Trekking in Patagonia

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Activity Summary
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What we offer…

Chile and Argentina offer some of the best trekking in the world. Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks in southern Patagonia are hiking meccas but the countries have 50+ National Parks between them, many with world-beating hikes and trails to explore.

Trekking in Torres del Paine

The W Trek
The W Trek is a 75km trek, which zigzags in and out of the ribs of the Paine Massif. BlueGreen’s W trips range from four to six days.

Fitness and Terrain
The W Trek is moderately difficult. However, the last section of the hike to the Towers is a ‘mountain goat’ hop over glacial moraine, this last section is a there-and-back trail so you only need go as far as you feel comfortable.

The Circuit
The Circuit Trek loops the Paine Massif via the John Gardner Pass, which flanks Grey Glacier and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.  BlueGreen’s full Circuit Trek takes eight or nine days, while BlueGreen’s semi-circuit trek (the northern section) takes six days.

Fitness and Terrain
The Circuit is more challenging than the W. Some sections of the John Gardner Pass, particularly, are steep, and slippery if it has rained. Other sections of the trek are rocky and boggy. 

Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina
Los Glaciares is just across the Ice Cap from Torres del Paine, and the scenery is just as spectacular, but a little more accessible. That’s because the fast-growing tourist town of El Chaltén is situated within the Park, making short treks a possibility.

BlueGreen’s Perito Moreno tour combines Trekking out of El Chaltén with a trip to the Moreno Glacier.

In addition to the renowned Torres del Paine W and Circuit hikes, we specialise in some of the lesser known treks that include not only the classic trails, but some of the equally beautiful areas on the Park’s periphery.

Below is a small selection of the treks we are able to offer.

Torres del Paine Lodge to Lodge – Active Version

Unique, active exploration of Torres del Paine and the surrounding areas without the need to camp. This point to point lodge-based trip has been designed for active explorers who appreciate a little comfort at night. You will experience not only the classic vistas of the Park and the high mountain areas close to Grey Glacier (normally only accessed by hiking the W or Circuit trails) but also some of the less well trodden areas on the periphery. This trip will expose you to some of Patagonia’s most dramatic landscapes and wildlife together with a taste of Patagonian culture as you visit a remote estancia hidden among the fjords where the only access is by boat.

Highlights

  • Enjoy some of the W’s most popular hikes on this comfortable, guided tour

  • Board a catamaran to a remote fjord-side ranch for a taste of real Patagonia life

  • Hike the lesser known trail from Laguna Verde, effectively entering the Park on foot

  • Sail up to the face of a towering valley glacier

  • Observe guanaco, rheas, condors and a wealth of other unusual wildlife

  • Early risers will benefit from some of the best sunrises in all of Patagonia at Serrano

  • Witness some of Patagonia’s most dramatic landscapes as you hike into the Park’s interior

  • Embark on one of the Park’s most iconic trails to the base of the famous Towers

Extras:

  • Upgrade hotel in Puerto Natales to the lovely, contemporary Simple Patagonia.

  • Upgrade hotel at Serrano River to the Hotel Rio Serrano with its mountain-view pool and spa

  • This trip can be shortened or extended to suit your available time or combined with a few nights in Argentina.

  • Ask about extending the trip and including an ice hike on Grey Glacier, or a paddle out in front of the glacier in kayaks.

Day by day

  • Day 1: Arrive into Puerto Natales. Night Hotel Vendaval (upgrades possible). Guide’s briefing

  • Day 2: Take catamaran across the fjords to a waterside estancia. Choose from hiking, horse riding or taking a 4×4 to explore this unique and tranquil island-like landscape. Night hotel as above.

  • Day 3: Private transfer to Torres del Paine. Arrive at Laguna Verde and hike into the Park via the Sierra del Toro with dramatic, far reaching views. Arrive Serrano River. Night riverside lodge.

