W Circuit Patagonia
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W Circuit Patagonia
Torres del Paine: the 35 most beautiful parks in the world
It figures in the 18th place ranking published by Huffington Post, an American media with over 80 million hits on the Internet.With 180 thousand hectares and holding, the title of eighth wonder of the world since last November 2013, after a vote on the Internet (in the Virtual Tourist website), Torres del Paine, flagship park of Chile and World Biosphere Reserve from 1978, now appears as one of the 35 most beautiful National Parks in the world, according to the U.S. daily Huffington Post.
What is the way to realize how wonderful is our planet? Simple: check out the most spectacular national parks in the world. The digital media headline mentions in the first place Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica, followed by Iguazú (Argentina and Brazil) and Yosemite in the USA
The publication mentions Torres del Paine NP as a surprising nature extension of Patagonia, with its glaciers that provides a unique experience for visitors.
Javiera Montes, Secretary of Tourism, says: “This new international recognition allows us to further enhance the tourist promotion of Chile abroad”
W Circuit Patagonia
Highlights:
Day 1: Transport to Torres del Paine NP, accommodation in Refugio Torre Central
Day 2: Trekking to Base Torres, accommodation in Refugio El Chileno
Day 3: Trekking to Los Cuernos, accommodation in Refugio Los Cuernos
Day 4: Trekking to French Valley, accommodation in Refugio Paine Grande
Day 5: Trekking to Grey Glacier + Catamaran at Pehoé Lake + transport to Puerto Natales -
W Circuit Patagonia ITINERARY 5 days, 4 nights
Valid from the 1st of November 2015 – 31st of March 2016
W Circuit Patagonia
Day 1: Transport to Torres del Paine National Park (Regular Bus).
Regular – Public transportation from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park (Laguna Amarga Main Entrance), the trip lasts about two and a half hours (112 Km), with a short stop at Cerro Castillo Village.At the moment you arrive to Laguna Amarga entrance you will have to acquire your entrance ticket which can only be purchased locally on arrival and take the shuttle that will be waiting for you to take you to Las Torres sector where our Refugio is located.
Presentation time at the Bus Station: 14.15 PM
Departure: 14:30 PM / Arrival to Laguna Amarga: 16:30 PM
Llegada a portería Laguna Amarga (entrada al Parque): 16:30 hrs.
Accommodation: Refugio Torre Central.W Circuit Patagonia
Day 2: Trekking to “BASE TORRES” (7 – 8 hours; 13 Km).
Recommended hour to start: 9.00 AM.The first hour and a half walking is steep with fantastic views of lake Nordenskjöld and Almirante Nieto Mn (2.670 m.s.n.m), with it’s hanging glacier until you reach Refugio El Chileno to recover energies and leave your luggage. Then carrying just a small back pack, you will continue the trail through a millenary Lenga forest (1 hour) until the base of “the moraine” which challenging ascent (45 min), will take you to one of the most impressive lookouts in the park: “Base of Torres del Paine” where you will have the view of Torre Sur (2,850 m.s.n.m.), Torre Central (2.800 m.s.n.m), Torre Norte (2.600 m.s.n.m) and Cerro Nido de Cóndor.
Accommodation: Refugio El Chileno / If this Refugio is full, the way back will be until Torre Central (2 hours more of trekking)
Difficulty Level: High.W Circuit Patagonia
Day 3: Trekking from El Chileno to Los Cuernos Refugio (4 – 5 hours, 11 Km).
Recommended hour to start: 9.00 AM.About 30 minutes after leaving Refugio El Chileno you will notice the sign to take the “shortcut” that leads to Refugio Los Cuernos. The trail goes through the Base of Almirante Nieto Mn. – part of the Paine Massif-, with great views to Nordenskjöld lake; from December the flora presents different colours specially the “Ciruelillo or Fire Bush” which take its name from the red colour of its flowers. After about 4 – 5 hours you will get to the Base of Los Cuernos where our Refugio is located, considered by many, one of the most charming sites in the whole park, a perfect spot to rest and recover energies for the next day challenging trek: “The French Valley”.
Accommodation: Refugio Los Cuernos (we recommend Cabins Los Cuernos, you may check the upgrade rate below).
