3. INTESE TREKKING. Patagonia & Glaciers North & Atacama Aconcagua & Wines Full Argentina

Transcription

1 3. INTESE TREKKING Patagonia & Glaciers North & Atacama Aconcagua & Wines Full Argentina PATAGONIA & GLACIERS VAT - Patagonia Wild Trails (20 days) VFR - Fitz Roy Trails (12 days) PW8 - Torres del Paine "W" Circuit (10 days) NORTH & ATACAMA TAN - Crossing Atacama & The Argentinian North (22 days) TAI - Crossing Atacama, Iruya & La Quiaca (16 days) TNT - Crossing The Argentinian North (16 días) TAO - Crossing the Atacama Oasis (8 days) TIN - Crossing from Iruya to La Quiaca (10 days) TTC - Crossing la Puna to la Selva (9 days) ACONCAGUA & WINES TPF - Trek to Plaza Francia (7 days) FULL ARGENTINA RWT - Trek across Atacama, Iruya and Patagonia (21 days) VAT - Patagonia Wild Trails 20 days - 19 nights

2 Travel Styles Season: Beginning day: Departure: Intense Trekking October thru April Saturday Group Minimun of pax 3 passengers Difficulty: Medium difficulty Trip starts at: El Calafate Trip ends at: El Calafate The VAT Patagonia Wild Trails is the most popular program among passengers seeking for outdoors activities that wish to go one step beyond a moderate trek. No previous technical requirements are necessary. In Fitz Roy area we trek from north to south visiting Fitz Roy massif and Cerro Torre group (probably two of the most beautiful mountains on Earth) and we end hiking up to Paso del Viento to have a good look to the Patagonian Ice Field. With the extra bonus of one day of glacier hike in the Cerro Torre glacier. In Paine National Park we trek the 3 valleys of the famous W circuit (Ascensio river valley, French valley and Grey valley) We use our camps to lodge inside the National Parks. We also take care of taking all the necessary equipment and part of the luggage of the passengers so you can enjoy the trekking without making any effort. You need to be fit enough to walk an average of 7 hs a day, at a moderate pace and with the DAY / ITINERARY 01 El Calafate airport El Calafate 02 El Calafate - El Chaltén 03 Piedra del Fraile 04 Río Blanco, Laguna De los Tres 05 Lagoons Madre & Hija, Cerro Torre 06 Glaciar walk on Cerro Torre glacier 07 Pliegue Tumbado, Laguna Toro 08 Paso del Viento 09 Río Túnel, El Chaltén 10 El Chaltén El Calafate 11 El Calafate Perito Moreno Glacier 12 El Calafate Paine Towers National Park 13 Paine Towers Ascensio river valley 14 Las Torres Refuge Los Cuernos 15 French valley Refuge Pehoé 16 Glacier Grey valley Refuge Pehoe 17 Boat trip across lake Pehoe Salto Grande waterfall - Camping Pehoe 18 Lago Grey - Camping

3 necessary stops. No pass over 1500 mts above sea level in this program. ITINERARY Pehoe 19 Torres del Paine - El Calafate 20 El Calafate - El Calafate airport LODGING 12 nights in Full Camp 1 night in a Mountain Refuge 6 nights in Hostel room Go top Day 1 El Calafate airport El Calafate We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check in at your hostel. You get the rest of the day to enjoy the town and later you have your welcome dinner. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom. Meals we provide: Dinner. Day 2 El Calafate - El Chaltén After breakfast, we take our bus to El Chaltén, 220 km to get to this picturesque village at the foot of Fitz Roy. Stop over on road for coffee and home made cakes. While we approach, we get spectacular views of Viedma lake and glacier, and Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre groups. Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom. Meals we provide: Breakfast Day 3 Piedra del Fraile Today we start our trek in the National Park. We go in a short drive to the Electrico river bridge and a gentle hike inside a beautiful southern beech forest to

4 get to Piedra del Fraile. From Piedra del Fraile, we hike on to the viewpoints of Fitz Roy north face and Pollone glacier and the viewpoints of Marconi Glacier, entrance to the Patagonian Ice field. We hike back to our Full Camp in Piedra del Fraile. Lodging in Full Camp at Piedra del Fraile in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 4 Río Blanco, Laguna De los Tres Today we retrace our steps to the Rio Blanco valley, which we hike upriver to visit the Piedras Blancas glacier and lagoon. Further on, we get to Rio Blanco (Fitz Roy base camp for climbers in the east walls of the group) and we hike up to Laguna de los Tres, viewpoint of Fitz Roy and probably one of the most spectaculars locations in the National Park. WE hike down to Rio Blanco and to Laguna Capri. Lodging in Full Camp at Laguna Capri in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 5 Cerro Torre Today we make it around Laguna Capri to get to the Lagoons Madre and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet Cerro Torre trail and we get to Cerro Torre Full Camp. The trail runs along beech forest, bogs and shrub land. From the camp, a short hike takes us to Laguna Torre, enclosed by moraines and with the Glacier Grande calving in its west side. It is usual to see icebergs pushed by the wind in the coast of the lagoon. The thin and elegant 3128 mts of Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background complete this spectacular view. Walking time 3 to 4 hs. Lodging at Cerro Torre Full Camp in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

