Getting Closer, Planning side trips

As of today - 39 days to go.

Booked side trip to Otway Penguin Colony.

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I sent an email asking:  Only 59 days.... Time to get serious about the

Hosteria Lago Grey, Patagonia Excursions.

We would like to book #4, - BOAT EXCURSION TO THE GREY GLACIER (4 HRS) for the two of us for November 24th. I don't have a feel for which of the 3 times (0900,1500 or 1800) would be best so I am open to the travel agent's suggestion of which one to do. Which sailing is most likely to have the better weather? Does the sun shine on the glacier more spectacularly in the morning or early or late afternoon?

We are thinking about doing 9. - TOUR OF PAINE WATERFALLS AND LOOKOUT POINTS (8 HRS.)on November 26th. Neither of us are up to a major hike and I can't tell from the description how much of the trip would be spent hiking. Can we wait for a while before deciding? Or perhaps after we get down there? Does it fill up early? Once upon a time November 18th seemed so far away. Now it's less than two months. Yikes! Thanks for your ongoing help. ==================================================================

This is what the Pacific Tours agent has to say in response to your email: I do think it would be best to arrange the tours once they get down there. With the exception of the boat excursion to the glacier, they do not offer every tour every day, mainly because they don't have enough guides to do that. So it's entirely possible that the waterfalls might not be available on the 26th, but on the 24th instead or something like that. However the "trekking" on that excursion is not strenuous at all. It's mostly just walking from where the van gets parked to the lookout point. While some of it may be uphill, it is not to difficult or long at all. This is a pretty good map of the area: . You can see the Mirador Condor lookout near Hosteria Pehoe and the Mirador Cuernos just above "Pudeto (for Catamaran)". This is where the trekking takes place, and I've been there and it's mostly flat in that area of the park.

As for the boat excursion, the sun is out for a really long time down there in November, so it doesn't make too much of a difference which time you go on the excursion as far as the sun shining on the glacier. Depending on the weather is could be a little foggier in the morning. I would say the early afternoon might be best as the sun would be strongest at that time (assuming it's sunny on that day) and pretty much directly overhead. The glacier flows from north to south and the cruise approaches from the south. You can see that on the left side of the map I linked you to above.

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EXCURSIONS SEASON 20011 / 2012

HOSTERIA LAGO GREY

HALF DAY

1. - WALK TO FERRIER MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT POINT (4 HRS.)

The Ferrier Mountain, located next to Hostería Lago Grey, offers an unforgettable tour for hiking and trekking lovers. The summit is located 1.559 meters above the sea level and physical condition is required. For those who are not able to reach the summit, a panoramic lookout point is located at 600 meters above sea level, walking trough abundant vegetation. At the time we are getting higher, the landscape starts to open itself to the walker, allowing you to enjoy the rivers, lagoons and icebergs in the Grey Lake. Up here we will be able to see the Pingo and Grey glaciers and the Macizo Paine.

This four hour tour is an incredible opportunity to see the Torres del Paine National park from a very different point of view.  Rate per pax USD$ 75

2. - WALK TO MARGARITA AND MARCO ANTONIO LAGOONS (2 HRS)

The retreat of the millennium ice in the valley of the Grey Lake left a dramatic trace in the slopes of the high peaks that surround it. This ancient glacier also left behind its frontal moraine, which can be seen just a couple of hundreds meters away from the hostel. In the lowest part of the moraine we find the Laguna Margarita and, on top of it, the Laguna Marco Antonio. Surrounded by beautiful Patagonian vegetation, many species of birds inhabits these lagoons, thus turning the place in a perfect destination for a smooth hike. The duration of this walk is about 3 hours, considering that they are many places to enjoy the fantastic views of the lakes, the Grey Glacier and the spectacular Paine mountain range.  Rate per pax USD$ 75

3. - WALK TO GREY CANYON AND THREE LAGOONS PANORAMIC LOOKOUT POINT (3 HRS.)

During thousands of years, the rock has been eroded by the wind and water, creating a canyon over 30 meters high. After a short walk we will be able to get to the edge of these big walls, called the Echo canyon.

After a short walk we will be able to enjoy the three lagoons panoramic lookout point, where the Grey Lake, the Pehoe Lake, Valle del Frances (French valley) and the Nordenskjöld Lake can be seen.

After around three hours we will be back at Hosteria Lago Grey. Rate per pax USD$ 75

4, - BOAT EXCURSION TO THE GREY GLACIER (4 HRS)

Three times daily at 09:00, 15:00 and 18.000 approximately we will sail to the base of Grey glacier. After one hour of navigation witnessing beautiful landscapes, we will reach the Grey glacier, which is the most important glacier inside the Torres del Paine National Park. We will sail right up to the front wall of the glacier giving you great photographing opportunities.

At present this huge natural wonder is over 25 meters high, has stunning colors and shapes and the mysterious sounds that come from the inside makes it an overwhelming and spectacular natural event.

We will navigate at the front of the glacier for almost one hour, at the same time enjoying a drink with millenary glacier ice.

Our vessel, the Grey II, offers the passenger the ideal comfort for this kind of tour. It can take 50 passengers comfortably seated; it has wide windows, heated inside cabin and passenger bathrooms.

The deck allows us to get the most spectacular pictures, and our guides and the crew will be our hosts and friends during this marvelous trip. Rate per pax USD$ 136

5. - WALK TO THE PINGO VALLEY (3 HRS.)

The Pingo River valley offers multiple attractions and surprises. If we don’t have enough time to reach the waterfalls of Pingo river, a soft trekking will lead us to the stream called Los Salmones (the salmon stream).

This place, hidden behind Patagonian vegetation, the river spills its crystalline water into small bowls carved in the rock, surrounded by a spectacular background. Rate per pax USD$ 75

FULL DAY

6. - TREKKING TO THE PINGO RIVER WATERFALLS (8 HRS.)

After three hours of soft hiking, we will arrive to the Pingo river waterfall, which comes down among abundant Patagonian vegetation giving the surroundings a spectacular touch. After enjoying a box lunch we will start our return to the Hosteria Lago Grey. On our way we will stop by the Salmon stream, where some carved rocks became beautiful and curious natural bowls. Rate per pax USD$ 150

7. - VALLE DEL FRANCES (FRENCH VALLEY) TOUR (12 HRS.)

After a transfer to the Pudeto area, we will sail in a catamaran to Lodge Paine Grande on the other side of Pehoe Lake. We will continue on an easy, beautiful trek for two hours towards campamento Italiano (the Italian camp) which is situated in the middle of the forest. If our physical condition is optimal it is possible to reach Campamento Británico (the British camp), which has a majestic view of the Paine Grande massif. This trek offers you fantastic views of the French valley with its glaciers, forests and moraine formations.

We return the same way to Hosteria Lago Grey. Rate per pax USD$ 300

8. - BASE OF TORRES DEL PAINE (12 HRS.)

A transfer will take us to Hosteria Las Torres and this place will be our starting point to the base of Torres del Paine. First we will walk until we come to the Refugio Chileno (the Chilean refuge) which will take us about 2 hours. After this we continue through the forest until we reach the Campamento Torres (the Towers camp) after another 1½ hours. Once we reach this camp we will be close to the last moraine between us and the magnificent lookout point. When we arrive to the base, a small lagoon will show us the reflection of the magnificent granite Towers of Paine. This is one of the most known places in Patagonia, especially if you would like to get an unforgettable picture from this National Park. After enjoying our lunch we will return back the same way to Hosteria Lago Grey. The trip can be done either by trekking or a combination of horseback riding and trekking. This trip requires good physical conditions as it is an eight hour walk with steep ascents and descents. Rate per pax USD$ 260

9. - TOUR OF PAINE WATERFALLS AND LOOKOUT POINTS (8 HRS.)

Torres Del Paine is a place where surprises are awaiting for you in every corner. This tour is ideal for visitors who would like to enjoy the most magnificent places inside the Torres del Paine National Park. Throughout our day we will have many possibilities to see the abundant wildlife inside this park; guanacos, condors, nañdus, Chilean flamingos and black necked swans to name a few. We will also have many opportunities to get close to the flora and get pleasure from many beautiful flowers and plants.

We will departure from Hosteria Lago Grey via bus and go towards the Administrative center. In here we will get information about the National Park. Afterwards, if the weather allows it, we will stop for a 1½ hour trek and visit to the Condor hill lookout point. The view from this place lets us enjoy the splendor of Lago Pehoé (the Pehoe Lake) and Cuernos del Paine (the Paine Horns). As this area is well known as a condor nest, it will not be difficult to see the majestic flying condors.

After this stop we will continue towards Salto Grande which is the park’s largest waterfall. After enjoying this great scenery we will trek to the Paine Horns lookout point where we will have excellent, close up views of the horns. In the bus we will then move to the northeastern side of the park to Laguna Azul (the Blue Lake). Here we will eat our lunch while overlooking Torres del Paine (the Towers of Paine). After this it is time to drive back to Hosteria Lago Grey and we will pass the Laguna de los Cisnes (the swan lagoon) were it might be possible to see black-necked swans; Chilean flamingos and other birds. Rate per pax USD$ 260