Chile Trekking: Futaleufu Valley
Single-day and Multi-day Chile trekking vacations from our Eco Camp Tres Monjas in the world famous Futaleufu river valley: scenic volcanoes, spectacular glaciers, snow covered peaks, turquoise rivers, hot springs, alpine lakes, exotic wildlife, temperate rainforests, friendly Chilean culture, and a unique microclimate that surpasses Torres del Paine. For Patagonia Trekking this is the place!!!
Trekking in Chile's Futaleufu River valley allows you to immerse yourself in the spectacular physical beauty of the best kept secret of Patagonia, whose climate is often sunnier and kinder than Torres del Paine National Park. Most of our treks follow along the ‘Ruta de Los Arrieros’. These trails wind around lakes, through river valleys, and if you choose, over high spectacular mountain passes. They are more than just a wilderness experience. The trails are still the routes used by the locals to travel to their isolated ranches or settlements. It can be a wonderful cultural experience of traveling "back in time". Trekking in Patagonia at its best!
The Futaleufu river valley is situated at the southern tip of Parque Nacional Los Alerces, where the headwaters of the Futaleufu river are located in Lago Amutui Quimei. The environs of the Futaleufu region are regulated by the same "rain-shadow" microclimate enjoyed by Los Alerces and often provide better weather for trekking in Chile than points farther south. Futaleufu also provides a great alternative to Los Alerces for trekkers wanting to do multi-day, point to point treks, or treks at altitude because of the restrictions at Los Alerces.
Futaleufu Valley Trekking
Trekking in Chile's Futaleufu Valley from our native wood lodge in the pueblo of Futaleufu. Do a different trek everyday in this spectacular valley and vary the trekking intensity to your liking. Take a day off trekking Chile to explore this alpine pueblo or participate in one of our many multisport activities...
Ruta de Los Arrieros
This is the most unique Chile trekking trip that we offer. Trekkers will get to explore the entire Futaleufu Valley while staying at remote Patagonia ranches and outposts. This trek is a true escape from the modern world and far off the beaten path of regular tourist destinations. On this trip you will have the opportunity to see and experience the real Patagonia ranch culture that rarely hosts outside visitors...
Patagonia Trekking: Torres del Paine
In southernmost portion of Chilean Patagonia, approximately 2500kms from Santiago, lies the internationally renowned Patagonia trekking destination and park of Torres del Paine. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, and on the list to be declared a World Heritage site, Torres del Paine is recognized as one of the most breathtaking, unspoiled places on earth. It is believed that the name "Paine" originates from a Tehuelche Indian word meaning "blue". Thus, Torres del Paine means the "Blue Towers". The spectacular Paine Massif, with peaks Cuernos (Paine Horns) and Grande, dominates the panoramic landscape of the park. For Chile Trekking this is the place!!!
The park itself is host to numerous ecosystems including, calving glaciers, snow-capped mountains, cascading rivers and waterfalls, lush meadows, mirror-like turquoise alpine lakes, Magellenic forests, arid Pampas. You will find from windy grasslands to coihue and lenga tree forests that grow smaller as you gain altitude, resembling a natural Bonsai gardens. The wide variety of ecosystems provide abundant habitat for exotic and endangered wildlife. People Trekking in Chile's Torres del Paine Park can expect to see birds like the Andean Condor, Rhea's, Nandu's (American ostrich), Cara Cara's, and Pink Flamingos and mammals like the Guanaco (relative of the domesticated llama), Gray and Culpeo Foxes and possibly Pumas.
Because the park is located at such an extreme southern latitude there is plenty of daylight (up to 18 hours during the high season of January and February) leaving copious amounts of time for Patagonia trekking and exploration. Trekking in Chile at its best!
Torres del Paine Trekking
Explore the world renowned trekking routes in Patagonia Chile's most famous national park. Torres del Paine is an internationally acclaimed Chile trekking destination with panoramic scenery, exotic wildlife and diverse ecosystems. Trek the park while staying overnight at comfortable Ecocamps, Hosterias and Refugios at night...
Futaleufu & Torres del Paine Trekking Combination
This trekking Chile vacation combines the remote Futaleufu Valley with the classical trekking routes of Torres del Paine. This is the ultimate trekking trip for people who want to experience the true culture of Patagonia Chile while trekking in Chile's most famous national park...
Torres del Paine & FitzRoy Trekking Combination
Take two weeks to explore the classic treks in the two southernmost national parks in the world. This Chile trekking vacation will get you to the most famous locations in these two spectacular parks...
