68km / 42miof trekking supported by horse (Cochamó)
82km / 51mi of trekking supported by porters (Torres del Paine)
Length: 14 días / 12 noches
Hut: 7 noches
Camping: 5 noches
Level of difficulty:
Place: Patagonia
Meeting Point: Puerto Varas
End of Trip: Puerto Natales
Expeditions details
Trekking Cochamo + Torres del Paine 14d 12n
We have chosen this beautiful and relatively unknown area because we think it is a good representative of Northern Patagonia. It has huge granite walls which are the remains of ancient glaciers. It is also called the Chilean Yosemite because climbers from all over the world are starting to explore new routes. As we go deep into the valley we will cross many rivers and see the exuberant nature and biodiversity on this corner of the planet. We will be able to listen to birds like Chucao and Huet Huet singing, see the alerce, a tree that can live up to 3,500 years and reach 50mt / 164ft high. We will also find beautiful lakes where settlers live all year round surrounded by nature and connected with each other by paths that can only be accessed by horses or on foot. The settlers use these paths to take their products to the nearest town or market. We will spend some time with them, listen to their stories and buy their 100% organic products.
Then we will head south to Torres del Paine National Park.This trip aims to walk through the most spectacular valleys, trekking from refuge to refuge, putting special attention at the flora and fauna of the place, giving all the all the necessary time to take great pictures. We will visit Grey, Frances and Ascencio Valleys by the towers, the most beautiful and known features of Torres del Paine.
Include:
All meals with a balanced diet from days 1 to 14 including breakfast, march snack, box lunch, dinner, wine, appetizers, board cheese and other delicious food, -except dinner on day 8.
All land transportation and water transportation
12 nights lodging -8th night not included-
Load horses in Cochamó and porters in Torres del Paine.
All camping equipment; tents for two (Mountain Hard Wear), Therma Rest mattresses, kitchen tent, 70lt dry bags and more
Professional First aid kit, GPS, UHF Radios, handy, maps, repair kits, complete harness, ropes and more
Bilingual Guide (Spanish-English) accredited by Wilderness First Response; widely experienced in mountaineering, trekking and trips in Patagonia.
Local Guide with load horses raised and trained for mountain trips (ratio horse/clients 1-3)
Book Collection about the trips, which will help you enrich the experience.
Primary Assistance Insurance for each participant
No Include:
Air Trips, lodging in cities (nights of days 0 –before departure-, night of day 8 and day 15 but For this we can assist you with information) accident or rescue insurance, personal equipment, tips or any other service not mentioned in this program.
You need to consider the following flights: Santiago (SCL)-Puerto Montt (PMC) any time of day 0; Puerto Montt (PMC)-Punta Arenas (PUQ) with departure around 10:00 of day 9 and Punta Arenas (PUQ)-Santiago (SCL) with departure around 14:00 on day 15 (or the destination of your choice).
Day by Day
Day 1 Puerto Varas / Las Juntas 5hrs / 9km / 350mts ascension
We will go to Cochamo , a town by Reloncavi Estuary --the first fiord of the Patagonia-- and meet our local guide. We will also meet and load the horses and begin our trekking through a valley with lots of vegetation and spectacular views of granite walls. Camp and relax.
Day 2 Las Juntas / Arcoiris
7hrs / 3km / 900mts ascension
Today is a big day; when the sun rises we will be surrounded by granite mountains. We will climb up and into the forest and have a close look to mañío, coigüe, alerce and lenga trees. After 5 hours walking and climbing 2 fix ropes (easy and safe to do) we will find ourselves in the highlands of the mountains of Cochamo and admire remarkable views of the valley, place of condors and climbers. After a nice lunch we will walk back to the refuge to celebrate the day.
Day 3 Las Juntas / El Arco 6hrs / 8,5km / 350mts ascension
As we go up in the valley we will see a different view of Cochamó. We will cross many rivers, pass through alerce forests and visit a peculiar rock formation called El Arco. Camp and free afternoon to explore
Day 4 Las Juntas / Andean Lake
5hrs / 6,5km / 400mts ascend
We will go deeper into the Andean Range, crossing rivers and passing trough old alerce forests. While we ascend we find the beautiful lenga forest that surrounds the Andean Lake where we will set up camp, make a bonfire and enjoy the silence of the place.
