Torres del Paine 4 days Kayaking and horseback riding to glacier Gueikie in Patagonia Chile

Lake and Glacier Gueikie - Torres del Paine Patagonia

ADVENTURE TOURISM COMPANY

Day 1

Early in the morning, the kayak guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Torres del Paine National Park. When we arrive to the Serrano River Sector, the guide will pass out kayaks and personal equipment, while you listen to an instructive talk on safety and how to paddle a sea kayak.

We begin paddling the first leg of the Serrano River, an ideal place for you to familiarize yourselves with the equipment and paddling techniques. After about 1.5 hours, we reach Salto Serrano (a geologic depression that makes for strong water rapids), which requires us to carry the kayaks about 100 meters.

Depending on weather conditions and the fitness of the group, we continue down river another 2.5 hours, until we reach the camp site, or perhaps we may even head directly to the Guerrero family estancia. During the trip, we can appreciate the Southern Patagonia Ice Field, the Paine Massif and Mount Balmaceda in addition to local birds and typical Andean forests of the Magellan region. Dinner.

Day 2

Very early after eating a good breakfast and breaking camp, we paddle for about an hour to Estancia Anita. Here, we exchange our kayaks for horses, and we set off with the local cowboys of the estancia on a horseback ride to Glacier Gueikie.

Because of its geographic isolation, the Glacier Gueikie is still a real secret to many, even though it is one of the most beautiful in the region. We will visit the three most impressive lookout points, with plenty of time to take memorable photos.

At Lake Gueikie, we will seek out the perfect lunch spot on the beach, beside huge icebergs. After lunch we can ride beside the icebergs, snapping some of the most excellent, unique photos of Patagonia. This is undoubtedly one of the best excursions in the region, due to the impressive glacial landscape and the feeling that we are the only humans in this isolated corner of Patagonia Torres del Paine National Park.

When we return to the estancia along the Serrano River, we will enjoy an excellent asado dinner (barbecue beef, typical of the region) with the Guerrero Family. Accommodation is in simple huts with an outdoor bathroom, no showers.

Day 3

Early in the morning, after a good farewell breakfast with the Guerrero Family, we continue to paddle the second leg of the Serrano River. The river picks up waters of other rivers flowing down from the mountains, slightly increasing our speed.

After about two hours, we leave the calm waters of the river and enter the open waters of Última Esperanza Fjord. Within a few minutes we reach our camp site for the night, located in Puerto Toro, the gateweay to Bernardo O'Higgins National Park and Glacier Serrano Patagonia. Here, we set up camp and eat lunch.

In the afternoon—weather permitting—we will paddle in the waters of the fjord until we reach Glacier Balmaceda. We will visit great waterfalls within the thick vegetation, synonimous with the Chilean fjords. Back at camp, we can appreciate Glacier Serrano, a huge mass of ice flowing into the Serrano Lagoon below it. Dinner.

Day 4

Early in the morning after a good breakfast, we set out to paddle among icebergs in the Serrano Lagoon, until we reach the front of Glacier Serrano’s vertical wall—paddling only as close as is safe. After this impressive navigation in kayak, we paddle back to camp and get ready to load the kayaks onto the boat 21 de Mayo. We then sail back through Última Esperanza Fjord to Puerto Natales. During the voyage we will see Glacier Balmaceda again, as it tumbles from the summit of Mount Balmaceda into the sea. We stop for 1.5 hours to enjoy a typical Patagonian lamb barbecue at Estancia Perales. After lunch, we continue navigating through Última Esperanza Fjord, reaching Puerto Natales around 18:00. Transfer to hotel.