Patagonia, Trekking Paradise with W-Trek EXPRESS (10 nights) - Self Guided

Arrival to El Calafate airport. Shuttle or bus from airport to El Chalten. Check in and free rest of day.

Free day to do some self guided treks, for example to Laguna de los Tres, where you reach the lagoon at the base of Mt Fitz Roy, after about 4 hours hike. It is recommended to begin between 07:00-08:00 to be able to get to the lagoon and back.

Chalten visit
Just a visit to this town lets everyone understand why it has come to be called the Hiking Capital of Argentina. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Saying "Chaltén" in Patagonia is a synonym for mountain, walking, hiking, climbing, outdoors and the list could go on. The town was created in 1985 as a geopolitical strategy that put an end to the border conflicts with Chile over Lago del Desierto. Ever since its modest origins, this small mountain district has developed according to the typical features of its first denizens: love for the mountain being the first one. Thus, the youngest town in Argentina continued to grow and today, with almost a thousand dwellers that reside there year round, it has a spirit of its own which makes it different from all the other Patagonian towns. For instance, there is no cell phone service by choice of most of its inhabitants. A dreamed-of place for mountaineers and climbers from all over the world, El Chaltén has been declared the Hiking Capital of Argentina. Beyond this title, there are more than enough reasons for its visitors to set out along its hiking trails. There are plenty of attractions, reached through paths of various difficulties. All of them lead to ideal scenes that seem to become magical sites. From the air, the town may be seen resting on the mountains by Lake Viedma, whereas one of its natural borders is the well-known Río de las Vueltas (River of the Bends), whose winding light-blue course when the waters run clear grants a supernatural facet to its shores. El Chaltén is surrounded by ravines that announce the presence of the mountain range and is watched by the Viedma Glacier and the ancient massifs known as Mount Torre and Mount Fitz Roy.

Free day to do more self guided treks, for example to Laguna Torre, where you can see the reflection of legendary Cerro Torre at the lagoon of the same name. It is a bit shorter than Laguna de los Tres but it is also recommended to depart early.

Early start. Take the 08:00 bus from El Chalten to El Calafate. Arrival to the bus station at about 11:00, and you make your own way to your accommodation.

This day you will be able to visit Perito Moreno Glacier!
Breakfast. At about 07:00, Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour:
People from all over the world come to this remote place in Southern Patagonia to be a witness of the Ice Age. This is one of the few moving glaciers on our planet, and a visit is not only worth it, but a MUST. We start from El Calafate early in the morning to enjoy the landscape, nature, fauna and the wide variety of birds (trying to arrive at the glacier before everyone else). Through the gateways you visit the north face of the Perito Moreno Glacier in different viewpoints and altitudes. The Perito Moreno Glacier has the size of the Buenos Aires city and is between 40 and 50 meters high. Due to the falling angle, it receives more ice than the ice that melts, so it advances, grows and breaks every now and then. Quite a unique thing to witness! We'll take you back to your accommodation around 16:00-17:00.

Breakfast. Make your own way to the bus station to catch a morning bus (departure at about 07:30-08:00) to Puerto Natales in Chile. On arrival make your own way to your accommodation, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you like. Please remember to watch the online briefing privided by Las Torres to know more about your coming days.

Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine (Regular Bus) - Las Torres Base Viewpoint
Find your own way to the bus station. Registration time at Rodoviario (Bus Station): 06:45
The day your program starts you will have to take the bus at 07:00 from Puerto Natales. The trip takes about 2 hours. Once you arrive, leave your heavy stuff and then start with your first trekking through the Ascencio Valley, until you reach the Vientos pass, with its spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and lakes. You will pass through the Chileno Sector and through a native lenga forest before reaching the final stretch of your adventure. This part of the hike lasts approximately one hour over rocky terrain. At the end of this trek you will encounter the most impressive view of the three iconic granite towers and their glacial lagoon. Hike back to sector Central to have dinner and rest.

