The Paine Massif Loop

This is the most famous trekking route of Patagonia in Torres del Paine National Park.

Hiking an average of seven hours daily in a circuit covering over hundred kilometers, you'll encounter Granite Mountains, endless glaciers, turquoise coloured lakes, and the most impressive views of the Southern Ice Field.

You have the chance to do an ice hike on the Glacier Grey and climb a glacier wall with technical equipment. This adventure will carry you through a windy world of unexpected weather changes, and provide you with a chance to enjoy a variety of wildlife.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1 (Saturday)
We recommend you take the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4 hours), flying over the Andes and observing incredible views of the Patagonian Ice Fields. Upon your arrival in Punta Arenas, the most southern city on the continent, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to Torres Del Paine National Park. (Chile Nativo will offer a pick-up from the airport at 3:20 PM, corresponding with LAN airline, Flight # LA293, or at 3 PM from your hotel in town).

As we leave Punta Arenas we will be able to see the Strait of Magellan and the island of Tierra del Fuego. The beginning of our drive will take us through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias) and chances are we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (similar to ostrich). Then we will head north, passing Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a typical fishing town surrounded by mountains. We will follow an unpaved road heading to the park and camping Las Torres to spend our first night.(5 hours by transfer) (D) (Night at Camping Torres)

Day 2 (Sunday)
We will start our first day trekking to the base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter the Ascencio Valley. Our walk will be uphill for one hour before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech forests (Nothofagus family), glaciers and waterfalls. We'll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (900 M), excellent for picture taking. At this point we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850 M) and a lagoon with slurry waters due to erosion produced by glaciers. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch to add to the enjoyment. After being awed by the towers we'll start our descent, following the same path back to our camp.

(7-8 hours round-trip, 18 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Torres)

Day 3 (Monday)
We will begin this day early morning, and weather permitting, to enjoy an impressive view of the Tower's peaks painted with orange light. We will start our walk through a very old tall deciduous beech forest with the chance to see a woodpecker or fresh puma tracks. We follow a well marked trail, slightly sloping, that will lead us to an excellent viewpoint of Paine Chico Mountain in the distance, to finally arrive at the old Serón camp site where we will set up our camp and enjoy a good dinner.
(4-5 hours, 9 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Serón Campsite)

Day 4 (Tuesday)
This is the easiest span but especially interesting for flower lovers who, depending on the season, will see orchids, calceolarias, violets and oxalis. We will go around Paine Lake along a flattish path with views of many mountains, including Cerro Escudo (The Shield) and Cerro Cabeza del Indio (Indian Head Mountain -the profile of an Indian is observed in the rocks). Lastly we will arrive at the beginning of the Paine River, from where we will be able to see the incredible Cerro Cubo (Cube Mountain) and Dickson Lake.
(6-7 hours, 18.5 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Dickson)

Day 5 (Wednesday)
At this point we will start one of the most beautiful sections of the park, walking through some of the oldest beech forests, along an undulating path, following Los Perros River, with breathtaking views of mountains, waterfalls and exuberant vegetation. We will cross a hanging bridge over Los Perros River to arrive at the terminal moraine of the hanging glacier, giving birth to a lagoon with sedimentary waters. Half an hour from this point is Los Perros campsite where we will stay overnight.
(5 hours, 9 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Los Perros Campsite)

Day 6 (Thursday)
This is the most difficult day of the whole circuit, but at the same time has a dramatic beauty worthy of the effort. We will head up on a pronounced path through forests to arrive at a swamp area, keeping us busy for a couple of hours. We will continue ascending, maybe finding some snow, until coming to the John Garner pass at 1200 mts above sea level. From here we have an outstanding view of the Grey Glacier and the Southern Ice Field, with its many unclimbed peaks. We will start descending a steep slope until arriving at El Paso campsite where we will stay overnight.
(5-6 hours, 12 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at El Paso Campsite)

Day 7 (Friday)
We will head off alongside the glacier, on an up and down path through fallen trees, contrasting with the exuberance of the Nothofagus forests, walking underneath the Cordon Olguín with its huge thick granite walls. If lucky enough we will see ice calving from the front wall of the Grey Glacier, before ending up on a beach of sedimentary sand where we will set up our campsite.
(5 hours, 10 KM) (B-L-D) (Night at Camping Grey)

Day 8 (Saturday)
Today you have the opportunity to take an optional adventure on the Glacier Grey. (The Ice Hike excursion is not included in the price; US$ 140 per person.) The ice hikers will take a zodiac for 20 minutes until arriving on the western side of the glacier, where specialized guides will supply you with the necessary technical equipment (crampons, harness and piolet). You will walk on the glacier, observing unique deep blue cracks, where, weather permitting, will have the opportunity of doing some ice climbing. The way back will be the same until arriving back at the refugio to enjoy lunch. By the afternoon we start a soft walk to the Pehoé Lake.
(1 hour by zodiac, 3 hour ice hike and 3 ½ hours walk, 11 KM). (B-L-D) (Night at Camping Paine Grande)

Day 9 (Sunday)
After a good breakfast we commence our out and back trek to the French valley. We will start going around the south-west side of Paine Grande, the highest summit in the Park, through native forests of fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the hanging bridge over the French River to observe the first glimpses of the glacier. Then we will ascend (300m) for one hour amidst a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach a view point, gifting us with magnificent panoramic views, where we enjoy a good lunch. We will take the same path back to our campsite.
(6-7 hours, 17 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Paine Grande)

Day 10 (Monday)
We cross Lake Pehoe in the morning by catamaran to meet our private transfer to Punta Arenas. (Clients should take the flight at 05:00 PM, from LAN airline, flight LA#996, arriving to Santiago at 8:20 PM), if you decide to stay the night in Punta Arenas; we will drop you at your hotel. (30 minutes by catamaran, 5 hour by transfer). (B)

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Camping Chile Nativo
Our clients sleep in 4 seasons, North Face VE 25 (3 person capacity) tents, based on twin-share occupancy. We have a Mountain Hardwear domo dining tent.