Difficulty Level: Medium.W Circuit Patagonia
Day 4: Trekking to French Valley (10 – 12 hours, 25.3 Km).
Recommended hour to start: 8.00 AM.The first 2 hours are with some ascents and descents and views to Nordenskjöld Lake until “Campamento Italiano”, at this point we recommend you to contact CONAF staff so you can leave your Big Backpack with them and start the next part of the trek with a small day backpack. The ascent goes for about 1 hour and a half until French Glacier lookout, where you’ll be able to observe its hanging glacier and opportunities to observe small avalanches. After that the trail continues until “Campamento Británico” and after about 20 minutes you will reach the lookout point considered by many as one of the most overwhelming spots in the Circuit: “Mirador Británico”, where you will admire: “Paine Grande”, “Cerro Hoja”, “Cerro Máscara”, “Cerro Catedral”, “Cerro Aleta de Tiburón”, “Cuerno Norte”, etc.
The return is the same way back to “Campamento Italiano”, and then to Pehoé sector.
Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande.
Difficulty Level: High.W Circuit Patagonia
Day 5: Trekking to Grey Glacier (8 – 9 hours, 22 Km).
Recommended hour to start: 9.00 AM.Trek to Grey Glacier lookout (roundtrip). The trail goes through the western side of the Paine Massif with views to Grey Lake and Mountains. After 1 hour and a half you will reach the first lookout point, where you may observe Grey Glacier in the distance, then and after 1 and a half / two hours you will get to the Main lookout, in front of the glacier. The return is the same way back until Pehoé Lake to take the Catamaran that crosses Pehoe Lake to Pudeto sector, where your bus will be waiting for you to take you back to Puerto Natales.
Difficulty level: Medium.
Catamaran ItineraryDeparture at 18.30 PM / presentation time at Pier: 18.00 PM/arrival time to Bus Station in Puerto Natales: around 22.00 PM
Please be aware of the Catamaran departure time.
You can leave your backpack in the storage room at Refugio Paine Grande. -
We have prepared different versions of the W Circuit, with some differences in services and accommodation among them:
Option 1: SELF – GUIDED Program (Without Guide), Without Meals transport and accommodation only
Option 2: SELF – GUIDED Program (Without Guide), MEALS Included along with transport and accommodation
Option 3: GUIDED Program, MEALS Included along with transport and accommodationW Circuit Patagonia
What’s Included
4 Nights of accommodation in Refugios with sleeping bag or made up bed (depending on availability).
Made Up Bed: sheets + pillow + cover bed.
Transportation in Regular/Public Bus from Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales.
Shuttle from Laguna Amarga main entrance to Las Torres sector.
Catamaran Pehoé (Lake crossing from Pehoé sector until Pudeto sector to connect with the regular transportation to Puerto Natales).
OPTION 2 & 3: MEALS All meals at the Refugios (breakfast, lunch box, dinner).
Day 1 just dinner Day 5 just breakfast and box lunch.
OPTION 3: GUIDEW Circuit Patagonia
What’s Not included
Services not indicated in Program.
Entrance ticket to Torres del Paine National Park.
Medical insurance of any kind.
OPTION 1 & 2: GUIDE
OPTION 1: MEALSW Circuit Patagonia
What To BringCheck our video:
W Circuit Patagonia what to pack Packing is a personal choice, one important factor to remember is pack light! The below list is a rough suggestion only, there are many variations to the below basic list so add what you need but keep it light.
Backpacks: – One 40 litres Backpack.- One 20 – 25 litres Backpack por day hikes.
– Waterproof jacket and trousers (GORE TEX).- Warm clothes (Polar Tec).- Comfortable trousers for trekking.- T – shirts.- Long Sleeved Shirts.- Trekking boots.- Sandals (for showering, resting and crossing streams).- Flash lamp.- Enough batteries supplies, as in FS we produce our own sustainable energy we do not have places to charge batteries.- Earplugs.- Sunglasses.- Towel.- Padlock.- Gloves/Sunscreen.- Camera/Binoculars.- Bottle for water (Nalgene).- Ziploc bags (for taking your trash back).- Trekking Sticks.- Swimsuit * Hot Tub – Los Cuernos Cabins.
– Warm Hat.- Hat for sun protection.
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