Explora Patagonia Guided Excursions & Activities

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.").

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 Glacier (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 Lagoons (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.

Contact us to include Explora Lodge in Patagonia, Explora Lodge on Easter Island or Explora Lodge in Atacama in a customized itinerary of travel in Chile.