Declared Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1978, the Torres del Paine National Park, (located in the Chilean Patagonia) in internationally renowned as one of the most beautiful, unspoiled and remote places of the planet. Their attractions reside on its spectacular mountain range, lakes, flora and fauna that make of this place an ideal destination for Eco-tourism and adventure.
The trails in between the Torres del Paine famous craggy mountains are among the world's classic trekking routes. Breathtaking views together with glaciers, rivers, lakes, forests and abundant wildlife provides the trip with constantly changing scenarios and experiences. During summer (Nov-Mar) there are 18 hours of daylight that give the explorers plenty of time for the walking journey. With Andean condors circling overhead and guanacos grazing in the valleys, this amazing trek offers a genuine wilderness experience.

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Inclusive from Punta Arenas, all meals as indicated, overnights in refugios and classic safari tent camps, English speaking guides.
7 days/ 6 nights  $ 1,979  
... see our Serano Glacier Extension
    from $350 for 2 days/ 1 night 
  -  private transfer +$85  (min of 2)
2008/09 departure dates:
The trip starts every Monday morning in the airport of Punta Arenas from October to April '08
When flying in/out Punta Arenas make sure to schedule flights arriving P.Arenas Mondays at 11:50hrs and departing Sun after 18:30hrs.
Minimum: 1   Maximum: 20  hikers. Guide to passenger ratio: 1:8

HT SPECIAL $214 OFF  for trips from October and March 16 to April 6 '09

TRIP ITINERARY:
Day 1: Travel to Torres del Paine
Trekkers will need to arrive around noon-12PM to Punta Arenas on the earliest morning flight from Santiago.  From there, we will drive to Ecocamp (345 km/ 216miles /5hrs) inside the famous Torres del Paine National Park.  In summer time (Dec-Mar), the sun sets around 11PM giving us plenty of light to admire the landscape en route and the craggy mountains as we the park.  We will make short stops in the township of Puerto Natales to check out the town (here you have the chance to leave any luggage that you will not need during the trek in our office), and in the enormous Cueva del Milodon, a giant geological wander that once sheltered a prehistoric sloth.  Overnight at Ecocamp in Las Torres (L- , D);
Day 2: Paso Los Cuernos - The Horns
The 5-6 hour hike starts at the Ecocamp and ends at Refugio Los Cuernos.  The name of the trail is taken from the fact that it passes under the horn-like Cuernos del Paine —peaks with beautiful black “horns” of slate atop gray granite.  (Your clothes and personal belongings needed for this night and the following are transported separately in duffel bags we provide you with on day 1).  Overnight in Cuernos Cabins.  (B, L-, D)
Day 3:
French Valley - Valle del Frances
Today the trek will go over 8 kms/5 mi (2,5-3,5 hrs) up to Campamento Italiano and will continue with a round trip to Mirador del Frances (3 km/2 mi, 1,5-2,5 hrs), one of the most spectacular cirques in the Paine Range.  We start walking (1hr) by the shore of Lake Nordenskjold until arriving at Campamento Italiano.  We continue following the River Frances upstream until El Mirador (lookout point) facing Glaciar Frances that descends from Paine Grande, the highest summit in the Paine range.  From here, we have a magnificent view of the lakes below.  Optional trek (2 hrs) to Mirador Britanico available.  Once back at Camp Italiano, the trail between Camp Italiano and Camp Pehoe makes its way through undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest until reaching Refugio Pehoe for overnight.  Duffel bags are carried in by porters from Refuge Los Cuernos to Refugio Pehoe.  (B, L-, D)
Day 4: Pehoe - Grey Glacier
We’ll hike about four hours from Refugio Pehoe at the shores of Lago Pehoe to the northern end of Lago Grey.  Enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails alongside the face of Grey Glaciar.  You will have ample time to marvel at this calving glacier before the boat crosses Lago Grey (40 min.).  Your clothes and personal belongings are transported separately from the Refuge in duffel bags.  Transfer (1.5 hrs) from Lake Grey's southern end to the Ecocamp.  1) If the weather conditions do not allow us to navigate the Grey Lake, we’ll instead hike to the Grey Glacier (6-8 hrs, roundtrip) and then at Pudeto board the catamaran to cross Lake Pehoe.  From there, drive 45 minutes to Ecocamp in Las Torres for overnight.  (B, L-, D);
Day 5   Torres del Paine
Our hiking itinerary for the day is the most famous trek trail in the park.  We will start trekking from Ecocamp onward Hostería Las Torres until reaching the beginning of the trail to the Ascencio Valley, we will do an all day hike (10 km/6 mi, 8 hrs round-trip) to the foot of the impressive granite massif of El Paine where the towers rise majestically before us, and the glacial lake is visible below: one of the most scenic sights in the world!  The famous Torres del Paine (2.900m/9.400ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, remains of a great cirque that has been sheared away by the forces of glacial ice.  Overnight Ecocamp (B, L-, D)
Day 6:  Laguna Azul
Today we will hike (40 min.) to the lookout point of Laguna Azul from where we have a beautiful view of Laguna Azul and the Torres.  We continue along the eastern side of Lago Sarmiento until the calcium formations at the shores of Lake Sarmiento where we have a good chance to see guanacos. Later we trek (3 hours) the Paso Las Corneas with views of Rio Paine, Lake Pehoe and the massif of Paine. Depending on the group, we could also hike (1-1.5 hrs) to lookout point Toro with views to Lago Toro and typical pampa (steppe).   Once back at the Ecocamp, a farewell dinner is honored with a typical Patagonian lamb barbecue; overnight at Ecocamp (B, L-, D)
Day 7: Travel to Punta Arenas
Early in the morning board the vehicle back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight back to Santiago.  (B, L-)

Note
- During shoulder season, months of October, November, 2nd half of March and April, boat schedules at Lake Grey and Pehoe change, slightly modifying our itineraries.
- When flying in/out Punta Arenas make sure to schedule flights arriving Punta Arenas on Monday at 11:50hrs and departing on Sunday after 18:30hrs.