5 Day 6 Cerro Torre glacier trek This day is a highlight of the trip. We provide crampons, harnesses, and we set out to hike in the cerro Torre glacier. We cross river Fitz Roy river through a tyrolean (horizontal fixed rope attached to both sides of the river). We walk on the moraine around the lagoon and then down to the glacier visiting crevices, ice caves and holes and all the interesting places that a glacier can show. The bonus is the close up views of Cerro Torre group spires. We hike back to our camp in the afternoon. Lodging at Cerro Torre Full Camp in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 7 Pliegue Tumbado, Laguna Toro We again cross the tyrolean but now to hike up to Paso de las Agachonas, a 1300 mts pass on top of Pliegue Tumbado, which divides the Cerro Torre valley from the River Tunel valley. Full views on Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the glacier valley in between the two mountains. From the pass we hike down to Laguna Toro. Lodging at Laguna Toro Full Camp in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 8 Paso del Viento A full day hike from Laguna Toro to Paso del Viento (1500 mts above sea level) and back, across moraines, glacier and alpine meadows, to get to a spectacular view of the Patagonian Ice field, including the Mariano Moreno Range and many other mountains rarely seen by men. The hike is demanding, with a day pack, 9 hs round trip from Laguna Toro, to climb 800 mts from our camp to the Pass.

6 Lodging at Laguna Toro Full Camp in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 9 Río Túnel, El Chaltén We follow a trail along the River Tunel valley and up Pliegue Tumbado. On the ridge, we get again splendid views of most of the mountains and lakes of the area. Gentle downhill to El Chaltén. Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom. Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch. Day 10 El Chaltén El Calafate Morning at your own in El Chaltén, to relax after the trek and visit the town. By 5 pm we take our bus back to El Calafate. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom Meals we provide: Breakfast Day 11 El Calafate Perito Moreno Glacier We dedicate this day to one of the World s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Ice field, and big sheet of ice that with its square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints. The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this

7 day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 12 El Calafate Torres del Paine Early start for a 6 hs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo. After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. We enter the Park by Porteria Laguna Amarga. A rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds, will be available for our eyes and cameras. Lodging in Full Camp at Las Torres in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 13 Paine Towers Ascensio River Valley From pour camp, we cross the Ascensio river hanging bridge and hike a steep one hour slope, to get inside the Ascensio river valley, a narrow V shape alpine valley coming from inside the Paine massif. A gentle downhill leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cozy and comfortable mountain lodge, which can be a good turnaround point for those not willing to make a full day hike. We then walk in a gentle slope along the river side and inside beech forest. A final climb on moraine take us to the Towers viewpoint: a glacier origin lagoon and the three towers

8 rising vertically 1000 mts from the glacier. The lack of breath will be either because the climb and the sight!!!! We go back to our camp on the same way we came. Walking time: 7 to 8 hs. Lodging in Full Camp at Las Torres in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 14 Las Torres - Paso Cuernos Today we start a 2 days traverse from Las Torres to Refugio Pehoe Full Camp, with one night at Refugio Los Cuernos. The so called Nordenskjöld lake traverse or Traverse of the Horns. We take in our packs the necessary items for this 2 days trek, which are personal items, some spare clothing and our sleeping bag. The walk goes along lake Nordenskjöld and at the foot of Admiral Nieto and the Horns. We stay in Refugio Los Cuernos this night. Lodging at Refugio Los Cuernos with shared room and bathroom Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 15 French valley Refugio Pehoé After an early start, we walk to the Italian Camp, gate to the French valley, with splendid views of the south east Himalayan style face of Paine Grande and the Horns. We hike up valley to the upper viewpoints, at the entrance of a unique cirque surrounded by granite spires that feature the high valley: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (The Fortress). Back to Italian camp, we head to lake Skkotberg and finally to lake Pehoe, where our Full Camp is waiting together with the rest of our luggage. Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

9 Day 16 Lake & Glacier Grey viewpoints Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe Valley across ridges to reach Grey valley. This magnificent valley flows down somewhat of 60 km from the Patagonian Ice field, featuring the huge glacier calving down in the grey colour lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the westerns slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park. From the high sections of the trail, many different viewpoints allow us to see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rising far in the distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall, and of course lake and glacier Grey. The trail reaches a close up point to the front of the glacier. We come back along the same trail, crossing bogs, shrub lands and forest. In the evening we take the boat to cross lake Pehoe back to Pudeto and get back to our Camping Pehoe Full Camp. Time to walk 8 hs. To the half way viewpoints, round way from our camp, 4 to 5 hs. Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 17 Lake Pehoe boat trip - Salto Grande - Camping Pehoe Morning at leisure in our camp to get some relax after the trek. By noon we take the boat across lake Pehoe to Port Pudeto. Short drive to our Full Camp at Camping Pehoe. After lunch, we visit Salto Grande and the Nordenskjöld trail, leading to the lake and with full views of the French valley from this side of the Park. Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

