Country: Argentina & Chile National Park / Region:Los Glaciares National Park & Torres del Paine National Park Ways to go:Private Adventure Group size:2 to 12 Travelers
Prepare to be captivated by the outstanding day hikes and the promise of excellent lodging, offering a unique blend of adventure and comfort. Our day hikes start in El Chalten, Argentina’s trekking capital. We will reach famous lookouts that offer spectacular views of the iconic Fitz Roy Massif and Cerro Torre. On day 5ht, we’ll go on a day trip to Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the most famous landmarks in Patagonia. We will embark on the visually stunning W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park. This journey encapsulates the best of Torres del Paine. From the majestic Gray Glacier to the awe-inspiring French Valley and the iconic Torres Base, this trek offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Itinerary
DAY 1 – ARRIVE AT EL CALAFATE, ARGENTINA
The trip starts in El Calafate. Your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel. In the evening, there will be a dinner.
Meals: Dinner Accommodation: Selected Hotel
DAY 2 – CALAFATE / EL CHALTÉN / LOS CONDORES HIKE
Today, after breakfast, we depart for El Chaltén. The drive takes about three hours. The paved road follows a pretty scenic route around the shores of Lago Argentino (the biggest freshwater lake in Argentina) and Lago Viedma (formed from melting glacial ice from Viedma Glacier). As we approach El Chaltén, the impressive and beautiful granite towers of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre will come into view. After checking in at our hotel, our trekking guide will meet with us to brief you on the itinerary for the following days. It’s time to get lunch. In the afternoon, we will briefly hike to Los Condores and Las Aguila’s lookouts, which have great views of Lago Viedma and Fitz Roy.
Rise early for a short transfer back to the trailhead at Río Eléctrico Bridge, the starting point for the Río Blanco trail. We set out on a leisurely walk through a stunning forest with breathtaking views of Piedras Blancas Glacier, located across the valley but close enough to look magnificent. After about two hours of hiking, we will reach Poincenot camp, where we begin a steep climb up to Laguna de los Tres. This is a challenging effort but well worth it for its unrivalled views of Fitz Roy, Poincenot, and the other peaks of this massif and its hanging glaciers. After having a picnic lunch at the shore of the mountain lake, we return to El Chalten via the trail down to Laguna Capri, completing the loop.
Wake early for another thrilling day hike along the Laguna Torre trail. We will walk through a varied landscape formed by glaciers and stop at different points to take in the magnificent views of Cerro Torre’s south face. We pass Agostini base camp, from where we hike up to the stunning Laguna Torre Mountain Lake with the majestic Cerro Torre in the background. Icebergs peacefully float on Laguna Torre as the wind pushes them to the coast. We enjoy a picnic before returning to our hotel in El Chaltén.
DAY 5 – TRANSFER TO EL CALAFATE & VISIT OF PERITO MORENO GLACIER
After breakfast, depart from El Chaltén for a 3-hour private vehicle transfer to El Calafate. Once in the city, we´ll go on a day trip to Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the most famous landmarks in Patagonia. We will walk on the footbridges, from where we can observe and hear giant chunks of ice plummet into the waters of Lago Argentino. We can also do a short nautical safari to observe this magnificent glacier up close. After the thrilling encounter with the Perito Moreno glacier, we drive back to El Calafate.
DAY 6 – TRAVEL TO TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK, CHILE
We will board our private transfer early in the morning to Torres del Paine National Park, Chile (274 km/ 170 miles). The journey is scenic and highly atmospheric, featuring many wild birds and wonderful Patagonian landscapes. We will have la packed-lunch once we arrive at EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park and with a prime view of the majestic Torres. We will spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the surroundings and admiring the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon.
DAY 7 – HIKE TO FRENCH VALLEY & OVERNIGHT AT PAINE GRANDE HUT
After breakfast, we will transfer to Pudeto dock, where we will board a catamaran for 30-minute ride across to Pehoe Lake, arriving at Refugio Paine Grande. From here, we’ll begin the trek to Valle Frances (French Valley) along a trail leading to the heart of the Paine Massif. A brisk walk will lead us to the hanging bridge over the French River, nestled at the foot of the southeastern face of the Massif. Here, we’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the valley, a sight that will surely leave you in awe. As we continue our journey towards the upper section of the valley, you’ll have the opportunity to marvel at the vast mass of the valley’s geological formations. After our upward trek, we’ll pause for a delightful picnic, surrounded by the stunning views. This day’s trek will conclude as we descend through a picturesque terrain of mixed grassland and light forest, guiding us to the tranquil shores of Lake Pehoe and our accommodation at Refugio Paine Grande.
