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Prices
for - Argentina Trekking and Adventures
PATAGONIA WILD TRAILS
20 days – 19 nights
Departures:
Saturdays, each 14 days
Season:
October thru April
Trip starts at:
El Calafate airport
Trip ends at:
El Calafate airport
Group departures with a minimum of 3 pax
The Patagonia Wild Trails is the most popular program among
passengers seeking for outdoors activities that wish to go one step beyond a
moderate trek. No previous technical requirements are necessary. In Fitz Roy
area we trek from north to south visiting Fitz Roy massif and Cerro Torre group
(probably two of the most beautiful mountains on Earth) and we end hiking up to
Paso del Viento to have a good look to the Patagonian Ice Field. With the extra
bonus of one day of glacier hike in the Cerro Torre glacier. In Paine National
Park we trek the 3 valleys of the famous “W” circuit (Ascensio river valley,
French valley and Grey valley) We use our camps to lodge inside the National
Parks. We also take care of taking all the necessary equipment and part of the
luggage of the passengers so you can enjoy the trekking without making any
effort. You need to be fit enough to walk an average of 7 hs a day, at a
moderate pace and with the necessary stops.
No pass over 1500 mts above sea level in this program.
Itinerary
Day 1 El Calafate airport – El Calafate
We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check
in at your hostel. By 7 pm the group meets in the lobby of the Hostel del
Glaciar Pioneros, street Pioneros 251, El Calafate, to meet your guide, discuss
details of your program and enjoy your welcome dinner together with your fellow
travellers.
Lodging in a Hostel room with private
bathroom.
Meals we provide: Dinner
Day 2 El Calafate - El Chaltén
After breakfast, we take our bus to El Chaltén, 220 km to get to
this picturesque village at the foot of Fitz Roy. Stop over on road for coffee
and home made cakes. While we approach, we get spectacular views of Viedma lake
and glacier, and Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre groups.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast
Day 3 Piedra del Fraile
Today we start our trek in the National Park. We go in a short
drive to the Electrico river bridge and a gentle hike inside a beautiful
southern beech forest to get to Piedra del Fraile. From Piedra del Fraile, we
hike on to the viewpoints of Fitz Roy north face and Pollone glacier and the
viewpoints of Marconi Glacier, entrance to the Patagonian Ice field. We hike
back to our Full Camp in Piedra del Fraile.
Lodging in Full Camp at Piedra del Fraile in
double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Day 4 Río Blanco, Laguna De los Tres
Today we retrace our steps to the Rio Blanco valley, which we
hike upriver to visit the Piedras Blancas glacier and lagoon. Further on, we get
to Rio Blanco (Fitz Roy base camp for climbers in the east walls of the group)
and we hike up to Laguna de los Tres, viewpoint of Fitz Roy and probably one of
the most spectaculars locations in the National Park. WE hike down to Rio Blanco
and to Laguna Capri.
Lodging in Full Camp at Laguna Capri in double
tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Day 5 Cerro Torre
Today we make it around Laguna Capri to get to the Lagoons Madre
and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet Cerro Torre
trail and we get to Cerro Torre Full Camp. The trail runs along beech forest,
bogs and shrub land. From the camp, a short hike takes us to Laguna Torre,
enclosed by moraines and with the Glacier Grande calving in its west side. It is
usual to see icebergs pushed by the wind in the coast of the lagoon. The thin
and elegant 3128 mts of Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background
complete this spectacular view. Walking time 3 to 4 hs.
Lodging at Cerro Torre
Full Camp in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 6 Cerro Torre glacier trek
This day is a highlight of the trip. We provide crampons,
harnesses, and we set out to hike in the cerro Torre glacier. We cross river
Fitz Roy river through a tyrolean (horizontal fixed rope attached to both sides
of the river). We walk on the moraine around the lagoon and then down to the
glacier visiting crevices, ice caves and holes and all the interesting places
that a glacier can show. The bonus is the close up views of Cerro Torre group
spires. We hike back to our camp in the afternoon.
Lodging at Cerro Torre
Full Camp in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 7 Pliegue Tumbado, Laguna Toro
We again cross the tyrolean but now to hike up to Paso de las
Agachonas, a 1300 mts pass on top of Pliegue Tumbado, which divides the Cerro
Torre valley from the River Tunel valley. Full views on Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre
and the glacier valley in between the two mountains. From the pass we hike down
to Laguna Toro.
