Fall Colors in Patagonia Lodge Based Trip
Puerto Natales, Chile
Trip Highlights
- A Photographer's Dream
- Fall foliage in April
- Cozy Lodging
- Glacial Lake Kayaking
- Glaciers, Spires, Wildlife & More
- Scenic Boat Tours
- Fantastic Chilean Cuisine
Description
Come join us for a lodge-based, multi-sport exploration of Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia! Seven days and six nights in duration, this trip is a fantastic choice as a stand-alone trip or for guests looking to add some adventure to a longer South American visit. Featuring amazing hikes, scenic boat shuttles, a half day of kayaking, and wonderful lodging that puts us right in the action, we provide an all-around experience of Torres del Paine in a relatively short amount of time. Highlights of this tour include glaciers, glacial-fed rivers, turquoise lakes, towering granite spires, unique wildlife, amazing views, and invigorating hikes! Your guide will give you the opportunity for sunrise and sunset photography to really capture the beauty of Patagonia’s autumn colors. With lighter packs and private hotel accommodations, this is a great alternative to our hut-to-hut W Trek or O Circuit trips. This Patagonia Lodge Based trip covers much of the W Trek but with a bit more luxury with private, ensuite lodging, gourmet food, and lighter day packs.
**Looking to make the most out of your time in Patagonia? We have you covered with our 2-night Villa Serrano Add-On Package that includes 2 more nights at our charming and intimate lodge in the heart of Patagonia. All meals and transportation are included, and we have optional activities such as kayaking, horseback riding, fly-fishing, or spa you may choose to book. Further explore Patagonia and enjoy some well-earned relaxation!
From $1225 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
The single supplement on this trip provides for single rooms at all hotels during the trip.
If you’re travelling on your own and would prefer double occupancy, please let us know and we will do our best to pair you with a roommate. If we’re unable to, then the single supplement fee will apply.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
Torres del Paine National Park is not a high elevation park, so although this tour has hikes with significant elevation gain and loss, elevation is not a factor. What gives this trek a Level 3 difficulty is the length of the hikes – three hikes are over 10 miles, and one of those is a 13 mile day. This trip falls between a 3 and 4 difficulty level.
Hiking Distances:
Up to 13 mi
Backpack Weight:
8-12 lbs
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 3,180 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 8-10 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on variable, uneven terrain
- Potential for harsh, rainy and extremely windy weather conditions.
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
We rate this Patagonia hike a solitude 2. You can expect to have as much as an hour of solitude at a time while hiking.
Minimum of 2 Guests
We require a minimum of 2 guests to confirm this trip. If a trip date is not confirmed yet, you can register and will be notified when the trip is officially confirmed. We recommend not making final travel arrangements until your trip meets the minimum number of guests and is confirmed.
In most cases, if a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, or be refunded your payments in full. We make the final determination for these trips 65-60 days before the departure date.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group or family!
In many areas we can run trips with group sizes larger than our normal capacity of 12 guests. There’s no minimum number of guests on a private tour, and in many cases, we have flexibility around minimum age as well.
For all international trips outside the United States, we quote private trip requests on a case by case basis. Please complete the form below to inquiry about a private tour.
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ITINERARY
Day 1
On this Patagonia hiking tour, we will pick you up at the airport in Puerto Natales, Chile. Depending on what time you arrive, you’ll have time to rest or explore the town before we meet for our orientation where we will review the upcoming days, issue gear, and get to know one another. We will then toast to the adventures ahead and enjoy our first Patagonia dinner together.
