One of the best times to enjoy hiking in Patagonia is in March. On this 9-day, all-inclusive adventure, we will enjoy hiking in one of the most beautiful regions on the globe. Patagonia covers both Argentina and Chile. This adventure will include hiking on the Chilean side, home to the world famous, Torres Del Paine National Park. 

CLOTHES

• Layers: long sleeve, short sleeve, and a warm fleece. The seasons are opposite of us so it will be their summer, but it still gets chilly down south. The key to surviving Patagonia’s notoriously unpredictable weather is layering. 
• Light down jacket
• 1 or 2 pairs of trekking pants
• Yoga pants are my favorite hiking outfit. They’re stretchy, very light, pack small, and dry very quickly.
• Hiking socks. I recommend packing wool socks or Patagonia. They don’t absorb odors, dry quickly, are very durable, and help to prevent blisters.
• 1 rain pant and rain jacket
• 1 synthetic lightweight jacket that I can hike with if it gets cool but not cold
• 1 down jacket
• 1 pair of flip flops or slippers for walking around
• Underwear
• Bra and sports bra
• 2 hats (sun hat + beanie)
• 1 buff / facemask
• Sunglasses      
• Comfortable clothes such as yoga pants. We will not be going anywhere fancy and people tend to just wear casual, comfortable clothes in Patagonia.
• 1 nice outfit if you wish for dinner
• Bathing suit
• Pajamas
• Compression socks for the plane

TOILETRIES

• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Shampoo and condition if you choose
• Deodorant
• Face cream and sunscreen
• Nail clippers and file
• Tweezers
• Brush
• Chap stick
• Medications-Prescriptions
• OTC medications
• Medical Kit that includes ibuprofen, paracetamol, plasters, a bandage for sprains, arnica cream, blister plasters, cream for insect bites and stings, rehydration sachets, hydrocortisone cream and allergy tablets.
• Hand sanitizer
• Wipes
• Toilet paper/ tissues for hiking. Not all bathrooms have toilet paper.
• Hair ties
• Anti chaffing cream if you are prone to chaffing.

OTHER

• Trekking poles, especially if you are worried about your knees. There are steep inclines on the W trek and it is over 13 miles long.
• Power bank/ for charging up your mobile phone.
• It’s also essential to have an adapter(which has both two rounded and two flat pin settings as some places in Argentina have the latter, while Chile has the former: Type C (Chile) and Type C and I (Argentina). You can order one off Amazon.
• Copy of passport and of course, your actual passport. Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after your trip date.
• Hydration pack/ day pack. For day hikes you’ll need a small and comfortable day pack to carry only essentials, snacks, and water. Osprey packs are great. You want a bladder that can hold plenty of water for the day you are hiking over 13 miles. The rest of the days, you will be fine with a water bottle.
• Hiking shoes with ankle support. Never go on a long-distance trail with brand-new hiking boots; trust me, it’s a recipe for disaster (and fierce blisters!). Break them in with a number of shorter hikes beforehand! Hiking shoes are the most important item on your Patagonia packing list. You’ll spend most of the day wearing them. Make sure your shoes are waterproof, breathable, have good grip – sometimes you walk on muddy slippery terrain, it good – you have some space to wiggle your toes,  and good quality – won’t fall apart after one hike.
• In addition to my hiking boots, I’ve recently invested in a pair of Teva sandals. Not only are they incredibly comfortable and ideal for walking around.
• Hiking poles are also invaluable as they can help take some of the pressure off your hips and feet when you’re walking, particularly along parts of the W trek and other steep trails.
• Pack of cards
• Reading material
• Travel insurance for Patagonia. This is mandatory. We recommend World Nomads or Allianz. Please bring a copy of the policy for your reference.
• Neck bag. I’d highly recommend packing a neck wallet for Patagonia to carry your documents, money, and phone. We always keep our documents and credit cards in our neck bags not only hiking but on long bus/train journeys or when flying.
• Debit card, credit card and cash ($100 or so). You can take out money from the ATM when you arrive.
• Small bills for personal tipping.
• Reusable Water Bottle. To save money and to eliminate waste while traveling, pack a good-quality, reusable water bottle.
• Vaccine cards
• Download the XE app on your phone to know the conversion for the money.
• Pen for customs forms and it's always good to have a pen.
• Headphones
• Ear plugs
• Eye mask
• A few plastic bags. This might seem random but having one or two plastic bags actually comes in handy while traveling. If you have a wet bathing suit or dirty clothes, it’s much more convenient to store them in a plastic bag until you reach your next destination.

