Torres del Paine Circuit - The "Q"

Overview

Trek the full Torres del Paine Circuit!

The Circuit includes The "W", the trail along the southern slopes of the Paine Massif, and adds the more remote northern part of Torres del Paine.

Join us on this self-sustained trekking and camping tour -true trekker style- to explore the most spectacular landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park: windswept pampas, breathtaking mountains, beautiful lakes and massive glaciers that descend into evergreen temperate rainforests.

Without doubt, this trekking tour offers you the best you can get in your adventure to Patagonia!

On this trekking tour, our small groups are limited to 8 trekking members maximum, making for a personalized experience and a family-like atmosphere.

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If you don't want to carry a heavy backpack and prefer to stay in "refugios" (mountain huts) within Torres del Paine, check out our hiking tour Torres del Paine active.

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Punta Arenas - Penguin Colony - Puerto Natales

Arrive in Punta Arenas and meet your local guide. Later, visit the penguin colony at Seno Otway, where during the Patagonian summer months thousands of Magellanic penguins hatch and bring up their offspring. In the afternoon, transfer by public bus to the picturesque town of Puerto Natales. This evening, we meet for a final gear check and last preparations for Torres del Paine. The travel time including the penguin colony is about 6 hours.

Note
All participants must arrive in Punta Arenas before noon.

Day 2: Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine National Park

After a good breakfast, we transfer to Torres del Paine National Park. We begin our adventure at the southern end of the Park, near the park ranger's administration center. Hiking in from the administration center and adding this first leg to the Circuit actually makes for a "Q" rather then an "O". This part of the trek is as impressive as it can possibly get, in terms of an "introduction" to the Park: the whole Paine massif stretches in front of you like a dream as you are trekking towards it. The first night, we camp at a place known to the locals as Las Carretas. It's only two hours down the trail from the administration center, but makes for a great first camp - away from the crowds, getting some quiet and peace. Welcome to Torres del Paine!
[B, L, D]

Day 3: Las Carretas - Italiano Camp

Today, we push on another five hours to Campamento Italiano. Italiano is a magnificent camp area and sits at the mouth of the spectacular Valle del Francés, the French Valley. We camp next to a beautiful river, protected nicely by a forest of old Lenga trees. We have some free time on this day, so weather permitting, we head up into the valley for a sneak-peek.
[B, L, D]

Day 4: Italiano Camp - French Valley and Glacier - Los Cuernos

This morning, we leave everything behind and we only pack up our backpacks with some food, rain gear, camera, and just a few basics, and head up into Valle del Francés light. It’s a steep hike, so going light is nice. The valley offers natural lookouts; ice falls, avalanches, amazing mountain formations... impressive! A true highlight of Torres del Paine National Park. And after a day exploring Valle del Francés, we head down again and pack up our camp and progress another two hours to Los Cuernos Camp. A great camp site, located directly under the Cuernos and a stones throw from the beach. We retire to our tents that night for a well deserved night's sleep.
[B, L, D]

Day 5: Los Cuernos - Las Torres Base Camp

Today, after a big breakfast we take on our longest day yet. Our trek takes us around the base of Mount Almirante Nieto (8,753ft/ 2,668m), up into Asencio Valley, to our camp at Campamento Las Torres. This is a long day and we take many breaks for view points and photo stops. Here again, we make camp in a thick Lenga forest which protects us from the harsh Patagonian winds.
[B, L, D]

Day 6: Las Torres Base Camp - Torres del Paine lookout - Las Torres campground

On this morning, we get up and ready before dawn. This is our big chance to see the three famous Paine Towers (9,350ft/ 2,850m) get hit by the first morning rays of sun, which can turn the towers bright red. We again leave our camp behind and only bring our packs loaded with our warm layers. We head up the steep trail for 1 hour to the Torres del Paine lookout "Base Las Torres", and some of the most amazing photos ever. We get warm, have some hot drinks at the base of the Towers and do this morning right! We pack up and head downhill to our next campsite next to Refugio Las Torres. It's been a long day. By now, you have already trekked a big part of The "W". We close the book on the first half of our trek, and take a long afternoon to repack, reassess and we call it a day.
[B, L, D]