10 Day 18 Lake Grey - Camping Pehoe We visit the western section of the Park. A short and gentle hike in lake Grey south shore and a steep uphill to Cerro Ferrier viewpoint to get our final views of this splendid National Park. Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 19 Torres del Paine El Calafate We leave early in the morning our camp and get back to the border to re-enter Argentina and drive back to El Calafate. Upon arrival to El Calafate you will be met by our local representative and transferred to you hostel. The rest of the day is at your own to visit town. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom. Meals we provide: Breakfast Day 20 El Calafate - El Calafate airport Alter breakfast we transfer to El Calafate airport where our services ends. Meals we provide: Breakfast. SERVICES DETAILS Go top Included: Bilingual tour leader (Spanish English) Mountain guide

11 4 nights lodging in a hostel room with private bathroom 2 nights lodging in a hostel room with shared bathroom 12 nights lodging in Full Camp 1 night lodging in a mountain refuge Transportation El Calafate airport El Chaltén Torres del Paine National Park El Calafate El Calafate airport. During the trip we combine private and regular buses. Perito Moreno glacier excursion. Boat trip across lake Pehoe. 19 breakfasts, 14 lunch box and 14 dinners as shown below. Lodging The VAT Patagonia Wild Trails is offered with the following type of accommodations: NOCHES Hostel room with private bathroom Hostel room with shared bathroom Los Cuernos Refuge with shared bedrooms and bathroom Full Camp Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the camp ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable 3 people igloo type tents for each 2 passengers. The camp also features a spacious dinning tent or dinning saloon, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware. Full Camps inside Los Glaciares National Park are in the wilderness, so toilettes and showers are not available. We provide hot water for personal cleaning and bathrooms are latrine type.

12 When we take a bed in hostel rooms with shared bathrooms, you share the room with other guests of the Hostel. Meals The following meals are provided in this program. DAYS Breakfast Box Lunch Dinner Not included: The intense trekking tours don't include sleeping bag or Sleeping mattress National Parks fees Life and medical insurance Drinks Tips Air tickets and airport taxes Services not detailed in the program Cartage service Camino Abierto will provide the transportation of all the general equipment for the trek (tents, dinning tent or dinning place, and kitchen tents, tables and benches, table service and kitchenware, food, first aid kits). Beside, Camino Abierto will carry the passengers luggage up to a maximum of 8 kg, including your own sleeping bag and mattress. During the Nordenskjöld traverse, each passenger should carry all its personal equipment for those 2 days & 1 night (a pack including your personal belongings, sleeping bag and mattress, spare clothing for the traverse, box lunch for that day)

13 Camino Abierto will carry the rest of the luggage by bus and boat from Las Torres to Refugio Pehoe Camp. Notes Camino Abierto holds the right to change the itinerary or to cancel any of the activities when any natural cause (or any other cause of any type) justifies it in order to look after the group safety. Is this tour for me? We qualify this tour as "Intense". This means that you need to be fit to enjoy it. No previous technical knowledge is required. The group will walk an average of 6 to 7 hours a day, may be 9 in some specific days, at a moderate pace and with all the necessary stops for water, snacks or rest. The trek includes up hills and down hills, some of them quite steady. List of suggested personal equipment: Backpack, 50 lts or so Sleeping bag down or synthetic for -10ºC Sleeping mattress Trekking shoes or boots Thermal underwear Trekking pants Fleece Breathable parka and over pants Gaiters Gloves Thermal socks The necessary spare cloth Wool hat Sun hat Sun glasses

14 Sun screen (UV is very strong during the southern spring, from september thru december) Personal items Lamp Trekking poles (recommended, if you are use to them) Personal medication Personal documents to cross the border between Argentina and Chile. Weather in Patagonia is unpredictable. Not very cold, but it is usually windy. To dress in layers is the best advice. Go top Back to main menu VFR - Fitz Roy Wild Trails 12 days - 11 nights Travel Styles Season: Beginning day: Departure: Intense Trekking October thru April Saturday Group Minimun of pax 3 passengers Difficulty: Medium difficulty Trip starts at: El Calafate Trip ends at: El Calafate The trek visits the northern area of Los Glaciares Nacional Park, visiting Fitz Roy massif, Cerro Torre group and the gate of the Patagonian Ice Field. Includes a spectacular glacier walk on the Cerro Torre glacier. While on trek, we lodge in our Full Camps located inside the National Park. As part of our service, we DAY / ITINERARY 01 El Calafate airport El Calafate 02 El Calafate - El Chaltén 03 Piedra del Fraile 04 Río Blanco, Laguna De los Tres 05 Lagoons Madre & Hija, Cerro Torre 06 Glaciar walk on Cerro Torre glacier 07 Pliegue Tumbado, Laguna Toro

