Southern Patagonia, Trekking and Fjords (18 Days) - Self Guided

Arrival at El Calafate airport. Shuttle or bus from airport to El Chalten accommodation. Check in

Free day to do some self guided treks; for example to Laguna de los Tres, where you reach the lagoon at the base of Mt Fitz Roy after a 4 hour hike. It is recommended to begin between 07:00 and 08:00 to be able to get to the lagoon and back.

Free day to do more self guided treks; for example to Laguna Torre, where you can see the reflection of the legendary Cerro Torre at the lagoon of the same name. It is a bit shorter than Laguna de los Tres but it is also recommended to depart early.

Early start. Take the 08:00 bus from El Chalten to El Calafate. Arrival to the bus station at about 11:00, and you make your own way to your accommodation.

Breakfast. Between 7 and 9 pm depending on season: , Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour:
People from all over the world come to this remote place in Southern Patagonia to be a witness of the Ice Age. This is one of the few moving glaciers on our planet, and a visit is not only worth it, but a MUST. We start from El Calafate early in the morning to enjoy the landscape, nature, fauna and the wide variety of birds (trying to arrive at the glacier before everyone else). Through the gateways you visit the north face of the Perito Moreno Glacier in different viewpoints and altitudes. The Perito Moreno Glacier has the size of the Buenos Aires city and is between 40 and 50 meters high. Due to the falling angle, it receives more ice than the ice that melts, so it advances, grows and breaks every now and then. Quite a unique thing to witness! We'll take you back to your accommodation around 16-17:00.

Breakfast. Make your own way to the bus station to catch a morning bus (departure at about 07:30-08:00) to Puerto Natales in Chile. On arrival make your own way to your accommodation, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you like.

Find your own way to the bus station. Registration time at Rodoviario (Bus Station) is at 14:00. Departure is at 14:30 with arrival at Portería Laguna Amarga 16:30. Transfer in a regular bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine. The journey lasts approximately 2 hours (112 Km.), passing through Cerro Castillo (a small border town situated along the route to the park and 54 Km. from Puerto Natales). Upon arrival at Laguna Amarga, all travelers must get off of the bus and visit the CONAF Administration Office where they will follow all necessary paperwok to enter the park; the park entrance fee is included in the cost of the program. Having finished the paperwork, travelers will board the transfer vehicles which will take them to the sector surrounding the Cerro Paine Ranch and then on to the Welcome Centre of their first accommodation site.

Night 1 of W-Trek: Refugio Torre Central.

Recommended time to begin the trek is at 09:00. The first stage includes an ascent for about 1½ hours, with beautiful views of the surrounding lakes and Mount Almirante Nieto’s hanging glacier (2.670 m.a.s.l.), until arriving at Refugio El Chileno. Here, you will go through check-in, recharge energies and leave your main luggage before initiating the climb with a small rucksack. From here, and for about an hour, you will cross a millennium-old forest of lenga trees before arriving to the base of the “Morrena”. At this point, you will ascend for about 45 minutes in order to arrive to one of the site’s most magnificent areas, "Base Torres Lookout", from where the imposing Torre Sur (2.850 m a.s.l.), Torre Central (2.800 m a.s.l.), Torre Norte (2.600 m a.s.l.), Nido de Condor and Glacier Torre can all be appreciated. Back to Sector Central using the same trail.

Level of difficulty: High

Night 2 of W-Trek: Refugio Torre Centra

Recommended time to begin the trek is at 09:00. A moderate trek around the Macizo Paine, circling the base of Mount Almirante Nieto. From Refugio El Chileno, and after half an hour’s walk, you will arrive to the “Atajo”, a path on the right that continues towards Refugio Los Cuernos. Along the journey, you can take pictures of the incredible sites of Lake Nordenskjöld: the hanging glaciers and local flora, including the “ciruelillo” or “notro” trees, which display their characteristic red flowers from December onwards. After a four or five-hour walk, you will arrive at the area entitled Los Cuernos, which is considered by many as one of the most welcoming spots along the entire circuit. If Los Cuernos is not available, Domo Frances is an excellent alternative.