  • Day 4: Transfer to Grey Lake. Take the Grey III boat up to the glacier. Hike north to suspension bridges that link the canyons high above the glacier. Hike along W trail to Lake Pehoe. Refugio

  • Day 5: Hike to the granite ampitheatre known as the French Valley with a hanging glacier and dramatic mountain views. Return to Lake Pehoe. Take catamaran. Night Hotel Las Torres.

  • Day 6: Hike the challenging trail to the base of the Towers, one of the park’s most iconic hikes. Meet driver for private transfer to Puerto Natales. Trip ends.

 Is this trip for me?

  • This moderately challenging trip is guided by experienced guides throughout you will be free to enjoy the jaw dropping scenery on this comfortable, well planned itinerary

  • It is primarily a Lodge based trip with a focus on hiking and nights in comfortable lodges. The majority of accommodation is in private rooms, however, in order to reach some of the areas in the interior of the park there is a requirement to spend one night in a refugio with mixed dorm-style rooms and shared facilities (we can provide tents if you prefer). Spending nights in multiple hotels adds diversity to your Paine experience and minimises driving when compared to staying in one hotel. If you prefer a more relaxed itinerary with private rooms throughout, check out our Lodge to Lodge Explorer version on the Photography page.

  • This trip is short enough for those wanting to combine Torres del Paine with other areas in either Chile or Argentina.

  • Luggage is moved by vehicle leaving you free to hike with just a day pack. All transfers are private with a dedicated vehicle and driver which adds flexibility into the itinerary.

  • The trip is available on request for 2+ people.

Destinations

Torres del Paine semi-circuit 

Hike this shorter version of the world class Torres del Paine Circuit that gives you access to the area’s more dramatic northern section in less time. Challenging hiking and beautifully located lodgings with all the arrangements taken care of. For those wanting to continue with the southern section of the full Circuit (known as the W) we can make the arrangements for you as an unguided or guided extension

Highlights

  • Experience the best of Torres of Paine as you hike the more rugged northern section of the famous Circuit trail

  • Hike to the wild and remote Dickson Glacier in a magical and inaccessible location.

  • Trek over the isolated and challenging El Paso, the renowned John Gardener Pass

  • Unzip your tent on some spectacularly empty and epic Patagonian landscapes

  • Sleep in remote mountain refuges or camp under the stars

  • Enjoy meals in the convivial and sociable refuges and meet fellow travellers

  • Get a birds eye view of Grey Glacier as you approach it from the north

  • Cross the dramatic suspension bridges that link the canyons high above Grey Glacier that forms one of the branches of the southern ice field.

Extras:

  • Continue with the W extension (the southern section of the full O trek) independently with all reservations made by us and the support of our local logistics team.

  • Add on a short stay in one of the Park’s comfortable hotels or talk to us about adding horse riding or an exclusive home-stay in one of the area’s ranch houses.

  • Choose from a choice of sumptuous hotel upgrades in Puerto Natales.

  • Ask about including an ice hike on Grey Glacier, or a paddle out in front of the glacier in kayaks.

  • Upgrade to a fully guided Circuit trek that runs for 8 or 9 days, ask us for the trip dossier.

Day by day

  • Day 1: Arrive into Puerto Natales. Night Hotel. Guide’s briefing

  • Day 2: Private transfer to Torres del Paine and the trailhead at Las Torres, Hike to Seron. Camp.

  • Day 3: Hike to Dickson Valley. Camp Dickson or upgrade to a bed in the Refugio.

  • Day 4: Hike to Los Perros. Camp.

  • Day 5: Hike over the John Gardener pass to Grey Glacier. Camp at Grey or upgrade to Refugio.

  • Day 6: Leisurely morning (optional Ice Hike or Kayak). Take Grey III Boat to Grey Beach. Transfer to Puerto Natales or continue with the W section of the trail (guided or unguided).

Is this trip for me?