Patagonia Trekking: Cerro FitzRoy
Any Patagonia trekking trip isn't complete without a visit to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares located in Argentina. It is bordered to the west by the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park in Chile and to the east by the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Los Glaciares is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its spectacular location and environmental uniqueness. Glaciers cover about forty percent of the of the park's surface. There are two large lakes (the second and third largest in South America: Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma) and almost fifty major glaciers. The park is home to famous Moreno Glacier, one of the few remaining glaciers in the world that is not shrinking, but growing! The central attraction in the park is the FitzRoy Massif a world famous climbing destination named after the captain of the HMS Beagle, the ship of Charles Darwin. Mount FitzRoy also goes by the name Chalten; it stands at 11,000 ft (3400m). The other major peak in the park is Cerro Torre about 1000 feet lower than FitzRoy.
Trekkers will encounter many ecosystems in Los Glaciares and a wide variety of flora and fauna. The landscape will go from Glaciers to wind swept tundra and pampas (Argentine steppe) to temperate rainforest. It is not uncommon to see condors, guanacos (relative of the domesticated llama), Patagonian hares, Cara Caras, Gray and Culpeo Foxes, Magellanic geese, pink flamingos, and possibly the rare endangered huemel deer.
FitzRoy Massif: Trekking in Los Glaciares National Park
Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO Los Glaciares is Argentina's most spectacular national park. We will explore many of the classic trekking Patagonia routes in the park including the world famous Moreno Glacier. At night we will stay at comfortable hotels or hosterias...
Futaleufu & FitzRoy Trekking Combination
This Chile trekking vacation combines the remote Futaleufu Valley with the classical trekking routes of Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park. This is the ultimate Patagonia trekking trip for people who want to experience the true culture of Patagonia, Chile while trekking in Argentina's most famous national park...
Torres del Paine & FitzRoy Trekking Combination
Take two weeks to go trekking in Patagonia, Chile and explore the classic treks in the two southernmost national parks in the world. This trekking vacation will get you to the most famous locations in these two spectacular parks...
Different Patagonia and Chile Trekking Experiences
The three areas that we trek in Patagonia offer vastly different experiences. For trekkers looking for a two week Chile trekking vacation we recommend a combination trip that includes the remote Futaleufu Valley with the more heavily traveled but just as spectacular Torres del Paine National Park. Trekkers who want to experience a more international flavor can combine the Futaleufu Valley with Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park. Below are some common trekking considerations.
High & Low Trekking Seasons in Patagonia
Because of the international reputation of Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares, as classic trekking areas, the parks have become world renowned tourist and trekking destinations similar to the National Parks in the United States. During the high season Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares can be quite crowded. Los Glaciares being somewhat less crowded than Torres del Paine. Trekkers who prefer solitude and the silence of nature (or a genuine Patagonia cultural experience) should consider a Futaleufu Valley trek or consider trekking in Patagonia's FitzRoy or Torres in the shoulder seasons.
Weather & Climate in Patagonia
In Los Glaciares trekkers should be prepared for windiness and inclement weather. It is not uncommon to see climbers waiting weeks for a break in the weather to climb the FitzRoy Massif. Because Torres del Paine lies west of the Southern Patagonia Icecap it also receives a major amount of inclement and unpredictable weather. Trekkers going to either destination must come prepared with the appropriate gear and attitude should the weather turn against them. The Futaleufu Valley has somewhat better weather but storms do blow in from the Southern Pacific. Quite often changes must be made to our Patagonia and Chile trekking itineraries in response to the weather in the region of these parks. For more information visit our Patagonia weather page.
Intensity of the Trekking in Chile
Our Torres del Paine and Ruta de Los Arrieros treks are rated demanding. Patagonia trekking in the FitzRoy is rated moderate. Trekking from the Futaleufu Lodge can be varied between demanding to easy and can be custom tailored to the individual trekker.
Patagonia Cultural Experience
For a Cultural Experience the Ruta de Los Arrieros trekking trip rates the highest. On that trekking Chile vacation we will visit remote Andean ranches that rarely host outside visitors. The Futaleufu Lodge treks also have a strong degree of cultural interaction. Trekking in Torres del Paine and FitzRoy have less cultural interaction.
Multisport Opportunities in the Futaleufu Valley
In addition to classic Patagonia trekking, the Futaleufu valley offers a wide of array of multisport activities for the active adventurer. On our Chile trekking vacations you will have the opportunity to raft Chile's most famous river, the world renowned Rio Futaleufu. In addition trekkers might want to incorporate any of the following activities in their Chile trekking vacation: sea kayaking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, canyoning, sit-on-top kayaking, mountain biking and fly fishing. Explore our website to review the possibilities.
View the Trekking Map of the Valley
See our calendar of trips: Trekking Patagonia
Downloadable pdf Brochure: Chile Trekking
