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Chile
- Southern Patagonia
Torres del Paine National Park
Basic Information & Outline Packing List
Refugios
Our
EcoCamps are not
available for every night and your trek may
include one night in Pehoe (PAT 025 and PAT 026) and another night in Los
Cuernos refuge (PAT 025). These
are typical mountain huts,
and are
open to
the general
public in
Torres del Paine
National Park.
They have
large
rooms for 4-6 people. The beds are single bunks
and we will provide you with a sleeping bag and a polar fleece liner (you don't
need to bring a sleeping bag!). The bathrooms are also
shared and they have hot water. The refugios are heated and have a very
comfortable dining area.
Getting to Torres del Paine
A private vehicle
will
collect
us
from certain points in Punta Arenas
(airport code PUQ) and drop us at
Torres del Paine National Park on day 1 and will pick us up on day 5 (PAT 026)
or day 7 (PAT 025). We also use a private van for transfers within the park.
We can help with flights to Punta Arenas via Santiago de Chile.
An option, if you are going to be in Argentina
and you have time, is to fly to the south of Argentina, a place called Ushuaia
(very near Cape Horn). From there you can get a bus and a ferry to Punta
Arenas, but it needs a few days for the travel overland and over sea.
You can book flights to Punta Arenas
online with Lan
(the South American airline), but not flights from Buenos
Aires to Ushuaia, for this try your usual ticketing agent or try Trailfinders in
London on 0207 938 3939.
Arrival Timings
For both itineraries (PAT
025& PAT026) you must arrive from Santiago on a
flight that arrives around noon or earlier. The trip
ends at the airport of Punta Arenas at 5PM approx. You
should book your return flights with the last flight (usually leaves Punta
Arenas after 6:30PM / 18:30).
Group Size
2 people minimum. The
average size of the group is typically 6 to 8 people.
Maximum of
20 clients.
Fixed Departures
The
following trips are guaranteed to depart
with 2 people minimum.
PAT 025: The trip starts every Monday morning in the airport of Punta Arenas from October 1st to April 15th.
PAT 026: The trip starts every Wednesday morning in the airport of Punta Arenas from October 1st to April 15th.
The trip guide can also modify, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.
What you need to bring
Day backpack (20-30lt),
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, gaitors,
flashlight/headlamp, extra insulating layer (fleece, wool, or expedition weight)
long underwear.
A complete
list
with more detailed information about what to bring
will be sent to you once you book the trip.
You do not need
We
will provide you with a sleeping bag and a polar fleece liner (you
don't need to bring a sleeping bag!
- except on the 10 day full circuit).
About the itinerary
-The
numbers in brackets (distance-kms/miles, time-hrs) are approximated and refer to
the trekking portions exclusively. In general the itinerary
and the estimated times assume
the walker is conditioned to similar levels of activity,
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, both
the strong marine and the South Patagonic Icefield influence makes the weather
hard to predict. In spring or early summer fine weather may deteriorate almost
without warning, bringing rains and eventually snow. Even in summer (December to
March)
you should come prepared to find cold- strong winds (up to 130 km/hr) and
rainfalls. The summers average temperature is 11ºC/52ºF (24ºCmax, 2ºC min).