Hiker's Patagonia

Itinerary

• Day01

  Arrive in Punta Arenas

  Arrive at the airport in Punta Arenas, Chile, and meet your group leader to transfer to the hotel. In the early evening, gather with the group for a briefing on the adventure ahead.

  • Accommodation: Hotel Cabo de Hornos
  • Meals: Dinner
• Day02

  Scenic Drive to Torres del Paine National Park

  After breakfast, travel across the Patagonian plains to the quiet fishing town of Puerto Natales on the shores of Seno Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Stretch your legs a bit and have lunch before continuing on to Torres del Paine National Park and taking in your first spectacular views of the Paine Massif (weather permitting). There is also a very good chance of seeing guanacos - small cousins to the camel and llama - on the way to the park.

  • Accommodation: Hotel Las Torres
  • Transportation: 6-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day03

  Explore Majestic Torres del Paine

  Get an early start for an all-day hike to the Torres del Paine lookout. Follow the Asencio River over a low pass into the Ascencio Valley, passing through beautiful beech forests, talus-covered slopes, and boulders. Arrive at a spectacular viewpoint that is one of the most scenic spots in the world, where the towers rise majestically before you and a glacial lake is visible below. Enjoy a packed lunch en route before hiking back to the hotel.

  • Accommodation: Hotel Las Torres
  • Activity: 9 hours/11.5 miles hiking with 2,500' elevation gain
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day04

  Hike below Cuernos del Paine

  Begin your trek deep into the park, hiking at a relaxed pace along the north shore of Lago Nordenskjold to Los Cuernos, following the Paso Los Cuernos trail beneath the jagged Cuernos del Paine. The views are magnificent, including your first sighting of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. Stay in cozy cabins right next to a waterfall on the most isolated spot of our journey - an excellent staging area for tomorrow's hike to the French Valley.

  • Accommodation: Cabañas de los Cuernos
  • Activity: 5 hours/7 miles hiking with 1,400' elevation gain
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day05

  Hike through French Valley

  Hike into the French Valley, one of the most spectacular cirques in the Paine Range. Walk below the glaciers that descend from the massif's highest summit and marvel at the gray granite peaks of the Cuernos del Paine, topped with fantastical black slate "horns." Two hiking options are available today, weather permitting: We can take an 11-mile hike back to camp, or continue up to the mirador (viewpoint) above Camp Británico for one of the most impressive views in the park.

  • Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande
  • Activity: 8 hours/11 miles hiking with 1,200' elevation gain or 10-12 hours/15 miles with 2,000' elevation gain
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day06

  Take a Boat to Grey Glacier

  Arise early and hike along the Paine Grande Mountain towards the face of stunning Grey Glacier, at the southern end of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. Enjoy a packed lunch en route before boarding a catamaran that takes us close to the front of the glacier and then down to the southern shore of the Lago Grey (Grey Lake), where our hotel for the night is located.

  • Accommodation: Hotel Lago Grey
  • Activity: 4 hours/7.5 miles hiking with 800' elevation gain
  • Transportation: 45-minute catamaran & 2-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day07

  Travel to Argentina & Explore El Calafate

  Depart Chile's Torres del Paine National Park and drive across the border into Argentina. (Please be prepared for delays of up to a few hours while crossing the border). Proceed over the flat grassland steppes to the town of El Calafate, located on the southern shore of glacial lake called Lago Argentino. El Calafate is the gateway to Perito Moreno Glacier and is a great town to explore. You trip leader will recommend restaurants for your dinner on your own tonight.

  • Accommodation: Hotel Posada Los Alamos
  • Transportation: 7-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Day08

  Marvel at the Perito Moreno Glacier

  Enjoy a full-day excursion to Los Glaciares National Park to see the renowned Perito Moreno glacier. At this very active glacier, a 200-foot-high headwall continually calves massive blocks of ice into the lake with a thunderous roar - an awesome spectacle of nature's power at work. Hiking options are available, depending on the weather: admire the amazing glacier from different viewpoints on a 2-mile footbridge walk; or choose an optional catamaran ride across the lake to walk on the glacier itself (Additional fee. Due to park service policies, this option is restricted to travelers aged 65 or younger).

  • Accommodation: Hotel Posada Los Alamos
  • Activity: 2 hours/2 miles walking & optional glacier excursion
  • Transportation: 4-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Day09

  Drive to Los Glaciares National Park

  We continue our drive across the steppes and along the northern end of Lago Viedma, with the views getting better and better as we approach the mountains and glaciers. Arrive at El Chaltén for lunch. Weather permitting, those who would like to may have a short hike to a scenic lookout, before continuing another half an hour to Laguna Condor.

  • Accommodation: Laguna Condor Mountain Hut
  • Activity: 2 hours/3 miles hiking with 300' elevation gain
  • Transportation: 3-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day10

  Explore Los Glaciares National Park

  We visit the private natural reserve, Los Huemules from where we start hiking at the Condor Valley taking us gently uphill from west to east as we approach Laguna del Diablo. This less travelled path boasts impressive views and solitude.

  • Accommodation: Laguna Condor Mountain Hut
  • Activity: 6-7 hours/10 miles hiking with 1,000`elevation gain
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day11

  Explore Los Glaciares National Park

  Another day, another inspiring day hike into Los Glaciares. A short transfer brings us to the trail head El Pilar, before setting out on an easy walk through a beautiful forest with impressive views of Piedras Blancas Glacier. From here, begin a steep climb up to Laguna de los 3, situated just below the impressive Fitz Roy Mountain. At the top take in the beautiful surroundings before hiking back to El Chaltén. We pass the secluded and very scenic Laguna Capri.

  • Accommodation: Destino Sur
  • Activity: 8-9 hours/13 miles hiking with 2,300`elevation gain
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day12

  Explore Los Glaciares National Park

  Embark on a long day hike into the park's interior. Take in commanding views of the spectacular peaks of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre - both sought after by photographers and climbers the world over. Depending on the weather we might change the day 10 and 11 itinerary. We walk through a varied landscape formed by glaciers and stop at scenic viewpoints along the way to the Laguna Torre, situated on a beautiful glacial lake set against the backdrop of Cerro Torre.

  • Accommodation: Destino Sur
  • Activity: 7-8 hours/11 miles hiking with 600`elevation gain
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day13

  Fly to Buenos Aires

  Transfer to the town of El Calafate, where we bid farewell to our guide. Catch a flight to Buenos Aires, the cosmopolitan capital of Argentina that is often referred to as the "Paris of South America." Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, transfer to your hotel in the city's stylish Recoleta district. Dinner is on your own in Buenos Aires, where there is no shortage of tempting culinary offerings.

  • Accommodation: Loi Suites Recoleta
  • Transportation: 3-hour private van transfer & 3-hour flight
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Day14

  Explore Buenos Aires & Depart

  Today is free for shopping and sightseeing. Explore the Recoleta, famous mainly for its nightlife but also well worth a visit by day. Take in the Museum of Fine Arts and the National Cemetery, which holds the tombs of many famous people. Or browse the stores and colorful stands of the galerias in the Downtown district, especially along Calle Florida. In the evening, transfer to the airport - or stay on a few extra days to take in the beauty of Buenos Aires.

  • Meals: Breakfast