rest at the lake shore. After we recover from this last effort, we’ll begin our way down to Poincenot camp where we’ll enjoy some snacks while we wait for the dinner. During the night we’ll have dinner at our private dome including beverages and dessert. Overnight: Poincenot Camp or similar Elevation: +650m

Meals: B,L,D

We begin our day having a full breakfast at our private dome preparing for the second day of our itinerary. Starting our adventure for the day we head along the trail towards the valley of Lake Mother and Daughter leaving the Fitz Roy massif behind us to our final destination the valley of Cerro Torre. During the trail we’ll have enough time to stop at the lakes to take some pictures of the area around and, with some luck, we might spot a small colony of typical Patagonic gooses. We continue through the trail towards Cerro Torre’s valley enjoying the emblematic Patagonian forest of Lengas and Ñires until the final part of our trek crossing an old moraine to face Lake Torre and Grande glacier. If the weather looks good, we may continue to the Maestri viewpoint, from where the famous Italian climber Cesare Maestri outlined his strategy to conquer Cerro Torre and having, at the same time, a closer view of Grande glacier. Once we completed this traverse, we’ll return to town via Cerro Torre valley along the Fitz Roy river till the classic viewpoint and then reaching a beautiful waterfall called Margarita closing our itinerary returning to El Chalten. Overnight: Poincenot Hotel or similar Elevation: -400m

Meals: B,L

Today we spend a last day in Los Glaciares National Park and have enough time for another full day hike. Dependent on the weather we may trek to Pliegue Tumbado, lying 1500 meters above sea level. From here we can admire the valley of the Rio Tunel, surrounded by beautiful mountains of snow-capped peaks and lush slopes. Directly across is Mount Huemul and at the bottom of the valley you can see Toro Lake and Tunnel Glacier. After returning back to El Chalten, a private transfer will take us to El Calafate where we arrive around 8pm. Overnight: Quijote Hotel or similar. Elevation: +1,100m

Meals: B,L

We start early today and drive across the vast Argentine steppes to the Chilean Patagonia. The journey today is on a comfortable public bus. Our stop tonight is at the beautiful fishing village of Puerto Natales situated on the Ultima Esperanza Fiord. Tonight we have to re-pack for our W-Trek and excursion into Torres del Paine National Park the next day. Your guide will provide more information about this on arrival in Puerto Natales. Overnight Hotel Vendaval or similar.

Meals: B

Today we embark on a spectacular day cruising towards Torres del Paine National Park. Marvel at tumbling glaciers and panoramic views. We leave at roughly 7:00 a.m. from the 21 de Mayo Tourist Office to set sail at 7:30 a.m. from Puerto Bories. Sailing through the impressive Última Esperanza Fjord and visit the spectacular Balmaceda Glacier, and then head to the imposing Serrano Glacier located in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. After a snack we embark on Zodiac type boats and navigate up the majestic Serrano River. During the navigation, we can appreciate the impressive view of the southern ice fields and the glaciers that extend for about 40 kilometres, uniting the fjord with the Torres del Paine National Park. These glaciers are fed by meltwater from the Grey, Tyndall, Geike and Balmaceda glaciers. On the way, we pass by the Tyndall Glacier viewpoint, which is part of the majestic Southern Ice Field. Then, we arrive at the spectacular Serrano River waterfall, where we disembark and walk for about 15 minutes through the native forest until we find the second boat. Finally, we arrive in Torres del Paine and enjoy a delicious lunch at the Hotel del Paine, after having lived an unforgettable experience. In the afternoon we continue driving through the national visiting Pehoe Lake and Salto Grande. Cross Pehoe lake by Catamaran. This day promises unforgettable experiences and incredible natural beauty. Overnight: Paine Grande camping or similar PLEASE NOTE: The boat trip is on a shared service basis and is weather dependent. If boats are not able to operate due to weather conditions, we will organise alternative transportation into Torres del Paine National Park.

Meals: B,L,D

Today we commence the first leg of the famous “W” hike in Paine. Out trail offers stunning views of Lago Grey, the Towers of Paine and the Grey Glacier. It is immediately clear the scale of the ice and rock in this dramatic landscape. Towering above us the Cuernos del Paine, or “Horns” of Paine and Paine Grande, the highest peak in the massif. This morning is a 3-4 hour hike to view the awesome Grey Glacier and the Continental Icecap beyond. We return on the same trail to Refugio Paine Grande, past mountain lakes edged with wildflowers and stunning views down to the larger lakes below. As a day hike it is possible to walk as far as you wish and turn around, although the trail today has fairly gentle undulations with few steep sections. Walk approx 6-8 hours. Overnight: Camping or refugio. Elevation: +1,100m

Meals: B,L,D

Trek to the French Valley. This valley is the most beautiful in the park and one of the most unique in the world. Surrounded by hanging glaciers (where you can see & hear the ice calving off at various intervals) and an amphitheater of granite walls and spires. For this day we will have two hiking options: A) consists in getting to further end of the trail, to the British Camp, this is all the way to the end of this natural congregation of mountains. If we reach this point, we will have completed 24km and 7-8 hours hiking. Plan B) consists on reaching to the French Valley Main Lookout, from this point you can appreciate the whole natural amphitheater created by glaciers millions of years ago, it is absolutely breathtaking. B you will have hiked for 5-6 hours and completed 16km. The options will depend on fitness level, timing and weather conditions. Overnight: Camping or refugio Elevation: +600m

Meals: B,L,D

Trek to the Bader Valley. The trail towards the valley begins with trekking 20mins from Refugio Los Cuernos. From here the first 45 minutes is uphill towards the campsite that is set up for climbers. The trail then crosses the Bader river where you are now in the valley. The views are spectacular where you can see the tall imposing granite walls of the Cuerno Principal, Este & Norte (the principal, East & North Horns), along with the Espada, Hoja, Mascara & Almirante Nieto peaks. After trekking 2 more hours we will arrive to the slabs of the East Horn until we can actually touch the wall (weather conditions permitting). From here you are able to see the whole valley below! Overnight: Camping or refugio Elevation: +800m

Meals: B,L,D

Our hike today will take 5-6 hours and follows the scenic Lake Nordenskjöld. We trek through awe-inspiring scenery today passing by emerald glaciated lakes with the Torres del Paine Massif in the background. A steep ascent takes us to the riverside Refugio for the night. Overnight: Camping or refugio Elevation: +150m

Meals: B,L,D

You will start the 2hr trek up and in to the Ascencio Valley, stopping off at Chileno campt. After a short stop here, the trek will continue for an hour, through a forest of the native Lenga (Beech) trees until reaching the glacial moraine. From this point it is another hour to the top where the high, three vertical towers can be seen at close range. The return trek is a little easier and takes about 4hrs to get back down to the trail end. Congratulations, you have now completed the “W” trek! From here we will be transported back tp Puerto Natales for a farewell dinner Overnight: Hotel Vendaval or similar Elevation: +700m

Meals: B,L,D

This morning we drive back to El Calafate. The drive will take around 5 hours and we should arrive in El Calafate by 2pm (bus station) depending on border crossing wait times. Please do not plan to depart El Calafate before 5.30 pm (or later). If you require a transfer to the airport from El Calafate or a private transfer to your hotel in El Calafate, please let us know and we can organise this (additional cost).

Meals: B