Important Note: When you enter Chile, you will be issued a document called a PDI (tourism card). Please do NOT throw this away. You will need it to exit the country and nearly every lodge we stay in also asks for a copy.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 9.3 mi (15 km)
- Elevation Gain: 820 ft (250 m)
- Elevation Loss: 985 ft (300 m)
- Trekking Duration: 5-6 hours
- Driving Duration: 1.5 hours
Today we depart Puerto Natales after breakfast and head towards Torres del Paine National Park. Our drive takes us to the region’s biggest lake, Mirador Lago Toro. The views from this lake of the Torres del Paine massive are a great introduction to the types of sweeping autumnal landscapes we’ll experience throughout our coming days. Upon arrival at the lake, your guides will give an overview of the natural and cultural history of the area. Our hike today starts directly from the lake and ends at our lovely lodging by the Rio Serrano. This hike is off the beaten path, full of solitude, and showcases well the Patagonia environments you came to enjoy. Once arriving to our remote lodge, we’ll join our awaiting luggage, get checked in, and relax before dinner together.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 11.8 mi (19 km)
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2524 ft (740 m)
- Trekking Duration: 7-8 hours
- Driving Duration: 1 hour
After an early wake-up call and scrumptious breakfast, we’ll depart the lodge. Our objective today is quite possibly the most popular hike in Torres del Paine National Park. Our early start will let us beat the crowds on the trail to this iconic destination. We begin our trek to the Ascencio Valley, while having views of the stunning Ascencio River. We will come to Refugio Chileno (a backcountry hut) and have a break for water and snacks. We then continue through a beautiful forest of native Lenga (Beech) trees and keep hiking until we reach a glacial moraine (a ridge made from debris pushed out by the glacier). From the moraine, we trek another hour until we reach the most impressive Torres del Paine rock spires! Our views of the iconic granite towers and turquoise glacial lake are absolutely breathtaking, and they are the features that made this park world-famous. After our hike we will head back to the Villa Serrano, where we will enjoy another night at our cozy and elegant lodge.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 5 mi (8.1 km) *optional hike
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2780 ft (847 m) *optional hike
- Elevation Loss: 2780 ft (847 m) *optional hike
- Trekking Duration: 3-4 hours
- Driving Duration: 1 hour
This morning after breakfast, we will drive roughly 30 minutes to Grey lake, where we will have the opportunity to kayak for the morning, if weather conditions are in our favor. We begin our paddle on the Pingo River in an area full of icebergs that have broken off of Grey Glacier. It’s absolutely magical to paddle around floating blue icebergs in Patagonia! After we have seen the icebergs, and if the weather allows, we’ll continue down river via kayak back to our lodge, where we will have lunch and change into our trekking clothes. We then begin hiking to our special Two Glacier Look Out Point. This is a special and lesser-known hike that leads us to an awesome vantage point to see Grey and Tyndall Glaciers. This hike is optional, and if you prefer, you may relax at the lodge.
Due to occasionally harsh weather conditions, the kayaking is not always possible and will be substituted by an alternative activity if not possible.
Day 5
- Hiking Mileage: up to 13 mi (20.9 km)
- Elevation Gain/Loss: up to 2953 ft (900 m)
- Elevation Loss: 2953 ft (900 m)
- Trekking Duration: 7-9 hours
After another breakfast with breathtaking views of the Paine Massif in front of us, we transfer to Pudeto and cross lake Pehoe by catamaran. Today we explore the famous French Valley, one of the most picturesque valleys in Torres del Paine National Park with hanging glaciers and awe-inspiring granite walls and spires. With any luck we’ll witness glaciers calving and hear the resulting natural symphony echoing throughout the granite amphitheater. Today’s lengthy hike is through the French Valley and up to a stunning viewpoint to witness the spectacular surrounding mountain vistas. We will then descend back to Lake Pehoe, board our catamaran, and travel back to Villa Serrano for some free time before dinner.
