Compare Torres del Paine - Full Circuit Trek by G Adventures vs Patagonia Explorer: The Best of Chile by Odysseys Unlimited
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days | 15 days |
| Price From | $ 3,999 | $ 5,897 |
| Price Per Day | $ 364 | $ 393 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Camping | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners |
12 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches and 8 Dinners |
| Description |
Gazing upon the towering, steeple-like peaks of Patagonia’s Cordillera del Paine for the first time, you’d swear they were lifted straight from The Lord of the Rings movie. But these massive rock formations are very real. Built for physically-active travellers, not hardcore mountaineers, this trip brings you to remote, lesser-visited sections of the Torres del Paine National Park and the truly unimaginable scenery to be found here. With top-notch mountain guides at your side, you’ll be able to concentrate on spotting condors in flight instead of staring blankly at a map. |
Join us in Patagonia, Chile’s unspoiled wilderness at land’s end, where we explore by land and sea; where the signature Torres del Paine preside over the rugged plains and ice-blue glaciers speckle the sea. Add Santiago and the Lake District, and it’s all Chile, all the time, as our small group tours the length and breadth of this South American gem. |
Day 1 Puerto Natales
Arrive at any time. If arriving into Punta Arenas in Chile, it is recommended to arrive prior to 14:00 to allow enough time to transfer to Puerto Natales for the welcome meeting. If arriving to El Calafate in Argentina, you will need to get there a day before and then take the bus to Puerto Natales today.
Please note the airport in Puerto Natales is small with limited flight connections. Most flights will be through Punta Arenas in Chile or El Calafate in Argentina, both of which would involve taking a public bus or transfer. Your welcome meeting normally starts sometime between 5 and 6pm (please see welcome note on arrival at the hotel) and then you will be able to rent equipment if you want to after. Please note rental shops normally close by 8 or 9pm, so you would need to be there by that time to guarantee being able to rent what you need.
Day 2 Puerto Natales/Laguna Azul Camp
Embark on a 9-day excursion within Torres del Paine NP, hiking the full Torres del Paine circuit known as the O circuit. Start the 130km (80.7 mi) route by trekking to the base of Las Torres to see the dramatic three towers and turquoise lagoon below.
The group will enter the park through the main entrance of Amarga Lagoon. The trail begins with a slope and a side view of the imposing Ascencio Valley and the river with the same name, passing through the famous “Windy Pass” to get to the first official stop at Refugio El Chileno. From there the group will continue towards a forest of native Lenga trees before arriving to the glacial moraine. Here the last, and hardest, part of the trail starts as we will be gaining 300m of altitude in the last kilometer. Please note this last kilometer is steep and rocky, carrying hiking poles (available for rent in Puerto Natales) will really help make this section of trail more manageable. The last km takes around 1 hour, but it is SO worth it! The spectacular view of the three granite towers will be waiting at the top, where we will have lunch with a view! Return along the same trail and meet our driver who is going to take everyone to the first campsite, Laguna Azul.
Day 3 Torres del Paine/Camp Serón
Transfer by van to the Las Torres area. Today we start our trek around the Paine Massif. Head out across ancient glacial moraines on the way to camp Serón. The trail goes through Lenga forests where we can spot some wildlife. The hike today will be around 5 hours. Arrive to Camping Serón where the group will have dinner and rest up for tomorrow.
Day 4 Camp Serón/Lake Dickson Camp
Eat an early breakfast before the hike to Lago Dickson, a glacial lake on the edge of the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap. Hike past bright blooming Notro bushes and cross a stream along the lake. A beautiful, leisurely hike that will take around 6 hours today. Arrive at Camping Dickson and opt for a hot shower and a beer as a reward.
Day 5 Lake Dickson Camp/Los Perros Camp
Continue along the north side of the park to an incredible lookout point of Lake Dickson and the surrounding valley. Follow the trail through the tall forest to reach another lookout for Perros Glacier, well worth the climb.
