Highlights of Pumalín National Park
Are you hoping to travel before March 2023?
Patagonia's a big trip and we know how crucial it is to get it right. As you’re considering travelling in the next couple of months, we want to be upfront with you…
Finding available accommodation is proving almost impossible in Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks. While not uncommon, the pandemic has exacerbated the situation this year.
Alongside this, Swoop are also currently focused on ensuring that all of the logistics are in place for our booked travellers who are due to head south shortly.
Swoop has therefore decided to no longer accept any new bookings departing before the beginning of March 2023.
As alternative options, here’s what we suggest:
Option A:
Push your trip back and choose to travel instead in early 2023. April onwards has more accommodation options still available. The Patagonian autumnal colours are stunning and trails less crowded.
Option B:
Defer your Patagonia adventure by 12 months, benefitting by getting exactly the trip you want without compromise, and lock in plans now while there’s still good availability.
If you are able to be flexible on your travel dates, the next step would then be for us to arrange a time to talk through the options.
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I want to travel before March 2023
Unfortunately we can’t currently help with short notice trips to Patagonia. Sign up to our newsletter to get some Patagonia travel advice and inspiration!
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I’m flexible and could travel later
Trip type
Guided Activity
Trip length
3 Days
From
$1,500
Location
Chilean Lakes
Highlights of Pumalín National Park - 3 - $1,500
Trip Summary and Itinerary Map
Day 1: Fly from Puerto Montt to Chaitén; Hike to Glacier El Amarillo; Caleta Gonzalo
Day 2: Hike to Chaitén Volcano; Caleta Gonzalo
Day 3: Return to Puerto Varas
Start from Puerto Varas and end at Puerto Varas
Landmarks visited on Highlights of Pumalín National Park
Operator's Itinerary
Day 1: Fly from Puerto Montt to Chaitén; Hike to Glacier El Amarillo; Caleta Gonzalo
Early in the morning, we'll leave Puerto Varas for the local airport at Puerto Montt for a 45min flight to Chaitén where a vehicle will be waiting to take us to the trailhead. Here we'll start our exploration of El Amarillo area of Park Pumalín with a hike to Glacier El Amarillo.
In the evening we'll drive to Caleta Gonzalo for dinner and enjoy the sunset and view of the fjord from the charming cabins in which we'll spend the night.
Length of hike: 6hrs, 18km, low difficulty
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Cabins at Caleta Gonzalo, Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park
Day 2: Hike to Chaitén Volcano; Caleta Gonzalo
After breakfast we'll explore different sections of the park with a hike to Chaitén Volcano and a hike to Cascadas Escondidas.
Chaitén Volcano is still active and an amazing example of the power of nature. The hike will be a great chance to learn more from our guide about the temperate rainforest and its wildlife with a great variety of flora, interesting and elusive amphibians and, with a little luck, some mammals and birds too.
Hopefully we'll spot pudu (smallest deer on Earth), the Magellanic woodpecker and the Chucao tapaculo, among others.
We'll return to Caleta Gonzalo to relax for the evening.
Length of hike to volcano: 4hrs, 5km, medium-high difficulty
Length of hike to waterfalls: 3hrs, 2km, low difficulty
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Cabins at Caleta Gonzalo, Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park
Day 3: Return to Puerto Varas
We'll depart from Caleta Gonzalo to Puerto Varas to the north-west, driving along the Carretera Austral (Road 7). A ferry will take us from Caleta Gonzalo through the Largo Fjord (45mins) and then after a short drive we'll board a second ferry for a 4hr trip along the Comau Fjord. Finally a third ferry takes us from Caleta Puelche to Caleta La Arena.
The ferry journey is one of the highlights of this trip with spectacular views of mountains, volcanoes and picturesque fishing villages along the shore. We'll arrive in Puerto Varas in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch
Prices, Departures and Inclusions
Prices for the 2022/23 season are:
8 people: USD $1,275 per person
6-7 people: USD $1,413 per person
4-5 people: USD $1,500 per person
2-3 people: USD $1,975 per person
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Prices for the 2023/24 season are: 8 people: USD $1,417 per person 6-7 people: USD $1,569 per person 4-5 people: USD $1,667 per person 2-3 people: USD $2,194 per person
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A departure can be set up on a date of your choice with a minimum of two people, subject to availability.
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Prices are based on accommodation in a double room in a simple guest house; upgrades are available. Please enquire for more details.
Includes
- Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 box lunches, 2 dinners
- Accommodation: 2 nights at Caleta Gonzalo
- Flight Puerto Varas–Chaitén (one way)
- Water to refill reusable bottles
- Professional naturalist guide fluent in English and with Wilderness First Response certificate
- Private transfers from/to Puerto Varas and inside the park
- 100% carbon footprint compensation certified
- Complete equipment for nature observation (telescopes, magnifying glass, pocket microscopes, spotting scopes and torch for nocturnal observation)
- Bilingual editions of nature literature for reference
- Walking poles (upon request)
- Professional driver with license A2
- Ferries, private boat rides and entrance to parks or natural reserves
Excludes
- Meals not indicated in itinerary
- Drinks during lunch or dinner
- Any extra/optional excursions
- Personal equipment (see our recommended kit list)
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities/tips
- International and domestic/in-country flights
- Any visa, passport and vaccination expenses
