Highlights of the Chilean Patagonia - 9 Days – Chile – FlashpackerConnect Adventure Travel

We invite you to see the massive granite towers up close that give the Park its name. Walk alongside the breathtaking "Cuernos del Paine," be amazed by the stunning shapes of the "Francés Valley," and enjoy the awe-inspiring Grey Glacier, the southernmost tip of the Chilean Patagonia's Southern Ice Fields, where the ice blends into the clouds on the horizon.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Trek the W circuit ( Self Guided)
Visit Patagonia's Torres del Paine National Park
Visit the Penguins that call Magdalena island home (Guided)
Kayak Glacier Grey (Guided)

Daily Departures Available (self guided W trek): October - April

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive to Punta Arenas - Overnight Punta Arenas

Arrive to Punta Arena, Chile at any time and enjoy a day/evening in the city.

Day 2: Magdalena & Marta Island Navigation (Penguin & Sea Lion colony)

Trip Duration: 5 Hours

Magdalena Island hosts more than 150,000 penguins every years and Marta Island hosts around 1,000 sea lions.

Both islands form an interesting ecosystem, making an obligatory visit for any visitor, whereas Marta Island lodges more than 1000 Sea lions, Cormorants, Skuas, Austral seagull, Antarctic pigeon and Sea elephants. The MagdalenaIsland allows us to interact with one of the majors colonies of Magellan Penguins, going beyond the 150,000 birds. To protect wildlife, Marta Island is only circumnavigated to admire and photograph the Colony and the diversity of marine birds that live there. However in Magdalena Island it is possible to disembark for about one hour, to walk and to interact with the colony.

Early in the morning we start with this unparalleled adventure, we head to Laredo Bay to board speedboats, we navigate 45 minutes to Magdalena Island, where we stay for 1 hour with our guide to know the natural habitat of the Magellanic Penguins in the largest colony of South America. We continue our journey to Isla Marta to see sea lions,imperial cormorants and hundreds of southern gulls. Then we return to the pier and to Punta Arenas.

Depending on the luck we will be able to see Austral Dolphins and Toninas Overa.
In the afternoon we will transfer to Puerto Natales and have free time to explore the town.

*Overnight in Puerto Natales

Day 3: Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine

Today you will depart for your self guided W trek in Torres del Paine.

This morning you will collect your trek vouchers and map and have a trip briefing at the office. We will then take the 2:30 pm bus to Torres del Paine National Park. The trip takes about 2.5 hours (112 km).

Arriving in the afternoon, you will have time to enjoy the scenery and relax before enjoying dinner in the refugio. Tonight you overnight in Refugio Central.

‍

Day 4: Hike to Las Torres Base Lookout Point

Distance: 19.5km (12 mi)

Elevation: 120m (394ft) - 870m (2,854 ft)

Hiking Time: 8 - 10 hours

Early morning you will depart to one of the landmarks of the park, the Las Torres Base Look out Point.

During the first stretch, you will walk through the pampa, cross the Ascencio River, and then climb 3 km up to Los Vientos Mountain Pass, where you will enjoy amazing views of the valley and lakes. You will continue your journey to the Chileno Mountain Refuge, and then go deep into a lenga beech forest up to La Morrena, where the hardest part of the hike begins. You will follow a rock trail to the spectacular Las Torres Base Lookout Point. Later, you will begin the descent to the Central Sector to have dinner and sleep.

Day 5: Hike Francés Sector

Distance: 13.5km (8.3 mi)

Elevation: 200m (656 ft)

Hiking Time: 5 - 6 Hours

Today you walk about 13.5 km (8.3 mi) along the shore of Nordenskjöld Lake, Almirante Nieto Hill, and the striking Cuernos del Paine. During the hike, you will enjoy magnificent views of Los Cuernos, hanging glaciers, lakes, and the abundant local vegetation and wildlife.

You will have dinner and sleep in the Francés Sector.

Day 6: Hike Francés Valley

Distance: 20.5 km (12.7 mi)

Elevation: 120m (394ft) - 700m (2,297 ft)

Hiking Time: 8 -10 hours

The day begins with one of the icons of the circuit, the Francés Valley. You will start early with a light hike to the Italiano Campsite. From there, you will begin the climb through the woods (about 2 km) up the Francés River Valley. You will continue to the Francés Lookout Point, where you will enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of the circuit, the view to the valley framed by the Hills Paine Grande, Catedral, Hoja, Máscara, Espada, Aleta de Tiburón, and Cuerno del Norte. It will leave you speechless. After this spectacle, you will begin the descent to the Paine Grande Sector.

‍

Day 7: Hike Grey Glacier Sector - Kayak Glacier Grey

Distance: 22km (13.6 mi)

Elevation: 43m (141ft) - 313m (1,026 ft)

Hiking Time: 8 - 10 hours

On this day, you will reach the third milestone of the circuit, a place that is one of the most unforgettable sceneries of the park, the magnificent Grey Glacier.

The trail goes around the Paine Grande Hill, the highest peak in the mountain range (3,050 m), with incredible views of its hanging glaciers. Walking amidst Antarctic Beech (ñirre), Dombey's beech (coigüe), and Chilean firebush (notro), you will reach the first lookout point of Grey Lake, where we will see floating pieces of glacier. We will continue to walk towards the imposing view of Grey Glacier to reach the Grey Mountain Refuge.

‍

Kayak expedition to Glacier Grey.

At your base camp you will get dressed with a neoprene suit, waterproof jacket and boots, poogies (kayak gloves),skirt, life-jacket. In a safety briefing you will get to know your kayak, paddle, route and conditions.

Our Glacier Grey kayak expedition will involve paddling around the large floating icebergs, aiming towards the east side of the glacier and getting up close to the giant ice wall. While you are resting and enjoying this incredible place your guide will offer you a snack and a hot drink. If weather conditions permit, we paddle along the island called nunatak on our way back to base camp.

‍

Day 8: Hike back, return via catamaran on Pehoé Lake, return to Puerto Natales.

Distance: 22km (13.6 mi)

Elevation: 43m (141ft) - 313m (1,026 ft)

Hiking Time: 8 - 10 hours

Today we will hike back to Paine Grande refugio where we catch the catamaran that will take us to Pudeto. There you will meet the bus that will take you back to Puerto Natales.

*Overnight in Puerto Natales.

Day 9: Transfer to Punta Arenas, flight home

We will arrange a morning transfer to Punta Arenas city center or Punta Arenas airport (depending on your flight time), where you can catch an afternoon/evening flight out.

Additional Trip Info

Transfer from the Punta Arenas airport to first nights accommodation
Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales (RT)
Transportation on a mini bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park (RT).
5 nights accommodation in Refugios (W trek)
2 nights accommodation in Puerto Natales
1 night accommodation in Punta Arenas
All meals while on the W trek (except dinner on the last day): breakfast, lunch (box lunch), and dinner
Pehoé Lake Catamaran
Torres del Paine National Park entrance fees
Entrance to Magdalena island
Magdalena Island penguin tour
Kayak experience on Glacier Grey