Night 1 of W-Trek: Refugio Torre Central
Hike: 8-10 hours. 19,4 km (12 mi.)
Difficulty: High
Elevation gain: 750 m

Sector Central - Sector Frances (or Cuernos)
Walk along the tranquil shore of Lake Nordenskjöld and at the base of the amazing Almirante Nieto Mount and its hanging glaciers. The hushed atmosphere of the massive peaks above the turquoise lake will beg you to slow down, process the magnitude and capture that view forever with a photograph. The lake is surrounded by geographic contrasts and is home to many birds, so keep an eye out for condors flying in this area. You will continue along the Arriero river, which offers great opportunities to take a nice long break to fill your water bottle and enjoy the present moment. Once at the highest viewpoint, you will be able to see the lake in its entirety and the Francés Glacier on Paine Grande mount.

Night 2 of W-Trek: Refugio Frances (or Cuernos)
Hike: 4,5-6,5 hours. 13,5 km (8,4 mi.)
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation gain: 80 m

Trekking the Frances Valley
Recommended time to begin the trek: 09:00
Start your morning in the perfect way with a light and magnificent trek to Italiano camping. Your mind and body will be aligned with the present moment, processing all the experiences of the previous days. Surrounded by mountains, you will find peace of mind, the sounds and smells of the lake will make you vibrate with energy in the midst of a varied and abundant vegetation that will fill you with life. You will pass by an amazing waterfall and you will be able to fill your bottle with pure and cold water. This whole experience will be perfectly complemented by the incomparable view from the Francés Valley. At the viewpoint, you will be dazzled with one of the most impressive views of the entire circuit. You can continue to Britanico lookout and then hike your way down to Frances to spend the 3rd night to the W Trek

Night 3 of W-Trek: Refugio Frances
Hike: 7-8 hours. 15 km (9,3 mi.)
Difficulty: High
Elevation gain: 712 m

Trekking to Grey Lookout: Sector Frances - Paine Grande - Grey Lookout - Paine Grande - Pehoe Lake - Pudeto - Puerto Natales
Recommended time to begin the trek: 08:00
First you have to hike to Paine Grande and then do a roundtrip trek to the Grey Glacier Lookout. After about one and a half hours from Paine Grande the traveler will reach the first lookout, where it’s possible to observe the glacier at a distance. From there, the traveler will follow a path that circles the west bank of Lake Grey. After about one and a half / two hours the traveler will reach the main lookout with spectacular views of Grey Glacier, Cordón Olguín and the ice floes. The return journey follows the same path, arriving to the sector known as Pehoé. At the pier you will board a ferry and take a trip across Lake Pehoé, disembarking at the sector known as Pudeto from which point a transfer will be waiting to take customers back to Puerto Natales. You have to make your way from the bus station to your accommodation in Puerto Natales

Ferry Itinerary PM / AM:
-Registration time at the pier: 18:00/ Departure: 18:30/ Approximate arrival time to Rodoviario Natales: 22:00. Make your own way to your accommodation.
-It’s important that on this day you effectively calculate walking times in order to be on time for the ferry departures.
-When walking to the glacier lookout, backpacks can be safely left at Paine Grande Lodge (a fee aplies) if you need to get rid of them for a while

Hike: 7-8 hours. 22 km (13,6 mi.)
Difficulty: High
Elevation gain: 280 m

Breakfast and check out. You make your own way to the bus station to take the Punta Arenas Airport public bus (or Punta Arenas city if you are not flying out). Bus Times: 07:00 / 10:00 / 12:30 / 15:00 / 17:15 / 19:00 / 21:00
Optional: Return bus to El Calafate

Shuttle or bus from El Calafate Airport to El Chalten
3 nights accommodation in El Chalten at selected room with breakfast
Bus from El Chalten to El Calafate
2 nights accommodation in Calafate at selected room with breakfast.
Perito Moreno Glacier Day Tour
Bus from El Calafate to Puerto Natales
2 nights accommodation in Puerto Natales at selected room with breakfast (pre and post W Trek)
Self-guided W Trek EXPRESS Circuit 4 days 3 nights in Refugio Dorm or in Tent room, including:
* entrance fee to National Park
* Bus from Puerto Natales to Paine and shuttle to Sector Central
* 3 nights accommodation in Refugio or Tent
* Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch Box, Dinner)
* Boat Trip Lake Pehoe
* Bus from Port of Lake Pehoe to Puerto Natales
* Self Guided treks
* Regular Bus Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas Airport (or to Punta Arenas city)