You'll be picked up from your hotel in Puerto Natales (between 10:00 - 11:00 am) and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia, in Torres del Paine National Park. Upon arrival (At 1:00 pm approx.), we'll settle in for lunch and some relaxation time. During this period, your guide will go over the details of what promises to be an unforgettable adventure.
In the afternoon, we'll begin our hike to Camp Serón, where we'll spend our first night. Thanks to the long daylight hours in the summer months, you'll have plenty of light to take in the stunning views of the Patagonian steppe, complete with its roaming guanacos and the majestic backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
Overnight Camping in Serón area.
Meals: lunch and dinner
The day starts at Camping Serón with a hike to Dickson Lake. We’ll head north along the Paine River’s eastern shore, stopping at a vantage point for panoramic views of Paine Lake. Then we’ll continue west across open plains to Refugio Dickson, one of the most beautiful locations inside the Paine Massif. This site offers views of snow-capped mountains, Lake Dickson, and the distant Dickson Glacier and Southern Patagonian Ice Field. We’ll spend the night here, enjoying a hearty dinner and a hot shower.
Overnight Camping in the Dickson area.
Meals: breakfast, lunch box, and dinner
We will continue our trail along the Los Perros River in what will be the wildest and most remote grounds that we will cover on the trek. We will pass under the Los Perros Glacier, where it merges into a small lake, and then cross virgin beech forest before reaching the beautiful Laguna Los Perros. Here, we will set up camp at Camping Los Perros and enjoy the tranquil evening.
Overnight Camping in the Los Perros area.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch box and dinner
This day marks our ascent to the Circuit’s highest point, the John Gardner pass, a must-do for any serious trekker. From an altitude of around 1300 mts (4000 ft), we will be able to get an amazing view of the Grey Glacier, an enormous fractured mass of ice that towers over the valley below. The John Gardner pass is one of the most famous sectors of Torres del Paine and a must-do for any serious trekker. We will then continue south along forested slopes with more beautiful views of the Grey Glacier before reaching Grey Campground on the shores of Lake Grey.
Overnight Camping in Grey area.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch box, and dinner
During the morning, we will take some time to rest, replenish, and revel in the beautiful surroundings of Lake Grey. After this, it is time to make our way along the eastern side of the Lake through clearings of gorgeous Calafate bushes. Today is one of the shorter days, and less challenging. There will be plenty of views over the lake, with its numerous giant icebergs drifting across the waters. The trail after this point becomes flatter as we descend through a shallow dry valley towards the turquoise waters of Lake Pehoe, where we will set up camp and rest for the night.
Overnight Camping in the Pehoé area.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch box, and dinner
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After breakfast at Camp Paine, we will begin a challenging trek along a steep trail into the heart of the Paine Massif in the French Valley. The goal is to get to the French Valley lookout, to enjoy the view of the geological formations of the Paine Massif, and the French Glacier. This is one of the highlight hikes of many visitors in the park because of its stunning views. On top, we will take a lunch break if the weather permits. Afterward, we'll descend through mixed grassland and forest to Camp Frances.
Overnight Camping in Francés or Los Cuernos area.
Meals: breakfast, lunch box, and dinner
Once we have finished breakfast, we will begin the day's trek to Camp Torre Central along the Cuernos trail, which will take us along the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. Today's walk is less strenuous yet richer in the diversity of terrain that we will cover. It will, therefore, be the perfect opportunity to take in the park’s charming flora and fauna and learn more about the vast variety of species along the way. We will pause throughout the walk-in and eat our box lunch, rest our legs, and admire the stunning surroundings. The trek ends as we arrive at Camp Torre Central where we will enjoy a hearty meal and prepare for tomorrow's big challenge.
Overnight camping in Las Torres area (Optional: Upgrade to EcoCamp Domes).
Meals: breakfast, lunch box, and dinner
On the penultimate day of the Paine Circuit, we'll tackle the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine. Starting from the campsite, we'll head towards Hostería Las Torres and ascend the Ascencio Valley on the Tower's eastern face. The trail is lined with mountain ridges, beech forests, and rivers. The big challenge comes with the steep moraine of boulders leading to the iconic base view of the Towers—three towering granite monoliths formed by glacial ice. After the tough climb, the Towers and the glacial lake come into full view. After a picnic, we'll backtrack to Camp Torre Central for a well-deserved dinner.
Overnight camping in the Las Torres area (Optional: Upgrade to EcoCamp Domes).
Meals: breakfast, lunch box, and dinner
We will board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax and enjoy the scenic ride back to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales in time to catch the evening flight to Santiago. Alternatively, transportation to El Calafate can also be arranged.
Meals: breakfast and lunch box
Typical mountain tents are used with enough room for 2 people overnight in comfortable conditions. We provide all the camping gear. But you should bring your own mat and sleeping bag. Our team will set up the tents in the camping site. On nights 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 at Grey, Pehoe, Francés and Las Torres you enjoy dinner and breakfast in the refugios. On nights 1, 2 and 3 at Serón, Dickson and Perros there will be a comfortable dining tent for dinners and breakfasts. Additionally, the camping sites along the trek will have mountain bathroom facilities in good condition.