Hiking time: 8-9 hrs. round trip Meals: Breakfast, Packed-Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande
DAY 8 – GREY GLACIER TREK & BOAT RIDE
On this day, we will hike from Refugio Paine Grande to the northern side of the glacially beautiful Lake Grey. We will enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails right to the huge, crystalline facade of Glacier Grey, where we will have plenty of time to marvel at the calving glacier. From the southern end of Lake Grey, our reliable private transport will be waiting to pick us up and take us to EcoCamp, ensuring a comfortable and hassle-free journey. *Please note that boat trips may be subject to cancellation if the minimum number of 10 passengers has not been met. In such a scenario, we have a backup plan. We will trek up to the sightseeing point, offering panoramic views of the glacier. After this, we will return on foot to Paine Grande and take a catamaran to the dock. From there, we will be picked up and driven to EcoCamp, ensuring our journey continues smoothly.
The goal of our fourth day will be to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park! It’s a challenge but worth it! We’ll walk from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley on the Tower’s eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests, and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. Our big challenge is the steep moraine, a huge mass of boulders which leads us to that iconic base view of the Towers, three gigantic granite monoliths that are the remains of a great cirque sheared away by glacial ice. After a tough uphill climb, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch? After feasting next to this beautiful view, we’ll backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner and a glass of Chilean wine.
After breakfast we will board our vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales in time to catch the evening flight or enjoy one more hotel night. Alternatively, transportation to El Calafate can be arranged too.
Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Not included
ITINERARY DISCLAIMER
While it is our intention to adhere to the route itinerary described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary. On occasion, it may be necessary or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary can be modified due to weather conditions or other unpredictable factors in the mountain regions.
Dates & Prices
This adventure takes place every day from November 1st to March 30th, in private adventure.
Prices are per person, guiven in USD Dollars.
Book to see dates on "Book"
Gear Tips
As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. Bring only the equipment that is necessary.
The key to staying comfortable during this trip is dress layering. To obtain maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation, and weather protection.
Each item on the list below is required, regardless of the weather forecast, to ensure your safety and well-being, as weather and conditions can change quickly in the mountains.
Provided by WhiteFox Adventures
All group camping equipment, cooking gear and stoves.
All technical equipment that you need for this activity (ropes, crampons, ice axes, helmet, safety systems, etc.).
All ground transport, as indicated in the itinerary, is included. On the first day, private transport will be provided from the airport to the hotel in El Calafate and to El Chaltén the next day. All the transportation required to get to the head of trails in El Chaltén. From El Chaltén to Perito Moreno Glacier and back to El Calafate. A private van will transport us to Torres del Paine on day 6. There is a short transfer to Pudeto Dock to take the catamaran to Pehoe Lake. The next day, our private transport will be waiting at the southern end of Lake Grey to pick us up and take us to EcoCamp Patagonia. On the last day, we return for a 3-hour vehicle transfer to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas hotel or Airport in time for connecting flights to your next destination.
Our Guides
We’re proud that our guide team is among the most talented and experienced in the country. Few can lead a group on the highest mountain.WhiteFox Adventures’ success was largely due to having an exceptional guides team.They have become our friends, and WhiteFox Adventures has become a vehicle for all of us.We believe that if we don’t enjoy the people we work with, our clients won’t either.Teamwork works; we develop our climbing itineraries to be safer and more flexible.Every WhiteFox Adventures guide is experienced and familiar with our ethics, standards, and operations, from the technical skills of our guides to our risk management. Apart from the mountain guide, we provide an assistant guide for every six passengers to provide individual attention for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Lodgings
Two hotel nights in double occupancy at El Calafate, on day 1 and 5. We will spend three hotel nights in double occupancy at El Chaltén. Between days 6 and 10, you will spend three nights in double occupancy at EcoCamp Patagonia, located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. The program includes a standard category, but you can request an upgrade to a superior or suite category at extra cost. And one more night on day 7, in tens at Campsite in Paine Grande. All the camping gear will be provided for our company (tents, sleeping mattress, sleeping bag). The campsite provides satisfactory bathroom facilities. Meals will be served inside the Refugio. An optional upgrade to the shared dormitories inside Refugio Paine Grande can be requested.
Meals
During the trek, we will provide all meals mentioned in the itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, Packed-Lunch if you are moving, and Dinner).If you need a special diet, please let us know. We will be pleased to prepare a special menu for you, but this service costs extra.
Much more services
Entrance tickets to Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine National Parks.Nautical Safari on Perito Moreno Glacier and navigations to Gray and Pehoé lakes.Transportation for luggage within the park: you will only carry your day backpack during trekking.
What’s not included
The following items are not included in this program:
– Personal gear. – Single Accommodations. – All fees incurred for an early departure from the scheduled itinerary (whether private or medical). – Charges were incurred because of delays beyond WhiteFox Adventures’ control. – All the services that are not specified in this program. – Voluntary tipping to guides and staff. – Trip cancellation insurance.
Let’s start planning your Patagonian dream!
We will be happy to answer all the inquiries that you may have without any commitment from your part. We are simply here to discuss different possibilities, ideas or dreams related to Patagonia.