Day 6
- Boat Excursion: 2.5 hours
- Driving Duration: ~3 hours
After breakfast we will say goodbye to Villa Serrano and board the Grey III catamaran for a 2.5-hour boat tour of the lake, glaciers, and mountain views. The boat gets up close and personal to Grey Glacier and there is an option for a Chilean pisco sour served with glacial ice as we absorb the majesty of our surroundings. We will enjoy lunch in the near the boat harbor. We then start our return to Puerto Natales. Along the way, we’ll stop to explore the Milodon Cave Natural Reserve. This reserve is surrounded by magnificent snowcapped mountains and glacier-colored fjords. Here we can learn about of the beginning of the Holocene era (12.500 years BC), where the early human settlers to this region first left remnants of their presence. We’ll follow the coast of the paleo-lake of the Last Hope Fjord, here we visit various caves and learn about how the settlers lived and survived in this area. We’ll savor our final celebratory dinner together in Puerto Natales.
Day 7
After breakfast, our shuttle driver will deliver you back to the airport in Puerto Natales. Thank you for choosing Wildland Trekking!
Villa Serrano Add-On Package
Looking to make the most out of your time in Patagonia? We have you covered with our 2-night Villa Serrano Add-On Package that includes 2 more nights at our charming and intimate lodge in the heart of Patagonia. All meals and transportation are included, and we have optional activities such as kayaking, horseback riding, fly-fishing, or spa you may choose to book. Note that this package begins on Day 6 of this itinerary. Further explore Patagonia and enjoy some well-earned relaxation!
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however occasionally trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to: extreme weather, availability of refugios, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more. Also, the kayaking portion on this trip is weather-dependent and not guaranteed; we will substitute alternate activities in the case kayaking is not possible. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- A detailed trip packet that takes the guesswork out of your travel, training, packing, and preparing for the trip
- Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
- Transportation for the duration of the tour starting on Day 1 and ending on Day 7
- Lodging for the duration of the tour
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 7)
- Use of a day pack and trekking poles
- Kayak equipment and local kayak guides for one day (weather permitting, not guaranteed)
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
- Transportation to/from Puerto Natales, Chile
- Trip insurance that includes medical coverage and at least $30,000 in evacuation and repatriation coverage (required in Chile)
- All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. flight cancellation, personal illness, strikes, etc. (we recommend trip insurance coverage for these variables)
- Bar bills, drink bills, telephone bills, Wi-Fi bills, and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
- Clothes, rain gear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries, water bottles, headlamp/flashlight and personal items
- Guide gratuities are optional and at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 5-10% of the total trip cost. Local currency is preferred, or USD is also appreciated; Gratuities for kayak guides (recommended $25-$50 per kayak guide)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
This Patagonia hiking tour features a combination of meals at hand selected restaurants in Puerto Natales, trail lunches prepared by your guide, and meals served by the incredible chefs of our lodge in Villa Serrano.
In addition, we provide you with an assortment of trail snacks (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, & cookies) to eat at your own discretion. Common trail snack brands and items found easily in the US are not readily available in this destination (i.e. protein bars, trail bars, beef jerky, etc.). We recommend guests that prefer these types of trail snacks to bring a few of their own choice items from home.
We can often accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee, and in some countries may be more difficult to accommodate than others. Please inquire with us for more information about the specific trip you’re interested in.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Backpacks
- Trekking poles
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Trip Logistics
How do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
We will meet you at the Puerto Natales Airport (Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport/ PNT) on Day 1 and transport you to our first night’s hotel. The group will meet at 5 pm in the lobby for our orientation meeting. Please plan for flights to arrive no later than 4 pm on Day 1.
Our pre-trip support team will be in contact approximately 45 days before your trip to coordinate your rendezvous and answer any last-minute questions you have.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to/from Puerto Natales
Start/End Location: Puerto Natales, Chile
Closest Airport: Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport (PNT) in Puerto Natales, Chile
We recommend flying directly into Puerto Natales, Chile for this trip. LATAM Airlines, Sky Airline, & Jet Smart offer direct flights from Santiago to Puerto Natales.
Day 1: Please arrive no later than 4 pm on Day 1 into Puerto Natales. Our Patagonia team will rendezvous with you at the airport and transport you to our hotel. An orientation meeting, dinner, and accommodations are included on Day 1.
Day 7: You are welcome to depart anytime today. Breakfast is included.