Day 5 Andean Lake / Vidal Gormaz Lake 4hrs / 6km / 350mts descend
Passing this lake we encounter marshes where we will find traces of early settlers (early 1900´s). We will finally reach Vidal Gomez Lake, meet a family who lives there and set camp by the lake.
Day 6 Vidal Gormaz Lake / Torrentoso 6hrs / 15km / 400mts descend
This day we will hike for 3 hours to get to the south side of the lake and share with Panchito Soto and his family and later on we will look for some rock paintings that indigenous people made 800 years ago when the use to live in this territory. In the afternoon we set camp and enjoy the river next to us.
Day 7 Torrentoso / Steffen River
5hrs / 11,5kms / 70mts
We will drink some mate and go down the valley of the Manso River. We will visit several families on our way and cross quite a few hanging bridges built by the community to avoid isolation when rivers flood during heavy rain days. We will visit the home of Don Juan, set camp there and enjoy a hot bath, toilets and Don Juan’s hospitality.
Day 8 Steffen River / Tagua Tagua Lake 4hrs / 9,3kms / 200mts descend
We will leave early to take the ferry that crosses the Tagua Tagua Lake and sail these waters which are used by local people to transport all kinds of goods, including animals. After a few hours we will get to the Manso River Bridge where we will catch our bus to Puerto Varas
Optional day 8: rent an easy going horse for an extra 20.000 pesos and ride in local horses used to do this trip. 100% recomendable!
We strongly recommend to rest at least one day between both trips; in a quiet and welcoming place by the sea in Andes Lodge www.andeslodge.com or admiring the views of the Llanquihue Lake and Osorno Volcanoes in Bellavista Hotel www.hotelbellavista.cl in downtown Puerto Varas.
As mentioned above, the night for day 8 is not included, but we can assist you with this, whether you choose to rest 1 night or a couple of days.
Day 9 Airport in Punta Arenas / Las Torres Refuge
384km/5hr drive
We will group at the meeting point and we will drive straight to the Torres del Paine National Park, we will have dinner and sleep in Las Torres refuge.
Day 10 Las Torres Refuge / Torres Viewpoint 17km/7hrs hiking
We will get up early to leave the refuge and walk for 3 hours along the narrow Ascencio Valley to get to the moraine that will lead us to the Towers viewpoint. We will have lunch in this extraordinary scenery and we descend back to the refuge. Relax and enjoy the afternoon.
Optional day 2: Get up very early and walk during the night to reach the Towers viewpoint by dawn and take the best pictures.
Day 11 Las Torres Refuge / Los Cuernos Refuge
16km/5hrs hiking
Trek along the beautiful turquoise waters of Nordenskjorld Lake and below the hanging glaciers of Almirante Nieto mount. After 5 hours walking we will arrive to the cosy Los Cuernos Refuge to have dinner and time to rest.
Los Cuernos on day 12
Day 12 Frances Valley / Paine Grande Refuge 26km/7hrs hiking
We will set off early and walk by beautiful forests and lakes. Once at the hanging bridge over El Frances River we will have our first sight of the Glacier and if we are lucky will see a big avalanche descending from the summit of Paine Grande mount. From this point we will climb some 300mts to have an overview of the valley and will be able to see the granite walls that surround it. After lunch we will descend back and head to Paine Grande Refuge, where we will have a big dinner to celebrate the day.
Day 13 Pehoé / Grey Valley / Puerto Natales
23km/6hrs hiking
We will rise early and walk for about 5 hours to get to Grey Glacier lookout. On our way we will pass through forests and nice alpine lakes. We will continue walking and have amazing views of the Southern Ice Field and Paine Grande, the highest mountain in the park with 3.050mts. ASL Once we have had a nice lunch on the forest next to the glacier we will head back to Pehoé and board a Catamaran that will take us to meet our van and take us to Puerto Natales.
Día 14Full day por el parque
We board the early catamaran and meet our van that will take us around the park.
Depending on the different interests of the people in the group the guide can take you to places rich in fauna, being able to catch sight of condors, guanacos (relatives to llamas and camels) ñandúes (family of ostriches and emus), the varied bird fauna and with some luck see huemules (Austral deer) and pumas. If you’re interested in plants the guide can show you the most emblematic flora of the Park. You may also go see ancient rock paintings and get to little visited viewpoints and admire spectacular views of the mountain range and later travel to Puerto Natales.