Please keep up to date with entry requirements for Chile: https://cl.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 

Questions about refunds or cancellations? Click here to view our payment and cancellation policy.

The deadline to book an international retreat is 30 days before the retreat begins; however, some exceptions can be made based on availability. Email us at contact@walkerwellnessretreats.com to inquire about booking after the deadline has passed.

Amy Walker will greet you at the airport in Santiago. 

Please arrive no later than 7:00 am in Santiago. We will depart on the 11:58 am flight to Puerto Natales, Chile. Flight time is just over 4 hours. Baggage fees must be paid at the ticket counter when you check in for this flight.

Flight Details:

Sky Airline 421

Santiago to Puerto Montt

↗ 11:58 am GMT-3

↘ 1:46 pm GMT-3

Flight time 1 hr, 48 min

Sky Airline 421

Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales

↗ 2:23 pm GMT-3

↘ 4:24 pm GMT-3

Flight time 2 hr, 1 min

The retreat officially starts at the welcome dinner/ orientation at 7:30 pm. Breakfast and lunch will be on your own this day. 

Free time until dinner. 

7:30 pm welcome dinner at Afrigonia Restaurant, followed by a welcome orientation.

Overnight stay at Hotel Costaustralis. 

We will pick you up early in the morning at your hotel and go to the Pudeto area to cross Pehoé Lake in a catamarán towards the Paine Grande refuge.

From there, we will begin our walk, heading to Grey Glacier's viewpoint to enjoy a view of this mass of ice that emerges from the Southern Ice Field. Then, leaving back Lake Pehoé, we will arrive at "Quebrada de Los Vientos," just before reaching a sector of large rounded rocks from where the south beach of Gray Lake is visible, usually populated by ice.

We will continue walking for approximately 2 hours, in the northwest direction by flat terrain with small lengas, to reach an area of about 450 masl. We will find abundant vegetation just half an hour before the Grey Refuge. Afterward, we will cross a bridge over the river Olguín, located on a river's boxed section. After 15 min, a short descent will take us to the refuge where the look point is.

From the refuge, we will take the ferry back to meet our driver. You will see stunning blue glaciers along the route back. 

8:30 pm dinner at Cafe Kaiken.

Overnight stay at Hotel Costaustralis. 

After an early morning pickup from your hotel in Puerto Natales, you will go on a scenic drive through Torres del Paine National Park to hike up to Base Las Torres.

Upon arrival at the Las Torres sector, we will take the road that heads to the Valley, and after 10 minutes of walking, we will get to an old pendant bridge that crosses the Ascencio river. Then, about 150 meters further, we will see a bifurcation and take the left path leading to Base Las Torres.

Following a winding and green slope and after an hour of walking, we will pass by the Chilean Campsite. We will continue walking until reaching the foot of the moraine that gives access to a viewpoint. Afterward, we will continue hiking, ascending among the rocks. Finally, the path will become steeper and steeper as we approach the most fantastic view of the three towers: Central, Monzino, and Dagostini.

After taking some pictures and enjoying lunch at the base of the Towers, we will begin our descent.

At the end of this experience, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Duration: 13 hours
Difficulty: High

We will not be getting back until late this day. So we will grab something quick for dinner, as I am sure you will all be exhausted. 

Overnight stay at Hotel Costaustralis. 

Today, we will pick you up at your hotel to go on a tour that unites two of the Torres del Paine National Park entries. This tour makes it possible to visit a little-known and beautiful area which is usually perfect for wildlife observation. In addition, its scenery and its unique environment make it a remarkable place to stay.

After entering the park through the Lago Sarmiento gate, we will begin our walk on a gentle slope with a side view of the imposing Sarmiento Lake and its adjoining lands, where the region's largest predator (the Puma) usually hunts.

After an hour of walking, we will reach a place that used to be frequented by groups of hunters known as one of the first populations that arrived in Patagonia. Here, we will be able to observe cave paintings that are more than 6,000 years old and learn a little more about the local history. Later, we will continue our walk with a frontal view of the Paine Range towards Blanquillos Lagoon, a nesting and feeding place for different endemic bird species of Patagonia.