15 carry all the necessary equipment and also part of the passengers luggage, so you can enjoy the trek without concerning about logistics. You will walk an average of 6 to 7 hs a day, at a moderate pace with all the necessary stops. ITINERARY 08 Paso del Viento 09 Río Túnel, El Chaltén 10 El Chaltén El Calafate 11 El Calafate Perito Moreno Glacier 12 El Calafate - El Calafate airport LODGING 5 nights Hostel room 6 nights in Full Camp Go top Day 1 El Calafate airport El Calafate We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check in at your hostel. You get the rest of the day to enjoy the town and later you have your welcome dinner. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom. Meals we provide: Dinner. Day 2 El Calafate - El Chaltén After breakfast, we take our bus to El Chaltén, 220 km to get to this picturesque village at the foot of Fitz Roy. Stop over on road for coffee and home made cakes. While we approach, we get spectacular views of Viedma lake and glacier, and Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre groups. Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom. Meals we provide: Breakfast Day 3 Piedra del Fraile Today we start our trek in the National Park. We go in a short drive to the

16 Electrico river bridge and a gentle hike inside a beautiful southern beech forest to get to Piedra del Fraile. From Piedra del Fraile, we hike on to the viewpoints of Fitz Roy north face and Pollone glacier and the viewpoints of Marconi Glacier, entrance to the Patagonian Ice field. We hike back to our Full Camp in Piedra del Fraile. Lodging in Full Camp at Piedra del Fraile in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 4 Río Blanco, Laguna De los Tres Today we retrace our steps to the Rio Blanco valley, which we hike upriver to visit the Piedras Blancas glacier and lagoon. Further on, we get to Rio Blanco (Fitz Roy base camp for climbers in the east walls of the group) and we hike up to Laguna de los Tres, viewpoint of Fitz Roy and probably one of the most spectaculars locations in the National Park. WE hike down to Rio Blanco and to Laguna Capri. Lodging in Full Camp at Laguna Capri in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 5 Cerro Torre Today we make it around Laguna Capri to get to the Lagoons Madre and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet Cerro Torre trail and we get to Cerro Torre Full Camp. The trail runs along beech forest, bogs and shrub land. From the camp, a short hike takes us to Laguna Torre, enclosed by moraines and with the Glacier Grande calving in its west side. It is usual to see icebergs pushed by the wind in the coast of the lagoon. The thin and elegant 3128 mts of Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background complete this spectacular view. Walking time 3 to 4 hs.

17 Lodging at Cerro Torre Full Camp in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 6 Cerro Torre glacier trek This day is a highlight of the trip. We provide crampons, harnesses, and we set out to hike in the cerro Torre glacier. We cross river Fitz Roy river through a tyrolean (horizontal fixed rope attached to both sides of the river). We walk on the moraine around the lagoon and then down to the glacier visiting crevices, ice caves and holes and all the interesting places that a glacier can show. The bonus is the close up views of Cerro Torre group spires. We hike back to our camp in the afternoon. Lodging at Cerro Torre Full Camp in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 7 Pliegue Tumbado, Laguna Toro We again cross the tyrolean but now to hike up to Paso de las Agachonas, a 1300 mts pass on top of Pliegue Tumbado, which divides the Cerro Torre valley from the River Tunel valley. Full views on Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the glacier valley in between the two mountains. From the pass we hike down to Laguna Toro. Lodging at Laguna Toro Full Camp in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 8 Paso del Viento A full day hike from Laguna Toro to Paso del Viento (1500 mts above sea level) and back, across moraines, glacier and alpine meadows, to get to a spectacular view of the Patagonian Ice field, including the Mariano Moreno Range and many

18 other mountains rarely seen by men. The hike is demanding, with a day pack, 9 hs round trip from Laguna Toro, to climb 800 mts from our camp to the Pass. Lodging at Laguna Toro Full Camp in double tent (rural area) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 9 Río Túnel, El Chaltén We follow a trail along the River Tunel valley and up Pliegue Tumbado. On the ridge, we get again splendid views of most of the mountains and lakes of the area. Gentle downhill to El Chaltén. Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom. Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch. Day 10 El Chaltén El Calafate Morning at your own in El Chaltén, to relax after the trek and visit the town. By 5 pm we take our bus back to El Calafate. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom Meals we provide: Breakfast Day 11 El Calafate Perito Moreno Glacier We dedicate this day to one of the World s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Ice field, and big sheet of ice that with its square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints. The roar of the

19 chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 12 El Calafate El Calafate airport Alter breakfast we transfer to El Calafate airport where our services end. Meals we provide: Breakfast SERVICES DETAILS Go top Included: Bilingual tour leader (Spanish English) Mountain guide 3 nights lodging in a hostel room with private bathroom 2 nights lodging in a hostel room with shared bathroom 6 nights lodging in Full Camp Transportation El Calafate airport El Chaltén El Calafate El Calafate airport. During the trip we combine private and regular buses. Perito Moreno glacier excursion. 11 breakfasts, 7 lunch box and 7 dinners as shown below.

