|
|
Patagonia Explorer March 6-15, 2010 Expedition Summary
The Commonwealth Club Travel Difference
Commonwealth Club Travel takes you to places you've never been and gives you access to people and places you might not encounter on your own.
- Experience the traditional colonial plazas and contemporary architecture of Santiago. - Tour one of South America's most important wine regions. - Explore Torres del Paine National Park (a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve) and view the spectacular granite towers that give the park its name. - Hike along turquoise, glacial lakes such as Lake Grey, Lake Nordenskjold and Lake Pehoe and get up close and personal with calving glaciers.
Space is limited. A non-refundable deposit of $750 will guarantee your reservation. Full payment is due upon confirmation of registration. For more information or to register, please contact: Commonwealth Club Travel Phone: (415) 597-6720 Email: travel@commonwealthclub.org
Experience Required This trip is rated Moderate. While no previous hiking 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.
Trip Details Dates: March 6-15, 2010 Cost:
Please note that a $200 discount is available when both trip deposit and final payment are paid by check. A $400 discount will be available for the Optional 2-day Trekking and Refugio Alternative if 5 or more travelers select this option.
Refer a Friend Discount: Travelers that book a trip with Commonwealth Club Travel are eligible to receive a $200 Refer a Friend Discount for each additional friend that registers for the trip due to their referral. A "friend" is a non-immediate family member, living at an alternate address. Discounts will be applied once final payment has been received from the referred booking. Includes: - professional English-speaking Chilean tour leader and guides - tips and gratuities - accommodations as indicated on itinerary - meals as indicated on itinerary (B, L, D) - bottled water on all group transfers and tours - activities as indicated on itinerary - transportation as indicated on itinerary - airport transfers when arriving on scheduled arrival and departure dates - entrance fees to parks, historical sites and museums Does Not Include: (approximately $1,500-$2,500 for USA - Santiago - Punta Arenas - Santiago - USA flights) - international and domestic airport departure taxes (included in most international tickets) - passport and visa expenses - beverages (discretionary) - travel insurance (discretionary) - phone calls, laundry and other items of a purely personal nature (discretionary) Trip Itinerary
March 6: Fly to Chile Depart the USA for your flight to Santiago, Chile (SCL). Arrive late in the morning the next day.
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. Paris-Londres.
During the tour, choose among several cultural activities including a guided tour of the Cousino 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 your Santiago hotel and take some time to relax before enjoying a welcome dinner with the group at a Santiago restaurant. Ritz Carlton Santiago (D) March 8: Aconcagua Valley Wine Tour After breakfast at the hotel, depart Santiago and drive one hour north to the Aconcagua Valley. On a clear day you can see the stunning peak of Aconcagua which gives the river and valley its name. At 22,800 feet, it is the highest peak in the Americas.
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, the principal site of wool and meat exportation to Europe during the 1960's. Enjoy 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. Hosteria Las Torres (B, L, D) March 10: Torres del Paine - Ascencio Valley
After breakfast, choose from two full-day activities departing from the lodge. Spend the day horseback riding or hike between glacial lakes and visit Laguna Azul and Paine Waterfall. On both tours, enjoy beautiful surroundings, keeping an eye out for guanacos, rheas, condors, foxes, ducks and geese. For those interested in the active 2-day Optional Trekking and Refugio Alternative, please click here for more information. Hosteria 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) 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 Hike from Laguna Amarga to Lago Sarmiento Level: Easy to Medium Duration: 2 hour hike, then transfer by van to visit additional sites Hike between Laguna Amarga and Lago Sarmiento (approximately 2 hours). Next, travel by private van to visit the beautiful Laguna Azul and Paine Waterfall. March 12: Transfer to Pudeto. Cross Lake Pehoe by Catamaran. French Valley Hike. Return by Catamaran
(1 hour) for a crossing of lake Pehoe by catamaran. Hike through French Valley, considered to be the most beautiful day of hiking 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 will see and hear the ice calving off the glaciers -- an unforgettable experience. There are amazing views throughout this hike and the further you hike into the valley the better they become! The return journey offers extraordinary views of turquoise-colored Lake Pehoe ("hidden lake" in the Tehuelche Indian language). Today, split into two groups with one group hiking at a faster pace and covering more ground, and a second group hiking at a more leisurely pace on relatively flat terrain for the first 2 hours. The hiking time today will depend on how far into the valley each group chooses to go. In the early evening, cross Lake Pehoe by catamaran and a van will take the group to the lodge for the night. Hosteria Lago Grey (B, L, D)
After a leisurely breakfast, take a one and a half hour hike along the sandy Lake Grey beach to the glacier lookout and catch 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 aboard the Grey II navigating this magical 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 us up on the other side of the lake and transfer us to Puerto Natales for the night (approximately 2 hours). March 14: 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 15: Aloft. Arrive Home Trekking and Refugio Alternative
What to Expect on the Trekking and Refugio Alternative Refugios are traditional, rustic trekkers cabins found along Patagonia's famous "W" Circuit. They offer dormitory-style accommodations featuring shared rooms with bunk beds and mattresses. Bathroom and shower facilities are shared by men and women and there are basic amenities such as hot water in the showers, electrical lighting, gas for cooking and wood-burning stoves so that the cabins are well-heated. Meals will be served in communal dining rooms which offer a convivial atmosphere with trekkers from all over the world. What the cabins lack in creature comforts, they more than make up for with their remote and often stunning destinations and lively atmosphere. Meals vary from refugio to refugio but after a full day of trekking the simple fare is sure to hit the spot. There is a cook and kitchen staff in each refugio. Breakfast will generally consist of cereal, toast, eggs, ham and cheese served with juice and instant coffee or tea. Lunches and snacks will be eaten while out trekking and will consist of a hearty sandwich, fresh fruit, a granola bar, trail mix, a chocolate bar and some sort of cake or cookie. A typical dinner in the refugio will start with soup and bread, followed by chicken, beef, pork or salmon with potatoes or rice or a pasta dish and a small dinner salad. Dessert could be anything from a mousse or flan to a fruit cocktail. (Please let us know at the time of registration if you have any dietary restrictions and we will do our best to accommodate your needs). Descriptions for the two refugios where trekkers will stay are listed below in the day by day descriptions of the trekking days. The following is a basic list of equipment needed for those traveling on the Trekking and Refugio Alternative. A comprehensive packing list will be provided to passengers after signing up for the trip.
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 trekking will take 5 hours with a distance of approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers).
Enjoy dinner and spend the night at the cozy and remote refugio "Los Cuernos." This peaceful refugio 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! (B, L, D) March 12: Trek from Los Cuernos to French Valley
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. (B, L, D)
After a hearty breakfast at the refugio, trek to Grey Glacier (3-4 hours; 7 miles; 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 after lunch on the Grey II boat, finishing the day with the entire group. (B, L, D)
Optional Post-Trip Extension: Easter Island
Photo Credits: Hernan Cardenas Antares Archive explora
|
There is the option to experience Patagonia on a more active level, with full days of hiking 
Arrive at the Iglesia de San Francisco, the oldest church in Santiago, dating back to the early 1600's.
.
After an early breakfast, transfer to Pudeto 
March 11:
Depart Santiago for Easter Island, or