Patagonia Adventure
Patagonia Adventure
Patagonia Adventure
10 Days Starting in Calafate and ending in
Visiting: Patagonia, Argentina
Tour Overview
This is an ideal introduction to the spectacular world renowned parks of Patagonia, without the need to commit to long walking days. From the awesome Perito Moreno Glacier, we continue onto Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, home to the famous 3000m spires of Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy. We travel across the border to Chile and take a stunning cruise from Puerto Natales into the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park. We explore on foot the vast pampas and forests, home to herds of Guanaco and hopefully spot Andean Condors circling near the base of the dramatic granite 'Towers of Paine'. After each exhilarating day walk we return to our comfortable hotel or lodge, for a wholesome meal and warm bedroom.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive El Calafate
On your arrival in El Calafate, make your way to the group hotel. A transfer can be booked on request for an additional cost. You will meet your guide in the evening for a group briefing.
Overnight Imago Hotel or similar.
Day 2 : Perito Moreno Glacier
The trip begins this morning around 8am, when we are met by our group leader. We head towards the Andes to the edge of the icecap for a full day tour to the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier that advances across Lago Argentino. This day tour is on a private service basis. We spend several hours wandering the many paths that offer different vantage points of this calving glacier. The glacier is 4 km wide and the height of the front wall ranges between 50 and 60 meters above the level of the lake almost cutting the lake in two. Occasionally massive pieces break off and fall into the lake becoming icebergs and creating huge waves in the process. The groans and creaks of the active glacier precede dramatic falls of the ice face.
Overnight Imago Hotel or similar.
Please Note: Lunch is not included today. We recommend that you purchase supplies in El Calafate.
Day 3 : Drive El Calafate To El Chalten
Embark on a scenic five-hour drive to El Chalten, where rolling hills and occasional herds of guanaco and rhea grace the landscape. Keep an eye out for majestic Condors gliding above the vast Patagonian pampas. Upon reaching El Chalten, enjoy the afternoon at your leisure to explore the town. Please note that this is a shared transfer. In El Chalten you will not find money exchanges or banks. ATMs might not always be filled with cash. It is recommended to carry cash.
Overnight Hotel Poincenot or similar.
Day 4 : El Chalten - In Los Glaciares National Park
El Chalten is a village in the heart of Los Glaciares National Park from which we make our day trips. The two most famous hikes in this area are day walks to Laguna Torre (approx 6 hours - 18km) and Laguna de Los Tres (approx 9 hours - 20km) which we want to undertake in the next two days - these hikes are on a private service basis. Both treks start at our hotel and they offer stunning views of Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy. Mount Fitz Roy is found at the northern end of the park and is part of a range of bizarre peaks including the needle like rock pinnacle of Cerro Torre - for a climber it looks to be one of the most unclimbed peaks in the world - in fact it was only scaled for the first time in 1974. To the south runs a great chain of massive glaciers that basically follow the line of the Chile/Argentina border. The dramatic rock spires beckon and our days here will be a highlight of the itinerary. The beautiful valleys hold crystal clear streams and are home to a multitude of bird life. During the short summer the Patagonian flowers bloom profusely. Please note, all treks are subject to weather conditions.
Overnight Hotel Poincenot or similar.
Laguna Torre: Walking distance: 18km Difference in altitude: 250m
Laguna de Los Tres: Walking distance: 20km Difference in altitude: 750m
Day 6 : Drive To Puerto Natales
We begin today with a drive of 5 - 6 hours to the fishing village of Puerto Natales situated on the Ultima Esperanza Fiord in Chile (shared transfer). We are crossing the border from Argentina into Chile today and border formalities can make the journey a bit longer. Depending on the group size we might need to change buses in El Calafate. Depending on timing and schedule, the transfer from El Calafate to Puerto Natales will be in a private vehicle for our group.
Overnight in Puerto Natales, Hotel Australis or similar.