Pack up and head out through pristine, old growth beech forest. Look and listen for the red-headed Magellanic woodpecker. Just before we arrive to camp, trek past the Perros glacier and enjoy fantastic close-up views of the ice and the lake. Spend the night camping at the base of Paso John Garner at Los Perros.
Day 6 Los Perros Camp/Grey Glacier Camp
Today is the toughest day of the O trek, start with an uphill climb for 2-3 hours, passing over the highest point. The beginning of the trail is through forest, but once you reach 800m of altitude, the path starts to get rocky and may become a little slippery. Take in the first view of Grey Glacier and gaze into the distance to take in its 270km² (104 mi²) spread. Climb vertical ladders and pass a suspension bridge en route to Grey Camp.
This is the biggest day yet as we climb over Paso John Garner and hike down through thick forest directly above the massive Grey Glacier. Once on the pass, look out over rugged, glaciated peaks, and the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap – a view not to be missed! The glacier stretches out below like a giant white highway. To get to the Grey Glacier Camp, there is a big descent of approximately 1700m through the forest.
Day 7 Grey Glacier Camp
Enjoy the day exploring Grey Lake and Grey Glacier. The spectacular scenery is a highlight of the trek with the back drop of snow-capped mountains and floating pieces of piercing blue glacier. The afternoon is free for resting and exploring the area. Opt for a short trek along the west side of the Grey Glacier.
Day 8 Grey Glacier Camp/Paine Grande Camp
Head out on an optional morning kayak on the coast of Lake Grey with amazing views of Grey Glacier and its icebergs. Later, hike along Lake Grey to appreciate different viewpoints of the glacier. Hike to join the famous W Trek and end at Lake Pehoé. Relax at Paine Grande Camp and share trekking stories with the other hikers.
Cross a high plateau overlooking Grey Lake and see icebergs and views across Grey Glacier on the way to Lake Pehoé. Pehoé means "hidden lake" in the Tehuelche language. The afternoon is free to relax at Lodge Paine Grande and enjoy the area. At night, enjoy a pisco sour cocktail in the bar overlooking Paine Grande & Los Cuernos mountains.
Day 9 Paine Grande Camp/Cuernos Camp
Hike to the French Valley lookout to see the mountain range spread across the national park, take in the contrasting greens and greys of the landscape.
Continue the trek to the French Valley. Surrounded by hanging glaciers and an amphitheater of granite walls and spires, this is the most beautiful valley in the park and one of the most unique in the world. After, trek out of the valley to the extraordinary turquoise Lake Nordenskjold. After six to eight hours, end the day at Cuernos Camp for dinner and sleep.
Day 10 Lake Nordenskjöld/Puerto Natales
The concluding day of the O circuit continues along Lake Nordenskjöld. Take in the final views of Torres del Paine, reflect on the last nine days and relish in the sense of accomplishment before heading back to Puerto Natales.
Trek along Lake Nordenskjöld and below the hanging glaciers of Mount Almirante Nieto, to the reach Hosteria Las Torres, where our van awaits us. Transfer to Puerto Natales.
Day 11 Puerto Natales
Depart at any time.
The airport in Puerto Natales is small with limited flight connections. Many onward flight connections will be through Punta Arenas in Chile or El Calafate in Argentina which would involve taking a public bus or transfer of 3-4 hours, if you are flying out of one of these airports we recommend flying out in the afternoon to allow for travel time.
Day 1
Depart for Puerto Montt, Chile
Day 2: Arrive Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas
Meals: Dinner
Upon arrival in Chile’s Lake District, we transfer to our hotel in Puerto Varas. The afternoon is at leisure; tonight we meet our fellow travelers and Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director at a briefing about the journey ahead, followed by a welcome dinner.
Day 3: Vicente Rosales National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we set out on a full-day excursion through stunning Vicente Rosales National Park, set almost entirely in the Andes and covering nearly 1,000 square miles. We see the Petrohué Waterfalls, where surging whitewater plunges over black volcanic rock, and regal Osorno Volcano in the distance, a snowcapped cone that has been compared to Japan’s Mount Fuji. This afternoon we travel to a ranch in the nearby town of Alerce to meet Chilean cowboys and watch as they demonstrate their rodeo skills. Tonight we enjoy a traditional asado-style barbecue dinner at the ranch.
