Packages and Options

Tips/Gratuities
At the end of the trip it is customary for each client to contribute towards a tip for the baquianos who have traveled with us. The normal amount given by each client is between $50 and $100 for the trip although of course it is up to you to decide on how much they would like to give. This is presented by one of the group to the head baquiano at the end of the trip.

Day 1 Clients arrive in Punta Arenas. Taxi from airport to Hotel Terra Sur, Lib. Bernardo O'Higgins # 723, Punta Arenas, Patagonia. Meet leader in hotel lobby at 7.30 p.m. to be escorted to restaurant for dinner.
Day 2 Morning collection from Terra Sur to start the day's drive across the wide open pampas and estancia lands that characterize this area before arriving at the waterside town of Puerto Natales (the capital of the Esperanza region of Chile). We will stop for lunch here and can choose from a variety of restaurants and perhaps do some souvenir shopping. After lunch we will continue our drive towards the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park. Our route takes us along the eastern side of the Park where we will cross into the land belonging to a local estancia. The last part of the drive will be bumpy and with no other traffic as we head towards our beautiful, remote camping spot in a valley with awesome views of the Torres del Paine. There is a small puesto or gaucho post here so we will have some shelter for cooking, dining if the weather is bad. Whilst dinner is being prepared we can put our tents up and enjoy the view. No showers (showers are under construction, check back with us before season). Transfer time: approx. 5.5 hours.
Day 3 Today we will be meeting our horses and the characterful baqueanos who care for them for the first part of our adventure tour, which will be on horseback. After a short introduction to western riding and safety briefing, we will set off on our exciting and unique adventure tour into the hills and forests of the Sierra Contreras. Our destination is the pretty waterfall known as Cascada Zamora. It is normal for us to see no other visitors here enabling us to enjoy a peaceful lunch in this pretty wood. After lunch we will ride out to the remote puesto 'mercado' riding up high over the pampas with views off to the Las Chinas Valley and the Sierra Baguales in the distance. Return to our camp by a different route passing the beautiful Laguna Azul. Night back at puesto Tercera. No showers (see above). Hours in the saddle: 5-6.
Day 4 Today, now more familiar with our horses, we will be setting off across some lovely open pampas towards the heart of the Park and Laguna Amarga. This is a beautiful ride, not least because we get to ride towards the dramatically beautiful mountains of the Paine Massif. We will also pass through the summer grazing grounds of large guanaco herds. Plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the athletic antics of these fascinating and agile animals, or to pick some lovely ripe calafate berries from the many bushes that grow round here. Our trail takes us across some rivers and finally along the dirt track which leads into the Laguna Amarga area of the Park. Here we will meet our transfer vehicle for the short drive to camping Las Torres. Hot showers available. Hours in the saddle: 4-5. Transfer time: 45 minutes.
Day 5 After our hearty camp breakfast, a challenging hike lay in store for us today as we climb up to the base of the towers themselves. Starting with an uphill walk and then following wooded mountain trails this hike is beautiful. The final section is a series of 'hops' over glacial moraine before finally reaching our lunch destination in the shadow of these fabulous granite peaks. In the foreground waterfalls flow off the hanging glaciers into a basin of green water where icebergs float. You will hear sounds like thunder as the ice breaks off the glaciers with crashing roars. In the afternoon we will descend to our camping spot in the valley and enjoy a shower..and for those who have the energy to walk to the nearby hotel bar, pisco sours can be enjoyed while dinner is being prepared. Hiking time: 7-9 hours depending on fitness.
Day 6 After an early breakfast, we will be starting our hike round the shores of Lake Nordjenskold. Our hike skirts this lake whilst always keeping close to the huge granite mountains which form the centrepiece of this geographical wonder. Tonight we will be eating and sleeping in the Refugio Los Cuernos which is beautifully situated beside a turquoise blue lake with the mountains standing watch behind. Dinner and wine included. Hiking time: 4-5 hours.
Day 7 After breakfast in the convivial refugio we will continue our hike along the shores of Lake Nordjenskold towards the French Valley. This is a beautiful and justly famous trail into a superb natural granite ampitheatre where we will also see the French Glacier. After lunch in our awesome picnic spot we will hike to another beautiful lake, Lago Pehoe. We will be setting up camp here on the shores of these pretty turquoise waters before relaxing a little while dinner is prepared. Showers available, inside dining if weather bad. Hiking time: 5 - 9 hours depending on how far the group hikes into the French Valley.
Day 8 Today we will be hiking up to the spectacular and immense Grey Glacier. The trail takes us through ancient beech forests and along a spectacular trail high above Grey Lake. We will enjoy fantastic glacier views throughout. Our destination is refugio Grey and Mirador where we can enjoy lunch on the shores of the iceberg choked lake before we start our descent back to our pretty campsite at Pehoe Lake. Second night at Pehoe. Showers available. Hiking time: 6-7 hours.
Day 9 After breakfast and packing up camp, we will be reunited with our horses and the baqueanos who care for them with a brisk and exciting ride across wide open pampas to the Serrano River. Our path first takes us along flower-lined trails skirting Pehoe Lake before opening out onto flat pampas where we can enjoy an exhilerating canter to the emerald green waters of the Serrano River. Camp riverside. Showers available and inside dining in case of bad weather. Hours in the saddle: 4-5 depending on pace travelled.
Day 10 Today, we will rise early to pack up camp and prepare for our river adventure. We will start with a lecture on safety and technique before loading our luggage and associated equipment onto our kayaks. Then we will board our two-man sea kayaks and start our downriver float into this virgin wilderness. Cameras will need to be kept handy as we enjoy beautiful views of the distant snow capped mountains and the variety of birdlife that inhabits these shores The afternoon we will paddle "up stream" to enter Tyndall lake. This is a short but fairly strenuous leg that gets us into what we feel to be one the most stunning sights/experiences in all of Patagonia, an up close view of a towering valley glacier that reaches 90 feet high in some spots. This remote spot is supremely beautiful and visitors are extremely rare here so we can enjoy the spectacle all to ourselves while dinner is prepared, a fire is lit on the beach and some local Chilean wine is poured. Night camping in virgin wilderness (or under the stars if you prefer). Hours kayaking: 5-6 but flexible depending on weather conditions.
Day 11 Today, we will once again board our sea kayaks to continue downriver to the start of our hike. This wilderness walk takes us into virgin glacier country and we will be totally alone as we enjoy views of Tyndall and Geike Glaciers and the Patagonian ice sheet itself. The stunning setting for lunch will be alongside a lake containing hundreds of icebergs. Returning to the river and our kayaks for the last leg of our journey, we will spend the night in the shadow of Mount Balmaceda. After dinner we will end this perfect day with the sounds of the Serrano Glacier and its tumbling ice lulling us to sleep for the night. Hours kayaking: 4-5. Hours hiking: 3-4. Flexible itinerary based on weather.
Day 12 After this morning's breakfast, time and weather allowing,we will have an opportunity to take our kayaks into the melt water lake fed by the Serrano Glacier. We will spend the morning paddling amongst the floating icebergs in a truly fantastic setting not soon forgotten. After lunch we will be boarding a modern cutter for a comfy ride back across Last Hope Sound to the quayside at Puerto Natales. On arrival in this interesting waterside town, we will take a taxi to the newly built family run Weskar Lodge. Situated a short walk from Puerto Natales this wooden built hotel has lovely views of Last Hope Sound and the Serrano Glacier in the distance. There is ar restaurant and laundry and internet are available. Dinner not included. Hours kayaking: 3-4 (weather reliant). Hours on Cutter: 3-4.
Day 13 Morning at leisure in this beautifully situated and pretty town. After an early lunch, we will continue on to the Otway Sound Penguin Colony where we will have a chance to see and photograph these unique and fascinating burrowing penguins. After we have had our fill of these cute creatures, we will continue on to Punta Arenas and our cozy accommodation at the Hostal Terra Sur. Dinner tonight not included. Transfer time: 4.5 hours with the penguins.
Day 14 Taxi to airport for onward travel.