Lodging at Laguna Toro
Full Camp in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 8 Paso del Viento
A full day hike from Laguna Toro to Paso del Viento (1500 mts
above sea level) and back, across moraines, glacier and alpine meadows, to get
to a spectacular view of the Patagonian Ice field, including the Mariano Moreno
Range and many other mountains rarely seen by men. The hike is demanding, with a
day pack, 9 hs round trip from Laguna Toro, to climb 800 mts from our camp to
the Pass.
Lodging at Laguna Toro
Full Camp in double tent (rural area)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 9 Río Túnel, El Chaltén
We follow a trail along the River Tunel valley and up Pliegue
Tumbado. On the ridge, we get again splendid views of most of the mountains and
lakes of the area. Gentle downhill to El Chaltén.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch.
Day 10 El Chaltén – El Calafate
Morning at your own in El Chaltén, to relax after the trek and
visit the town. By 5 pm we take our bus back to El Calafate.
Lodging in a Hostel room with private
bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast
Day 11 El Calafate – Perito Moreno Glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonder: the
Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Ice
field, and big sheet of ice that with its 22.000 square kilometres is the third
largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland
(1 M sq km). Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the
only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads
to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes.
A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper
viewpoints. The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the
glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the
turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. We
will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier
across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds.
Lodging in a Hostel room with private
bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 12 El Calafate – Torres del Paine
Early start for a 6 hs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive
across the steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get
around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and
Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro
Castillo. After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National
Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and
Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different
mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the
Towers. We enter the Park by Porteria Laguna Amarga. A rich wildlife: guanacos,
lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds, will be
available for our eyes and cameras.
Lodging in Full Camp at Las Torres
in
double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Day 13 Paine Towers – Ascensio River Valley
From pour camp, we cross the Ascensio river hanging bridge and
hike a steep one hour slope, to get inside the Ascensio river valley, a narrow
“V” shape alpine valley coming from inside the Paine massif. A gentle downhill
leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cozy and comfortable mountain lodge, which can be
a good turnaround point for those not willing to make a full day hike. We then
walk in a gentle slope along the river side and inside beech forest. A final
climb on moraine take us to the Towers viewpoint: a glacier origin lagoon and
the three towers rising vertically 1000 mts from the glacier. The lack of breath
will be either because the climb and the sight!!!! We go back to our camp on the
same way we came. Walking time: 7 to 8 hs.
Lodging in Full Camp at Las Torres
in
double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Day 14 Las Torres - Paso Cuernos
Today we start a 2 days traverse from Las Torres to Refugio Pehoe
Full Camp, with one night at Refugio Los Cuernos. The so called “Nordenskjöld
lake traverse” or “Traverse of the Horns”. We take in our packs the necessary
items for this 2 days trek, which are personal items, some spare clothing and
our sleeping bag. The walk goes along lake Nordenskjöld and at the foot of
Admiral Nieto and the Horns. We
stay in Refugio Los Cuernos this night.
Lodging at Refugio Los Cuernos with shared
room and bathroom
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Day 15 French valley – Refugio Pehoé
After an early start, we walk to the Italian Camp, gate to the
French valley, with splendid views of the south east Himalayan style face of
Paine Grande and the Horns. We hike up valley to the upper viewpoints, at the
entrance of a unique cirque surrounded by granite spires that feature the high
valley: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral),
Aleta de Tiburón (Shark Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (The Fortress). Back
to Italian camp, we head to lake Skkotberg and finally to lake Pehoe, where our
Full Camp is waiting together with the rest of our luggage.
Lodging at Refugio Pehoe
Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 16 Lake & Glacier Grey viewpoints
Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe Valley across ridges to reach
Grey valley. This magnificent valley flows down somewhat of 60 km from the
Patagonian Ice field, featuring the huge glacier calving down in the grey colour
lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the westerns slopes of Paine
Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park. From the high
sections of the trail, many different viewpoints allow us to see the south end
of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rising far in the
distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall, and of course lake and glacier Grey.
The trail reaches a close up point to the front of the glacier. We come back
along the same trail, crossing bogs, shrub lands and forest. In the evening we
take the boat to cross lake Pehoe back to Pudeto and get back to our Camping
Pehoe Full Camp.
Time to walk 8 hs. To the half way viewpoints, round way from our
camp, 4 to 5 hs.
Lodging at Refugio Pehoe
Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 17 Lake Pehoe boat trip - Salto Grande
- Camping Pehoe
Morning at leisure in our camp to get some relax after the trek.
