Torres del Paine – 5 day Taster

Arrive into Puerto Natales. Transfer to historic Puerto Bories located on the Senoret Channel a few miles outside Puerto Natales. Sleep in Bories House, an English style villa with traditional Patagonian architecture and comfortable en suite rooms a short walk from the Last Hope Sound. Dinner and guide’s briefing at Afrigonia in Puerto Natales offering a fusion of African and Patagonian cuisine. Dinner included.

After breakfast, you will be taking a private transfer to an area known as Canadon Macho located close to Laguna Azul in the north eastern section of the Park. Here you will meet your horses and enjoy a safety briefing before setting out towards Laguna Cebolla and Victorina located north east of the Paine mountains with dramatic mountain views and plenty of opportunities to see the agile guanaco and other wildlife. After a full day’s ride of around 28 kilometres (5-6 hours) you will be heading back to Laguna Azul where you will be spending the night camping in a very pretty campsite with bathrooms and hot showers and meals prepared for you in the quincho (outside dining cabin). All gear provided with sleeping bags, liners and mats included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (with wine at dinner).

Today you will be setting out on a long ride across the heart of the Park with iconic mountain and lake views as you head from east to west. The full distance is 48 km with 8-9 hours riding although the ride is vehicle supported enabling you to travel in the vehicle for the final part of the trail if you prefer (shortening the ride to 38 km although riders can jump in the van at any point, the ride ends at the Park administration centre). Our destination is the Serrano River with stunning views of the western face of the Paine Massif. Today’s ride is always a highlight of everybody’s itinerary with its iconic Paine views of the mountains from a southern perspective and diverse wildlife. Night in a riverside camp with bathrooms and hot showers and a BlueGreen chef to prepare meals and all gear provided with sleeping bags, liners and mats included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (with wine at dinner).

After your camp breakfast you will be saddling up and riding out to Grey Lake, a stunning pampas ride with mountain views throughout. Arrive at Grey Lake and take a walk on the sandy beach often packed with icebergs floating on its surface. Here you have the option to take a boat to the face of Grey Glacier (recommended) for an up close and personal encounter with a towering wall of ice. The ride distance is 35 km there and back although if you choose to take the Grey Boat you will return by vehicle making today’s ride 17 km. Return to the Serrano River for a second night camping. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (with wine at dinner). 

Add boat trip to the face of Grey Glacier, US$140 per person payable locally

After breakfast you will be meeting your new horses in the coral belonging to Pampa Lodge. You will then be heading out of the Serrano village following the river of the same name south into the inaccessible and pristine area of the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. Today’s ride takes you into some true wilderness landscapes as you ride along river shores in the shadow of the Balmaceda mountain range towards Mt Donose and Glacier Tyndall which you should see in the distance. The terrain will give you lots of opportunities for long canters in some magical lesser known, but truly Patagonian, landscapes.  After today’s exciting ride you will be returning to the lodge and bidding your horses goodbye before jumping in the van for the private transfer back to Puerto Natales. Distance approx 25 kilometres (5-6 hours). Night in the waterside, contemporary Hotel Costanera in the centre of town.  Farewell dinner at El Cormoran de las Rocas. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

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Transfer to bus station or airport for onward travel. Breakfast only.