20 Lodging The VFR Fitz Roy Wild Trails is offered with the following type of accommodations: NIGHTS Hostel room with private bathroom Hostel room with shared bathroom Full Camp double base (rural area) Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the camp ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable 3 people igloo type tents for each 2 passengers. The camp also features a spacious dinning tent or dinning saloon, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware. Full Camps inside Los Glaciares National Park are in the wilderness, so toilettes and showers are not available. We provide hot water for personal cleaning and bathrooms are latrine type. When we take a bed in hostel rooms with shared bathrooms, you share the room with other guests of the Hostel. Meals The following meals are provided in this program. DAYS Breakfast Box Lunch Dinner Not included: The Intense Trekking tours don't include sleeping bag or Sleeping mattress National Parks fees

21 Life and medical insurance Drinks Tips Air tickets and airport taxes Cartage service Camino Abierto will provide the transportation of all the general equipment for the trek (tents, dinning tent or dinning place, and kitchen tents, tables and benches, table service and kitchenware, food, first aid kits). Beside, Camino Abierto will carry the passengers luggage up to a maximum of 8 kg, including your own sleeping bag and mattress. Notes Camino Abierto holds the right to change the itinerary or to cancel any of the activities when any natural cause (or any other cause of any type) justifies it in order to look after the group safety. Is this tour for me? We qualify this tour as "Intense". This means that you need to be fit to enjoy it. No previous technical knowledge is required. The group will walk an average of 6 to 7 hours a day, may be 9 in some specific days, at a moderate pace and with all the necessary stops for water, snacks or rest. The trek includes up hills and down hills, some of them quite steady. List of suggested personal equipment: Backpack, 50 lts or so Sleeping bag down or synthetic for -10ºC Sleeping mattress Trekking shoes or boots Thermal underwear Trekking pants Fleece

22 Breathable parka and over pants Gaiters Gloves Thermal socks The necessary spare cloth Wool hat Sun hat Sun glasses Sun screen (UV is very strong during the southern spring, from september thru december) Personal items Lamp Go top Back to main menu PW8 - Torres del Paine "W" Circuit 10 days - 9 nights Travel Styles Season: Beginning day: Departure: Intense Trekking October thru April Saturday Group Minimun of pax 3 passengers Difficulty: Medium difficulty Trip starts at: El Calafate Trip ends at: El Calafate This spectacular trek offers to us the very best of Paine. We visit its 3 main valleys: Ascensio river valley (Towers), French valley (Paine Grande and Horns) and Grey lake and glacier valley. DAY / ITINERARY 01 El Calafate airport- El Calafate 02 El Calafate Paine Towers National Park 03 Paine Towers Ascensio river valley 04 Las Torres Refuge Los Cuernos

23 Mountains, lakes, glaciers, forests and a rich flora and fauna make this trek a classic of Southern Patagonia. All lovers of outdoors will love this trip. ITINERARY 05 French valley Refuge Pehoé 06 Glacier Grey valley Refuge Pehoe 07 Boat trip across lake Pehoe Salto Grande waterfall - Camping Pehoe 08 Lago Grey - Camping Pehoe 09 Torres del Paine El Calafate 10 El Calafate - El Calafate airport LODGING 6 nights in Full Camp 1 night in a Mountain Refuge 2 nights in a Hostel room Go top Day 1 El Calafate airport El Calafate We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check in at your hostel. You get the rest of the day to enjoy the town and later you have your welcome dinner. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom. Meals we provide: Dinner Day 2 El Calafate Torres del Paine Early start for a 6 hs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo. After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the

24 Park, we start to see the different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. We enter the Park by Porteria Laguna Amarga. A rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds, will be available for our eyes and cameras. Lodging in Full Camp at Las Torres in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 3 Paine Towers Ascensio River Valley From pour camp, we cross the Ascensio river hanging bridge and hike a steep one hour slope, to get inside the Ascensio river valley, a narrow V shape alpine valley coming from inside the Paine massif. A gentle downhill leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cozy and comfortable mountain lodge, which can be a good turnaround point for those not willing to make a full day hike. We then walk in a gentle slope along the river side and inside beech forest. A final climb on moraine take us to the Towers viewpoint: a glacier origin lagoon and the three towers rising vertically 1000 mts from the glacier. The lack of breath will be either because the climb and the sight!!!! We go back to our camp on the same way we came. Walking time: 7 to 8 hs. Lodging in Full Camp at Las Torres in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 4 Las Torres - Paso Cuernos Today we start a 2 days traverse from Las Torres to Refugio Pehoe Full Camp, with one night at Refugio Los Cuernos. The so called Nordenskjöld lake traverse or Traverse of the Horns. We take in our packs the necessary items for this 2 days trek, which are personal items, some spare clothing and our sleeping bag. The walk goes along lake Nordenskjöld and at the foot of Admiral Nieto and the Horns. We stay in Refugio Los Cuernos this night.

