Regular Departures
Every Wednesday from November 2nd 2011 to March 21st 2012.
Private or Custom Departures
We can do it, please contact us.
Starting / Finishing Points
The trip starts on Wednesday’s morning in Punta Arenas, last pick-up time: 12:30 pm at the airport. The trip finishes on Thursdays at Punta Arenas Airport at 4 pm or later depending on the group flight schedule. For domestic flights you have to be at the airport 1 hour before the flight leaves.
ARGENTINA
You can either start or finish this program in El Calafate, Argentina. The program price includes the transfer from your downtown hotel (the transfer is not included for hotels outside of Calafate ) to/from El Calafate’s bus terminal and the regular bus tickets to/from Puerto Natales (Chile), city where you join our groups starting/finishing in Chile. Please check more details in the last section of this page.
Included
- All ground transport as indicated in the itinerary
- Regular bus tickets Calafate<>Natales if starting/finishing in Calafate, check last section
- 8 nights camping, including all equipment EXCEPT mat and sleeping bag
- Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park
- One expert English speaking trekking guide
- The porter service for this trip (see note below)
- Meals:
day 1: L, D
day 2: B, BL, D
day 3: B, BL, D
day 4: B, BL, D
day 5: B, BL, D
day 6: B, BL, D
day 7: B, BL, D
day 8: B, BL, D
day 9: B, BL
B: breakfast, BL: box lunch, L: Lunch, D: dinner.
Excluded
- Flight tickets.
- Insurance (it is mandatory you purchase appropriate insurance for this trip).
- Voluntary tipping of guides and staff.
- Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp. Bringing US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP is suggested.
- Items of personal nature.
Accommodation Details
Tents & Camping Sites
The tents arranged for this program are typical mountain tents with enough room for 2 people overnight in comfortable conditions. We provide all the camping gear but you have to bring your own mat and sleeping bag (please ask us for mats and bags rental rates). Our team will be responsible for setting up the tents in the camping site. There will also be a big and comfortable dining tent for enjoying dinners and breakfasts. Additionally, the camping sites along the trek will have mountain bathroom facilities in good condition.
EcoCamp
Ecocamp Patagonia is located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, with a unique view of the majestic granite towers. The region’s first fully sustainable accommodation south of the Amazon and the first of its kind in the Patagonian wilderness, EcoCamp offers upscale camping in geodesic domes inspired by the region’s ancient nomadic inhabitants.
EcoCamp’s Standard Domes (Optional upgrade)EcoCamp Standard domes were the world's first Geodesic Dome hotel room. At 3.6m/12ft in diameter and 2.4m/8ft in height, they allow two people to sleep and stand comfortably inside. They are resistant to the strongest Patagonian winds, rains, and snow, and come equipped with two single beds (doubles on request), very cozy fleece blankets, feather quilts and organic elements for decoration. There are round windows in the ceiling to look at the stars. EcoCamp’s standard domes offer shared bathrooms, which aid our environmental initiative by collecting waste in a central heated composting chamber and allowing more control of water consumption and heating.
Superior Domes at EcoCamp (Optional upgrade)
Spacious, comfortable and equipped with private bathrooms, Superior Domes are the optimum choice for trekkers wanting that bit more space and comfort at the end of a long day’s walk. Guests can fall asleep looking up at the star-lit sky from their cozy bed and wonder at nature’s immensity as they hear the wind hurtling outside. Each Superior Dome has comfortable queen-size or twin beds, a propane heater and a private bathroom with a sophisticated composting toilet.
Group Size & Guiding Staff
8 travelers is the most typical group size, plus guiding staff. Maximum 12 clients. Guide to passenger ratio: 1:6
Transport
In Torres del Paine and throughout Patagonia transport is in minivans that normally seat from 8 to 14 people. Pick up / Drop off times shown in the Weekly Transfer Board are approximate and will be confirmed locally by our operations team. An exclusive toll-free emergency number will be available for anyone needing additional support while they are in Chile.
Weather
The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Patagonian Andes very exposed to winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. In addition, the strong marine influence and the affect of the Southern Patagonia Ice field make the weather hard to predict. In spring or early summer fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, bringing rain and even snow. Even in summer (December to March) you should come prepared to find strong cold winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfall. The summer’s average temperature is 11ºC/52ºF (24ºCmax, 2ºC min). However, just as quickly as the weather turns nasty, it can become lovely and sunny. So come prepared for all types of weather!
Physical Demands
This is the right trip for energetic people who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. To enjoy this trek it is essential to be in shape before you arrive. It is not wise to regard this trek as a means of getting into shape or losing excess weight. Start a program of conditioning well before departure.
Children
- Youngsters who are 14 years of age or older are welcome and are considered adults.