Flights to and from Puerto Natales are the guest’s responsibility.
Alternate Airport: If you choose to fly into Punta Arenas (PUQ) — a 3 hour’s drive from Puerto Natales — you can arrange for a local bus to transfer you to Puerto Natales. Below are some recommendations. These are comfortable coach busses, and the process is easy to navigate. The website can be viewed in both English and Spanish. The cost is roughly $10-$12 per person and must be purchased online in advance. If you choose to take the bus from Punta Arenas, instead of flying directly into Puerto Natales, we will pick you up from the Puerto Natalies bus terminal and transfer you to the first night’s hotel.
Important Note: When you enter Chile, you will be issued a document called a PDI (tourism card). Please do NOT throw this away. You will need it to exit the country and nearly every lodge we stay in also asks for a copy. It is also a good idea to take a picture of it, front and back.
Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Puerto Natales as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guides
Our approach to international travel is to combine the best of two worlds: the dialed-in details, professionalism and consistency Wildland trips are known for; and the cultural immersion and intimate regional knowledge that only locals can provide. To excel with this approach, we vet and hire the best local guides, welcome them into the Wildland family and train them to meet our standard of excellence with every aspect of a trip. But along with managing logistics and safety, your guides will teach you about the area’s history and culture, and provide a level of familiarity and intimate detail only locals can.
Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case-by-case basis
Trip Insurance
Field evacuation (minimum coverage of at least $30,000), repatriation, and medical trip insurance is REQUIRED as a condition of partnership terms with our Patagonian vendors.
We recommend IMG/iTravelinsured. They are one of the world’s leading providers of travel insurance and policies meet all requirements.
For information on the recommended IMG/iTravelinsured policies please click here.
If you already have the required insurance or wish to purchase from anyone other than IMG/iTravelinsured, we recommend careful consultation with the provider to ensure appropriate coverage. This is because many providers have a number of policy exclusions.
Weather In Patagonia
Chile is a long, thin country extending North-South more than half the length of South America which gives it a tremendous diversity of climates. The Patagonia region of Chile, where we operate our trips, is at the far southern tip of South America, relatively far from the equator and close to the South Pole. It is a generally cool climate with potential for year-round inclement weather including rain, snow, sleet, and very strong winds.
The average temperatures and precipitation in the Patagonia region are:
| Month | Hi | Low | Precip |
| October | 51° F | 37° F | 5 in |
| November | 55° F | 40° F | 5.6 in |
| December | 57° F | 42° F | 7.2 in |
| January | 59° F | 44° F | 5.1 in |
| February | 58° F | 43° F | 3.8 in |
| March | 55° F | 41° F | 4.9 in |
| April | 50° F | 38° F | 5.8 in |
Accommodations
HOTEL REMOTA
0-2 Nights
The beautiful Remota Lodge is a charming refuge in the vast wild spaces of Chilean Patagonia. Guests are welcomed to the owners’ great house, which is cared for with love and dedication. Featuring more than 22,000 square feet dedicated to relaxation and rejuvenation, a heated pool and saunas, bar, lounges and an exceptional restaurant, this lodge is a wonderful way to start our Patagonia adventure.
HOTEL NATALINO
0-2 NIGHTS
This modern, comfortable hotel, with architecture that evokes the form of Patagonia’s natural landscapes, is a premier accommodation in the town of Puerto Natales. Just a couple years old, and with all the amenities, it is a fantastic place to prepare before, and rest after, our Patagonia trek.
(heated pool)
KAU RIO SERRANO
4 NIGHTS
This wonderful, boutique lodge is near the village of Serrano on the shores of the Serrano River. The setting is stunning, and the location is perfect for exploring Torres del Paine on a lodge-based tour. KAU translates to “home” in the Tehuelche language and the hotel has been designed to feel like home by including a beautiful and comfortable living room to enjoy a drink or read a book while with the Paine Massif as the backdrop. Each room has an individual bathroom and shower for the occupants of that room.
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
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