ventas@vertice.travel
+56 22 712 6233
Briefings: Calle Manuel Bulnes #1202
Sales room: Carlos Bories #156
DURATION
5 days / 4 nights
DIFFICULTY
High
QUANTITY
Per person
Day 1: Arrival to Torres del Paine National Park – Trekking to Base Torres.
Day 2: Trekking to Refugio Los Cuernos or Refugio Francés.
Day 3: Trekking to Valle del Francés – Paine Grande.
Day 4: Trek to Grey (Optional: suspension bridges).
Day 5:Trekking to Paine Grande – Catamarán – Return to Puerto Natales.
To begin this experience, you will arrive at the main entrance of Torres del Paine National Park, Laguna Amarga, where you must register with CONAF (park rangers). You will then register at the Cerro Paine Reserve and, after a walk of approximately 5 minutes, you will arrive at Torre Central, where you must check in at the refuge or campsite before starting the trek. Today’s hike begins in Valle Ascencio, traversing its extensive native forests. During the final ascent, you will cross an imposing field of giant rocks until you reach one of the most iconic viewpoints in the world: the famous Mirador Base Torres. At an altitude of approximately 900 meters above sea level, marvel at the three granite towers (North, Central, and South) and the sparkling turquoise glacial lake at their feet. You will have time to take pictures and enjoy your box lunch before returning along the same trail back to Torre Central. After a long day of hiking and contemplating this iconic landscape, enjoy dinner at the refuge.
Enjoy breakfast and then order your box lunch to start the hike deep into the park to the Los Cuernos or French refuge. During this hike you will pass by beautiful crystalline streams and admire the glaciers that hang from the Almirante Nieto mountain at 2,670 m. You will be able to see the majestic condors gliding from the heights and go along the fascinating waters of Nordenskjöld lake. Continue along the trail until you reach Los Cuernos refuge or Domo Francés, where you will relax all night.
We recommend to begin early! This hike will take you to the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. After breakfast, ask for your box lunch and get ready for a day of amazing Patagonian landscapes. After 2 hours walking, you will pass through the Francés campsite, and you will arrive at the entrance of the French Valley. You can leave your backpack at the Italiano camp, where there is a park ranger outpost, and start your journey up to the French Valley. Climb through a massive boulder field and follow a tree-lined ridge until reaching the French plateau. Here, you will be rewarded with stunning views of Los Cuernos (the Horns), turquoise glacial lagoons and amazing blue hanging glaciers cascading down the east face of the Paine Grande Mountain (3,050 m.a.s.l.). If you are lucky, you will hear the thundering sound of water and ice crashing down, as it is very common to witness avalanches. Keep walking for 3 hours and you will reach the incredible Mirador Británico viewpoint.
Take some photos, enjoy your box lunch and a well-deserved rest. Descend through the same path back to the Italiano camp (remember to grab your backpack). From here walk to Paine Grande refuge (about 2.5 hrs). Take it easy as it is practically flat. In the evening you will enjoy a delicious dinner at the refuge.
After breakfast, remember to order your box lunch and start today’s trekking. The hike begins through a narrow, winding valley that leads to Los Patos Lagoon. As you continue on you will begin to see parts of the immense Southern Icefields, as well as the ice floes of Grey Lake. After passing the sometimes very windy viewpoint, the trail descends through a mountainous forest until you reach the Grey refuge. From here, if you continue walking for about 10 minutes, you will reach the Grey glacier viewpoint, where you will come face to face with this blue ice massif. Dinner will be served at the refuge between 18:00 and 21:00 hrs.
OPTIONAL
For an unforgettable view of the Grey Glacier, book an extra 3 – 4 hours (round trip) past the refuge in the direction of the famous hanging bridges. This is by far the best viewpoint on the glacier. Besides contemplating the impressive ice, you can see the depths of the ravines formed by the rivers and waterfalls that come from the Olguin Cordon. If you are lucky, you may even see the glacier’s ice flowing into the cold waters of Grey Lake.
Enjoy breakfast and then order your box lunch to start the hike deep into the park to the Los Cuernos or French refuge. During this hike you will pass by beautiful crystalline streams and admire the glaciers that hang from the Almirante Nieto mountain at 2,670 m. You will be able to see the majestic condors gliding from the heights and go along the fascinating waters of the Nordenskjöld lake. Continue along the trail until you reach Los Cuernos refuge or Domo Francés, where you will relax all night.
If you didn’t have the opportunity to visit the suspension bridges the previous afternoon, you can take the morning to explore the spectacular panoramic views of the Grey Glacier. Then, continue along the same trail back to Paine Grande to take the catamaran at 6:35 p.m. to Pudeto, from where you can take the 7:15 p.m. bus back to Puerto Natales.
The approximate arrival time in Natales is 9:30 p.m.
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