- Children between 12 and 13 might be accepted in this program if their legal guardian sends a formal letter stating that the child is prepared for such an intense trekking trip and authorizes us to hire a private guide in case the child cannot perform well during the trek.
- Children under 12 years of age cannot participate in this trip.
- This trip doesn’t offer a special discount for children.
What You Need to Bring
We will send you a complete pre-trip info brochure once you book including things you need to bring in detail. Meanwhile take a look at some general items we recommend: US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP, MAT and SLEEPING BAG, day backpack (20-30lt), duffel bag (70 liters), waterproof trekking boots, gaiters, waterproof parka & pants, inner layers (fleece or wool), three changes of clothes, sun hat, sun screen, hiking socks, sandals (for after hikes), bathing suit, sunglasses, towel (optional), ski poles (optional), long underwear, extra change of socks, flashlight/headlamp, extra insulating layer (fleece) and wool or expedition weight long underwear.
Porter Service and Luggage Handling
The porter service for this trip is included in the trip’s price. During the trek, your belongings will be carried in three portions. One portion you carry yourself in your daypack - this will comprise your lunch, water, optional camera, sun cream, etc. and the clothing you will layer on and off as the weather and terrain change during the day. The second portion is your sleeping bag and sleeping pad - they will be carried for you throughout the trip. The third portion is changes of clean clothes and items you will need at night in the campsites - they will be carried for you in our waterproof duffel bags as follows: On day 1 we will provide you with two small 15 liter duffel bags. In the first bag you will put clothes and items needed for the nights of days 2 (Dickson) and 3 (Los Perros) and the next morning. In the second bag you will put clothes and items needed for the nights of days 4 (Grey), 5 (Pehoe), and 6 (Cuernos).
You are allowed to pack up to 5 kgs (11 lbs) in each duffel bag. All of your traveling baggage not needed for these sections of the trek will be left on the morning of day 2 at EcoCamp where you will find it again on the nights of days 7 and 8. We use porters on days 2 and 3 to carry your first duffel, your sleeping bag and pad, as well as the common food and camping equipment. You will hike with only your daypack.
On day 4 (Los Perros) you will walk with your daypack towards Camp Grey and after your arrival, your first duffel, now with dirty clothes, will be sent back to Ecocamp as the second duffel bag (packed on day 2) will be waiting for you with a new supply of clean clothes. On day 5 (Camp Grey to Camp Paine Grande), 6 (Camp Paine Grande to Camp Cuernos) and 7 (Camp Cuernos to Ecocamp) porters will be used again and your second duffel bag will be with you until your return to Ecocamp on the evening of day 7.
Itinerary Modifications
The weather in Patagonia can be difficult to deal with at times. We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary at the discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations. The trip guide can modify, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.
Transfers to Start / Finish in El Calafate, Argentina
Option 1: Inter-provincial Public Bus (tickets included in the program price)
***Calafate to Torres del Paine***
Pick up at hotel 7:00-7:30 AM, arrive at EcoCamp 7 PM.
We pick you up at your downtown hotel in Calafate, take you to the bus terminal and give you the tickets to board a public bus heading to Puerto Natales. You reach this town around 2 PM, we are waiting for you at the bus terminal and arrange lunch for you. Close to 4 PM you board our van going to Torres del Paine and reach EcoCamp in time for dinner.
***Torres del Paine to Calafate***
Leave EcoCamp at 8 AM; arrive at your hotel in Calafate at 2 PM.
After breakfast you board the van that will drop you off at Cerro Castillo (borderline) on time to catch the public bus going to Calafate. You arrive at Calafate bus terminal where our transfer is waiting to drive you to your downtown hotel. Transfers to Calafate Airport have an additional cost.
Option 2: Semi-private van transfer (not included); +US$120 p.p. each way
(This service is available from mid October to March)
This service consists of comfortable vans seating a maximum of 9 people, all of them guests at either EcoCamp or neighbouring Hostería Las Torres. The service provides a direct and relaxed connection between El Calafate and Torres del Paine NP, with just one stop at the borderline to change vans.
***Calafate to Torres del Paine***
Pick up at hotel 7:00-7:30 AM, arrive at EcoCamp 1 PM.
We pick you up at your downtown hotel in Calafate and start driving to Chile. Once we reach Cancha Carrera (borderline) at about 11 AM we complete the immigration process, and then drive to the Chilean side where we board another van. We continue driving towards Torres del Paine NP and arrive at EcoCamp in time for lunch.
***Torres del Paine to Calafate***
Leave EcoCamp at 10 AM; arrive at your hotel in El Calafate at 3:30 PM.
After breakfast we board the van and drive towards the borderline. We reach Cerro Castillo around 11:30 AM, go through immigration and continue to the Argentine side where we board another van. We start driving towards El Calafate city and reach your downtown hotel in the early afternoon.
