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, 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). You’re free to arrive at any time today, but 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.

Today 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.

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 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. However, if you’d like to take it a bit easier you can book an optional boat excursion to get up close and personal with the serene scenery of Lago Gray, cruising past pristine icebergs and inspiring mountain views. This way you’ll get a whole new perspective on this wonderful lake. Be sure to have your camera ready as these are scenes you won’t want to forget! Enjoy an included dinner and pisco sour this evening to celebrate your adventure.

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.