Day 7: Las Torres campground - Dickson

Today, we start the back side of The Circuit, early and refreshed. And it’s a good thing, because we have an 8-10 hour trek to Dickson Camp before us. It seems like a real distance, but the terrain is milder then The "W" and you cover a lot of ground fast. This is a much different experience than The "W". We camp this night at Camping Dickson, at a beautiful spot right next to Lake Dickson.
[B, L, D]

Day 8: Dickson - Los Perros Camp

We progress easily to Los Perros Camp, in only about 4 hours. We are not in an hurry today, so we can enjoy a late sleep or an early morning hike. But our next camp, Los Perros, is a remote campsite, and although it seems like a short day, we only have enough time to make it to this next camp today. At Perros we call it camp for the day.
[B, L, D]

Day 9: Los Perros Camp - John Gardner Pass - Los Guardas Camp

This is the day of the famous John Gardner Pass. The biggest challenge about the Paso John Gardner is the wind. The terrain is manageable, and the view from the top of the pass is breathtaking. The view below of Grey Glacier (and the Patagonian Ice Field on a clear day) is one of the most amazing moments you’ll experience in Patagonia, hands down. We push on and make camp at Los Guardas Camp.
[B, L, D]

Day 10: Los Guardas Camp - Pehoé Lake - Puerto Natales

After a good breakfast we trek five hours to Paine Grande Lodge, right on the edge of the turquoise-colored Lago Pehoé. We cross Lago Pehoé by catamaran and head back to Puerto Natales. Congratulations, you did the Torres del Paine Circuit - and better yet: The "Q".
[B, L]

Day 11: Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas - Farewell Patagonia

Take the public bus from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas (about 3h). You can also be dropped off directly at the airport according to your flight schedule to fly to Santiago de Chile and connect with your homeward-bound flight. Otherwise, simply enjoy this day  in Patagonia at your leisure.
[B]

Note
If you want to fly out this same day, your flight must leave after 11:00 a.m.

Included Meals

B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner

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What's included?

Tour Includes

• Transportation and excursions according to the program*
  
• 2 night in guest house in Puerto Natales (single and double rooms, private bathrooms)
• 8 nights camping in Torres del Paine (some without facilities)
• Meals specified in the program (see itinerary: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner) Not included: additional alcoholic and/ or non-alcoholic beverages, which you can buy at some of the campgrounds
• We provide all necessary cooking and camping gear (except sleeping bags).
  
• Entrance fees to Torres del Paine National Park and the penguin colony
• Local, bilingual trekking guide (Spanish and English speaking)

* The penguin colony at Seno Otway is open from October 15, 2011 through March 31, 2012. Outside these dates, unfortunately, we can't visit the penguins.

Additional Costs

• Travel arrangements/ airfare to/ from Punta Arenas, Patagonia, Chile
• Sleeping bag (You must have a sleeping bag for the nights in Torres del Paine. If you prefer not to bring your own, you may rent one at  a reasonable price. Please let us know in advance to arrange this for you.)
• Additional alcoholic and/ or non-alcoholic beverages, which you can buy at some of the campgrounds
• Optional tips to your trekking guide and/ or other people working for you
  

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Departure Dates & Prices

This trekking tour departs as follows:

Prices

1 to 4 trip members: USD 2,249.- per person

5 to 8 trip members: USD 1,999.- per person

These prices are based on double occupancy in Puerto Natales and in Torres del Paine.

Single Accommodation

Single occupancy is available for USD 150.- per person.

In case you book single accommodation, please keep in mind that this also means that you will carry a complete tent rather then "half", sharing the other half with one of your trekking companions.

Trip members

minimum 1, maximum 8 persons

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