If you are combining this trip with the 7 day Fitzroy and Glacier Trek, then, instead of driving to Punta Arenas, we will leave you at Cerro Castillo -just 1 hr from the Ecocamp- to continue with your trip.

What is included - 
- All ground transport private and domestic as indicated in the itinerary;
- Boat crossing over Lago Grey;
- 4 nights accommodation sharing a 2 person dome in Ecocamp.
- 1 night accommodation in Refuge Pehoe and 1 night accommodation in Refuge Los Cuernos .
- Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park;
- Meals as indicated on the itinerary: B=breakfast, L=lunch, L-= boxLunch, D=dinner
- One expert English speaking trekking guide for 6 clients; one English speaking assistant guide added for groups larger than 6.

What is an Ecocamp?
It's a luxury camp, of a kind never seen before in Chile and similar in concept to the famous African lodges. It is a more comfortable alternative, but above all environmentally friendly, especially in a national Park with the characteristics of Torres del Paine.
The Ecocamp has been designed with the comfort of our travelers in mind but above all stressing the importance of interfering as little as possible with the surroundings in which we have installed it. This need to protect the environment has meant that we have had to be very efficient in managing the eco-camp; this has meant that we cannot offer some of the comforts normal in unprotected areas (private bathroom with septic tank, diesel generators etc) and, on the other hand, utilizing technologies and sustainable processes but ones which demand a greater effort and more patience from our guests (less availability of water and solar energy for electricity, making compost, less waste etc). We think that the solution that we have designed for our guests, in one of the most important national parks of the southern hemisphere, is a novel alternative, efficient and in harmony with the current demands of tourism.

What is the Eco-camp like?
Sleeping is in big comfortable domed tents that take 2 people. They are 2 meters high and the floor is of vitrified wood. The tents are resistant to the strongest winds, rain and even Patagonian snow and they are each equipped with 2 single beds, fleece sheets (very popular among our guests!), blankets and feather cover. The domes are very well insulated allowing comfortable temperatures even in cold nights. The Ecocamp also has a large dome for kitchen/dining room: this is a dome of 9 meters diameter (30 ft) and 4.5 meters high (15 ft). It is equipped with a living area, dining room and kitchen. The space is light and airy with a big panoramic window and it invites our guests to enjoy in a completely new way the surprising evenings of Patagonia. The Ecocamp also includes a bathroom module with showers and hot water. The toilet system uses a composting process. A chef runs the kitchen of the Ecocamp.

Refugios
Our programs include one night in Pehoe and another night in Los Cuernos refuge. This are typical mountain huts, open to the public that visits Torres del Paine. It has rooms for 4-6 people. The beds are single, bunk type and we will provide you with a sleeping bag and a polar fleece liner (you don't need to bring a sleeping bag!). The bathrooms are also shared and they have hot water. The refugios are heated and have a very comfortable dining area.

Vehicles
A private van will deliver us in Torres del Paine National Park on day 1 and will pick us up on day 7. We also use a private van for transfers within the park. 

Group Size & Guiding Staff
8-12 clients most typical group size plus staff. Maximum is 20 clients.

FLORA:
Bushes and wild flowers are characterized by being evergreen and resistant to low temperature. Among the most renowed are: Calafate (Berberis buxifolia): a thorny bush found all over Patagonia that reaches 3 mts in height. It has attractive bright yellow flowers in spring, and yields tasty round purple berries; Chilco (Fuchsia magellanica) grows in cool humid areas, near waterfalls or by rivers. The flowers have a very distinctive fuchsia form, with bright red sepals and bluish-purple petals; Notro(Embothrium coccineum) a distant relative of the proteas grows as a large bush with leathery oval-shaped leaves and blooms in October producing attractive red elongated flowers; Nalca (Gunnera scabrosa) is a vigorous annual that grows up to three meters high in very moist areas. It has giant "elephant ear" leaves and succulent thorny stems; Other plants like Mata Barrosa(Mulinum spinosum), Mata Verde (Chilio trichum spinosum), Siete Camisas(Escallonia serrata), Leña Dura(Maytenus magellanica), Mata Negra(Verbena tridens) and Paramela(Adesmia boronioides).

Trees are characterized by the southern beech (Nothofagus) whose member species are also found in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Among the most commonly seen in the park are: Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), Coigüe(N.betuloides) and Ñirre (N.antartica).

FAUNA:
There are about 21 species of mammals living in the park the most populars being: Guanaco(Lama guanicoe) a cameloid relative; Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) a graceful native deer, Zorro Culpeo (Dusicyon culpaeus) the second largest predator in Patagonia is a native fox, Zorro Gris (Dusicyon gymnocercus) a small fox living in open country, Puma (Felis concolor) the largest predator similar to the cougar and Chingue (Conepatus humboldti) related to North American skunks.

The birds are more than 115 different species such as: Condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) of the vulture family is one of the world's biggest flying bird; Ñandu (Pterocnemia pennata) is the Rhea a flightless member of the ostrich family, Aguilucho(Buteo ventralis) is a native eagle; Bandurrias (Theristicus caudatus) related to the ibis; Cisne Cuello Negro (Cygnus melancoryphus) a large white swan with a black neck; Caiquén (Chloephaga picta) a native goose; and others.