After 2 hours of walking, we will arrive at Laguna Amarga, the direct access to Torres del Paine National Park. Then, we will return to the vehicle to visit the beautiful Paine Cascade. Here, we will have free time to enjoy our box lunch with a frontal view of the granite towers. Then, we will continue towards Cañadon Macho, where it is possible to observe large groups of guanacos that live with species such as the Ñandú, the Gray Fox, the Condor, the Black Eagle, etc.

After enjoying the final views of the day, you will be taken to your hotel.

Duration: 9 hours
Difficulty: Low

* You will walk 7 kilometers. It takes about 3 to 4 hours.

7:30 PM dinner at Angelica’s restaurant as a group.

Overnight stay at Hotel Costaustralis. 

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure, followed by a check out of the hotel. 

Today we head to Puerto Natales bus station for a 3-hour bus to Punta Arenas. Transport by Todos from the hotel to the bus station.

The bus departs at 11:00 AM taking about 3 hours and 15 minutes. It is scheduled to arrive at 2:15 PM. You can take the 5-minute walk to the hotel from the bus station, or a taxi can be arranged for you to Hotel Cabo de Hornos.

Punta Arenas is the southernmost Chilean city at the Magellanic Strait and the leading port for Antarctic cruises and scientific research. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, Punta Arenas was the most crucial maritime crossroad between the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean; thus, the city grew as a commercial center surrounded by European-type buildings. Colorful houses stand out from a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

Free time until dinner.

6:00 PM dinner at San Telmo Restaurant.

Overnight stay at Hotel Cabo de Hornos.

Breakfast at your leisure.  7:20 AM pick up by Kipaventour.

Today we take a ferry to Magdalena Island, located in the center of the Strait of Magellan, north of Punta Arenas, home to one of the largest colonies of Magellanic Penguins, exceeding 150,000 specimens!

The excursion begins crossing the waters of the mythical Strait for approximately 2 hours. Once on the island, you can disembark for about an hour to walk and interact with the colony and visit the Lighthouse, which is located in the same place.

Duration: 5 hours with shared services.

3:00 PM lunch as a group in town after the excursion.

7:30 PM dinner at La Luna Restaurant.

Overnight stay at Hotel Cabo de Hornos.

Breakfast at your leisure. Today we take the 1:11 PM flight back to Santiago. The flight is approx. 3-hours. Pick up for the airport by Patagonia Planet at 11:00 AM.

Flight Details:

JetSmart 330

Punta Arenas to Santiago

↗ 1:11 PM GMT-3

↘ 4:36 PM GMT-3

Flight time 3 hr, 25 min

Upon arrival in Santiago, the hotel will provide a shuttle service. A driver will be waiting with a sign of Hyatt Place Santiago Vitacura in Terminal 2 Gate 4. 

We'll check into the hotel and enjoy some free time before dinner.

7:30 PM Dinner as a group at Restaurant Miraolas. 

Overnight stay at the Hyatt Place hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. After breakfast, our local guide Carolina will pick us up from the hotel at 10 AM. Then, we will enjoy a 5-hour tour of Santiago.

We will head downtown in a comfortable private vehicle with a professional driver during our tour. First, we will visit Plaza de Armas (the main square), La Moneda (the president's seat), the Supreme Court, and Santa Lucia Hill. Then, if you'd like to stretch your legs, we will walk through Mercado Central (fish market) to see varied seafood from the Pacific Ocean. We might even have a quick tasting in one of the market restaurants. Next on our route is the Bellavista neighborhood and San Cristobal Hill, with a beautiful city overview.

ITINERARY:

˜ We will visit the main sights of Santiago, including:
- Plaza de Armas
- Mercado Central (fish market)
- Metropolitan Cathedral*
- Supreme Court*
- La Moneda (seat of the president) exterior visit only.
- Santa Lucia Hill
- Bellavista neighborhood
- San Cristobal Hill (city overview)

7:30 PM Farewell dinner as a group at Lolita Jones Restaurant.

Overnight stay at the Hyatt Place hotel.

Breakfast at your leisure. The retreat officially concludes after breakfast.

Depart at any time. Amy will arrange transportation to Santiago airport for your flight back home. 

Thank you so much for choosing us for your adventure to Patagonia!