Day 4: Puerto Varas/Calbuco
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
We travel this morning to the small lakeside town of Calbuco, situated on an island in one of southern Chile’s many fjords. We see a mussel fishery then enjoy a small group highlight as we have lunch prepared by a local fisherman’s family.
Day 5: Puerto Varas/Punta Arenas
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
We transfer to the airport today for the two-hour flight to Punta Arenas, capital of Chile’s southernmost Magallanes Region. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel, where we dine tonight.
Day 6: Punta Arenas
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
We get a close-up view of Patagonian Chile today on our excursion to a working estancia (ranch). We visit with the local cowboys who work here and watch a sheepdog exercise to see how these amazing animals perform their important job of herding. We also see a sheep-shearing demonstration and learn how the wool is processed. Then we enjoy a traditional Patagonian asado lunch at the ranch before our return to Punta Arenas, where the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 7: Magdalena Island/Puerto Natales
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
On our day cruise through the storied Strait of Magellan today, we have the opportunity to see for ourselves an animal that most people have only seen in captivity: the Magellanic penguin, the two-foot tall flightless bird that numbers among the millions along the southern tip of South America. We cruise to tiny Magdalena Island, home to a colony of more than 120,000 penguins that coexist peacefully with cormorants, sea lions, and other species. We return to Punta Arenas in time for lunch before continuing our journey northward by coach to Puerto Natales, gateway to Torres del Paine National Park on the shores of Ultima Esperanza Sound.
Day 8: Serrano and Balmaceda Glaciers
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
We experience southern Chile’s glacier region on today’s excursion. Our day cruise takes us through more stunning Patagonian scenery, as we navigate between snow-capped mountains and walls of ice to reach the massive glaciers, where we enjoy fabulous views and photo opportunities. We watch as the ice seems to tumble down the mountainsides and into the bays below (and in fact often does, in a process called calving). Then we enjoy lunch at a local estancia as we return to Puerto Natales. Dinner tonight is on our own.
Day 9: Puerto Natales/Torres del Paine
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we make the two-hour drive north into Torres del Paine, a breathtaking 700-square-mile national park and UNESCO reserve. After reaching our hotel and having lunch together, we set out on a short hike; the rugged beauty of our surroundings gives us a preview of what’s in store over the next two days. Tonight we dine together at our hotel, as we will throughout our stay here.
Day 10: Torres del Paine National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today marks our first full day in Torres del Paine, one of the most unspoiled and beautiful nature preserves on Earth. We spend the day exploring this unparalleled landscape of jagged peaks, ice-blue glaciers, turquoise lakes, rushing rivers, and thunderous waterfalls. We also visit magnificent Lago Grey, which is fed by the glacier of the same name in the Southern Patagonia Ice Field.
Day 11: Torres del Paine National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Our second day of exploration in the park features Laguna Amarga, Laguna Azul, and Cascade Rio Paine, along with resident wildlife.
Day 12: Torres del Paine/Santiago
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
We trade our natural surroundings for the bustling urban heart of Chile today, as we travel by coach to Punta Arenas then board a 3.5-hour flight to the Chilean capital of Santiago. We reach our hotel early this evening; dinner tonight is on our own in this cosmopolitan city with a lively culinary scene.
Day 13: Santiago
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
This morning we get acquainted with Santiago on a panoramic city tour. Chile’s largest city and the capital since colonial times, Santiago boasts an impressive diversity of architecture, a view of the majestic Andes, and a vibrant cultural atmosphere. After time for lunch on our own, we visit one of the many wineries that surround the city for a tour and tasting. Tonight we celebrate our Patagonian sojourn over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 14: Santiago/Depart for U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
After a morning at leisure, this afternoon we visit Bellavista, Santiago’s colorful bohemian barrio where poet Pablo Neruda once lived. There’s time to explore on our own before we transfer to the airport for our overnight flights to the U.S.
Day 15: Arrive U.S.
We arrive in the U.S. this morning and connect with our return flights home.