On nights 7 and 8, all Circuit hikers are welcome to attend evening activities in EcoCamp's bar and Yoga Dome before returning to their campsite to sleep!
There is an option to upgrade to EcoCamp Domes on the nights you will stay at Camping Central, please ask your Travel Experience Designer for more information, rates & availability.
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.
If you upgrade to the Ecocamp Domes, you can choose between the following dome categories:
Suite domes were designed to further our goal of providing comfort in a natural setting with minimal environmental impact and maintaining 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 that 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
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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 also windows in the ceiling for stargazing. Standard domes include shared bathrooms that are large, comfortable, and gender-divided.
Regular Departures are available every Wednesday from November to March.
Departures require a minimum of 2 participants. If a given departure isn't available, you will be put on a waiting list.
Do you want a private departure for this trip? We can do it, just send us an email.
Upgrades to EcoCamp Patagonia
Kayaking around the Grey Glacier on Day 5
The trip starts on Wednesday morning and finishes on Thursday. You will need to arrive the afternoon before the first day and sleep in Puerto Natales. If your arrival the day before matches with our regular pick-up in Punta Arenas, you can join the group; this option will also be available with our regular pick-up at Puerto Natales Airport or if you are coming from El Calafate to Puerto Natales Bus Station. Our drop-off service is to Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, or El Calafate. Please visit our Weekly Transfer Board for details of pick-up and drop-off times.
This is the right trip for energetic people who like to be active, have a spirit of adventure, and have a positive attitude. During this trek, you will walk a total of 134 km/83 mi.
To enjoy this trek, you must 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.
In Torres del Paine and throughout Patagonia, transportation is in minivans that normally seat 8 to 14 people. Pick-up/drop-off times, as shown on the Weekly Transfer Board,are approximate and will be confirmed by our local operations team closer to departure. An exclusive toll-free emergency number will be available for anyone needing additional support while in Chile.
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, making the weather hard to predict. Fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning; even in summer (December to March), you should come prepared to find strong cold winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfall. Summer’s average temperature is 11ºC (52ºF), ranging between 2 to 24ºC (35 to 75ºF).
Once you have made your booking, we will send you a complete pre-trip info brochure that details the things you need to bring.
Here are some of the general items we recommend:
The porters are people who will help us with the logistics of transporting luggage during our trip. They will be in charge of carrying items such as: tents, sleeping bags, mats/insulators and dry bags*. They will transport these items from Ecocamp or the camps occupied during the trek, to our next stops, making sure to arrive on time so that we can find these items at our disposal once we arrive at the camps/refugios.
*Dry bags: Dry bags, as their name indicates, are waterproof bags in which we can store the items that we will not need during the walks and keep them dry and insulated while the porters transport them. The dry bag limit (regulated based on the weight that is healthy for porters to carry) is 15 Lt. and 5 Kg/11 Lb. each (in case there is more than one dry bag on your trip).
These bags will be labeled with your name so that they are not confused with those of other members of your group.
The porter service for this trip is included in the trip’s price. During the trek, your belongings will be divided into three portions. One portion you will carry yourself in your daypack comprising of your lunch, water, camera, sun cream and the clothing you will layer on and off during the day. The second portion is your sleeping bag and sleeping pad (you need to bring these with you to Torres del Paine) which will be carried for you throughout the trip. The third portion is the change of clean clothes and other items you will need at night in the campsites - these will be carried for you in waterproof duffel bags as follows:
On day 1 (At EcoCamp) we will provide you with two small 15-liter dry bags. In the first bag, you will put the clothes needed for the following nights: 1 (Seron), 2 (Dickson), 3 (Los Perros), 4 (Grey) and 5 (Pehoe). In the second bag you can put clothes and any items needed for night 5 (Pehoe) and day 6 (Cuernos), before returning to Camp Torre Central on day 7 where the rest of your luggage will be waiting for you. Upon arrival to Pehoe, you will have access to both dry bags at the same time.
You are allowed to pack up to 5 kgs (11 lbs) in each dry bag.
Taking into account that you will only have access to 1 of the 2 dry bags during your trip (when your trip includes 2), we recommend the following to have optimal access to your items:
In dry bags, store items that you will only need during the nights in refugios, for example: Change of clothes (underwear, pants, t-shirts, first layers, socks).
Sleeping bags and insulators/mats are NOT stored in the dry bags, these will be transported separately by the porters.
Do not store items that you will need every night such as personal hygiene items or medications; we recommend that you carry these items in your daily backpack.
Do not store items that are too large or heavy, remember that these must be transported by the porters and have a limit of 5Kg/11Lb.
Do not store flammable or too delicate items that could cause accidents for those transporting the dry bags.
Avoid storing food in dry bags as it can ruin the bag and also spoil the food.
The weather in Patagonia can make planning difficult at times. We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary at the discretion of the trip guide. The trip guide can modify, change, or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.
Group size and price
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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
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