Description

Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Pumalín Douglas Tompkins) is a 400,000-hectare (1,000,000-acre) national park located in the Palena Province of Chile. It was established by Tompkins Conservation, led by American business magnate Doug Tompkins and his wife, Kris Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia, Inc. Designated a Nature Sanctuary in 2005, Parque Pumalín was Chile's largest private nature reserve, operating as a public-access park with an extensive infrastructure of trails, campgrounds, and visitor centers. On March 18, 2017, it was announced that the park would be gifted to the Chilean state, making it South America's largest national park.

This venture includes several days of trekking, as well as climbing a 4,600-foot peak via a Via Ferrata. The terrain is steep in some areas, requiring a strategic approach to pacing and time management. No previous experience in trekking or rock climbing is required. However, it is important to note that weather conditions in Patagonia during the summer can change rapidly; strong winds, rain, and snowstorms can occur unexpectedly.

Special Considerations

Participants will embark on a multi-element expedition through the challenging and remote wilderness of Patagonia. Activities include backpacking, route finding, and crossing mountain passes, alongside tent camping. Risks include falling rocks, sunburn, hypothermia, and exposure to the elements over multiple days.

Difficulty 

Participants should have a moderate level of physical training and conditioning for this adventure. While being in good physical shape is recomendable to fully enjoy the program, its diverse activities allow everyone to participate to some extent, regardless of their physical condition. No previous experience in hiking and camping is required. 

Arrival and Introduction

13:30 – Arrival at Puerto Montt Airport (PMC)

15:00 – Transfer from Puerto Montt to Puerto Varas (approx. 35 minutes)

Activities at Hostel:

• Gear check (Minimal details, no purchasing options available)

• Program presentation (overview and introductions)

• General logistics briefing
  

Evening:

• Free time for dinner (on their own, not included)

• Overnight at the hotel in Puerto Varas

Fast boat Journey and Leadership Workshops

09:00 - Ground transportation from Puerto Varas to Charter Flight or Hornopirén (approx. 2 hours)

11:00 - Charter flight or Fast boat  from Hornopirén to Vodudahue (approx. 2 hours)

13:30 - Arrival in Vodudahue, hike to Base Camp

14:00 - Lunch 

Workshops:

• Leave No Trace principles

• Cooking and nutrition (food distribution)

• Navigation and route finding

• Self-care, packing, and wearing your backpack

Evening:

• Dinner

• Overnight San Jose Carpintero (Lodge)

• Pack up camp

• Distribution of food and equipment for trekking

• Begin trekking to High Camp at Douglas Point Mountain (Distance: 11 km / Duration: approx. 8 hours / Elevation gain: 1,200 m)

• Arrival and camp setup

Evening:

• Dinner

• Breakfast at High Camp

• Short trek to the summit of Douglas Point Mountain (Distance: 3 km / Duration: approx. 1 hour)

• Via Ferrata at Douglas Point

• Return to High Camp

Evening:

• Dinner

• Pack up High Camp

• Trek back to Base Camp (Distance: 14 km / Duration: 6–7 hours)

Evening:

• Dinner

• Overnight San Jose Carpintero (Lodge)

• Breakfast at the lodge

• 09:30 – Boat transfer to Porcelana Hot Springs

• 14:00 – Return To Refugio San Jose Carpintero (Lodge)

• Final BBQ

• Overnight San Jose Carpintero (Lodge)

• Breakfast at San José Carpintero Lodge

• 08:00 – Charter Flight or Fast boat from Vodudahue to Hornopirén (approx. 2 hours)

• 11:00 – Ground transportation from Hornopirén to Puerto Montt Airport (approx. 2 hours)

• 13:00 – Arrival at Puerto Montt Airport

Important Note: Please do not book your flight from Puerto Montt to Santiago before 4:00 PM.

End of Program