W TREK PLUS (5 DÍAS)

Our journey begins from Puerto Natales as we travel 2 hours to Estancia Lazo, a 13,000 hectare (32,123 acres) cattle ranch founded over a century ago and still operating today beneath striking views of the Paine Massif on the shores of Laguna Verde. From here we’ll hike into Torres del Paine National Park along a generally flat trail through peaceful stretches of native beech and coihue forests teeming with wildlife. As you walk, watch for condors and caranchos circling the skies; guanacos grazing on the hills; and woodpeckers, owls, and lesser-known species such as the cachaña (Austral parakeet), peeking out from the leafy trees. We’ll reach Honda Lagoon and continue on to the Toro Lake lookout (559 m / 1,834 ft.), where 360 degree views of mountains, rivers, lakes and glaciers await. Take a moment to identify the Grey, Serrano and Paine Rivers, Serrano Valley, Mount Balmaceda and the Geike and Tyndall Glaciers. After our short descent to the Weber Bridge, our private transfer awaits to take us to our campsite located on the shores of the Serrano River where we are greeted with a freshly prepared welcome dinner and stunning views of the Paine Massif.

*Chile Nativo Transfers allow us to continue our commitment to sustainability by minimizing our carbon footprint whenever possible. For this reason, Chile Nativo Transfers are semi privarte, sharing among our clients who are coming in or out of the park.

Después de un abundante desayuno recién hecho, nuestro traslado privado nos lleva a lo largo de un viaje de 30 minutos hasta el comienzo del sendero de nuestro día de caminata por el valle de Pingo. Esta caminata de 3 horas por el valle nos lleva a un impresionante mirador en “Cascada los Salmones”, una cascada donde a veces se ven salmones. Esté alerta cuando regresemos, ¡puede ver al escurridizo huemul (ciervo andino) escondido cerca! Después de un almuerzo campestre a orillas del río Pingo, atravesaremos un bosque de hayas habitado por pájaros carpinteros hasta el punto de partida de nuestro barco. El viaje en barco de 3 horas nos lleva alrededor de icebergs de tonos azules hasta la inmensa cara del Glaciar Grey, donde nos quedaremos un rato para admirar sus texturas, líneas y colores. Si tenemos suerte, seremos testigos del desprendimiento de un glaciar, donde trozos de hielo se desprenden y caen en picado espectacularmente a las gélidas aguas. En su viaje de regreso, verá los "hongos de hielo" esculpidos por el viento en la cima de los enormes picos de Paine Grande. Más tarde, nos dirigiremos a la zona del río Serrano, donde nos espera una comida gourmet y un buen descanso en nuestro campamento junto al río.

Después de un desayuno lleno de energía admirando el amanecer en el Macizo Paine desde nuestro albergue comedor, un traslado privado nos llevará al lago Pehoe, donde tomaremos un catamarán corto de 35 minutos hasta el Refugio Paine Grande. Aquí comenzamos nuestra caminata hacia la entrada del Valle Francés, una enorme morrena glacial donde seguimos senderos ondulados sobre rocas para ver por primera vez increíbles glaciares colgantes en la cima del valle.

Desde este punto, ascendemos durante una hora a través de un paisaje de jardín japonés de ensueño antes de llegar al mirador del Valle Francés (La Plateau).

We are rewarded with a heart-stirring bird’s eye view of granite peaks and hanging glaciers. To one side, the French Glacier and Paine Grande (3,050 m / 10,006 ft.); while to the other, La Espada, La Hoja, La Máscara and the main and north “horns” of Los Cuernos arch upwards. In the upper section of the Valley, Cerro Catedral and Cerro Fortaleza loom like turrets above the landscape.

We’ll take our time to enjoy lunch at the viewpoint, surrounded by these imposing peaks and open skies. Our return hike is along the same track back to Refugio Paine Grande & Lake Pehoe where we will take the short catamaran ride back across the lake where our private transfer awaits to take us back to our riverside camp.

Una cena deliciosamente preparada nos da la bienvenida en el albergue comedor antes de acostarse por la noche en su cúpula privada doble de lujo a orillas del río Serrano.

This hike is demanding and many parts of the trail are steep. This trek is a minimum of 8 hours along challenging, rugged mountainous terrains. This trek is suitable for travelers with a strong physical stamina.

After breakfast, our transfer will take us along the Paine River past Lake Pehoe to Pudeto where we will begin our first gentle round-trip hike for the day.
We will pass by the Salto Grande Waterfall where the Nordenskjöld Lake flows into the Pehoe Lake creating a magnificent turquoise blue water.
We can enjoy the area’s boardwalk with offers spectacular views of the lake as well as the Paine Grande & Cuernos mountains.
Continuing on along a gentle path, we will pass by an open area where the effects of the 2005 national park fire can be seen. Our trail takes us along the black sandy beach of Nordenskjöld Lake where one can feel the powerful Patagonia winds before arriving up top to the Cuernos lookout point which offers captivating views of the French Valley, Los Cuernos, and Paine Grande mountain.
Listen closely as you can hear the valley´s glaciers as they shake and move down the icy rock. Taking the same path back, we will enjoy a fresh snack, fresh drink, and short rest before our private transfer takes us to our next trailhead!
After a short 30 minute transfer, we’ll set off from the Sarmiento Lake ranger station in route to the Laguna Amarga area.
Hiking along a beautiful wildlife observation trail which connects two of the four park entrances, we’ll be able to photograph some spectacular landscapes and observe guanacos and a wide variety of endemic waterbird species who frequent this area for nesting and feeding.
The coscoroba swan, upland goose, caiquenes, and black-neck swans are just a few of the species we can see along our way.
After about an hour of hiking, we will reach a rock eave formation where a series of cave paintings dating back to 6,000 years ago can be observed.
We will learn about this section’s history and some of the first inhabitants of Patagonia who frequented this area to hunt. This trail crosses through a very special landscape of the park which has several small lagoons and wonderful frontal views of the Paine Massif.
This sector is also a place where Pumas tend to frequent due to it’s prime conditions for hunting guanacos! Arriving to the Laguna Amarga entrance, our private transfer awaits where it will transfer us to our accommodation.

Hoy, comenzamos temprano con un desayuno energizante para prepararnos para nuestra caminata final: la base de las icónicas Torres. Junto con nuestro guía, tomamos un traslado de 2 horas al Sector Las Torres del parque donde comienza nuestra caminata con un ascenso, siguiendo el río Ascencio hacia el Valle de Ascencio.

Después de aproximadamente una hora, nos detendremos para observar cómo se desarrolla la belleza del valle con ricos bosques de hayas, glaciares y cascadas.

Pasado este mirador, continuamos cuesta arriba y atravesamos frondosos bosques de hayas antes de ascender a una gigantesca morrena terminal (la cresta formada en el punto final de un glaciar) donde seremos recompensados ​​con la vista deslumbrante de las tres torres.

At this lookout point 900 m (2,953 ft.) above sea level, we’ll rest, take photos and have lunch. Our descent is along the same path, taking us back where our private transfer awaits to take us to Puerto Natales.

This hike is demanding and many parts of the trail are steep. This trek is a minimum of 8 hours along challenging, rugged mountainous terrains. This trek is suitable for travelers with a strong physical stamina.

*Chile Nativo Transfers allow us to continue our commitment to sustainability by minimizing our carbon footprint whenever possible. For this reason, Chile Nativo Transfers are semi privarte, sharing among our clients who are coming in or out of the park.