Patagonia

Our transfer takes us along an unpaved road heading to Torres Del Paine. When entering the Park, we will have excellent picture taking opportunities of guanacos (llama family) and Grey foxes, driving alongside lagoons frequented by Chilean flamencos and black- necked swans. We will start our first day trekking to the base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter the Ascencio Valley. Our walk will be uphill for one hour before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech forests (Nothofagus family), glaciers and waterfalls. We’ll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (2952ft), excellent for picture taking. At this point we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (9350ft) and a lagoon with slurry waters due to erosion produced by glaciers. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch, and after being awed by the towers we’ll start our descent, following the same path back to our camp. 2 hours by private transfer, 7-8 hours round-trip, 18 KM

This is the easiest span but especially interesting for flower lovers who, depending on the season, will see orchids, calceolarias, violets and oxalis. We will go around Paine Lake along a flattish path with views of many mountains, including Cerro Escudo (The Shield) and Cerro Cabeza del Indio (Indian Head Mountain -the profile of an Indian is observed in the rocks). Lastly we will arrive at the beginning of the Paine River, from where we will be able to see the incredible Cerro Cubo (Cube Mountain) and Dickson Lake. 6-7 hours, 18.5 KM

This is the most difficult day of the whole circuit, but at the same time has a dramatic beauty worthy of the effort. We will head up on a pronounced path through forests to arrive at a swamp area, keeping us busy for a couple of hours. We will continue ascend- ing, maybe finding some snow, until coming to the John Garner pass at 1200MTS above sea level. From here we have an outstanding view of the Grey Glacier and the Southern Ice Field, with its many unclimbed peaks. We will head off alongside the glacier, on an up and down path through fallen trees, contrasting with the exuberance of the Nothofagus forests, walking underneath the Cordon Olguín with its huge thick granite walls. If lucky enough we will see ice calving from the front wall of the Grey Glacier, before ending up on a beach of sedimentary sand where we will spend the night. 10-11 hours, 22 KM–

After a good breakfast we commence our out and back trek to the French valley. We will start going around the south-west side of Paine Grande, the highest summit in the Park, through native forests of fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the hanging bridge over the French River to observe the first glimpses of the glacier. Then we will ascend (2953ft) for one hour amidst a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach a view point, with magnificent panoramic views, where we enjoy a good lunch. We will take the same path back to Pehoe Lake, and then cross the lake by catamaran and take a private transfer back to The Altiplanico complete with New Years Celebrations!! 6-7 hours, 17 KM, 35 minutes by catamaran, 2 hours by transfer.