Patagonia Short Break - Torres Del Paine

Welcome to Patagonia! Few places on earth offer up such dramatic and breathtaking landscapes, the most iconic of which are contained within Torres del Paine National Park and Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, which you’ll be exploring over the next days. Your adventure begins at Puerto Natales airport, or at Puerto Natales bus station where you’ll be collected by a local representative and transferred to your hotel in the little city of Puerto Natales, sitting on the "Seno de Ultima Esperanza" (Bay of the Last Hope). Our adventure begins at 6 pm with the welcome meeting where you will meet our local representative. It is important that you try and arrive in Puerto Natales before this time. If you get here early enough we suggest taking a walk along the Costanera, leading to the historic remains of the Braun & Blanchard wharf (it’s especially beautiful at sunset). If you want to wet your whistle, the city is dotted with establishments serving up excellent Chilean wine and locally produced craft beer. Note: Confirmation of your arrival information is needed in advance. If you arrive from Puerto Natales Airport, or Puerto Natales Bus Station please inform your Intrepid agent and your transfer from there to your hotel will be arranged accordingly. Should you choose to arrive in Puerto Natales from El Calafate via public bus, the bus ticket will be sent to you in advance by email. Please inform your Intrepid agent to arrange for the bus ticket.

Today, after breakfast you’ll be joined by a local guide to explore the remarkable and diverse landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978. Stop off on the way at the Milodon Cave, an enormous cavern where remains of prehistoric mammals like the mylodon, an extinct ground sloth, have been found. Continue on to Cuernos de Paine, the towering granite spikes of Torres del Paine National Park. From here, walk to Salto Grande – at 15 metres high, this is the park’s largest waterfall. Take some time to admire the powerful cascade tumbling into the beautiful turquoise lake below. Next up is a visit to Lago Gray, a picturesque lake fringed by the icy blue Grey Glacier. Hike through a coigue Forest, crossing suspension bridge over the Pingo River and eventually ending up at the beach. Here you can observe icebergs of different shapes and colours floating in the lake, caused by the melting of the Grey Glacier. After an exciting day, return to Puerto Natales for an evening at leisure. Note: All entry tickets to National Parks are included, your local guide will have them and present them in the parks for you.

Today begins at 7.30am at Puerto Bories pier, from where you’ll sail through the Senoret Channel and the Ultima Esperanza fjord. Cross into the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, the largest park in Chile and home to giant glaciers, lush vegetation, soaring waterfalls and loads of wildlife, including Andean condors, marine otters and cormorants. Sail past the seriously impressive Balmaceda glacier, hanging from the mountain of the same name. Dock at Puerto Toro and walk about a kilometer through a native forest filled with coigues, murtilla de magallanes, chaura and lichens. Walk towards the foot of the Serrano Glacier, following the edge of an iceberg-filled lake formed by its melt. Finally, enjoy an aperitif with glacial ice and have lunch at a typical Patagonian estancia before returning to Puerto Natales for the evening.

If you’re up for a serious challenge, an 8-hour serious trek to Base Torres is included today, serving up the most impressive views of Torres del Paine’s granite towers and glacial lagoon. You will contemplate the imposing towers, a wonder of nature. Be sure to have your camera ready as these are scenes you won’t want to forget! Enjoy an included dinner this evening to celebrate your adventure. If, on the other hand, feel that the long trek would be too strenuous for you and would like to take things easier then you can opt for our complimentary panoramic half-day tour of Puerto Natales. This beautiful half-day excursion will help you understand the origin of this centenary city. You will learn about the toponymy of its surroundings, its history and little known details. Admire and contemplate the coast of the Señoret channel with the mountains that surround it. Your tour will start at the old Puerto Bories Cold Storage Plant, an important manufacturing industry that marked the emergence of the city in the early twentieth century, now a National Historic Monument. Next will also visit the remodeled waterfront, the main square, the fishermen's dock and the artisanal village. And on the way be sure to take some time and admire the the coast of Señoret channel with its encircling mountains. Your tour will finish with a Pisco Sour at Rooftop in Puerto Natales.

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you'll be dropped off at the Puerto Natales bus station, from where you'll have the option to take the local bus to El Calafate on the Argentinean side of Patagonia (bus ticket included). If you are flying out today, from El Calafate, please make sure you choose a flight in late afternoon, after 3 pm. If you would prefer to begin your trip in El Calafate and end in Puerto Natales, please get in touch ahead of time so your bus ticket can be arranged.