25 Lodging at Refugio Los Cuernos with shared room and bathroom Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner. Day 5 French valley Refugio Pehoé After an early start, we walk to the Italian Camp, gate to the French valley, with splendid views of the south east Himalayan style face of Paine Grande and the Horns. We hike up valley to the upper viewpoints, at the entrance of a unique cirque surrounded by granite spires that feature the high valley: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (The Fortress). Back to Italian camp, we head to lake Skkotberg and finally to lake Pehoe, where our Full Camp is waiting together with the rest of our luggage. Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 6 Lake & Glacier Grey viewpoints Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe Valley across ridges to reach Grey valley. This magnificent valley flows down somewhat of 60 km from the Patagonian Ice field, featuring the huge glacier calving down in the grey colour lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the westerns slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park. From the high sections of the trail, many different viewpoints allow us to see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rising far in the distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall, and of course lake and glacier Grey. The trail reaches a close up point to the front of the glacier. We come back along the same trail, crossing bogs, shrub lands and forest. In the evening we take the boat to cross lake Pehoe back to Pudeto and get back to our Camping Pehoe Full Camp. Time to walk 8 hs. To the half way viewpoints, round way from our camp, 4 to 5

26 hs. Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 7 Lake Pehoe boat trip - Salto Grande - Camping Pehoe Morning at leisure in our camp to get some relax after the trek. By noon we take the boat across lake Pehoe to Port Pudeto. Short drive to our Full Camp at Camping Pehoe. After lunch, we visit Salto Grande and the Nordenskjöld trail, leading to the lake and with full views of the French valley from this side of the Park. Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 8 Lake Grey - Camping Pehoe We visit the western section of the Park. A short and gentle hike in lake Grey south shore and a steep uphill to Cerro Ferrier viewpoint to get our final views of this splendid National Park. Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services) Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner. Day 9 Torres del Paine El Calafate We leave early in the morning our camp and get back to the border to re-enter Argentina and drive back to El Calafate. Upon arrival to El Calafate you will be met by our local representative and transferred to you hostel. The rest of the day

27 is at your own to visit town. Lodging in a Hostel double or triple room with private bathroom. Meals we provide: Breakfast Day 10 El Calafate - El Calafate airport Alter breakfast we transfer to El Calafate airport where our services ends. Meals we provide: Breakfast. SERVICES DETAILS Go top Included Bilingual tour leader (Spanish English) Mountain guide 2 nights lodging in a hostel room with private bathroom 6 nights lodging in Full Camp 1 night lodging in a mountain refuge Transportation El Calafate Torres del Paine National Park El Calafate and all transfers inside the National Park. During the trip we combine private and regular buses. Boat trip across lake Pehoe. 9 breakfasts, 7 lunch box and 7 dinners as shown below. Lodging The PW8 Torres del Paine W Circuit is offered with the following type of accommodations:

28 NIGHTS Hostel room with private bathroom Full Camp double base (area with services) Los Cuernos Refuge with shared bedrooms and bathroom Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the camp ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable 3 people igloo type tents for each 2 passengers. The camp also features a spacious dinning tent or dinning saloon, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware. Full Camps inside Los Glaciares National Park are in the wilderness, so toilettes and showers are not available. We provide hot water for personal cleaning and bathrooms are latrine type. When we take a bed in hostel rooms with shared bathrooms, you share the room with other guests of the Hostel. Meals The following meals are provided in this program. DAYS Breakfast Box Lunch Dinner Not included: The Intense Trekking tours don't include sleeping bag or Sleeping mattress National Parks fees Life and medical insurance

29 Drinks Tips Air tickets and airport taxes Services not detailed in the program Cartage service Camino Abierto will provide the transportation of all the general equipment for the trek (tents, dinning tent or dinning place, and kitchen tents, tables and benches, table service and kitchenware, food, first aid kits). Beside, Camino Abierto will carry the passengers luggage up to a maximum of 8 kg, including your own sleeping bag and mattress. During the Nordenskjöld traverse, each passenger should carry all its personal equipment for those 2 days & 1 night (a pack including your personal belongings, sleeping bag and mattress, spare clothing for the traverse, box lunch for that day) Camino Abierto will carry the rest of the luggage by bus and boat from Las Torres to Refugio Pehoe Camp. Notes Camino Abierto holds the right to change the itinerary or to cancel any of the activities when any natural cause (or any other cause of any type) justifies it in order to look after the group safety. Is this tour for me? We qualify this tour as "Intense". This means that you need to be fit to enjoy it. No previous technical knowledge is required. The group will walk an average of 6 to 7 hours a day, may be 9 in some specific days, at a moderate pace and with all the necessary stops for water, snacks or rest. The trek includes up hills and down hills, some of them quite steady. List of suggested personal equipment: Backpack, 50 lts or so

30 Sleeping bag down or synthetic for -10ºC Sleeping mattress Trekking shoes or boots Thermal underwear Trekking pants Fleece Breathable parka and over pants Gaiters Gloves Thermal socks The necessary spare cloth Wool hat Sun hat Sun glasses Sun screen (UV is very strong during the southern spring, from September thru December) Personal items Lamp Trekking poles (recommended, if you are use to them) Personal medication Personal documents to cross the border between Argentina and Chile. Weather in Patagonia is unpredictable. Not very cold, but it is usually windy. To dress in layers is the best advice. TAN - Crossing Atacama & The Argentinian North 22 days - 21 nights Go top Back to main menu

