Excursions from Explora Lodge Patagonia - Patagonia Hotels

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Excursions from Explora Lodge Patagonia

1. Hike to the Peninsula of Lago de Grey
   EASY
   Itinerary: A short, half-day hike. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Rio Paine, Guardería Lago de Grey. On foot to the suspension bridge of Rio Pingo, Peninsula of Lago de Grey. Return.
   Attractions: Hike through mature forests of lenga. View of the magnificent Glacier de Grey. Icebergs next to the beach.

2. Hike to Glaciar de Grey
   DIFFICULT
   Itinerary: Full day, including picnic. Depart from Salto Chico by motorboat to Lago Pehoé, Refugio Pehoé. On foot to Refugio de Grey, Glaciar de Grey vista-point of Campos de Hielo Sur. Return.
   Attractions: Beautiful views of Glaciar de Grey and of Macizo Paine Grande. Icebergs, walk through forests, rivers and brooks. Great vista points.
   Note: The possiblility of crossing by motorboat is always dependent on the weather.

3. Horseback Riding to Laguna Verde
   MEDIUM
   Itinerary: Full day, including picnic. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Corrales ( Park's administrative office). By horseback to Quebrada La Feria, Laguna Honda, Laguna Verde, Estancia Lazo. Return through Mirador Alto del Toro.
   Attractions: Dense lenga forest and many small lakes. Spectacular view of Cuernos del Paine and Lago Toro.

4. Hike to Las Alturas Del Toro
   MEDIUM
   Itinerary: Short half-day hike, including snack. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Quebrada La Feria, Alturas del Lago del Toro, Weberbridge. Return.
   Attractions: Mature lenga forests, lagoons, unforgettable view of the enormous Lago del Toro with its deep blue color, emerald waters of Rio Paine and golden plains of the valley of Rio Serrano. Condors.

5. Excursion to the north of the park, with stop at Laguna Azul and Barbecue at the Quincho.
   EASY
   Itinerary: Full day, including a Magallanes-style barbecue lunch of lamb and vegetables. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Waterfalls of Rio Paine, Guarderia Laguna Amarga, Laguna Azul, Rio de Las Chinas, Quincho explora. Short tour through the area. Return.
   Attractions: Easy and enjoyable exploration and the delicious barbecue. Along the tour it is possible to see a variety of fauna: guanacos, nandues, condors, foxes, ducks, geese, etc. Waterfalls of Rio Paine.

6. Hike to Mirador de Nordenskjold
   EASY
   Itinerary: Short half-day hike, including snack. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Refugio Pudeto. On foot to the shores of Pago Pehoé, Salto Grande, Lago Nordenskjold, Mirador Nordenskjold. Return.
   Attractions: Great views of the spray and roar of the falls of Salto Grande. Breathtaking view of all of Valle del Frances, Macizo del Paine Grande, Cuernos del Paine. Close-up views of guanacos and condors.
   Note: Strong wind.

7. Hike to Mirador del Toro
   EASY
   Itinerary: Short half-day hike, including snack. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to the shores of Rio Paine. Walk uphill to Mirador del Toro. Downhill to Posada Rio Serrano, Park Administrative Headquaters. Return.
   Attractions: Interesting and complete scientific information about the geography, geology, fauna, and flora of the Park presented by the CONAF park rangers. Observation of birds, local fauna and characteristic elements of the regional aquatic flora. View of Lago Toro, Rio Serrano and Rio Grey flanked by large mountains such as Cerro Ferrier, Cerro Donoso and others.

8. Hike Through Las Cornisas
   MEDIUM
   Itinerary: Short half-day hike, including snack. Depart on foot from Salto Chico to Cerros del Sud-Este, Mirador de los Condores, Cornisas, Mirador Alto Conaf, Quebrada La Feria. Return.
   Attractions: During the winter, flocks of guanacos can be found along the path; all along the way there are views of the southeast section of the Park, including Lago Pehoé, Lago Nordenskjold, Cuernos del Paine, Valle del Frances and different lakes. Nesting areas of the condors and a walk through the Cornisas to Mirador Alto which drops to Quebrada La Feria, remarkable for its small lakes and forests.

9. Hike to Laguna Verde
   DIFFICULT
   Itinerary: Full day, including lunch. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Quebrada La Feria. On foot through the shoots of the forest and by many small lagoons in a unique landscape Laguna Honda, Laguna Verde, Estancia Lazo. Return by minivan.
   Attractions: Spectacular view of Cuernos del Paine and the south shore of Lago Sarmiento with its bizarre lime formations.
   
