A sports route accessible to non-practitioners, allowing you to discover two of the most beautiful regions in Chile for outdoor sports, the Lakes Region and Patagonia.
Your itinerary will start from Puerto Varas, a small town on the shore of Lake Llanquihue with a breathtaking view of the Osorno volcano, the real Fuji Yama of the Andes. A really complete program with rafting on the turquoise waters of the Rio Petrohue, hiking on the slopes of the Osorno volcano, and sea kayaking in the Chilean fjords, accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
On a national flight, you will then reach the south of the continent and Patagonia. The start of your second itinerary will be in Puerto Natales, and the Torres del Paine National Park. There you will discover, independently, another playground, offering one of the most famous treks in the world for the beauty of its landscapes, the W circuit. This will be an opportunity to discover the immensity of Glacier Grey, the imposing massif of Paine Grande and Cuernos, then the famous Torres del Paine, 3 impressive granite towers that will mark the end of your trip.
Puerto Montt Airport
Arrival and welcomeWe pick you up at Puerto Monttairport and drive to Puerto Varason the shorelines of lago Llanquihue, the third biggest one inSouth America.We have lunch in one of the nice restaurants of the town and then get back on the road to go East towards the Cordillera and Ensenada.The bestway to beat jet lag is to go down the Petrohue river in a raft, playing with class III / IV rapids in crystal clear waters. We aresurrounded by native forest and 4 volcanoes along the 13 kms ofthe ride. We get to know Calbuco, Osorno, Puntiagudo and Yates volcanoes before we reach back our base for some local beer and a snack.Transfer to Petrohue for dinner and overnight.
From the hotel we start directly our loop hike on the foot hills of the symbol of the Lakes district :volcano Osorno.After breakfast we start the hike from the shore of lake Todos los Santos and then start to gain elevation and go over the trees limit. We will reach the pass between the valley of the lake Todos losSantos and the lake Llanquihue one. Time for lunch on the trail and we will go down the hill through a different route until we get back to our hotel in the evening.Perfect timing for a pisco sour in the lounge.Dinner and Overnight at hotel Petrohue.
We load the expedition style kayaks on the roof rack this morning ad get ready to paddle inprotected conditions in the fjord of Reloncavi.The Petrohue river gets to the fjord where we put in and take advantage of a bit of current to gosouth.Morning conditions are always calm and we make our way in these waters mixing clear and saltyones.After 1h30 of paddling we are at our friend Yolanda’s house. A farm house on the edge of the cliff overlooking the fjord where lambs, chickens and cowsshare the steepfields. We have an amazing lunch with the family and spend time drinking mate walking around the farm.After coffee it is time to get back in the kayaks and paddle in front of volcanoes Yates and Hornopiren until we reach the village of Cochamo.A walk tocheck out the wooden church and we are back in the van to reach back our hotel. Dinner and Overnight at hotel Petrohue.
Transfer to Puerto Montt airport. Flight to Punta Arenas (certain days of the week, possibility to fly directly to Puerto Natales). Arrived at Punta Arenas, a bus picks us up at the airport. We take Ruta 3 along the Strait of Magellan. The long strip of asphalt then crosses the pampas, thousands of hectares belonging to the estancias that sheep breed. Reception at the bus terminal by your transfer which will take you to your hotel. In the afternoon, information meeting in English to explain the next 5 days in Torres del Paine Park. You will be given a map of the park that day. This afternoon, you can buy your picnic for the next 5 days.
Early departure from Puerto Natales, a small Chilean town at the end of the Ultima Esperanza fjord. Today you travel to the village of Cerro Castillo, one of the main sheep farming centres in the region. Every November the herds from all the local estancias arrive for the annual shearing. The route then crosses the immense plains of the pampas to reach the Torres del Paine park. End of the journey at Lake Pehoe that you cross by catamaran. Afternoon hike to Lake Grey. By the half-way point you will already be able to see the immensity of the Grey glacier and its icebergs drifting majestically across the lake. Night in camping near the Grey glacier.
Free morning to stroll near the glacier or hike further upstream, followed by a midday departure to see the glacier from the lake, discover its seracs and its icy blue depths. You then join the southern bank of the lake and disembark near the Hosteria Grey. Walk through a forest of lengas, (southern beech) and then transfer back towards Lake Pehoe. Catamaran lake-crossing and overnight stay at Paine Grande Camping, facing the Los Cuernos massif.
The next morning you leave the turquoise waters of Lake Pehoe to hike towards the Frances valley. Reaching the Skottsberg Lake by skirting around the Bariloche peak and then continuing towards the valley entrance. Opposite is the spectacular panorama of the Cuernos, their granite needles tipped with black sediments. Having arrived at the foot of the Cuernos you will be able to discover the impressive Paine Grande ridge. Reaching a height of 3050m, this is the highest peak of the Paine Massif, a spectacular summit where the unleashed power of the elements rages over a huge hanging glacier. You then have an opportunity to continue up the valley to see the breathtaking view of the surrounding lakes. Higher up you will reach the campamento Britanico, at the gateway to a granite glacial cirque, unique within the park. Opposite opens a vista of knife-edge ridges with evocative names: “Tiburon”, “Espada”, “Mascara.” Back down in the valley, your route continues through the forest before beginning the long descent to the Nordenskjold Lake. Overnight in the Cuernos camping at the lake-edge.
The next day, a hike along Lake Nordenskjold, with frequent stunning views towards the Cuernos. Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to see the magnificent flight of a condor as it drifts effortlessly on the rising thermals along the cliff-face. The mineral mountain landscape is occasionally broken by the outline of a coigue (member of the southern beech family) and huge bushes of ciruelillo or notro with their vibrant red flowers in November. You then come to the fork where you begin the route up into the Ascencio valley. Overnight at Chileno camping, at the entrance to the valley. You will already be able to see the peaks and ridges of the “Torres”.
The final hike, completing the “W” with Las Torres Valley, climbing up along the Ascencio River, through forests of lengas, the oldest in the park. At the end of a 1-hour ascent you will arrive at the foot of the moraine. It will then take you about 45 minutes to climb up the side of the moraine to reach the park’s most renowned viewpoint, the “Mirador las Torres” at the foot of the Norte, Central and Sur towers. Opposite you, above the glacier, rise the 1000m vertical granite walls, a spectacle that is totally unique and utterly breathtaking. A break for lunch in this dramatic mountain landscape, before returning back down into the valley. You then join the Las Torres complex. Bus back to Puerto Natales.
After breakfast, tranfer to the airport or bus terminal.
This trip was designed from our knowledge of the region, and our own tastes. You can want it differently, by removing or adding a day, by combining it with another tour. Everything is tailor-made, according to your vision of your trip in Patagonia! This itinerary can also be done with different categories of hotel, transport by regular bus or with vehicle rentals, group excursions or accompanied by a private French or English speaking guide, there are many possibilities.
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