DAY TWO.   TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK.  In the morning, we’ll drive north to Torres del Paine National Park. The 5 1/2 hour drive brings us through Puerto Natales, a small but lively town on the shores of Seno Ultima Esperanza, “Last Hope Sound.” One stop is at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s.

The national park was established in 1959 and has been a part of the United Nations Biosphere Reserve system since 1978. It shelters large and growing herds of guanaco, a relative of the llama and alpaca. Highlights of the park are its wildlife, forests, glaciers, and famous towering peaks.

Our final destination is the EcoCamp, an environmentally friendly compound that offers creature comforts in the wilderness. The camp features dome huts that are 2m/6.5ft high with a diameter of 4m/12ft. There are round windows in the ceiling to observe the stars of Patagonia before falling asleep. The domes are resistant to the strongest Patagonian winds, rains, and snow and come equipped with two single beds, fleece sheets, and blankets. There are shared toilet/shower facilities with sit down toilets, hot water, and showers. The dining dome features tables, chairs, buffet service, and Chilean wines.

DAY THREE.   LOS CUERNOS.  We start our adventure with a pleasant walk through the curly Cuernos trail located beside beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. During this ‘appetizer walk’ we take in the park’s charming flora and fauna, its strong wind and the curious 4-seasons weather that will accompany us for the next days. As we advance through the trail we enjoy magnificent views of the park’s central lakes and the Paine’s Horns which are majestic black horn-like peaks of slate atop gray granite which crown the center of the Massif. We will stop to get some great first shots of the park and also enjoy a delicious box lunch to energize us for the rest of the walk. The trek ends at Refugio Los Cuernos, a small and cozy mountain refuge located by the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. Throughout the trek, your luggage is transported for you, so you only need to carry a daypack.

A refugio is a basic camping/hut facility with shared bunk-style huts. Because of limited accessibility, the food is basic and the lodging simple. But for what we give up in comfort, we gain in a remote wilderness surrounded by natural beauty.

The total hiking time on Los Cuernos Trail is 6 to 7 hours over 16 kilometers (10 miles).

DAY FOUR.   STEPPING INTO THE HEART OF PAINE MASSIF: VALLE FRANCES.  After breakfast, we begin a challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), a steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. How deep we go depends on our groups’ rhythm.

An active hike leads us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the southeast face of the Massif. From this point, we can enjoy our first truly wonderful view and then continue up the trail until reaching the upper prospects of the valley. The entire group of geological formations of the high valley can be admired here: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza! (Fortress).

We descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest until reaching the Refugio Paine Grande, located in the peaceful shores of Lake Pehoe.

The total walking time on the French Valley Trail is 8 hours over 25 kilometers (15 miles).

DAY FIVE.   GREY GLACIER.  Today we’ll hike from Paine Grande Lodge along the shores of mountain-lined Lake Pehoe to the northern end of glacial Lake Grey. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails to the blue face of Glacier Grey. You’ll have lots of time to marvel at this calving glacier before the boat ride across Lake Grey with its floating pieces of ice. Your clothes and personal belongings are once again transported separately from the lodge in duffel bags.

From Lake Grey’s southern end we transfer to the EcoCamp. If the weather conditions do not allow us to navigate Lake Grey, we’ll instead hike to Glacier Grey. Then at Pudeto we’ll board the catamaran to cross Lake Pehoe. From there, we’ll take a short drive back to Cascada EcoCamp where we’ll enjoy the night.

The total hiking time on the Grey Trail is 4 hours over 14 kilometers (9 miles).

DAY SIX.   THE MIGHTY TORRES DEL PAINE.  Today, our goal is to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park. We walk from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres and connect with the winding uphill path to Ascencio Valley – the valley which supports the eastern face of the Towers’ base. Dry mountain spots, beech forests, and small rivers are passed along the scenic walk into the valley. It’s not a difficult walk, but energy should nevertheless be saved for the final challenge: the moraine. This mass of boulders is the last guardian before our face-to-face meeting with the uplifting Torres del Paine. The moraine is sufficiently steeper and we will do it slowly and with an adequate amount of precaution.

After a considerable effort, the Towers come into full view and rise majestically before us with the glacial lake visible below. This is one of the most breathtaking sights in the world! The famous Torres del Paine (2, 900 m/ 9, 400 ft) consist of three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. Once everyone is ready, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley, and return to the EcoCamp.

The total hiking time on the Towers Trail is 9-10 hours over 21 kilometers (13 miles).

DAY SEVEN.   LEISURELY ENJOY THE DAY IN THE EASTERN LAKES.  We hike to the Laguna Azul lookout where we have a gorgeous view of both the lagoon and granite towers. We continue along the eastern side of Lago Sarmiento to the calcium formations on the lake’s shores where guanacos are often seen. Later we trek to Paso Las Corneas where we’ll have spectacular views of Rio Paine, Lake Pehoe, and the massif of Paine. Depending on the group, we can also hike to the Toro lookout point that offers more soul-candy scenery- Lago Toro and the pampa, or steppe! Upon returning to the Ecocamp, our last dinner in the camp is celebrated.

The total hiking time on the Eastern Lakes trail is 3 hours over 5-8 kilometers (3-5 miles).

DAY EIGHT.   ADIOS TORRES DEL PAINE. PUERTO NATALES.  We board a vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Puerto Natales where we check into our three-star hotel. Take some time to explore this town before kicking back with a cocktail and the final night’s dinner.

DAY NINE.   DEPARTURE.  You can schedule your flight out of Punta Arenas anytime after 12:00, noon. If you have booked OutWest Global Adventures’ “Easter Island” tour, you can fly to Santiago for an overnight. Adios!