Kayak along the impressive Serrano River, passing awe-inspiring ice fields, mighty peaks and fjords every paddle of the way. This wonderful add-on to your EcoCamp adventure is perfect for those looking for a fresh perspective of Patagonia.
We’ll start the day by driving towards the Grey Lake sector in Torres del Paine National Park. Once arriving at the Playa Grey bank, we will receive our equipment and a short safety briefing. Once we are ready to go, we’ll get in our kayaks and begin the excursion starting at the mouth of Grey Lake, alongside the Paine Massif. Along the way, we will paddle near stunning icebergs that came off the beautiful Grey Glacier. The trip along the lake has some incredible views, including landscape from the famous Cuernos del Paine.
After our lake navigation, we make our way down Grey River. Get ready for a wild ride! This adventure will take you through rapids, cannons and quick turns, overlooking Sierra del Toro. After a few hours of paddling, we will stop for a short rest and delicious lunch near the Grey Bridge. We will then continue our journey until we reach the confluence with Serrano River, a place where Grey River’s water that is full of sediments merges with the clear water of Lago del Toro.
The day will end at Pueblito Serrano after 3-4 hours paddling. Here we will have a tasty dinner and rest for the night!
*Please note: Changes to the itinerary will be made in cases of strong wind.
After a filling breakfast, we will start paddling towards an incredible waterfall named Salto del Rio. Once we get close, we will take a short walk with our kayaks to avoid these rough waters. The navigation will then continue along the mighty river, as we make our way towards the Serrano Glacier. We will spot some beautiful views of the Tyndall Glacier and Geike Mountains, which will give us the indication that we are close to the Southern Ice Field.
Here we will stop to enjoy our lunch with a spectacular view of the landscape. After we finish lunch, we’ll continue towards Monte Balmaceda until we meet with Ultima Esperanza fjord waters. At these same waters, Juan Ladrilleros looked for a passage into the Atlantic sea in the year 1558. From this point, we will learn more about this small bit of history and enjoy the remarkable view from the Serrano Glacier. We will end our day at Puerto Toro, enjoying a delicious meal and wild landscapes.
We’ll start early in the morning, carrying our kayaks for about 30 minutes until reaching Serrano Lagoon. We will then hop back in the water and paddle alongside beautiful blue icebergs. We will finish our journey around midday and take a bigger boat back to Puerto Natales through Ultima Esperanza fjord. We’ll have a chance to admire the amazing view of the Balmaceda Glacier on the way! Once we arrive to Estancia Perales, we’ll indulge in a delicious and traditional roasted lamb. Around 6 PM, we’ll arrive back in Puerto Natales.
*Please note: Sometimes the lagoon is blocked with ice. If this is the case, we cannot paddle on the lake.
Additionally: The minimum age for this program is 15 years old and maximum is 65 years old.
The camping gear consists of all-season tents for 2, 3 or 4 people. YOU HAVE TO BRING YOUR OWN SLEEPING BAG (Puerto Natales Town has rental shops). The guides will have marine VHF radios for communication and emergency purposes.
Regular departures are available every day on request from October to March.
The trip starts on day 1 at midday at your accommodation in Torres del Paine National Park or Puerto Natales.
The trip finishes on day 3 at your hotel in Puerto Natales at approximately 6 PM.
This trip is recommended for people in good physical condition who are accustomed to camping outdoors. Basic experience with kayaks is recommended.
4 travelers is the most typical group size plus guiding staff.
Maximum 12 clients. Guide to passenger ratio: 1:3.
In addition to your kayaks, we will use minivans that normally seat between 8 to 14 people. We use smaller vehicles with small groups.
The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Patagonian Andes very exposed to the winds that circle the Antarctic landmass which makes 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 cold, strong winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfall. Summer’s average temperature is 11ºC (52ºF), ranging between 2 to 24ºC(35 to 75ºF).
Sea kayaking in Patagonia can be very unpredictable due to weather conditions. Sometimes the wind from the ocean blows with such force that waves break upstream, making navigation almost impossible. If you book this trip please keep in mind that it is weather permitting and that considerable physical effort is required.
We’ll provide the following gear:
Please note: Cotton is not recommended as it absorbs moisture and is difficult to dry.
We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary at the discretion of the trip guide based on operational considerations. The trip guide can modify the original itinerary of the trip, wait for better conditions, take a different route, or, in severe cases, ask for an evacuation in different embarkation; in this case, there will be no refund.
Please note: Sea kayaking in Patagonia can be very unpredictable due to weather conditions. Sometimes the wind from the ocean blows with such force that waves break upstream, making navigation almost impossible. If you book this trip please keep in mind that it is weather permitting and that considerable physical effort is required.
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Updated October 4th, 2022
Dear Traveler,
We are very happy to announce that there are currently no travel restrictions in Chile.
Together with the above mentioned, it is mandatory to comply with the following requirements:
In case you have any questions, we will be happy to help you!
Best,
The Team at Cascada Expediciones & EcoCamp Patagonia