Torres del Paine W Circuit Trek - Feb 8, 2012

Day 1 Arrive Punta Arenas

 Arrive to Punta Arenas, Chile on the flight of your choice today. Transfer independently to your comfortable hotel and overnight.  If you love penguins, plan on arriving a day early and we can arrange a trip to Magdalena Island's Penguin Colony for you.

Day 2 Transfer Torres del Paine National Park (B,L,D)

Enjoy the morning in the colorful port town of Punta Arenas at the end of the world before setting off for your drive to Torres del Paine National Park. On the way, stop at an enormous cave that once sheltered a prehistoric sloth, the Milodón. You'll arrive at the EcoCamp, a deluxe tent camp of large igloo-shaped tents built to minimize environmental impact while providing a comfortable setting. You'll find no noisy diesel generators or destructive septic systems. Instead, EcoCamp provides candlelight, feather comforters, composting toilets, and plenty of quiet to enjoy your spectacular surroundings.

Many clients make arrangements to take the morning excursion to see the penguins on Magdalena Island before transferring into the park this day. Let us know if you would like to include this.

Day 3 French Valley (B,L,D)

Waking to a brisk Patagonia morning, you'll prepare for one of your first full hiking day. This morning drive towards the dock on the shores of Pehoe Lake. Once here, board a catamaran across the lake to the north where you start the French Valley hike. Take the challenging trek up a steep trail into the very heart of the Paine Massif. How far you go depends on your groups' pace. An active walk then leads to a hanging bridge over the French River at the foot of the southeast face of the Massif. From this point enjoy a spectacular panorama of various geological formations in the high valley.  Here rest for a picnic lunch before you can take the optional trek to Mirador Britanico to see magnificent views of the Frances Glacier and lakes below. Descend through undulating terrain of rich grasslands and sparse forest to the charming Refugio Pehoe on the shores of Lake Pehoe.

Day 4 Grey Glacier (B,L,D)

You begin today's hike through a dense forest to Mirador Grey. Here you're rewarded with views of the towering walls of Grey Glacier and floating icebergs below. This huge glacier represents the end of the Southern ice field. Depending on conditions, you might continue another few hours to the very walls of the glacier. Your pathway leads you through a rainforest very different from the equatorial Amazon and more akin to the Pacific Northwest's ecosystem. Along the way you'll spot some of the 115 species of birds and learn a bit about this unique southern forest. In the afternoon, you'll embark on the ferry and set off across the Lago Grey. Passing amongst icebergs of fantastic colors and shapes. From the decks of the boat, you'll be able to appreciate the vastness of the glacier. Occasionally there are times when such large chunks have fallen from the Glacier that it is impossible to navigate the ferry too close. You will disembark on the banks of Lago Grey and transfer back to the EcoCamp where dinner and drinks are waiting for you.

Day 5 Las Torres del Paine (B,L,D)

Enjoy a great breakfast before setting out on one of the most well known trails in Torres del Paine National Park. You will trek to the Torres del Paine which are 9,400 ft high and consist of three giant granite monoliths. Walk from the EcoCamp and connect with the winding path to Ascencio Valley. Pass beech forests and small rivers on your scenic walk through the valley to a mass of boulders before the climb uphill. The moraine is considerably steep, but at a slow pace and fair amount of precaution you will see the Towers come into full view rising majestically above the glacial lake. Enjoy lunch and the well earned view at the feet of the Towers before turning back on the trail towards EcoCamp.

Day 6 Return Punta Arenas (B)

Early this morning, you'll transfer to Punta Arenas for the late afternoon flight to Santiago (must be a flight departing after 5:00 pm from Punta Arenas).

With a few more days, you can add extensions to the Atacama Desert, Isla Chiloe, a cruise around Tierra del Fuego to Argentina, or rafting in the Lakes District.  We can also arrange for travelers to transfer from Torres del Paine National Park into Argentina to El Calafate to continue your Patagonia travel adventures.