Day 7 : Boat Trip To Torres Del Paine National Park
A spectacular day cruising towards Torres del Paine National Park, we enjoy impressive glaciers tumbling down from the mountains and beautiful panoramic views. Many past travellers rate this as one of the best days on this trip. From Puerto Natales we join our boat trip to the massive Balmaceda Glacier which calves into the Ultima Esperanza Fjord. After lunch in a beautiful location on the fjord, we continue onto the National Park by Zodiac. The Towers of Paine are right before us, as we enter the National Park. This boat trip certainly is the best and most interesting way to arrive into Torres del Paine. We plan to arrive at the park in the late afternoon and the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight Hotel Las Torres 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.
Day Walks Torres Del Paine National Park
When we first see the great granite pinnacles of Paine it is worth remembering that the Andes is the youngest chain of mountains in the world. One can imagine the great pressures and movements of the earth that created these spectacular peaks. Today we will take full day tour through Torres del Paine National Park and you will get a beautiful taste of what this park has to offer. We'll get to see most of the must-see places in the park and we can enjoy terrific views of the entire Paine Massif. We will stop at several view points and you can undertake short hikes to admire the scenery. Stops along the way include Black Bridge, Nordenskjöld Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and the Salto Grande Waterfall. You’ll enjoy lunch with a view and then choose between hiking along the southern shore of Lake Grey and gazing at the floating icebergs, or taking a boat trip on catamaran across the lake to the face of the Grey Glacier (additional cost for boat trip). With 30 metres, Grey Glacier is not as high as Perito Moreno but not less stunning due to its surrounding of the Paine Mountain Range. Small icebergs are usually floating on the lake and provide fantastic photo opportunities. The walks today are easy and short. After a full day of sightseeing in the park we return to our comfortable lodge.
Please note, this full day tour is conducted on a shared service basis with other travellers. All walks and excursions are subject to weather conditions.
Overnight Hotel Las Torres or similar.
Hotel Las Torres works in partnership with a not-for-profit organisation called AMA to make sure the park remains sustainable into the future. On top of critical conservation activities such as trail maintenance and waste management, AMA also engages in scientific research and provides essential educational services. They regularly work with Chilean schools to improve environmental awareness.
Day Walks Torres Del Paine National Park
The second day in Torres del Paine is set aside to walk to the base of Las Torres, one of the most iconic day walks in the park. This trek is on a shared service basis with other travellers. It is more challenging than the day before, but the walk provides excellent views of the park if weather permits. At the end of the way up you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the famous towers and a beautiful glacier lake. The walk will take approximately 7-8 hours return and the last 1 hour of the trek to the towers is steep and rocky. As with any trek, the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the experience. (If this trek is too difficult, other options can be arranged at an additional cost.) The whole experience of trekking in Patagonia will spoil you for most other trekking areas in the world – the scenery is really awe-inspiring. Blue glacial and iceberg strewn lakes combined with dramatic granite peaks and snow covered mountains which lead to the Patagonian ice-cap.
Please note, all treks are subject to weather conditions.
Overnight Hotel Las Torres or similar.
Day 10 : Return To El Calafate, Puerto Natales Or Punta Arenas
We drive for approximately 5 - 6 hours across the steppes following the face of the Andes. The scenery is breathtaking, with great rolling hills dotted with stunted beech trees. During high season, there are two transfers available, one at 7am and one at 2pm. You can choose which transfer time you prefer. If you depart at 7am in the morning, you will be able to take an afternoon flight out of El Calafate. Please don't book flights before 2.30pm in high season and 4.30pm in low season. If you would like to spend the morning in Torres del Paine and take the afternoon transfer, you will require one additional night in El Calafate. Please let us know if you would like us to book a hotel for you. This trip concludes on arrival in El Calafate or El Calafate airport. In case you have decided to spend the night in El Calafate, there is time for last minute shopping or enjoying 'dulce de leche' for the last time, a dessert you will by now be familiar with!
You can also choose to take a transfer to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas if this suits your travel plans.
What's Included
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Accommodation
9 nights hotels/lodge -
9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners
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Good quality hotel and lodge accommodation (mainly 4 star) throughout on a twin share basis
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Bilingual local guides for each section and shared transfers for groups up to 10 travellers
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All internal ground transport by private bus with one leader throughout for groups of 11 or more travellers
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Some activities are on a shared service basis (please see trip itinerary for details)
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All guide fees and national park entrance costs
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International/domestic flights to and from Argentina and within Argentina
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Airport departure taxes
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Airport transfers
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Boat ride on Grey Lake in Torres del Paine
Accommodation
9 nights hotels/lodge
Most of the hotels and lodges we use on this trip can be described as 4 star accommodation, some of them are categorised as 3 stars. In smaller towns and villages or National Parks, hotel options are often limited and we might have to use more basic accommodation with a lower or without star rating. Please note that the star rating in South America is very fluid and can’t be compared to a western standard star rating, however you can be assured of clean, comfortable and well located lodgings.
Please note: Due to the overwhelmingly popularity of Patagonia it can occasionally happen that we have to split groups and accommodate them in different hotels on some nights, especially in Torres del Paine National Park. The group will be together for all activities during the day.
What You Carry
In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (depending on the altitude, location and weather), a rainjacket, water bottle, camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc.
Grading
This adventure involves trekking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. Some days the amount of trekking might increase up to 9 hours if you take all the optional day hikes. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Many of the tracks on which we trek are fairly well defined but sometimes we venture off on less used trails. The pace is steady with plenty of time to stop and take photos and quite leisurely in most cases but on some occasions we will have reasonable climbs or scrambles onto ridges to look out at the stunning mountain landscapes for which Patagonia is renowned. These are optional but well worthwhile as for most they will be the highlights of the trip. We recommend people be fit to enjoy these adventurous side trips.
*Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trip. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended.
Check out our Q&As
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have offices on three continents which means your travelling companions will be just that – international and wonderfully eclectic. Part of small group travel means that although travellers come from various locations and backgrounds, you will be travelling with like-minded companions who, like you, are keen to share the experience and forge lifelong friendships.
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What about environmental impact?
We believe that adventure travel revolves around establishing a strong relationship with the people and environments in which we operate. Our responsible travel policies have been carefully developed to ensure that we minimise the impact of our presence and help to protect the regions we visit while contributing positively to the local community.
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What should I pack?
Your pre-departure documents include a detailed packing list with items that you need to bring. While most of the equipment for daily activities is included in your tour cost, some items like helmets and hiking boots are best brought from home. The pre-departure documents also include information on layering and recommended brands for various items to ensure you are fully prepared for your trip.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes. World Expeditions does not require single travellers to pay a surcharge for travelling alone on the vast majority of our trips. Our holidays are primarily on a twin share basis, so if you are joining the group as a solo traveller, we will match you with someone of your own gender. The choice is yours however; if you prefer not to share, we do offer single supplements for private occupancy.
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Are tips included in my trip price?
Tips are not included in the tour cost. Tipping is a personal thing, do not worry about how much, or when, to tip. Tipping guidelines are provided for certain destinations in our pre departure information upon booking, however the best advice will be provided by your tour leader.
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Am I suited to small-group travel?
We recognise that many of our travellers have not been on a ‘group trip’ before. Yet what our departures provide is both structure and flexibility, allowing you plenty of freedom within the framework of the itinerary. You’ll find that with our maximum group size at 16, you’ll travel in a minimal impact style with a great group of like-minded travellers.
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Can you advise which vaccinations are recommended?
While our pre-departure kit provides information on vaccinations, we suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
World Expeditions allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform world expeditions, 70 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
World Expeditions requires a minimum deposit of 400 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of world expeditions charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 35 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.