  • This is a perfect hike for a couple or small group who like to hike independently but who do not feel happy hiking the most challenging parts of the Circuit trail without a guide. Enjoy the security and knowledge of your guide for the northerly more remote part of the trail and then continue on the southern part of the trail (the W) without a guide but with all the arrangements made by us for peace of mind and support. This gives you best of both worlds and enables seasoned fit hikers to complete the full Circuit at a lower cost than booking a fully guided tour.

  • This is a strenuous hike through some of the best scenery in Patagonia with its endless sea of ice, snow and granite. Hikers should be in good physical condition and be fit enough for full days on varied terrain which can be rocky, steep and/or boggy. The weather is unpredictable and the section on the Pass in particular can be made more challenging if the weather is bad. Hiking distances are detailed on the trip dossier which is available on request

  • The trip is a mix of camping and refugios and you should be comfortable travelling in remote areas.The refugio nights will involve sleeping in mixed dorm-style rooms with shared facilities

  • The trip is fully supported by porters for the guided portion. Your experienced Torres del Paine certified guide will be assisted by a cook at Los Perros, they will take care of all the details so you can relax and enjoy the jaw dropping scenery.

  • Complete this guided trail and acclimatise yourself to the area before completing the W part of the trail without a guide.

  • The trip is available on request for 2+ people. Solo travellers should contact us about joining suitable confirmed departures.

Destinations

Torres del Paine Wilderness Explorer hike (W)

The Torres del Paine W trek plus a spectacular boat trip to the face of Grey Glacier and the chance to cruise home through the legendary Bernardo O’Higgins National Park and Last Hope Sound.

Highlights

  • Hike the renowned bucket-list Torres del Paine W trek, the world’s best multi day trek without high altitudes, according to Lonely Planet.

  • Start your adventure with an icy cruise to the calving, vertical face of Grey Glacier

  • Sleep in the foothills of the French Valley in cool dome tents with clever partioning and awesome views

  • Enter the French Valley, a secret valley hidden in a gigantic cirque of granite and ice.

  • Trek the classic hike to the base of the Towers, tall granite monoliths

  • Join an optional zodiac/boat cruise out of the Park with a chance to see the Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers and feast on locally produced lamb cooked on an open fire, gaucho style

  • Watch, from Grey Mirador, Grey Glacier’s vast highway of ice flow out of the Patagonian ice cap.

Extras:

  • For extra ice play and kayaking, ask about our W+ multi-sport trip that includes an exploration of the gulleys and caverns of a massive valley glacier and a paddle out into remote glacial waters in kayaks.

  • If you are travelling in winter, you can still hike the W hike with a guide. Our Winter W hike offers fit walkers the opportunity to hike this magnificent trail in the off season. Full support provided with snow shoes/crampons if required, an experienced guide, private transfers, a cook and all accommodation and meals provided.

  • Tag on a soothing massage to the end of the trek, or stay at a hotel with a spa and pool and enjoy being pampered.

Day by day

  • Day 1: Arrive into Puerto Natales. Guide’s briefing. Night hotel.

  • Day 2: Early start for transfer to boat dock. Navigate Last Hope Sound and see the hanging Balmaceda Glacier. Walk to Serrano Glacier. Board zodiacs up river to Torres del Paine. Hotel

  • Day 3: Private transfer to Grey Lake. Take Grey Boat to area close to Glacier. Afternoon walk to suspension bridges usually accessed only by hiking the full circuit. Night Refugio Grey

  • Day 4: Start W trail from Grey and walk to the impossibly blue waters of Lake Pehoe, the Paine Massif’s barbed peaks in the distance. Night Refugio Paine Grande.

  • Day 5: Continue along W to the French Valley. Explore this granite cirque before returning to the cool domes in the foothills above the lake. Night Refugio Domos Frances.

  • Day 6: Hike in the shadow of the Horns of Paine to the Refugio Los Cuernos, sleep in comfortable private 2-person cabins close to the refugio.