Level of difficulty: Medium.

Night 3 of W-Trek: Refugio Los Cuernos (or Domo Frances)

Recommended time to begin the trek is at 08:00. The first two hours are fairly easy, with views of Lake Nordenskjöld until arriving to “Camp Italiano”. At this point, we recommend that you contact CONAF staff and make arrangements for leaving backpacks at the camp before beginning the ascent with just a small rucksack containing water, food and warm clothing. The climb begins from the valley of River Francés and continues all the way up to the Francés Glacier Lookout (1½ hrs). From there, the climb continues along the path until arriving to the area called “Británico” and the “Británico Lookout”, which offers one of the national park’s most impressive landscape views. The peaks that can be appreciated from this lookout are Paine Grande, Catedral, Hoja, Máscara, Espada, Aleta de Tiburón and Cuerno Norte. The return trek follows the same path down to “Camp Italiano” and then onwards to the sector known as Pehoé, where Paine Grande shelter is located.

Level of difficulty: High

Night 4 of W-Trek: Paine Grande Lodge

Recommended time to begin the trek is at 09:00. Roundtrip to the Grey Glacier Lookout. After about 1½ hours, you will reach the first lookout, where it’s possible to observe the glacier at a distance. From there, you will follow a path that circles the west bank of Lake Grey. After about 1½ - 2 hours, you'll reach the main lookout with spectacular views of Grey Glacier, Cordón Olguín and the ice floes. The return journey follows the same path, arriving to the sector known as Pehoé. At the pier, you will board a ferry and take a trip across Lake Pehoé, disembarking at the sector known as Pudeto from which point a bus will be waiting to take you back to Puerto Natales. You have to make your way from the bus station to your accommodation in Puerto Natales.

Level of difficulty: Medium

Ferry Itinerary PM / AM:
- Registration time at the pier: 18:00 / Departure: 18:30/ Approximate arrival time to Rodoviario Natales: 22:00
- It is possible that due to physical and climate conditions you prefer to return on the first ferry. In this instance, the walk will only reach the first lookout (three hours approximate roundtrip). If taking advantage of this option, registration time at the pier is: 11:00/ Departure: 11:30/ Approximate arrival time to Rodoviario Natales: 16:30
- It’s important that on this day you effectively calculate walking times in order to be on time for the ferry departures.
- When walking to the glacier, backpacks can be safely left at Paine Grande Lodge (a free service for travelers who are staying at this place).

Check out, go on your own to board the Navimag ferry the night before it set sails. Check in at the Navimag between 8 and 9 pm on Monday. Before that, free day in Puerto Natales.

Note: Port tax not included (10 USD)

Puerto Natales - Angostura White - Santa Maria Channel
During check-in, Navimag staff will take your luggage into custody, which each passenger must pick up when boarding. Once on board, crew members will give passengers a welcome talk along with some information for safe and entertaining navigation, to later set sail through the Patagonian Fjords towards the city of Puerto Montt. The vessel first enters the unión sound and then arrives at the narrowest pass of the route, the Angostura White (only 80 meters wide) to sail through the Santa Maria Channel.

NOTE: Navimag departs only on Tuesdays

Puerto Eden - Cotopaxi
The vessel first enters the Unión sound and then arrives at the narrowest pas of the route, the Angostura White (only 80 meters wide) to sail through the Santa Maria Channel. The ferry sails through Morla Vicuña, Escobar Doxrud, Sobenes, Union Pass, Colingwood Strait, Farquar, Sarmiento and other channels and passes. It also passes by the charming town of Puerto Eden, where the last remaining population of Kaweskar Indigenous people in Chile lives. The town is located in Wellington Island, one of the largest in the country and part of the Bernardo de O´Higgins National Park. The vessel continues north, passing through the English Narrows, a slim pass that allows one ship to navigate it at a time. Then into the Messier Channel, come to the cargo ship Captain Leonidas, stranded there since the 70´s on a semi submerged islet called Bajo Cotopaxi. It is currently used as a navigation lighthouse and reference point for sailors.