31 Travel Styles Season: Beginning day: Departure: Intense Trekking From April to October Sunday Group Minimun of pax Difficulty: Trip starts at: Trip ends at: 3 passengers Medium difficulty Calama Airport (Chile) (you can also arrive by bus from Salta, Argentina) Salta Airport A trek for those who want to discover the secrets of this region, covering the Atacama Desert (Chile) with its unique attractive, its Salar, we will enjoy the Tatio Geysers in a particular and privileged way, since we will reach them during our crossing. We will also get to enjoy the Puna region and the Quebrada de Humahuaca in Argentina by travelling from Iruya to La Quiaca and connecting this area with the Yungas and jungles reaching the Calilegua National Park in the province of Salta. The environment variety and all its special features make this crossing an unforgettable experience that you can not miss. DAY / ITINERARY 01 Calama - San Pedro de Atacama 02 Cordillera de Sal - Valle de la Luna 03 Trek San Bartolo - Río Grande 04 Trek Río Grande - Machuca 05 Salta - Cachi - Cafayate. 06 Machuca - Geysers del Tatio 07 San Pedro de Atacama 08 Atacama - Tilcara 09 Trek Devil's Throat - Tilcara 10 Tilcara - Iruya 11 Iruya - Chiyayoc 12 Chiyayoc - Rodeo Colorado 13 Rodeo colorado - Río Nazareno 14 Río Nazareno - Nazareno 15 Nazareno - La Quiaca - Tilcara 16 Day Off in Tilcara 17 Tilcara a Yutos Pampa 18 Yutos Pampa - Molulo 19 Molulo - Abra del Potrero 20 Abra del Potrero - San Lucas

32 ITINERARY 21 San Lucas - Calilegua - Salta 22 Salta - Airport ACCOMMODATIONS 9 nights Hosteria double or single 9 nights Semi - Full camping 3 nights at simple lodging Go top Day 1 Calama - San Pedro de Atacama We welcome you at the Calama Airport and transfer you to San Pedro de Atacama. Will have the rest of the day to enjoy the town. Lodging at Hosteria double or single. Meals we provide: none. Day 2 San Pedro de Atacama - Valle de la Luna Early in the morning after breakfast, we will visit an area near town known as La Cordillera de la Sal ( Mountain range made of SALT ) with its very own particular formations. From there we ll have an unforgettable view of Los Andes and the valleys around the town. In the afternoon we ll do a small trek to the Valle de la Luna; located at 17 km from San Pedro in the area of the Cordillera de la Sal, it has an especial appeal for its amazing resemblance to the lunar surface. Lodging at Hosteria double or single. Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 3 Salar Grande y Trekking to the Valley of San Bartolo This day we ll visit the Atacama s Great Salar (Stone formations made of Salt). It s known all around the world as 3rd one of its dimensions. In it we ll also get to

33 see the flamencos that live in the region. Later we ll continue till Toconao, small towns known for its art craft. In the afternoon, we ll start our trek thru the valley of Catarpé we ll walk to the beginning of the river San Bartola; once there, 'petroglifos' (small incrustations of marine life in stone) can be found. Then we keep going until we reach the 2700 meters of high, where we ll camp. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 4 Trekking San Bartolo - Rio Grande Today, already acclimatized, we will begin to gain altitude, join a river-bed where we find weird stone formations and giants cactus that emerge from the arid desert. We will continue up to the 3500 metres high, around the area of Rio Grande, a small village where we have our second Camp site. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 5 Trekking Rio Grande - Machuca After breakfast, we leave behind Rio Grande Village and we will go through an area of narrow rivers that create fertile valleys where the inhabitants take theirs llamas to graze. We will continue gaining altitude up to Vilarejo de Machuca (4100 metres) where we camp. From here, we have an astonishing view of the Licancabur volcano. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner

34 Day 6 Machuca - Geyser Del Tatio This day starts quite early in the morning. We will depart before dawn (4 AM) in order to go to the TATIO volcano, located 4500 meters over the level of the sea. First thing we ll do once we arrive is to go to the geothermal field located in the mountain range of Los Andes. Early in the morning this place has an amazing steamy activity because of the high temperatures that are coming up from the craters. The boiling water, the huge columns on steam and the water that runs underneath the surface makes of this, and unforgettable experience. We will have breakfast here, and then we ll take a walk and those who want to might take a bath in the warm water near the geysers. (That s why we recommend you to bring along besides warm clothing, a swimming suit, towel, sun block) Hostería base double o single Meals we provide: Breakfast Day 7 San Pedro de Atacama This is a day off so we ll be able to choose between different options such as: the ascension of the Lascar Volcano or the Toco Mountain or just take a look around walking or by bicycle Lodging at Hosteria double or single. Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 8 San Pedro de Atacama - Tilcara Early in the morning we say goodbye to San Pedro de Atacama and by bus we go back to Argentina crossing the mountain range of Los Andes. Thru el Paso de Jama we will be able to appreciate the Salinas Grandes ; then descending over the path of the Lipan, we ll make a stop at the town of Pumamarca and its famous Mount of the Los Siete Colores. Later we arrive to our lodge at the