  • Day 7: Hike to Las Torres and spend a night in the comfortable Hotel Las Torres with an onsite spa

  • Day 8: Embark on the challenging finale hike to the base of the famous Towers. Meet private transfer to Puerto Natales for a night in a choice of comfortable hotels.

Is this trip for me?

  • This BlueGreen take on the W trail is suited to fit walkers wanting to take their time on this famous and popular trail and enjoy some of the areas on the periphery.

  • There are some refugio nights which would involve sleeping in mixed dorm-style rooms but there are also some more comfortable nights in private rooms at the Serrano River, Los Cuernos and Las Torres. For those who prefer not to sleep in refugios, camping is an option and can feel more private (all gear provided).

  • The hiking is moderate-challenging and you should be fit and able to hike for multiple days on varied terrain. Hiking distances are detailed on the trip dossier which is available on request.

  • The final section of the hike to the Towers is a clamber over glacial moraine and hikers should be comfortable and prepared for this.

  • As with all hikes in Torres del Paine, you should be used to travelling in remote areas and prepared for potentially challenging weather conditions. Trip preparation and packing is very important and we provide a detailed packing list.

  • Age limit: we can accept clients between the ages of 12 and 70 on our longer hiking trips. Younger hikers are welcome but we will suggest a private custom departure. Older hikers are also welcome but we will require completion of our medical suitability questionnaire.

  • The trip is available on request for 2+ people. Solo travellers should contact us about joining confirmed departures

  • For those with limited time, ask about our intense 4-day W hike for fit hikers.

Destinations

Los Glaciares Trek + the Moreno Glacier

This brief journey offers an extraordinary introduction to Argentine Patagonia, featuring a day at the awe-inspiring Moreno Glacier, time exploring the charming streets of El Calafate and a few days of exhilarating hikes in Los Glaciares National Park and around the iconic Mount Fitz Roy.

Highlights

  • Feel the earth shake as huge ice chunks slice off the Moreno Glacier into the lake below

  • Take one of the world’s most incredible highways to the mountain village of el Chalten

  • Feast on Argentina’s finest steak washed down with some of its prized vino Tinto

  • Amble around the quaint streets of el Calafate before sampling some delicious gelato from one of the town’s many heladerias

  • Adventurers can don crampons and hike onto the icy landscape of the Moreno Glacier

  • Set out on a challenging hike culminating in the awe inspiring sight of Mount Fitz Roy towering majestically above the landscape

Extras:

  • We can add ice hiking on the Moreno Glacier (according to age restrictions)

  • Kayaking is now possible in front of the Moreno Glacier, ask for details.

  • Add on a night or two at a local estancia for some horse riding, cycling and immersion into the local culture

Day by day

  • Day 1: Arrive into el Calafate by bus or plane. Transfer to hotel.

  • Day 2: Choose from a selection of full day excursions to the Perito Moreno Glacier. Hotel or Estancia.

  • Day 3: Shuttle or private transfer to el Chalten. Afternoon hike. Hotel.

  • Day 4: Full day hike (guided or un-guided) according to fitness. Hotel.

  • Day 5: Morning hike (guided or un-guided). Shuttle or transfer to el Calafate for onward travel.

Is this trip for me?

  • This trip is suitable for all fitness levels and all ages as you can choose from a choice of Moreno tours and hikes depending on your preference

  • It is a great tour to combine with Torres del Paine so you experience some of Patagonia’s most iconic sights.

  • To transfer between Torres del Paine and el Calafate (the jumping off point for this tour) we can help with transport, there is a regular daily bus service between the two places and this is the preferred option for most of our clients. The journey time is 5-6 hours depending on how busy the borders are.

  • For the hiking in the Fitz Roy range you can choose guided or un-guided, or a combination of both whereby you have a guide for the first day for orientation and advice and then continue with some hikes unguided (the majority of hikes start and finish in el Chalten making logistics more simple for unguided visits).

  • The trip is available on request for 2+ people.

Destinations