Starting / Finishing Points
The trip starts during the morning in Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, please check the weekly pick-up table below. The trip finishes at Calafate Airport at noon or later depending on the group flight schedule. For domestic flights you have to be at the airport 1 hour before the flight leaves.
Weekly pick-up Schedule
Times shown are approximate and will be confirmed locally by our team.
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.
If you want to book a private transfer service in either Chile or Argentina please contact us.
Included
- Accommodation: 3 nights at EcoCamp’s Suite Domes, 3 nights at Hotel Los Senderos and 1 night at Hotel Sierra Nevada.
- All ground semi-private transport as indicated in the itinerary, always in comfortable minivans. Transfer from Chile to Argentina in regular bus.
- English speaking guide for all excursions. Guide ratio 1:12. Max group size: 16 people.
- All national park fees and Cueva del Milodon ticket.
- Boat crossing ticket over Grey Lake and/or Pehoe Lake.
- Nautical Safari to Perito Moreno Glacier.
- Chile fullboard at Ecocamp, breakfast, lunch box on excursions and dinner (soft drinks or wine included in dinner)
- Argentina with breakfast and lunch box on excursions
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 meals at EcoCamp
- Dinner in Argentinan part
- Items of personal nature
Accommodation Details
EcoCamp
Located in the heart of Torres del Paine, the EcoCamp consists of tented igloo-type domes built to minimize the environmental impact while providing a comfortable setting and maximum exposure to nature. There’s electricity available for charging just camera batteries (voltage: 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, two round pins plug). Food at EcoCamp is prepared with locally-sourced ingredients and is plentiful and delicious!
EcoCamp's Suite Domes
The 28mt2/ 300 ft2 tented igloo-type double domes with private bathrooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay. There will be two single beds (1.2 x 2m beds) or a king size bed (1.9x 2m), and a modern low-emission wood stove that keeps the dome warm. Bathrooms are well equipped and towels are available. For sustainable purposes you will keep the same towels and blankets during your stay. Additionally, as the Suite Domes are powered with solar panel generators, there’s no electric capacity to plug in devices such as hair dryers, electric shavers, etc. Nevertheless, camera batteries can be charged in other facilities at EcoCamp. The Suite Dome are nicely decorated with natural fibers and other local, cultural elements.
Hosteria Senderos, El Chalten, Argentina
Inside Los Glaciares National Park, at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy, this classic Patagonian inn offers warm, professional service.
Hosteria Sierra Nevada, El Calefate, Argentina
Integrated into the beautiful scenery of Los Glaciers National Park, a fifteen minute walk from the city centre, this hotel has wonderful gardens and views.
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.
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. Also, 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).
Physical Demands
This trip does not demand physical activity, other than walking a maximum of two consecutive hours over rather flat terrain. We take as many stops as necessary depending on the rhythm of the group. Travellers doing the active excursions will find them sufficiently energetic. To enjoy these more active treks it is essential to be in shape before arriving. All trails visited in the programs are under 1,000 m / 3,000 ft high so passengers don’t need to worry about altitude.
What you need to bring
Passengers need to be prepared for summer and winter all at once. Essential equipment includes a one day backpack (10 liters - to carry camera, glasses, rain coat, etc), trekking or hiking boots, extra shoes for evenings or in case others get wet, waterproof jacket, two pairs of woolen socks, fleece jacket or sweater, shorts or comfortable loose pants, sun protection (glasses, hat, lip balm and screen) and optional capilene underwear for the upper and lower body. US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP.
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.
NB Excursions mentioned on days 2 and 3 could change depending on the coincidence of your travel dates with the weekly excursions menu organized locally by the EcoCamp Patagonia. Excursions on days 5 and 6 could vary depending on the group's preferences and the guide criteria.
Active and Easy excursions are available on days 2 and 3.
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 that seats a maximum of 9 people, all of them guests at both EcoCamp and 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.
