Patagonia EcoCamp Trek

Patagonia EcoCamp Trek Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Discover the magic at the end of the world! Travel from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine National Park.

  Discover the magic at the end of the world! Travel from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine National Park. The trip starts this morning in the city of Punta Arenas, either at your hotel or at the airport. Alternatively you can start your trip in El Calafate if you are arriving from Argentina. En route we make a couple of stops - First in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of "Seno de Ultima Esperanza", where we enjoy a hearty local lunch, and second at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s. The whole journey is very scenic, with plenty of wild birds and wonderful landscapes to be seen. The day ends with our arrival and overnight stay at EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of the park with a view of the Torres. During summer the sun sets around 11pm, so upon arrival there's plenty of light to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon. The day ends with an overnight at the EcoCamp. Lunch and dinner included. Driving time: 5.5 hours

• Day 2 The French Valley is one of the small valleys that separate the spectacular granite spires of and mountains of Paine's massif.

  After breakfast, we start our day driving towards Pudeto dock, located by the shores of Pehoe Lake. Once there we board the catamaran that takes us to the northwest sector of the lake from where we'll start the challenging hike to Valle Frances (French Valley), taking a steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. How deep we go depends on our groups' pace and energy level. An active walk leads us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the southeast face of the Massif. From this point, we can enjoy our first truly wonderful view and then continue hiking up the trail until we reach the upper prospects of the valley. From here, we can admire the entire group of geological formations of the high valley: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark's Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress)! It's time to have a picnic and recover from the walk. An optional hike to Mirador Britanico is available as well. Next, we descend through undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest until reaching the Refugio Paine Grande, located on the peaceful shores of Lake Pehoe. Finally, upon reaching the Refugio, our luggage is organized and we have time to talk about the day while enjoying a replenishing dinner. All meals included.

  Note: The excursion to French Valley varies throughout the season depending on the catamaran connecting Pudeto and Refugio Pehoe: From October 1st to November 15th and from March 16th through April the navigation operates only once a day, therefore the hike will be limited and only reach Italian campsite. (From November 16th to March 15th the excursion operates on a regular basis).

  Hiking: 25km/ 15 miles, 8 hrs. Mostly level trails. Mostly level trails with some steep sections.

• Day 3 Watch for guanacos, native to South America, grazing on your way to Lake Pehoe.

  Today we'll hike from Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of mountain-lined Lake Pehoe to the northern end of glacial Lake Grey. We'll enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails to the blue face of Grey Glacier*. You'll have lots of time to marvel at this calving glacier during the boat ride across Lake Grey with its floating pieces of ice. From Lake Grey's southern end we transfer to the EcoCamp.

  *Occasionally the weather may not permit us to sail across the lake, or during Shoulder Season (October and April) the sailing might be cancelled if the required minimum of 10 passengers isn't reached. In this case we will get up early and trek about two hours along the Grey trail until reaching a sightseeing point offering a spectacular view of the Glacier. Then we return to Paine Grande and take a catamaran to Pudeto’s dock, from where we're driven back to Ecocamp. All meals included.

  Hiking: 14km / 9 miles, 4 hours. Mostly level trails.

• Day 4 Today's hike is to the base of Torres del Paine, one of the most impressive views inside the park.

  This morning we enjoy a great breakfast and get excited for our day's goal: to complete the most famous trail in Torres del Paine National Park. We hike from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres and connect with the winding uphill path to Ascencio Valley which leads to the east face of the Towers. On our scenic hike into the valley, we'll pass by dry mountain terrain, beech forests and small rivers. It's not a difficult hike, but you might want to save some energy for the final challenge: the moraine. This mass of boulders is the last obstacle before we come face-to-face with the vertical walls of Torres del Paine. We'll take it slow and move carefully along this steep section. For our efforts, we're finally rewarded with a sweeping view of the Towers rising majestically before us, the glacial lake visible below. This is one of the most breathtaking sights in the world! The famous Torres del Paine (2,900 m/ 9,400 ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. Is there any better place on this planet to have lunch? At the foot of the mighty Torres del Paine we'll have a bite to eat, take in the view and enjoy life! Once everyone is ready, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to the EcoCamp.

  Note: During Shoulder Season (October and April) the Towers Trek excursion might be cancelled because of weather conditions and safety considerations. All meals included.

  Hiking: 21 km/ 13 miles, 8 hrs. Mostly level trails with some steep sections.

• Day 5 Return to Punta Arenas for more adventures in South America.

  Early this morning, we board our vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight. Driving time: 5.5 hours. Breakfast and boxed lunch included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. Single travelers who pay the full supplement will be upgraded to a superior dome. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, there is no single supplement. Please note: The second night of the 5-day trek is spent in a refugio where guests will share a room that holds 6 people. No single accommodations available.

Meals as noted in the daily itinerary; 3 nights accommodations at EcoCamp in standard domes, 1 night accommodation at Refugio Paine Grande, guide leadership and support staff; airport transfers; park fees; boat crossing for Lake Pehoe (and Lake Grey); sleeping bag for refugio; luggage transport while trekking.

A non-refundable deposit of $400 is required at time of booking to secure space. Full payment is required 90 days before fixed departure date.

Cancellation and transfer policy:
91+ days prior to departure—$400 penalty per person
90-45 days prior to departure—50% of the total trip cost is non-refundable
45 days or less prior to departure—100% of the trip cost is non-refundable

International airfare into Punta Arenas; cost of medical immunizations; insurance of any kind; excess baggage charges; airport taxes; entry fees for Argentina and/or Chile (approx. $140 per country but subject to change); alcoholic beverages or soft drinks not included with meals; gratuities and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Vigorous [4]. Trip members should be strong, experienced hikers and campers in good physical condition. This is a remote trip, with long (but spectacular) days of hiking and no easy access. Hiking trails may be muddy with numerous stream crossings. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest beginning a regular exercise regimen at least three months prior to departure. Recommended exercises include hiking, jogging, cycling and/or swimming. Get out on those hills if possible!

The weather in Patagonia is notorious for high winds and extreme variability. Days can range from sunny with temperatures in the 70s to rain, hail, and occasionally even snow. Please come prepared for all possibilities and equipped with good quality raingear. Nighttime temperatures often drop down into the 30s requiring a sleeping bag rated to 10-20° F.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing, hiking boots and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed
• Wind chill can be a significant feature of this trip. Air temperatures can be relatively warm, but when the wind is constant you can be robbed of body heat quickly. Adequate wind/raingear is very important.
• Cotton is wonderful in hot weather or in the evenings. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool, or polyester fabrics such as Capilene® or MTS®, which will insulate even if they get wet.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• Make sure boots are broken in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton.