Patagonia Explorer :
Chile		 February 26 - March 7, 2010

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EXPEDITION SUMMARY

Enjoy the wild and rugged beauty of Chile's Patagonia. Begin the journey in Santiago, taking in traditional colonial plazas juxtaposed with contemporary architecture. Ease into Chile's natural beauty with a day of hiking in El Morado National Park, or opt to horseback ride or take a wine tour to the Colchagua Valley. Next, fly to Punta Arenas to begin the journey to Torres del Paine National Park, designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Hike along portions of the traditional "W Circuit" in world-famous Torres del Paine, viewing the spectacular granite towers that give the park its name. Trek along turquoise, glacial lakes such as Lake Grey, Lake Nordenskjold and Lake Pehoé and get up close and personal with calving glaciers on boat-crossings. Stay in first-class lodges throughout on this trip, or for a more rustic experience spend two wonderful nights sleeping in refugios (rustic trekker's cabins) with wood burning stoves, hot drinks and a convivial atmosphere in the evenings. Don't miss this fantastic adventure at the bottom of the world!

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EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

This trip is rated Active. While no previous hiking or trekking experience is required, all participants should be in excellent physical condition for this trip. You will be hiking up and down mountain trails that are steep and rocky. For those participants who are not up for hiking each day, alternate activities will be offered.

There is the option to experience Patagonia on a more challenging level, with full days of hiking (6-8 hours) and two nights sleeping in refugios. The level of fitness needed requires regular aerobic exercise for at least one hour, 4-5 times each week. This should include aerobic activity (preferably hiking and running) and stair climbing, and you must be able to sustain exercise for prolonged periods. We recommend that you start a moderate training program several months prior to departure, then slowly build up to a more strenuous level. Please consult your physician if you have questions concerning your underlying health. We can help answer questions for you and your physician concerning required levels of fitness required. If you have concerns about your ability to do this trip, we can suggest appropriate alternatives.

 

TRIP DETAILS

Dates:
February 26 - March 7, 2010

Cost:
double rooms - $5,190 per person
single rooms - $7,190 per person
There is a $200 per person discount available when both trip deposit and final payments are paid by check. An additional $400 discount will be available for the Optional 2-day Trekking and Refugio Alternative if 5 or more travelers select this option.

Includes:

Does Not Include:

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DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

February 26: Fly to Chile
Depart the USA for your flight to Santiago, Chile (SCL). Arrive late in the morning the next day.

February 27: Arrive in Santiago. Santiago City Tour
Arrive today in Santiago and enjoy a tour of the capital of Chile. Full of colonial charm, rich history, unique architecture, and unforgettable views of the snow-capped Andes Mountains, Santiago is a truly unique and unforgettable city.

The Santiago City Tour begins in the heart of Santiago - the Plaza de Armas. Explore the plaza and learn about the historical significance of the plaza and its surrounding buildings. Pass by the ex-National Congress and arrive at the Plaza de la Constitución, home to the infamous Palacio de La Moneda and the seat of modern-day Chile's presidency. This plaza is famous in Chilean history for the military coup d'état that took place here in 1973. Enter the Palacio de La Moneda and stroll through the some of its grand corridors before making your way down the cobble-stoned streets of Barrio Paris-Londres.

Arrive at the Iglesia de San Francisco, the oldest church in Santiago, dating back to the early 1600's. Wander through the church's austere interior and learn about its history. Then drive down the Alameda and observe more of Santiago's historical buildings along the way to Bellavista, the city's most artistic and colorful barrio. Ride the funicular to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal for a scenic vista of the city and its environs before descending through Parque Metropolitana, Santiago's largest and most interesting park.

During the tour, choose among several cultural activities including a guided tour of the Cousiño Mansion, the home of one of Chile's wealthiest families during the 19th century; a guided tour of La Chascona Museum and the former home of Pablo Neruda, Chile's most famous writer and a Nobel laureate; or a visit to the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino and its remarkable collection of pre-Colombian ceramics, sculptures and paintings.

At the end of the tour, return to the Plaza El Bosque Park and Suites and take some time to relax before heading out to a Santiago restaurant for a group welcome dinner. Overnight: Plaza El Bosque Park and Suites. (D)

February 28: Hiking in El Morado National Park or Optional Horseback Riding or Colchagua Wine Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, spend the day hiking in El Morado National Park. Surround yourself with Chile's spectacular Andean scenery and enjoy a change of pace from Santiago's urban atmosphere. The dramatic peaks of El Morado National Park are at the end of the Cajón del Maipo, a canyon on the outskirts of metropolitan Santiago. Begin the hike at Baños Morales and make your way toward Laguna El Morado. Take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch along the trail, then continue on to the San Francisco Glacier. Upon arrival, take advantage of some magnificent photo opportunities before heading back to Baños Morales for rest and refreshments. This tour involves 6 hours of moderate hiking. For those not interested in hiking, chose from one of two optional activities - horseback riding or a Colchagua Valley Wine Tour. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight at the hotel or in one of Santiago's many restaurants. Overnight: Plaza El Bosque Park and Suites. (B, L)

OPTIONAL TOURS
Optional Horseback Riding (additional $100 per person): Explore the Andes by horseback, less than one hour outside of Santiago. With a Chilean cowboy, or huaso, as guide, follow alpine trails, viewing flora and fauna along the way and perhaps even spotting one of the enormous condors often seen flying in this area. Minimum Number of Participants Required = 4.

Optional Colchagua Valley Wine Tour (additional $150 per person): Indulge your senses with a fun and informative tour through one of the world's hottest wine regions, located two hours outside of Santiago. This tour combines vineyards, wine tasting and gourmet food with local Chilean culture and history. Stop for a delicious lunch at "Veta Bistro" (whose chef hails from the famous Napa Valley eateries, "The French Laundry" and "Per Se") and visit two of the region's best wineries, enjoying a variety of tastings along the way. This tour will help enrich your knowledge of the region's wines and you will go home with a first-hand experience of Chile's popular Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet, and Carmenère wines. Minimum Number of Participants Required = 4.

March 1: Fly to Punta Arenas. Transfer to Torres del Paine with Estancia Visit en Route
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Santiago airport for a four and a half hour flight to Punta Arenas (PUQ). Spend the day enjoying the scenery on the way to Torres del Paine National Park. Stop at a local estancia (working ranch) near Cerro Castillo, for a typical Patagonian quincho, or barbecue lunch. Observe life on this working estancia, getting to know the workers and watching a working sheepdog demonstration. Arrive in time for dinner at our Torres del Paine lodge. Overnight: Hostería Las Torres. (B, L, D)

March 2: Torres del Paine - Trek to Ascencio Valley
Wake up in the morning to see that the lodge is superbly located at the foot of three 8,000 to 9,000-foot pink granite towers. After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, begin trekking to the Ascencio Valley. On the way, catch a great view of the Ascencio River running past refugio Chileno, a rustic trekker's cabin. After a quick stop at the refugio, continue through a forest of native Lenga (Beech) trees until reaching the glacial moraine. Continue on a one-hour trek to the top where the towers, or torres, suddenly, magically appear before you. The hike is spectacular, offering unparalleled views of the craggy towers and glacial lake below that have made Torres del Paine famous. Enjoy lunch at the base of the towers, before returning along the same path we came up. Today's hike will take approximately 7-8 hours roundtrip with a distance of approximately 11.2 miles or 18 kilometers. After a full day of trekking, return to the comfort of the lodge. Overnight: Hostería Las Torres. (B, L, D)

March 3: Torres del Paine - Horseback Ride or Visit Laguna Azul and Paine Waterfall
After breakfast, choose from two full-day activities departing from the lodge. Spend the day horseback riding or trek between glacial lakes and visit Laguna Azul and Paine Waterfall. On either tour, enjoy beautiful surroundings, keeping an eye out for guanacos, rheas, condors, foxes, ducks and geese. Overnight: Hostería Las Torres. (B, L, D)

Horseback Riding
Level: Medium
Duration: 5 hours on horseback (no experience necessary, but must be comfortable being on a horse for up to five hours)
Ride by horseback at the base of Torres del Paine, learning about the history of the area from the natural surroundings to its role as a center of wool and beef production. Visit several historical markers and enjoy the spectacular views of Laguna Amarga along the way.

Trek from Laguna Amarga to Lago Sarmiento
Level: Easy to Medium
Duration: 2 hour trek, then transfer by van to visit additional sites
Trek between Laguna Amarga and Lago Sarmiento (approximately 2 hours). Next, travel by private van to visit the beautiful Laguna Azul and Paine Waterfall.

Trekking Alternative
Trek from Lake Nordenskjold to Los Cuernos: After breakfast with the group, trek along the turquoise waters of Lake Nordenskjold, named after the Swedish geologist whose studies formed an important contribution to world glacial geology. Pass below the hanging glaciers of Mount Almirante Nieto, until reaching the base of Los Cuernos del Paine, the Paine Horns. Today's hiking will take 5 hours with a distance of approximately 7 miles or 11 kilometers.

Enjoy dinner and spend the night at the cozy and remote refugio "Los Cuernos." This peaceful lodging is simple yet comfortable, accommodating 32 trekkers in four bedrooms with bunk beds. The lodge has a shared bathroom with hot water. The magical setting at the base of Los Cuernos del Paine is unforgettable! Overnight: Refugio "Los Cuernos." (B, L, D)

March 4: Transfer to Pudeto. Cross Lake Pehoé by Catamaran. Trek to French Valley. Return by Catamaran
After an early breakfast, transfer to Pudeto (1 hour) for a crossing of lake Pehoé by catamaran. Trek through French Valley, considered to be the most beautiful day of trekking in Torres del Paine. The French Valley is surrounded by hanging glaciers and an amphitheater of granite walls and spires. In this unique spot you'll see and hear the ice calving off the glaciers -- an unforgettable experience. The return journey offers extraordinary views of turquoise-colored Lake Pehoé ("hidden lake" in the Tehuelche Indian language). The trekking day can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on how far into the valley the group chooses to trek. In the early evening cross Lake Pehoé again by catamaran, where a waiting van will take the group to the lodge for the night. Overnight: Hostería Lago Grey. (B, L, D)

Trekking Alternative
Trek from Los Cuernos to French Valley: Today, trek to the French Valley. This valley, the most beautiful in the park and one of the most unique in the world, is surrounded by hanging glaciers (where you can see and hear the ice calving off at various intervals) and an amphitheater of granite walls and spires. On the return journey you will notice the extraordinary turquoise color of Lake Pehoé ("hidden lake" in the Tehuelche Indian language). Arrive when the evening light is at its most beautiful and treat yourself to a pisco sour in the bar, which overlooks Paine Grande and Los Cuernos. After dinner, turn in for a good night's rest. Today's hiking will take 6-8 hours, with a distance of approximately 7 miles or 11 kilometers.

Spend the night in another refugio -- "Lodge Paine Grande." This large refugio has 100 beds in shared bedrooms with bathrooms. The refugio can be reached by hiking the "W" Circuit or by catamaran. With a bar, restaurant and minimarket, there is always a lively scene with trekkers from all over the world. Overnight: Refugio "Lodge Paine Grande." (B, L, D)

March 5: Lakeside Walk to Glacier Lookout. Lake Grey Cruise for Glacier and Iceberg Viewing
After a leisurely breakfast, take a one and a half hour hike along the pebbly Lake Grey beach to the glacier lookout. Pass through forests and skirt rivers, catching a glimpse of the South Patagonia Ice Field with its many unclimbed peaks. Return to the lodge, boarding the lodge's boat, the Grey II, in time for lunch. Spend 3 hours navigating Lake Grey, a beautiful lake surrounded by icebergs. As the boat gets close to the glacier wall, you may witness the awe-inspiring sight of icebergs calving. Later in the afternoon, a waiting van will pick you up on the other side of the lake and transfer you to Puerto Natales for the night (approximately 2 hours).

A local expert from the University of Magallanes will join the group at the hotel to give a talk on global warming in Patagonia. Toast to the end of an unforgettable journey with a round of drinks before enjoying a farewell dinner with the group. Overnight: Indigo Patagonia - Hotel and Spa. (B, L, D)

Trekking Alternative
Trek to Grey Glacier: After a hearty breakfast at the refugio, trek to Grey Glacier ( 3-4 hours; 7 miles or 11 kilometers), one of the most spectacular glaciers in the Patagonian Ice Field. Reach the glacier lookout point and embrace a spectacular view of Grey Glacier and its giant floating icebergs. Join the rest of the group for lunch on the Grey II boat, finishing the day with the entire group.(B)

March 6: Transfer to Punta Arenas, Depart for Home
In the morning, transfer by van to Punta Arenas for your flight to Santiago. The journey to Punta Arenas takes approximately 3 hours. (B)

March 7: Aloft. Arrive Home

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