Trip Code: PAT 025 / Style: Adventure7 DAY TORRES DEL PAINE W TREK

1. PRICE

Season 2010-11

Regular Departures

High Season: USD 2,090 p.p. (November 1^st 2010 to March 28^th 2011)

Shoulder Season: USD 1,672 p.p. (October 2010 and April 2011)

Extra discount for shoulder season departures, save an extra 10%!!

Notes:

- Dec 20^th and 27^th have a Christmas surcharge of USD 50 p.p.

- Flight tickets not included; ref. SCL/PUQ/SCL ticket cost: USD 400 p.p.

- For bookings made within 40 days prior to the trip departure we can’t guarantee space at the refuges. If space isn’t available then accommodation will be provided at the refuges camping area consisting in a comfortable tent, including mat, sleeping bag and a polar fleece liner; our team will set and dismantle all this; the camping provides satisfactory bathroom facilities. Meals will be served inside the refuges.

2. GENERAL INFORMATION

Regular Departures

Every Monday from October 4^th 2010 to April 11^th 2011.

Private or Custom Departures

We can do it, please contact us.

Starting / Finishing Points

The trip starts on Monday’s morning in Punta Arenas, last pick-up time: 12:30 pm at the airport.

The trip finishes on Sunday 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.

Included

- All ground transport private and domestic as indicated in the itinerary.

- Regular bus tickets Calafate <> Natales if starting/finishing in Calafate, check last section.

- Boat crossing over Lake Grey.

- 4 nights accom. at EcoCamp standard domes (shared basis).

- 1 night accom. at Refugio Paine Grande and 1 night in Refugio Los Cuernos.

- Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park.

- One expert English speaking trekking guide.

- Sleeping bag for the refugios if needed.

- Transportation for your luggage within the Park: while trekking you will carry just your daypack.

- 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

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 to guides and staff.

- Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp or refuges. Bringing US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP is suggested.

- 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 is electricity available for charging just camera batteries (voltage: 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, two round pins plug). Food at the EcoCamp has the same quality as the one you will have on a family dinner at your home, this means it is plenty and delicious!

Standard Domes at EcoCamp

For our trekking programs the accommodations at the standard domes are in a sharing basis only. There is not single accommodation availability unless a "forced" single accommodation is needed due to different gender single travelers not willing to share. Bathrooms are located in a single facility divided by gender and are shared by all the guests; they have showers with hot water.

Refugios

These are typical mountain huts, open to the public that visits Torres del Paine. It has rooms for 4-6 people. The beds are single, bunk type and we will provide you with a sleeping bag and a polar fleece liner (you don't need to bring a sleeping bag!). The bathrooms are also shared and they have hot water. The refugios are heated and have a very comfortable dining area. Food at the refugios could sometimes don’t match your expectative, it is simple food prepared for mountain people with low emphasis in flavor and presentation.

Group Size & Guiding Staff

8-12 travelers is the most typical group size plus guiding staff. Maximum is 14 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 persons. When we have only 2 to 4 persons we use smaller vehicles, usually 4x4, driven by the tour guide. On the regular departure trips you will share the vehicle with other EcoCamp guests joining other tours. On the private departure, the vehicle will be of your use exclusively although limited to the given itinerary and time schedules; additionally arrival and departure transfers for private groups might be shared with other passengers following our environmental policy which impel our operations to keep the ecological impact as low as possible and thus avoiding to drive the same way at the same time with two half-empty vehicles.

Weather

The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Patagonian Andes very exposed to the saturated winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. Also, both the strong marine and the South Patagonic Ice field influence make the weather hard to predict. In spring or early summer fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, bringing rains and eventually snow. Even in summer (December to march) you should come prepared to find cold- strong winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfalls. The summer’s average temperature is 11ºC/52ºF (24ºCmax, 2ºC min).

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.

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 of some general items to have on mind: US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP, day backpack (20-30lt), duffel bag (70 liters), waterproof trekking boots, waterproof parka & pants, inner isolating layer (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, wool, or expedition weight long underwear. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BRING SLEEPING BAG.

Itinerary Modifications

We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary under the sole discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations. The trip guide can also modified, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.

Transfers to Start / Finish in El Calafate, Argentina

Option 1: Interprovincial 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 hotel in Calafate and take you to the bus terminal; we give you the tickets to board a public bus heading to Puerto Natales. You reach this town around 2 PM, we wait for you at the bus terminal and arrange lunch for you. Close to 4 PM board our van going to Torres del Paine and reach the EcoCamp on time for dinner.

***Torres del Paine to Calafate***

Leave EcoCamp at 8 AM; arrive at your hotel in Calafate at 2 PM.

After breakfast board the van that will drop you off at Cerro Castillo (borderline) on time to catch the public bus going to Calafate. Arrive in Calafate bus terminal where our transfer waits for you and then drive to your hotel. Transfers to Calafate Airport have an additional cost.

Option 2: Semiprivate van transfer (not included); +US$100 p.p. each way

(This service is available from mid October to March)

This service consists of comfortable vans that seat maximum 9 people, all of them guests of 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 for exchanging 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 the hotel in Calafate and start driving to Chile. Once we reach Cancha Carrera (borderline) about 11 AM we do the immigration process, and then we drive to the Chilean side where we board another van. We continue driving towards Torres del Paine NP and finally we arrive at the EcoCamp on 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, do the immigration process and continue to the Argentine side where we board another van. We start driving towards El Calafate city and we reach our hotel in the early afternoon.

3. DISTANCES AND OTHER DETAILS

Day 1, Torres del Paine NP, Chile

Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: 254 km / 158 miles / 3 hrs driving.

From Natales to Torres del Paine C. Torres: 147 km / 91 miles / 2.5 hrs driving.

Day 2, Torres del Paine NP, Chile

Los Cuernos Trail:

Approximate walking time: 6 to 7 hrs.

Distance: 16 km / 10 miles

Altitude: low altitude trails, no need to worry.

Day 3, Torres del Paine NP, Chile

French Valley Trail:

Approximate walking time: 8 hrs.