   

10. Hike to the Glaciar del Valle del Frances
    MEDIUM
    Itinerary: Full day, including picnic. Depart from Salto Chico by motorboat to Lago Pehoé, Refugio Pehoe. On foot to Lago Skottsberg, Valle del Frances, Italian camp-site, Mirador del Glaciar. Return.
    Attractions: Valle del Frances is one of the favorite places in the Park, penetrating into the Cordillera del Paine. Marvelous view of the Cuernos del Paine, the Macizo Paine Grande (3,050 m), the Cerro Paine Grande, the Glaciar del Frances, the Lago Nordenskjold and numerous other lakes and lagoons.
    Note: The possibility of crossing by motorboat is always dependent on the weather.

11. Horseback Riding Around the Granite Circus of Valles Del Frances
    DIFFICULT
    Itinerary: Full day, including picnic. Depart from Salto Chico by motorboat to Refugio Pehoé. By horseback to Valle del Frances, Laguna Skottsberg, italian camp-site. On foot to Campo Morrenico del Ventisquero del Frances, British camp-site. Return.
    Attractions: The Valle del Frances, a favorite place in the Park, which penetrates the Cordillera del Paine. Marvelous view of the Cuernos del Paine, the Macizo Paine Grande (3,050 m), the Cerro Paine Grande, the Glaciar del Frances, the Lago Nordenskjold and numerous other lakes and lagoons. Spectacular granite walls at the end of the valley form, among others, the Cerros Espada, Hoja y Máscara, with an impressive view looking back over the difficulty of your completed journey.
    Note: This exploration includes a short training session on horseback riding the day before, for those who require it. The possibility of crossing by motorboat is always dependent on the weather.

12. Hike to the Base of the Towers of Torres Del Paine National Park
    DIFFICULT
    Itinerary: Full day, including picnic. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Rio Paine, Guarderia Laguna Amarga, Estancia Cerro Paine, Cerro Almirante Nieto. On foot to Valle del Rio Ascensio, Chilean camp-site, forests, Torres camp-site, vista point from the Lake towards Torres del Paine. Return.
    Attractions: One of the most complete and challenging explorations that can be done in the Park. Habitat for many animals and birds; lakes of many colors. View of the imposing Almirante Nieto (2,640 m). View of Lago Nordenskjold, Laguna Amarga and Rio Paine. Century old lenga forests and one of the best view of the famous Torres del Paine.
    Note: The exploration demands an extra degree of physical effort.

13. Archeological Hike Between Guarderia Sarmiento and Guarderia Laguna Amarga
    EASY
    Itinerary: Short half-day hike. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Guarderia Lago Sarmiento. On foot along the northern limits of the Park, Primitive paintings, Guarderia Laguna Armaga. Return.
    Attractions: The exploration allows a wide overview of the landscape. Primitive paintings of the Tehuelches, native inhabitants of the region, can be observed on the rock walls. Abundance of guanacos and the expectation for a visit from the puma.
    Note: Normally offered before the Quincho barbecue.

14. Hike to Lago Sarmiento
    EASY
    Itinerary: Half a day, including snack. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Lago Pehoé, Largo Nordenskjöld. On foot to Lago Sarmiento shores. Return.
    Attractions: Bizarre lime formations on the shore, and, during the winter, guanaco flocks on the way.

15. Horseback Riding to Refugio Pehoe
    MEDIUM
    Itinerary: Half a day, including snack. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Corrales (Park's Administrative Office). On horseback to Las Carretas camp-site, Río Grey, Refugio Pehoé. Return. Motorboat across Lago Pehoé.
    Attractions: Spectacular view of Macizo del Paine and Lago Pehoé.
    Notes: The possibility of crossing by motorboat is always dependent on the weather. This exploration requires basics horseback riding experience.

16. Horseback Riding on the Quincho
    MEDIUM
    Itinerary: Half a day, including snack. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Guardería Laguna Amarga, Cascada Paine, Laguna Azul, Quincho explora. On horseback to Río de Las Chinas, ñirre and lenga forests, return to the Quincho.
    Attractions: Spectacular view of Sierra Baguales, Torres del Paine, Río de Las Chinas.
    Notes: Normally offered immediately before or ater Quincho barbecue.

17. Hike to Laguna Azul
    MEDIUM
    Itinerary: Half a day, including snack. Depart from Salto Chico by minivan to Guardería Laguna Amarga, Cascada Paine, Laguna Azul. On foot to Laguna Azul shores, Torres del Paine vista-point.
    Attractions: Relaxed contemplation of lenga and ñirre forests, views of the Torres del Paine and Laguna Azul.
    Notes: Normally offered before or after the Quincho barbecue.

Explora reserves the right to alter, change, or omit part of the explorations itinerary, without prior notice, whether necessary or advisable for the well-being of its guests.