DESTINATIONS – Patagonia (Chile)

Starting near the bottom of the world, at the airport in Puntas Arenas in southern Chile, we, as Elder Expeditioners, will spend a week immersing ourselves in the rugged beauty of Patagonia. We will explore some of the world’s most majestic sites where legendary explorers such as Ferdinand Magellan once trod. We will trek the beautiful and unique French Valley. We will come face to face with the imposing spires of Chile’s Torres del Paine. We will kayak in the Strait of Magellan. We will ride horses to lofty heights for unforgettable vistas.

Elder Expeditions is excited about the unforgettable adventures that await us in remote Patagonia where adrenalin pumping experiences are neatly matched with the mental stimulation of watching exotic wildlife including the elegant and omnipresent penguins.

Minimum participants: 2 | Maximum participants: 12

Languages: Spanish. English

Day 1: (Arrival Day)
We will be picked up at the Punta Arenas (Chile) airport by an Elder Expeditions representative. During the evening we will have a chance to unwind before dinner. There will be an opportunity to meet our local guides and discuss the week ahead. Overnight at a hostel in Punta Arenas.

Day 2: (Magdalena Island, Kayaking in the Strait of Magellan)
Morning: After breakfast we will board a boat for the two and a half hour trip across the Strait of Magellan to Isla Magdalena which boasts an amazing penguin population of approximately 100,000. The impressive views from Magdalena include, to the east, the coast of Tierra del Fuego. In front of Isla Magdalena we will be able to spot the deep Bahia Gente Grande (Large People Bay), a name that explorer, Pedro Samiento de Gamboa gave to the bay four centuries ago because of the tall stature of the indigenous Ona tribe.
Afternoon: In the afternoon, following some basic kayak paddling and safety instruction we will head out in our kayaks and paddle along the coast of the Strait of Magellan. There will likely be opportunities to spot some wildlife such as seagulls, sea lions and ducks.
Evening: After our kayak venture we will return to Punta Arenas for dinner and overnight at our hostel.

Day 3: (Transfer to Torres Del Paine)
Morning: After breakfast, we will start our six hour journey by private vehicle across the “pampa Patagonica” to Torre del Paine National Park.
Noon: We will have lunch en-route, in the City of Puerto Natales.
Afternoon: Stops along the way will allow us to enjoy the local sights, flora and fauna. In the afternoon we will arrive at the National Park and at our Hosteria accommodation.

Day 4: (Hiking to the Base of the Towers)
<Morning: After breakfast we will head out in our private car for our trekking starting point where we will begin our hike to the Accencio Valley. After a brief stop at the Refugio Chileno, we will continue our trek through a forest of native lenga (beech) trees until reaching the glacial moraine.
Afternoon: From this point we have an hour to go until we reach the top where the spectacular three pink towers appear from nowhere.
Evening: After savoring this unforgettable vista of the celebrated towers with the glacial lake backdrop, we will return to our hosteria for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: (Hiking through the French Valley)
Morning: After breakfast we depart the hosteria as we begin an incredible day of hiking through some majestic and unforgettable scenery. Our first stop will be the Salto Grande waterfall. From there we will cross Lake Pehoe (“Hidden Lake” in the Tehuelche Indian language) by catamaran to reach the starting point of today’s trek through the French Valley.

Afternoon: Surrounded by hanging glaciers (where we will hear and see the ice calving at various intervals) and an amphitheater of granite walls and spires, the French Valley is the most beautiful in the Park and one of the most unique in the world.

Evening: Once again crossing Lake Pehoe by catamaran, we will return to our hosteria for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: (Horseback Riding, Navigation through the Serrano River, Bernardo O’higgins National Park)
Morning: After breakfast it’s off to Porteria Serrano where we will be assigned horses commensurate with our riding ability and experience. After some instruction for those not familiar with the joys of horseback riding we will set out for three glorious hours viewing the incredible vistas of the Paine Massif. (The maximum allowable weight to participate in the equestrian activity is 120 kg / 250 pounds.)
Afternoon: After a picnic lunch it’s off to the Serrano River where we will board a zodiac boat for the return to Puerto Natales and the traditional Patagonian barbecue that awaits us.
Evening: After our long and exhilarating final full fay in Patalgonia, we will return to our hosteria for the night.

Day 7: (Departure Day)
After breakfast we will begin our 248 km (150 mile) return journey to the Punta Arenas Airport. After lunch we will bid farewell to our host and to this spectacular region on the bottom of the world.

Trip Extenstions
If you wish to extend your trip with a visit to other parts of Chile or to Argentina, either before or after your Patagonian adventure, ELDER EXPEDITIONS is available to assist you in formulating your plans.

2012 DATES
February 5 to February 11, 2012
September 23 to September 29, 2012

For solo travelers in single rooms, tour prices range from $2365.00 per person if there are twelve confirmed travelers to $3500.00 per person if there are a total of two travelers in the group. Between twelve participants and two participants, a sliding scale determines the per person rate.

For those traveling together and sharing a room, tour prices range from $1975 per person if there are twelve confirmed travelers to $3500.00 per person if there are a total of two travelers in the group. Between twelve participants and two participants, a sliding scale determines the per person rate.

The stated price includes all transportation described in the above itinerary from the meeting point at the Punto Arenas Airport on Day 1 to the return to the Punto Arenas Airport on Day 7, all lodging, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 7, all activity and safety equipment.

The stated price does not include gratuities, beverages, or items of a purely personal nature. A per person deposit of $1500 is due at the time of booking. The remaining balance is payable thirty days prior to Day 1 of this expedition.

LODGING

We will be housed in hostel type lodgings with private baths.

At all times we will be accompanied by an English speaking host / guide who is thoroughly familiar with Patagonia.

The activities on this trip do not require any particular experience or skill level. Participants should be prepared for the eight to ten hours of hiking, covering approximately 10 miles, through the French Valley on day 5.

To maximize your Chile experience, Elder Expeditions suggests that you bring along a spirit of fun and adventure as well as an open mind and a willingness to try something new.

Elder Expeditions recommends that all participants engage in a physical conditioning and fitness program as part of trip preparation. Our fitness partner, Fit for Trips®, provides custom designed fitness programs designed especially for the activities of each of our ELDER EXPEDITIONS vacations.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Participants who are nationals of countries other than Chile are advised to check with the Chilean embassy (or a Chilean consular office) in their home countries to determine the applicable passport / visa requirements.

As of the time of publication, U.S. nationals planning to enter Chile for tourism must have a valid U.S. passport that is not mutilated or damaged. U.S. nationals entering Chile for tourism do not need a visa. A Tourist Card, valid for ninety days, will be issued upon arrival. $140, payable in U.S. currency or by credit card will be collected at the Santiago airport. YOU MUST SURRENDER THE TOURIST CARD UPON DEPARTING CHILE. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN DEPARTURE DELAYS.

For additional information, visit the Embassy of Chile website:

You may also contact the Embassy of Chile at: 1732 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036; (202-785-1746).

Elder Expeditions recommends that your passport be valid for a period of six months after the date of your anticipated departure from Chile.

If your travel plans include stopping in any other country, even in transit, Elder Expeditions recommends that you check the entry documentation that may be required by such other countries.

No inoculations/vaccinations are required to enter Chile, unless you are coming from a country where Yellow Fever is present; in this case you may be required to show a current vaccination. All participants are advised to have a current tetanus shot. Elder Expeditions recommends that you consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/travel/ or your personal physician to consider whether you wish to get shots for typhoid, hepatitis, and other diseases.