Cascada Expediciones

5 Day Trek Torres del Paine (PAT 026) Torres del Paine NP, Chile
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Tour Itinerary

Day 1

(Wed), Arrive in Punta Arenas and drive 345km/216 miles to Torres del Paine National Park stopping at Milodón Cave. Overnight at Ecocamp Patagonia;

Day 2

(Thu), Drive to lake Pehoe and sail (30mins) across this emerald lake onwards the Refugio. Start trekking 8 km/ 5miles (2,5-3,5hrs) up to Camp Italiano and thereafter Mirador del Francés (1,5-2,5hrs) for a magnificent broad view of the lakes below. Return to Refugio Paine Grande for overnight;

Day 3

(Fri), Walk 3-4hrs onwards the towering walls of Grey glacier and embark by 3PM the ship that sails the lake. Disembark at Grey beach and drive across the park spotting frequent guanaco herds beside the road. Overnight at Ecocamp Patagonia;

Day 4

(Sat), Hike 10km/6,3miles (8hrs rt) to the foot of the impressive granite massif of El Paine and admire the Paine gigantic granite monoliths. Return to Ecocamp Patagonia for farewell dinner and overnight;

Day 5

(Sun), Drive back to Punta Arenas airport.

Included

- 3n Ecocamp Patagonia (Luxury Camp dbl rooms)
- 1n Mountain Refugee Pehoe (sextuple rooms)
- Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park
- Navigation of lakes Grey and Pehoe
- Full board all inclusive service from Pta.Arenas
- One expert english speaking trekking guide for 6 clients; one english speaking assistant guide added for groups larger than 6
- Carry only a small backpack with lunch & camera

What is an Ecocamp?

It's a luxury camp, of a kind never seen before in Chile and similar in concept to the famous African lodges. It is a more comfortable alternative, but above all environmentally friendly, especially in a national Park with the characteristics of Torres del Paine.

The Cascada Ecocamp has been designed with the comfort of our travelers in mind but above all stressing the importance of interfering as little as possible with the surroundings in which we have installed it. This need to protect the environment has meant that we have had to be very efficient in managing the eco-camp; this has meant that we cannot offer some of the comforts normal in unprotected areas (private bathroom with septic tank, diesel generators etc) and, on the other hand, utilizing technologies and sustainable processes but ones which demand a greater effort and more patience from our guests (less availability of water and solar energy for electricity, making compost, less waste etc). We think that the solution that we have designed for our guests, in one of the most important national parks of the southern hemisphere, is a novel alternative, efficient and in harmony with the current demands of tourism.

What is the Eco-camp like?

Sleeping is in big comfortable domed tents that take 2 people. They are 2 meters high and the floor is of vitrified wood. The tents are resistant to the strongest winds, rain and even Patagonian snow and they are each equipped with 2 single beds, sheets, blanket and feather cover with heating from propane stove. The Ecocamp also has a large dome for kitchen/dining room: this is a dome of 9 meters diameter (30 ft) and 4.5 meters high (15 ft). It is equipped with a living area, dining room and kitchen.

The space is light and airy with a big panoramic window and it invites our guests to enjoy in a completely new way the surprising evenings of Patagonia. The Cascada Ecocamp in Torres also includes a bathroom module (another large dome) with showers and hot water. The toilet system uses a composting process (i.e. it transforms human waste into compost). A chef runs the kitchen of the Ecocamp. The rest of the staff in the Eco-camp is composed of a camp host and the circuit guides.

Refugios

This is a typical mountain refuge, open to the public that visits Torres del Paine. It has rooms for 4-6 people. The beds are single, bunk type and we provide you a sleeping bag and a polar fleece liner. The bathrooms are also shared and they have hot water. The refugios are heated and have a dining area.

Vehicles

A private van will deliver us in Torres del Paine National Park on day 1 and will pick us up on day 5 (PAT 026) or 7 (PAT 025). We also use a private van for transfers within the park.