By noon we take the boat across lake Pehoe to Port Pudeto. Short drive to our
Full Camp at Camping Pehoe. After lunch, we visit Salto Grande and the
Nordenskjöld trail, leading to the lake and with full views of the French valley
from this side of the Park.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe
Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 18 Lake Grey - Camping Pehoe
We visit the western section of the Park. A short and gentle hike
in lake Grey south shore and a steep uphill to Cerro Ferrier viewpoint to get
our final views of this splendid National Park.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe
Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day
19 Torres del Paine – El Calafate
We leave early in the morning our camp and get back to the border
to re-enter Argentina and drive back to El Calafate. Upon arrival to El Calafate
you will be met by our local representative and transferred to you hostel. The
rest of the day is at your own to visit town.
Lodging in a Hostel room with private
bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast
Day 20 El Calafate - El Calafate airport
Alter breakfast we transfer to El Calafate airport where our
services ends.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Detail of Services
Included
Bilingual tour leader (Spanish – English)
Mountain guide
4 nights lodging in a hostel room with private bathroom
2 nights lodging in a hostel room with shared bathroom
12 nights lodging in Full Camp
1 night lodging in a mountain refuge
Transportation El Calafate airport – El Chaltén – Torres del
Paine National Park –El Calafate – El Calafate airport.
During the trip we combine private and regular buses.
Perito Moreno glacier excursion.
Boat trip across lake Pehoe.
19 breakfasts, 14 lunch box and 14 dinners as shown below.
Lodging
The VAT – Patagonia Wild Trails is offered with the following
type of accommodations:
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Hostel room with
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Hostel room with
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Los Cuernos Refuge with shared bedrooms
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Full Camp |
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Camino Abierto will provide lodging in tents should not be beds
available in the Refuge Los Cuernos.
Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the
camp ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable 3 people igloo type tents for
each 2 passengers, with mattresses and sleeping bags. An inside cotton sheet is
provided as inner clothing for the sleeping bag. The camp also features a
spacious dinning tent or dinning saloon, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or
chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware.
Full Camps inside Los Glaciares National Park are in the
wilderness, so toilettes and showers are not available. We provide hot water for
personal cleaning and bathrooms are latrine type. In Torres del Paine National
Park we camp in areas with sanitary services, so toilettes and hot showers do
are available. We might take meals inside the dinning area of the main building
of the Camps.
In El Calafate we lodge in hostel rooms with private bathrooms.
This means that you take a bed and you share the room with fellow travellers of
your same gender and your same group.
Meals
The following meals are provided in this program.
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Breakfast |
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Box Lunch |
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Dinner |
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Cartage service
We
will provide the transportation of all the general equipment for the trek
(tents, dinning tent or dinning place, and kitchen tents, tables and benches,
table service and kitchenware, food, first aid kits).
Beside, Camino Abierto will carry the passengers’ luggage up to a
maximum of 8 kg, including your own sleeping bag and mattress.
During the Nordenskjöld traverse, each passenger should carry all
its personal equipment for those 2 days & 1 night (a pack including your
personal belongings, sleeping bag and mattress, spare clothing for the traverse,
box lunch for that day)
We will carry the rest of the luggage by bus and boat from Las
Torres to Refugio Pehoe Camp.
Not included
National Parks fees
Life and medical insurance
Drinks
Tips
Air tickets and airport taxes
Services not detailed in the program
Notes
Camino Abierto holds the right to change the itinerary or to
cancel any of the activities when any natural cause (or any other cause of any
type) justifies it in order to look after the group safety.
Meeting Point
The Meeting Point for the Group on Day 1 is at 7 pm at the lobby
of the Hostel del Glaciar Pioneros, street Pioneros 251, El Calafate. This
Meeting Point can be modified and will be confirmed upon booking confirmation of
the passenger.
¿Is this tour for me?
We qualify this tour as “Intense”. This means that you need to be
fit to enjoy it. No previous technical knowledge is required. The group will
walk an average of 6 to 7 hs a day, may be 9 in some specific days, at a
moderate pace and with all the necessary stops for water, snacks or rest. The
trek includes up hills and down hills, some of them quite steady. We never walk
higher than 1500 mts above sea level. Previous outdoor experience in camping and
hiking in the wilderness results in more chances of enjoying the trek, as we use
a lot our camps inside the National Parks.
List of suggested
personal equipment:
Backpack, 50 lts or so
Sleeping bag down or synthetic for -10ºC
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