Torres del Paine Guided Trekking Tour

Welcome to Argentina! You’ll be met at the Calafate airport and head into town for check in at your accommodation. You’ll have the rest of your day free to enjoy exploring as your unforgettable Torres del Paine guided trek begins tomorrow.

You’ll begin bright and early with a gorgeous scenic drive to your camp in Torres del Paine National Park. You’ll follow portions of the old route 40 over the Patagonian steppes as you circle around the Sierra de los Baguales. These imposing peaks cut between El Calafate and the national park. You’ll cross the Argentinian/Chilean border at Cancha Carrera and Cerro Castillo and begin the final leg of the journey to the UNESCO World Heritage site Torres del Paine National Park.

Along the way you’ll be treated to sights of Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto, and the Towers. Upon arriving in Torres del Paine National Park, you’ll get to stretch your legs from the long journey on an enchanting nature walk to familiarize yourself with the local landscape. Be sure to look for the many varieties of birds and wildflowers on your way. After the walk, you’ll hop back in the bus for the short journey to camp.

Your guided Torres del Paine tour begins with a steep uphill hike to reach the Ascencio River Valley. Once inside, you’ll follow a trail sloping downhill toward Refugio Chileno, a picturesque mountain lodge, and continue on from there along the riverbank amidst a beech forest. One final push will bring you to the magnificent Paine Towers viewpoint, where you’ll see a glacier-formed lagoon and the three giant spires thrusting 1,000 vertical meters from the glacier itself. If you’re not out of breath from the climb, the view will leave you gasping for sure! Return to your camp after this wonderful walk in Torres del Paine.

Today you’ll leave early for a short 1-hour drive to Port Pudeto where you’ll board the catamarán that will take you to the other side of Lake Pehoe. Once across, you’ll stop at your tent to drop off any items you don’t need, and then set off on a guided hiking adventure on French Valley trail. Along the way you’ll trek along the edge of the Paine Grande south slopes and Lake Skottsberg, through many and varied hills and valleys, until you get to the hanging bridge over the French River. There you’ll have a stunning westerly view of the southeast face of Paine Grande, while you’ll be dwarfed by The Horns rising their black, craggy heads to the east.

Today your trekking Torres del Paine adventure begins on the Lake Grey trail. You’ll hike along the edge of the lake, climbing and descending along the western slopes of Paine Grande and you’ll discover some of the most magnificent sights in the park. From the various viewpoints along the way you’ll see how the massive glacier, flowing 60 km from the Patagonian ice field, carved its way through solid rock and down into Lake Grey. Enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the blue icebergs gathering near the southern end of the lake, while the mountains touch the sky above the flowing ice. On your return, you’ll catch the boat back across Lake Pehoe to your accommodation in Puerto Natales, a quaint fishing town on the shores of the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) fiord.

You’ll depart Puerto Natales early to return to El Calafate. You’ll head back across the Argentinian/Chilean border to El Calafate where you’ll be taken to your accommodation. You’ll be free to explore the town at your leisure and rest from your trek before you bed down at the lodge for one last night of South American hospitality.

Breakfast will be provided and you’ll be transferred to the El Calafate Airport.