Gulf of Sorrows - Open Sea - Moraleda Channel
In the afternoon, the ferry starts open sea navigation in the area of the Gulf of Sorrows. This journey lasts approximately 12 hours in good weather. Here, it is possible to see Humpback, Minke and Blue whales (depending on the season and the weather). At dawn, the captain will assess the meteorological information received, data on the tidal currents of the channel and the location of the moon and the sun as guiding references. According to this, he will decide the most adequate route to continue the voyage. Alternative ways to open sea sailing are:
1-Puluche Channel
2-Ninualak Channel
3-Other channels depending on the visibility, traffic and crossing other vessels

The first option available is to sail through the Pulluche Channel known for its exuberant vegetation (lush lengas and cypress forests). Travelers could watch dolphins, sea lions and wild birds if the weather is fine. Then the ferry enters the Chacabuco and then Errazuriz Channels. Finally, the ferry enters the Moraleda Channel, a place of transit of famous navigators and canoeists of the Chonos and Chiloe archipelago.

Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas
In your voyage north, the ferry sails the gulf of Corcovado, then the Apiao Channel, the gulf of Ancud and the Reloncavi sound, arriving at the final destination, Puerto Montt, in the morning.

IMPORTANT: dates and schedule are estimates and must be confirmed within 48 hours before departure.

Arrival to Puerto Montt. Transfer to your accommodation in Puerto Varas. Check in and free day.

Breakfast and pick up for the Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Tour:
You will walk along the shore of Lake Llanquihue enjoying incredible views of the snow-capped Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes and you will arrive at Ensenada to start the ascent to Volcan Osorno Ski and Mountain Center, located at 1.240 meters high. There, we will have some time to enjoy the landscape, take pictures and to appreciate breathtaking panoramic views of the volcanoes summits with their glaciers and of the Calbuco, of Lake Llanquihue and of the Pacific Ocean. The next stop will be the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park and Petrohué, located on the shore of Todos los Santos Lake, taking a soft walk on its paths surrounded by ever-green forests. Then you will go to the Saltos del Rio Petrohué, one of the most beautiful places of this region, where the river jumps amidst big masses of hard crystallized lava that highlight its turquoise colored waters. Afterwards, you will have the transfer back to hotel in Puerto Varas.

*Note: this tour is NOT an ascent to the peak of the Osorno Volcano

Free to relax or to take additional tours.

Check out. Regular transfer to Puerto Montt Airport. End of adventure.

- Shuttle or bus from El Calafate Airport to El Chalten
- 3 nights accommodation in El Chalten at selected room with breakfast
- Bus from El Chalten to El Calafate
- 2 nights accommodation in Calafate at selected room with breakfast.
- Perito Moreno Glacier Day Tour
- Bus from El Calafate to Puerto Natales
- 2 nights accommodation in Puerto Natales at selected room with breakfast (breakfast not included with dorm option) - (pre and post W Trek)
- W Trek Circuit 5 days 4 nights in Refugio Dorm or in Tent room, including:
* Entrance fee to National Park
* Bus from Puerto Natales to Paine and shuttle to Sector Central
* 4 nights accommodation in Refugio or Tent (Tent option includes the Tent, a mattress and a very good sleeping bag)
* Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch Box, Dinner)
* Boat Trip Lake Pehoe
* Bus from Port of Lake Pehoe to Puerto Natales
Self Guided treks
- Navimag ferry 4 nights/4 days trip from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt, with Full Board, Shared Cabin C
- Transfer from Navimag Port to Puerto Varas accommodation
- 3 Nights accommodation with breakfast in Puerto Varas
- Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Half Day Tour
- Regular Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport