The Fjord Trail - 3 - $1,495
Trip Summary and Itinerary Map
Day 1: Ride to Lake Brush; Lake Brush Campsite
Day 2: Ride to Glacier Serrano; Hosteria Balmaceda
Day 3: Boat trip on Last Hope Sound ; Puerto Natales
Start from Torres del Paine National Park Administration and end at Puerto Natales
Landmarks visited on The Fjord Trail
Operator's Itinerary
Day 1: Ride to Lake Brush; Lake Brush Campsite
We meet at noon at the Torres del Paine National Park Administration entrance at Río Serrano; from here we'll take a private transfer, crossing the Serrano River and arriving at Aniceto Astorga's farmhouse. There we'll choose our horses to begin a ride to an unexplored valley at the border of Torres Del Paine National Park. We cross several rivers and go through a landscape filled with lakes and wetlands, constantly being surprised by the changing views of the Paine massif and the last glaciers of the Southern Icefield. We'll spend the night here after setting up camp on the shores of Lake Brush.
Length of transfer: 10mins
Length of ride: 4hrs, walking and trotting
Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Lake Brush Campsite
Day 2: Ride to Glacier Serrano; Hosteria Balmaceda
After a hearty breakfast, we'll take to the saddle once more and continue to Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. This largely unknown region is much less explored than neighbouring Paine but is just as magical.
Today's remote trail takes us through humid forests, across rivers and creeks, all with an incredible backdrop of the snowy peaks of the Andes. We'll follow the Serrano River downstream until it empties into the Last Hope Sound and finalise the horse-riding part of our adventure. We'll spend the night in complete remoteness at the cosy Hosteria Balmaceda with an amazing view of Glacier Serrano. Enjoy tonight's wild location with your friendly hosts as tomorrow will see you back in the hustle and bustle of Puerto Natales.
Length of ride: 5hrs, walking
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hosteria Balmaceda
Day 3: Boat trip on Last Hope Sound; Puerto Natales
We'll begin the day by crossing the river into the Last Hope Sound by zodiac boat, letting the wind blow through our hair. Once arrived near the imposing Glacier Serrano at the foot of Mt Balmaceda (2,148m) we'll disembark and take a gently undulating trail up to the face of this beautiful glacier. Take time here to absorb the magnificent sight of one of the rapidly retreating bodies of ice from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
Afterwards, we'll take a larger boat, the cutter, '21 de Mayo' navigating via glaciers and canals to our lunch stop at a small ranch and finally on our way down to Puerto Natales, arriving around 6pm.
Length of excursion: 45mins walk, 3hrs by boat
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch
The Fjord Trail
Prices, Departures and Inclusions
The base price of USD $1,495 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 $1,495 per person
3 people: USD $1,595 per person
2 people: USD $1,695 per person
Departures can be set up on a date of your choice, subject to availability.
Additional Notes
Group size – 8 maximum, 2 minimum
Single supplement – A single supplement is available at a cost of USD $200.
Includes
- Meals: 2 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 2 dinners
- Accommodation: 1 night camping (North Face VE 25 tents, double occupancy basis), 1 night in hosteria (inn) in twin standard rooms
- All private transport indicated in the itinerary
- All horses, saddles and packhorses
- Helmets, leather chaps, leather gloves, saddle bags, dry bags
- Entrance fee to Bernardo O'Higgins National Park
- English and Spanish speaking guide
- Baqueano (local cowboy)
- Navigation from Mt Balmaceda to Puerto Natales
Excludes
- Meals not indicated in itinerary
- Drinks during lunch or dinner
- Accommodation on any additional nights
- Personal equipment (see our recommended kit list)
- Personal travel insurance
- Sleeping bag and mat
- Gratuities/tips
- International and domestic/in-country flights
- Any visa, passport and vaccination expenses
