Exhilarating Hiking in Chilean Patagonia

As seen in the March 2007 issue of Vogue Magazine!

Chile's Torres del Paine National Park is one of the great scenic wonders of the world-one of those places to which all serious mountain-lovers must make a pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Here, in the wilderness of southern Chile, glaciers of millennia past have receded from the granite rock of the Cordillera Paine, leaving a massif of craggy peaks protruding a near-vertical 6,000 to 8,000 feet from the surrounding rolling grasslands.

Our trek-which we pioneered in the mid-1980s-is a full circuit of the Paine massif, and takes you through the kind of wild rugged terrain you'd expect to find at the ends of the earth. The jaw-dropping vistas of monolithic rock spires and jagged snowy peaks, the huge expanse of the Patagonia Ice Field, tranquil azure lakes, and golden grasslands bright with wildflowers make this unquestionably one of the all-time "Great Treks" of the world.

Activities

7 days moderate to strenuous trekking

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• A complete circuit of the Paine massif-one of the "Great Treks" of the world-plus the famous "W" route, with its scenic highlights of the southern side of the Circuit!
• Hike along the enormous Grey Glacier-more than five miles across and ten miles in length-that flows from the Patagonia Ice Field
• Down "glacier" cocktails made with thousand-year-old ice
• Take in fabulous views of spectacular mountains, lakes, and glaciers

2010-2011 WINTER PRICES
$3,995 (8 -14 members)
$4,195 (5 - 7 members)
$4,395 (3 - 4 members)
$500 single supplement

Duration: 11 days Start Location: Punta Arenas End Location: Punta Arenas Best time to go: January - March, November - December

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Punta Arenas

  Arrive in Punta Arenas on the northern shore of the Strait of Magellan.

• Day 2 : Paine National Park

  Drive to Torres del Paine National Park, followed the next day by a ten-hour roundtrip hike to the awesome granite needles of the Torres del Paine.

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  Day 3 : Paine Towers

  Hike through beech forests and open grasslands past beautiful glacier-fed lakes of incredible hue.

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  Day 4 : Hike to Campamento Seron

  A challenging day: cross Paine Pass (4,000') and descend steeply through rough terrain to Lago Grey, skirting the enormous Grey Glacier emanating from the Patagonia Ice Field.

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  Day 5 : Lago Dickson

  Hike to the face of the Grey Glacier, then on to Lago Pehoe. Optional half-day hike on the Grey Glacier using crampons.

• Day 6 : Lago de los Perros

  Hike into the French Valley, with views of tumbling glaciers and the jagged peaks of the distinctive cuernos (horns), and along the shores of Lago Nordenskjold.

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  Days 7 - 10 : Cross the Paine Pass / Grey Glacier – Lago Pehoe / French Valley / End Trek

  Take a catamaran across the lake and drive to Puerto Natales for overnight.

• Day 11 : Punta Arenas – Depart

  Drive to Punta Arenas and depart.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Sergio Fitch-Watkins

  A native of Mexico is Mountain Travel Sobek's senior climbing guide, with over 20 years of experience (his climbing resume is eight pages long—the short version, that is). Besides leading our climbing expeditions in Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina’s Aconcagua, he also loves to lead some of our more challenging treks in Nepal and Peru. Having led more than 100 trips for Mountain Travel Sobek, Sergio has acquired a considerable, loyal following!

• Sergio Bahamondez

  Sergio was born in Puntarenas, Chile, and grew up in Tierra del Fuego, where he developed his love for the outdoors. He studied psychology at La Plata University in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has a degree in Patagonia Biodiversity from Magallanes University. Sergio has more than 10 years of experience as a tour leader, and his explorer’s spirit has taken him to nearly every continent. He is an excellent ambassador of his country and its culture—his enthusiasm and sense of adventure are absolutely contagious! Sergio is best known in Patagonia by his nickname, “TC,” and we know you’ll be captivated by his engaging smile.

photo credits: ©MTS Photo File, ©Camilla Hvalsoe, ©Sergio Fitch-Watkins, ©Linda Andrews Ostro, ©Kevin Callaghan