Pingo Valley & Zapata Peak Trek
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
4 Days
From
$1,195
Location
Torres del Paine
Pingo Valley & Zapata Peak Trek - 4 - $1,195
Trip Summary and Itinerary Map
Day 1: Transfer from Puerto Natales; Trek through Zapata Valley; Zapata camp
Day 2: Explore Ichthyosaurus fossil graveyard; Zapata camp
Day 3: Trek to Cerro Zapata summit; Zapata camp
Day 4: Trek to Lake Grey; Transfer to Puerto Natales
Start from Puerto Natales and end at Puerto Natales
Landmarks visited on Pingo Valley & Zapata Peak Trek
Operator's Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Puerto Natales; Trek through Zapata Valley; Zapata camp
An early morning transfer will collect you from your hotel in Puerto Natales and drive you to Torres del Paine National Park. After entering the National Park, we’ll continue our drive to Lake Grey from where we begin our 6hr hike to the Zapata Valley, the most ancient valley of Torres del Paine.
This is an extremely quiet place and our group will experience the tranquility of trekking alone, accompanied only by stunning scenery, and perhaps the watchful gaze of foxes, woodpeckers and huemuls (Andean deer) that live here.
We'll share the weight of our shared equipment, carrying food and tents between us. A group porter and cook will carry the portable toilet and cook meals while we're at Zapata camp. This is a remote camping experience – a basic camp with no hot water – but the reward is the views of Torres del Paine’s wild landscapes on all sides. Upon arrival, we set up camp, settle in and relax with a hearty evening meal.
Length of transfer: 2hrs
Length of hike: 6hrs, 14km
Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Zapata camp
Day 2: Explore Ichthyosaurus fossil graveyard; Zapata camp
Today we'll trek to rocky slopes near Glacier Tyndall, the site of a valuable paleontological discovery – 46 ichthyosaurus fossils. An ichthyosaurus was dolphin-like 'fish lizard' that lived between 245 million and 90 million years ago in the Mesozoic Era. Adult and embryo specimens are visible, and there are the likely remains of a 'pack' that was entombed by a catastrophic mudflow that rushed into the underwater areas where they hunted. A variety of fossilised remains can be uncovered in this region, which used to form the sea-bed before the upthrust of the Andes moutnains.
We'll make our way back to Zapata camp via the same route and share a meal. Tonight we'll take it easy as tomorrow’s hike will be the most challenging of the trip.
Length of hike: 12hrs, 8km
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Zapata camp
Day 3: Trek to Cerro Zapata summit; Zapata camp
Our day begins at around 4am and our destination is the summit of Cerro Zapata (1,590m/5,220ft). This is not a technical hike, but it is long and it requires trekkers to interact closely with the landscape: navigating through forests of native trees, crossing snowy terrain and bouldering across giant rocks carved out by glaciers.
The summit of Cerro Zapata has superb 360° views of Patagonian scenery. It's surrounded by lakes, glaciers, mountain ranges and the Southern Patagonian Icefield. The peak is an excellent viewpoint for glaciers and the lakes they flow into. From here we can see Glaciers Grey, Tyndall, Geikie, Pingo, Olguín (and others still unexplored) laid out below us.
We'll take the same route on our return to Zapata camp.
Length of hike: 12-14hrs, 26km
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Zapata camp
Day 4: Trek to Lake Grey; Transfer to Puerto Natales
This morning we'll pack up our camp and start our return hike to Lake Grey. This takes us across the grassy steppe and undulating slopes of the valley and takes in energy-boosting views of the Paine Massif. You might be lucky enough to spot some of the region's characteristic wildlife such as the Huemul deer or Magellanic woodpecker as you hike in solitude through this area. At the end of our hike we’ll meet our driver, who will transfer us back to Puerto Natales.
Length of hike: 6hrs, 14km
Length of transfer: 2hrs
Meals: Breakfast
What our customers think of Pingo Valley & Zapata Peak Trek
Review:
Prices, Departures and Inclusions
The base price of USD $1,195 per person is based on a group of 4-8 people
The trip price varies depending on group size as shown below:
4-8 people: USD $1,195 per person
3 people: USD $1,395 per person
2 people: USD $1,595 per person
Departure dates available on request. Please contact us to discuss your preferred date.
(Prices valid until April 2022)
Additional Notes
Joining & departure instructions –
Please arrive in Puerto Natales on the afternoon before for your trip
starts for your group briefing. It is also recommended that you plan to
stay in Puerto Natales when you finish your trek. If you would like help booking your pre/post-trek arrangements please just let us know.
Group size – 8 maximum, 2 minimum
Group equipment – Hikers will share the weight of the group equipment, carrying the food and tents between them. A group porter and cook will carry a portable toilet and prepare all your meals.
Includes
- Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinners
- Accommodation: 3 nights at Zapata camp
- All private transportation as indicated in the itinerary
- Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park
- 4-season tent (double occupancy)
- 1 porter (to carry portable toilet)
- Cooking equipment
- English and Spanish speaking guides
Excludes
- Meals not included in itinerary
- Drinks during lunch or dinner
- Accommodation on additional nights
- Backpack (day-pack/65ltr minimum size)
- Personal equipment (see our recommended kit list)
- Personal travel insurance
- Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
- Gratuities/tips
- International and domestic/in-country flights
- Any visa, passport and vaccination expenses