35 painteresque town of Tilcara. Lodging at Hosteria double or single. Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 9 Devil s Throat - Tilcara We ll have the morning free to discover the town and its unique things such us: la plaza grande, la plaza chica, the town church - and the Pucará de Tilcara. In the afternoon we ll do a small trek to the devil s throat, walking along the old Kollas paths and watching the amazing view. After 3 or 4 hours we finally go back to Tilcara. Lodging at Hosteria double or single. Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 10 Tilcara - Iruya During the morning, we will go towards the North in a local Bus to the small town of Iruya, a picturesque village just in the north of Salta. We will have enough time to go around the town, discovering its beautiful cobbled streets and its typical Cappel. We will spend the night in this fascinating place. Simple Lodging Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 11 Iruya - Chiyayoc Early in the morning, we will begin the crossing from Iruya, at 2800metres high. We will go up north the river in a slow but incessant ascent, until we reach the Abra Del Colorado. From there, we will descent to the San Juan River where we have lunch. After the break, another ascent is expecting us and then the

36 posterior descent to the Chiyayoc village, at 3100 m OSL. Walking time: 8 to 9 hours. Simple Lodging Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 12 Chiyayoc - Rodeo Colorado Our trek continues thru this amazing landscape. We descend until we reach the valley of the river Trancas. Once there we start ascending again till we arrive to the edge. From there we ll have a fabulous view of the town of Rodeo Colorado. Later we go back descending thru the Pera River. We finally arrive to Rodeo Colorado town. Estimated walking time: 8 to 9 hours. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 13 Rodeo Colorado - Nazareno River This day we descend our way thru a wide slope to the town of Molino, keeping always the amazing view of the valley of the river Nazareno in our back. From here we walk up to the place where we ll put up our camp. Estimated walking time: 4 to 5 hours. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 14 Nazareno River - Nazareno Last stage of our on-foot crossing, during which we will go upriver up to reach Nazareno village. There, we can discover this typical town and enjoy our experiences. Walking time: 5 to 6 hours.

37 Simple Lodging Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 15 Nazareno - La Quiaca - Tilcara In the morning we go back to the northern region or Argentina of La Quiaca, next to the frontier with Bolivia. Form here we continue our way to Tilcara. Lodging at Hosteria double or single. Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 16 Day Off At Tilcara We dedicate this day to rest, re arrange our equipment and prepare yourself for the final part of this journey. Lodging at Hosteria double or single. Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 17 Tilcara - Veranada de Yutos Pampa Early morning, we take a local transfer to Alfacito (2900 m OSL). There, we will begin our on foot crossing, with a slow and incessant ascent - we have to be careful about acclimatising- up to reach Campo Laguna (4200 m OSL). This is the highest point of the crossing. After lunch, we will descent to Yutos Pampa at 3200 metres OSL. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 18 Veranada de Yutos Pampa - Molulo We continuo our crossing, ascending till the top of the Mount Cumbre Grande. At

38 the end of the valley, the crowded forest can be appreciated. In the afternoon we arrive to the community of Molulo at 2950 meters of high. Estimated walking time: 6 to 7hs. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 19 Molulo - Abra Del Potrero We will have a peaceful morning, and plenty of time to meet the local inhabitants and going around the area. After lunch, we will continue with our crossing. Gradually, you would notice the increase of vegetation; we will arrive then, to a place known as Abra Potrero. Walking time: 4 to 5 hs.semi full Camp. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 20 Abra Del Potrero - San Lucas We continue our adventure from the Abra of the Potrero (lowest point between two mountains). The thick forest gives birth to plain landscape. From the red land come the first trees. After undertaking a section of forest in continuous ascension we get to see the caserío of San Lucas, located at 2500 meters of high. Later, we slowly start the descent back to the town. Walking time 7 to 8 hours. Lodging at Semi full Camping. Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner Day 21 San Lucas - Calilegua - Salta Last stage of the crossing between San Lucas and San Francisco. The path continues by the southern bank of San Lucas River, the vegetation is dense and the valley is deep. After crossing Valle Grande Valley, we will ascent to Peña

39 Alta, which is the end of our long walk. There, a local transfer is waiting for us, to lead us through the small town of San Francisco and the whole Calilegua National Park arriving to Liberator San Martín Village. From there, we will move to Salta city. Walking time: 5 to 6 hours. Lodging at Hosteria double or single. Meals we provide: Breakfast. Day 22 Salta - Airport After breakfast we are transferred to the airport where our tours ends Meals we provide: Breakfast SERVICES DETAILS Go top Included: Incoming services Bilingual guide (Spanish - English) during all the activities. 9 nights in Hostería it bases double or single with breakfast 9 nights in Semi - Full Camp (included: tents and dinner tent or saloon. Not included: sleeping bag or insulating mattress) 3 nights in simple lodging (room without private bathroom) Transfer Calama Airport - San Pedro / Salta - Salta Airport All transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses. Mules for the transportation of the tents, general equipment y food for all the crossing. We will carry the passengers luggage up to a maximum of 8 kg, for the days 11 to 15 and the days 17 y 21