**2 pax traveling: Meals will be taken in refugios on Days 4, 5, 7 & 8 in addition to that stated on the itinerary

Torres del Paine has a milder and drier microclimate than the surrounding areas of Patagonia because of some unique geological features. The weather however is famously unpredictable and it is possible to experience four seasons in the course of a few hours! Average daily temperatures vary but in summer one can expect 10 - 20 degrees Celsius with the occasional hot day of 25 degrees. Temperatures can drop to zero at night and high winds are common in this area. Although you can never be sure of how Paine will treat its guests, we ask that clients are prepared (both mentally and physically) for unpredictable and sometimes challenging weather conditions and that you pack accordingly. Good waterproofs (top to toe) are essential.

Please find below a recommended clothing list for our riding trips in Patagonia.  From our experience, this list will be adequate to cope with the demands of travelling in Patagonia.  The Patagonian climate is famously unpredictable and weather changes in an instant.  Temperatures vary between 10 and 20 degrees during the day but at night it can drop to zero.  The wind can be very strong so windproof clothing is especially important.

You will need money for meals not included in the trip price, you should budget around US$ 8-15 for lunches and US$ 10- US$ 40 for dinners, depending on what you want to eat. Other expenses - aside from meals and activities not included in the trip price, you will need spending money for such things as souvenir shopping, nightlife, internet, cafes and gratuities /tips.