HOSTERIA LAGO GREY
At
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
FULL
DAY
Hiking to the Rio Pingo Waterfall
(6 Hrs.)
This relatively flat, easy walk through lush vegetation follows
the Rio Pingo for the first half of the trek and joins up with
the river at these beautiful falls. Stop at the Chorillo de
los Salmones ("small spout of the salmon.").
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| Guanaco Crossing |
Valle
del Frances Hike (12 Hrs)
Cross Lake Pehoe and hike through forest landscape with spectacular
glaciers descending from the mountains above you to the imposing
Valle del Frances. After crossing the source of Grey River in
our Zodiac boat you will follow a path that will take you to
the Pehoe sheltering area. If conditions and time allow, you
can reach the Campamento Britanico (Britain Camp), a spectacular
spot from where you'll be able to see the Torres del Paine up
close.
Trek
to the base of the Towers (12 Hrs.)
Travel on foot or horseback through the Ascencio Valley toward
the base of the Torres del Paine. Traveling through dense forests
you will eventually dismount and continue on foot to a lagoon
whose waters reflect the imposing granite needles of Torres
del Paine.
Horseback
Riding to Laguna Verde (8 hrs)
Along the 2-hour horseback ride, you will observe a variety
of fauna and flora with Los Cuernos (the horns) in the background.
Upon arrival at the Hosteria Mirador de Paine, a hot stew or
barbecued lunch will be served.
Paine
Lookout (8 Hrs)
Hike to the lookout point of Cerro Condor (Condor Hill) where
you will have a spectacular sight of the Lake Pehoe area and
the horns (Los Cuernos). A large number of Condor nests are
found here, so it is not uncommon to spot these majestic birds
in flight. Observe Salto Grande del Rio Paine waterfall and
continue to another vantage point of the horns.
Rio
Serrano Descent (8 Hrs)
Board Zodiac boats and cruise down the meandering course of
the river. In the distance, you will be able to observe beautiful
Geike and Thyndal Glaciers, which are part of the Southern Ice
Field. Continuing downriver, you will disembark at a pier and
follow a path takes you to the foot of the Serrano Glacier's
massive ice wall, where you will perhaps see ice blocks calving
from the wall into an inner lagoon surrounded by dense lengas
and coigües.
HALF
DAY
Boat Trip to Grey Galcier (3 Hrs)
The
Grey Glacier is the most magnificent of all the glaciers in
the park. At present, this imposing natural wonder constitutes
an edge of the Great Southern Ice Field and can be admired in
all its glory with the Hosteria's boat, the Grey II. The cruise
passes through the floating icebergs and approaches the Glacier's
front wall, which is divided in two by a central island, where
you may disembark.
Hike
to Lookout Point and Monte del Ferrier (4 Hrs)
Although the summit is located at almost 5,000 ft and mountaineering
experience is required to ascend it, those with average physical
abilities can reach the lookout at 2,000 ft. You will hike through
a meandering landscape full of lakes, mountains and lush vegetation,
arriving at a point where you can identify many of the park's
lakes as well as the Pingo and Grey Glaciers.
Hike
around Margarita and Marco Antonio Lagoos (4 hrs)
Located a few hundred yards from the hosteria are the Margarita
and Marco Antonio Lagoons. Surrounded by lush vegetation and
home to a vast array of birds, these lagoons are an ideal destination
for light hiking and nature watching.
Hike
to the Grey River Canyon(3 hrs)
Fed
by the lake and glacier of the same name, the Rio Grey has carved
a deep canyon with vertical walls more than 90 feet high. This
short, easy hike begins at the hosteria and takes you to the
base of these big walls along paths through lush vegetation.
Zodiacs
around the Icebergs to the Lookout Point (1½ hrs)
In the event that conditions prevent the navigation to the Grey
Glacier, this enjoyable alternate trip is offered. Cruise to
the source of the Grey River and navigate between the bergs.
Disembark at the lookout area. From here, you follow a path
to a lookout point from which you can view the Glacier and the
Torres del Paine.
