Sierra Maisle Overview
Length: 1 day
Difficulty: Medium
Activity: Hiking
Hiking Group size: max 6 people
This full day program will take you to the east side of the National park Torres Del Paine; Laguna Azul (the blue lagoon). This name will not surprise you due to its strong blue color. This little paradise is full with all kinds of birds and has guanacos grazing next to the road. Looking over the lake you can see the three iconic Torres Del Paine standing in the distance, surrounded by the other impressive mountains of the Paine massive. Not far away from here, we will look for the indigenous cave paintings left behind long ago by the people that used to live in this area.
2022-2023 Prices
What's Included:
2-3 guests: USD $ 200 per person
4-6 guests: USD$ 160 per person
Experienced/ certified guide
All day transportation
Bird/ plant field guide
Picnic Lunch
Tea/Coffee/Maté
***Your trip does not include:
*Entrance to the park
Personal Equipment and trekking gear ( clothing, daypack)
Alcoholic beverages
Travel insurance
Personal first aid
Tips
* Are you entering the park beforehand? You can stamp your entrance ticket on your way out. This way your entrance ticket is still valid during the following three days.
Detailed Itinerary
All participants will be picked up at their hotel / hostel between 7:30 and 7:45. We will start the day driving to the National Park Torres del Paine through the west road that leads to Laguna Azul. This route will take us through the Patagonian steppe and the small village of Cerro Castillo, known as a traditional village of the region. After this 2-hour drive, we head to the north- east and make our way to Laguna Azul. This is where we start the hike, which leads up the ¨Maisle Mountain range¨. This trail will take us through open green fields for about 30 min arriving to a high looking out point with an amazing open view. During this hike, we will have many opportunities to spot some of the Patagonian flora and fauna. When arriving back to our transportation we will be able to take a walk through the small forest area surrounding the west side of the lake to enjoy a tea/ coffee and a snack. After this break, we make our way towards the park entrance called Laguna Amarga while having a stop at the impressive waterfall Paine. Here we will be able to explain how the fresh water from the Southern Patagonian Ice field makes its way the Chilean fjords. Short after passing by the entrance of the National park, we will stop high up the hill to hike the trail called, “Portería- Portería”. As this trail connects the two park entrances (“Porterías”) Laguna Amarga and Sarmiento. During this hike, we will have the chance to see some of the Patagonian mammals like the guanaco, the grey fox and even the chance to spot a Puma. Our main destination will be the cave paintings, heritage that the extinct indigenous people left behind. After a 3-hour round trip trek, we get back to our transportation from where we start the 2-hour drive back to Puerto Natales, arriving there around 18:00.