Patagonia, Trekking Paradise with W-Trek Express- 11 Days

Arrival to El Calafate airport. Shuttle or bus from airport to El Chalten. Check in and free rest of day.

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 about 4 hours hike. It is recommended to begin between 7 and 8 am 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  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

8 am bus from El Chalten to El Calafate. Arrival to the bus station at about 11 am, make your own way to your accommodation. Free day to relax and explore.

­ PERITO MORENO GLACIER DAY TOUR - EL CALAFATE

This Perito Moreno Glacier tour is a wonderful opportunity for travelers to explore and experience one of Argentina’s top attractions! This day tour into the Los Glaciares National Park offers exceptional views of Patagonia’s most famous glacier, the incredible Perito Moreno as you are guided along the wooden walk ways.

The Perito Moreno full day excursion will begin taking you from central El Calafate towards the Los Glaciares National Park, an area of exceptional natural beauty and a UNESCO National Heritage site. This is the classic tour to sightsee the Perito Moreno Glacier and the best option to get an overview and see it from above. A full-day tour through Los Glaciares National Park, in which Perito Moreno lies, it gives you the chance to really appreciate the glacier’s sheer magnitude, as you walk across the Pasarelas (heightened wooden walk ways) along the shores of Lake Argentino. Following the Perito Moreno tour circuit you will finally reach the boardwalks of the Perito Moreno Glacier, where you will have three hours to explore and sightsee Perito Moreno’s enormous 60-meter wall of ice floating on the surface of Lake Argentino.

The Perito Moreno Glacier is Patagonia’s most famous attraction and a truly unique, breath-taking spectacle of nature that you cannot miss 

DURATION

8 hours

DEPARTURE TIMES

7 to 7.30 am

Breakfast. 

Make your own way to the bus station and take the morning bus (about 7.30-8.00 hs) to Puerto Natales in Chile. Arrival and make your own way to accommodation. 

Please make sure you go through all the links we will be sending you, including a video briefing that tells you about the National Park, basic security, itineraries and all you need for your self guided trek.

Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine (Regular Bus) - Las Torres Base Viewpoint.

Find your own way to the bus station. Registration time at Rodoviario (Bus Station): 6.45 am

The day your program starts you will have to take the bus at 7 am from Puerto Natales. The trip takes about 2 hours. Once you arrive, leave your heavy stuff and then start with your first trekking through the Ascencio Valley, until you reach the Vientos pass, with its spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and lakes. You will pass through the Chileno Sector and through a native lenga forest before reaching the final stretch of your adventure. This part of the hike

lasts approximately one hour over rocky terrain. At the end of this trek you will encounter the most impressive view of the three iconic granite towers and their glacial lagoon.  Hike back to sector Central to have dinner and rest.

NIGHT 1 of W-Trek: Refugio Torre Central.

Hike: 8-10 hours. 19,4 km (12 mi.)

Difficulty: High

Elevation gain: 750 m

Sector Central - Sector Frances (or Cuernos)

Walk along the tranquil shore of Lake Nordenskjöld and at the base of the amazing Almirante Nieto Mount and its hanging glaciers. The hushed atmosphere of the massive peaks above the turquoise lake will beg you to slow down, process the magnitude and capture that view forever with a photograph. The lake is surrounded by geographic contrasts and is home to many birds, so keep an eye out for condors flying in this area. You will continue along the Arriero river, which offers great opportunities to take a nice long break to fill your water bottle and enjoy the

present moment. Once at the highest viewpoint, you will be able to see the lake in its entirety and the Francés Glacier on Paine Grande mount.

NIGHT 2 of W-Trek: Refugio Frances (or Cuernos)

Hike: 4,5-6,5 hours. 13,5 km (8,4 mi.)

Difficulty: Medium

Elevation gain: 80 m

Trekking the Frances Valley

Recommended time to begin the trek: 9am

Start your morning in the perfect way with a light and magnificent trek to Italiano camping. Your mind and body will be aligned with the present moment, processing all the experiences of the previous days. Surrounded by mountains, you will find peace of mind, the sounds and smells of the lake will make you vibrate with energy in the midst of a varied and abundant vegetation that will fill you with life.

You will pass by an amazing waterfall and you will be able to fill your bottle with pure and cold water. This whole experience will be perfectly complemented by the incomparable view from the Francés Valley. At the viewpoint, you will be dazzled with one of the most

impressive views of the entire circuit. You can continue to Britanico lookout and then hike your way down to Frances to spend the 3rd night to the W Trek

NIGHT 3 of W-Trek: Refugio Frances

Hike: 7-8 hours. 15 km (9,3 mi.)

Difficulty: High

Elevation gain: 712 m

Trekking to Grey Lookout: Sector Frances - Paine Grande - Grey Lookout - Paine Grande - Pehoe Lake - Pudeto - Puerto Natales 

Recommended time to begin the trek: 8am

First you have to hike to Paine Grande and then do a roundtrip trek to the Grey Glacier Lookout. After about one and a half hours from Paine Grande the traveler will reach the first lookout, where it’s possible to observe the glacier at a distance. From there, the traveler will follow a path that circles the west bank of Lake Grey. After about one and a half / two hours the traveler will 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 transfer will be waiting to take customers back to Puerto Natales. You have to make your way from the bus station to your accommodation in Puerto Natales

Ferry Itinerary PM / AM:

-Registration time at the pier: 6.00pm/ Departure: 6.30pm/ Approximate arrival time to Rodoviario Natales: 10pm.

-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: 11am/ Departure: 11.30am/ Approximate arrival time to Rodoviario Natales: 4.30pm.

-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 lookout, backpacks can be safely left at Paine Grande Lodge (a fee aplies) if you need to get rid of them for a while

Hike: 7-8 hours. 22 km (13,6 mi.)

Difficulty: High

Elevation gain: 280 m

Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas Airport

Breakfast and check out. You make our own way to the bus station to take the Punta Arenas Airport public bus (or Punta Arenas city if you are not flying out). Bus Times: 07.00 hs / 10.00 hs / 12.30 hs / 15.00 hs / 17.15 hs / 19.00 hs / 21.00 hs. Optional: Return bus to El Calafate