The new edition of the Ultra Trail Torres del Paine hits the trails of Patagonia on September of each year once again drawing trail runners from all over the world to race through the spectacular scenery around Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia!
For participating runners and their companions, EcoCamp Patagonia is offering a special 5-day package that connects runners with the beauty of Torres del Paine. This adventurous package includes transfers to and from the starting point of the race, accommodation in EcoCamp’s sustainable and cozy domes, one night in a hotel in Puerto Natales, and two excursions around the park.
The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas or at the Punta Arenas airport in the morning and driven to Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of "Seno de Ultima Esperanza", where you will be dropped off at your hotel and have the rest of the day at your leisure to prepare yourself for the race the next day. The trip from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales passes through scenic landscapes full of native wildlife and plants.
The day has come! You will be driven to the starting point of the Ultra Trail. The event features four race distances: 80K, 50K, 35K, and 14K, which you will have selected during race registration. Each race distance will have different starting points; however, everyone finishes in the same location.
The race route has magical and breathtaking landscapes. Mountains of granite and ice rise more than 2,500 meters above the race route. Multicolored lakes and wildlife are abundant, including condors, guanacos, foxes, huemul, pumas, and rhea, among others.
- For more details about the trail, please check with the organizer here. -
After the race, you will be driven to EcoCamp in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, where you can rest and enjoy a delicious meal and good night’s sleep after the run.
During the next two days, you will join our Wildlife Safari program activities, and you will have the chance to choose between treks or nature walks.
Sample excursion options:
Trek Cerro Paine: We leave after a tasty breakfast at EcoCamp and head to Cerro Paine, a nearby mountain characterized by its two imposing peaks. This is a demanding trek of 16km with a max altitude of 1200m and an estimated hiking time of 7hrs. A few highlights are the lenga forest, mountains, glaciers, the pampa and an unforgettable lookout of the towers and the Ascencio Valley. After taking in one of the most striking views of the park, we backtrack along the same trail and return to EcoCamp.
Day 4:
Laguna Azul: On our way to Laguna Azul, we will have the chance to enjoy some marvelous views of the famous Torres, as well as passing through the Pampa Guanaco, where we will be lucky enough not only to spot many elegant guanacos but also to hop out of the van and walk amongst them. After soaking up these beautiful surroundings, we will continue our drive to Laguna Azul, where a picnic lunch will have been prepared for us! We will enjoy our picnic lunch looking out over the lake, with a view of the three granite towers in the distance. After lunch, we will walk south to Macho Cañon, where we can observe the typical fauna of the Torres del Paine National Park, including more guanaco herds. From here, we will jump into our van again, heading back to the EcoCamp in time for cocktail hour.
Base of the Towers: After a hearty breakfast, we set off from Ecocamp towards Hostería Las Torres and join the uphill path to Ascencio Valley on the Tower's eastern face. Dry mountain spots, beech forests and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. Our big challenge comes as we climb the steep moraine, a mass of boulders leading us towards one of the world's most famous views overlooking the Towers. The famous Torres del Paine (2,900 m/ 9,400 ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. After an uphill slog, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us, with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch? After feasting on the view and our picnic, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp.
We board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas (or Puerto Natales) on time to catch the evening flight to Santiago.
Ecocamp Patagonia is located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, with views of the majestic granite towers. The region’s first sustainable lodge south of the Amazon and the first of its kind in the Patagonian wilderness, EcoCamp offers upscale camping in domes inspired by the region’s ancient nomadic inhabitants. Children from 6 to 12 years receive a 50% discount if staying with their parents in the same dome (advisable 6 years minimum age). Discount will be applied after the online inquiry. Check out the kids' guide to EcoCamp!
Suite domes were designed to further our goal of providing comfort in a natural setting with minimal environmental impact, and also maintain the hotel’s familiar and cozy vibe. The domes have comfortable double or twin beds, a wood stove and a private bathroom with a state-of-the-art composting toilet.
Suite dome lofts are two-storey domes which fit up to four people and have comfortable double or twin beds both up and downstairs. These domes, ideal for families or groups of friends, come with a wood stove, a private terrace and a private bathroom with a state-of-the-art composting toilet.
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. Each Superior Dome has comfortable queen-size or twin beds, a propane heater, skylight windows and a private bathroom with a sophisticated composting toilet.
EcoCamp Standard domes were the world's first lodge accommodation in geodesic shape. They are resistant to the strong Patagonian winds, and come equipped with two single beds (doubles on request), cozy fleece blankets and feather quilts. There are windows in the ceiling for stargazing. Standard domes include shared bathrooms which are large, comfortable and gender divided.
Departure date will be September 29th. The race will be run on September 30th.*
*This applies to the following distances: 80K - 50K - 42K - 35K - 21K. For runners taking the 14K and 7K versions, the program will start on September 30th.
The trip starts on a Friday with a morning pick-up either at your Punta Arenas Hotel or at Punta Arenas Airport.
The trip ends with a drop-off at Punta Arenas Airport in the afternoon. Please visit our Weekly Transfer Board for details of EcoCamp pick up and drop off times.
In Torres del Paine and throughout Patagonia, transport will be in minivans that normally seat from 8 to 14 people.
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 effect of the Southern Patagonia Icefield 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 130km/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!
Passengers need to be prepared for summer and winter all at once. Essential equipment includes:
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.
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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