Group Size & Guiding Staff

8-12 clients most typical group size plus Cascada staff. Maximum is 20 clients. Guide to passenger ratio: 1/8

Fixed Departures

PAT 026: The trip starts every Wednesday morning in the airport of Punta Arenas from October 6th to April 16th.

You must arrive from Santiago in any flight that arrives around noon. The trip ends in the airport of Punta Arenas at 5PM approx. You should book your return flights after 6PM. Departure trips are guaranteed with 2 people minimum being the average size of the group 8 to 12 people.

Itinerary modifications

We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary under the sole discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations.
The trip guide can also modified, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.

Physical Demands

This trip, rated moderate, is recommended for people in good physical condition in the habit of walking long distances and camping outdoors. All passengers over 65 years old are requested to send ahead a medical examination that states that they are able to safely accomplish moderate hiking.

What you need to bring

Day backpack (10lt), mountain backpack or duffel bag (70 liters), waterproof trekking boots, waterproof parka & pants, inner isolating layer (fleece or wool), three changes of clothes, sun hat, sun screen, hiking socks, sandals (for after hikes), bathing suit, sunglasses, towel (optional), ski poles (optional), long underwear, extra change of socks, flashlight/headlamp, extra insulating layer (fleece, wool, or expedition weight long underwear.

About the itinerary

-The numbers in brackets (distance-kms, time-hrs) are approximated and refer to the trekking portions exclusively. In general the itinerary submitted and the estimated of time is reasonable for well-fit passengers, considering also good weather conditions and occasional stops for sightseeing and pictures.

The climate

The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Patagonian Andes very exposed to the saturated winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. Also, the strong marine influence makes the weather hard to predict. In spring or early summer fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, bringing rain and eventually snow. Even in summer (December to march) you should come prepared to find cold- strong winds (up to 80 km/hr) and rainfalls. The summers average temperature is 11ºC/ 52ºF (24 ºC max, 2ºC min).

Extra services

Cascada can also book and purchase for you at the best rates available the following side services: Domestic flights, Hotel accommodation in Santiago (3 to 5 star), Airport and Hotel pick ups in Santiago, side trips in Santiago and longer extension trips (rafting, riding, hiking, etc) in other areas throughout Chile.

PATAGONIA ECOCAMP SINGLE ACCOMMODATION POLICY

All accommodations at the Eco Camps in Torres del Paine are in a sharing basis only. There is not single accommodation availability for the following reasons we ask you to please understand:

- There is a serious crisis in the offer of beds in the whole Torres del Paine NP which doesn’t correspond to the current demand of visitor the park is annually receiving. This situation means that accommodation services in the park on high season are overrated and on that it has became very difficult to find availability of beds in certain dates;

- This lack of beds is dramatic at the more remotes areas of the park such as Pehoe and Grey where only Mountain refugees with sextuple and quadruple rooms are available. When these refugees are fully booked and it is pouring outside the common areas of the refugees are definitely unbearable overcrowded;

- The understanding we are aiming to develop within our guests is that by observing a sober and humble attitude in wilderness areas we are contributing to lesser the impact in their environment. Providing single accommodation at the EcoCamps will mean that we will be forced to build more domes which will not be necessarily occupied all the time and which will create a bigger visual impact and a bigger consume of energy and materials at the construction stage;

- Our aim is to operate with the highest ratio of economy of resources versus a distinctive degree of comfort;

- We are certain than telling one customer that his/her single accommodation requests has been immediately considered is a lot easier and less time consuming that telling all these later speech but we also are certain that bringing this issue into our conversation and negotiation is the contribution we are doing towards massive environmental education;

- On our regular departures if we have odd numbers of males and females we will be then hosting one male and one female on a single basis unless we have triple room domes available;

- Despite of the above if at the moment of arrival at the EcoCamps someone shows up with a reasonable claim for single accommodation and the Camp hostess finds availability then exception can be made.

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