As a result of being in Torres del Paine, you will need to exit Torres del Paine. During your time in the Park, maybe you completed the W Trek? On the other hand, maybe you enjoyed the luxury of a top-end, all-inclusive hotel? In all cases, we are the local experts with over 30 years’ experience creating Patagonia travel itineraries. Therefore, we hope that you will let us create for you the itinerary of your dreams.
We offer you an alternative and exciting way to get from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales.
Assuming that we have arranged your itinerary, and therefore your accommodation in Torres del Paine (TDP), we will set up the transfer to get you from your hotel in TDP to the embarkation point at the jetty in Serrano village. However, this will require an early start, especially if your hotel is over the other side of te Park. For example, embarkation time is at 07:30hrs. Therefore, if you are staying at Hotel Las Torres, for example, you need to be ready for departure at the hotel at 06:00hrs. However, this is a good time to spot the wildlife of Torres del Paine.
Once at the Serrano village jetty, you will be handed wet weather gear that will go over your clothing as well as a life vest. In other words, you will be protected from spray from the river and the rain, if it is raining. Above all, you will also have the added safety of a life vest.
Luggage and Cars
We understand that some clients will have a lot of luggage with them, and possibly even a rental car. For this reason, we have the logistics figured out. For example, we will arrange for your car and / luggage to be taken to Puerto Natales and be there your arrival. During your navigation this will be happening “behind the scenes”. In addition, we can deliver your bags to your hotel in Puerto Natales, as long as we have booked the hotel for you.
Therefore, there are a lot of advantages to having all your arrangements being handled by one company. In Conclusion, our aim is to make life easier for you, so you can enjoy your experiences and relax.
Most importantly, we can build this excursion into any Torres del Paine Itinerary we make for you, but we do not offer this trip as a standalone.
Note: We offer this activity to be built into your main itinerary and not as a standalone.
Operated between September to April
Subject to local weather conditions
FULL REFUND IF TRIP CANNOT BE OPERATED
Note: We offer this activity to be built into your main itinerary and not as a standalone.
Most people make their way from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales on the bus, or by private transfer. However, we offer you a chance to go up the Serrano river. In other words, a different way to get from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales as a full-day excursion that serves as a unique transfer service at the same time.
Above all, we now wish to keep your adventure going, even as you exit Torres del Paine, and head towards Puerto Natales. Considering that the excursion also comprises two parts it involves variety as well. For instance, one part is on board a fast-speed zodiac that races along the river to the sector where Rio Serrano disperses into the Ultima Esperanza Fiord. And, the second sector is on board a catamaran that then navigates along the Ultima Esperanza Fiord to Puerto Natales.
This Activity is in Two Sectors
Part one, is in a fast-speed zodiac that goes from Serrano village to the Serrano glacier. Moreover, the trip takes about 1.5hrs down the meandering Serrano River until arrival to a place where the Serrano Glacier comes down into a lagoon. In other words, this first sector is one of adventure.
Moreover, the second sector is in a catamaran, from the jetty at Serrano Glacier to Puerto Natales. Consequently, this part is more of a traditional boat trip, but in one of the most amazing parts of Patagonia.
Sector 1 - The Zodiac
Once embarkation has been completed the zodiac will navigate down the Serrano River. Consequently, the route is going away from Torres del Paine, speeding along the river, passing by the riverbanks where the forest meets the river border, or animals stop and look, and mist graces the mountain tops. Moreover, after about 1.5hrs, which passes quickly, you will see blobs of blue and white nestled in between mountain peaks. In other words, glaciers. Above all, you will see the Serrano glacier.
At this point the zodiac will pull in and moor up for passengers to disembark. Moreover, you will have the option to walk through a lovely, native wood and to the lagoon the other side. Most importantly, at the far end of the lagoon is the Serrano Glacier coming down a gully from the summit, right down to the water’s edge. Therefore, in the lagoon are icebergs that have broken from the glacier. Consequently, the scene is very pretty. Therefore, please make sure you have a way to take some pictures.
After about an hour enjoying the view, passengers will return to the jetty and board the catamaran for the next navigation. In other words, from this point you will be enjoying a more traditional-style boat trip, but through stunning scenery.
Sector 2 - The Catamaran Part
The catamaran will “set sail” for the trip back to Puerto Natales along the Fiord of Last Hope. Moreover, for those who make their way to the back (the stern) of the catamaran you will see clear evidence of Global warming. As a result, the Balmaceda glacier, which used to come down to the waters edge has receded greatly, to leave behind an almost “polished”, orange-coloured rock base. Moreover, this orange rock, combined with the vivid green foliage of the trees either side, and with the blue hue of the glacier, together, form a beautiful picture.
Also, around this point, if you look back up the Serrano River, as long as the day is clear, you will see the enormous “Cuernos” de Paine. Therefore you will be looking at at the two big “horns” in the Torres del Paine Massif, which is, effectively, right back from where you started your navigation in the morning.
As a result of the Serrano Glacier breaking into icebergs that float in the lagoon, during the time when everyone was at the lagoon taking in the view, crew from the catamaran will have been breaking off some millennial ice. Consequently, for the return trip you will be offered a whisky with ice that formed thousands of years ago.
To Puerto Natales
As the navigation settles into its rhythm, each side of the fiord you will notice incredible rock formations. At first glance it is difficult to comprehend, but there are layers of sedimentary rock that used to be horizontal, but now are bent into “U” shapes or put into the vertical.
For this reason, it is bewildering to imagine what forces were necessary to bend the rock in such a way. Consequently, with all this beauty around, please do not forget to bring a camera or cell phone, because there is a photo opportunity around every corner. As a result of bearing witness to such incredible geological forms, it becomes clear that Chile has endured many earthquakes in its history.
After about an hour of navigation the catamaran will pull into a small bay area whereupon there is a rustic-looking, Patagonia farm building. In other words, this is an estancia and where you will have a Patagonian barbecue lunch. Including grilled-cooked chicken, pork, beef, potatoes and sausages. Most importantly, if you are a vegetarian you need to inform the staff before you eat and, ideally, let us know in advance.
Note: We offer this activity to be built into your main itinerary and not as a standalone.
Based upon us having arranged the rest of your itinerary.
In this itinerary we include the transfer from your hotel in Torres del Paine to the jetty in Serrano Village. And, of course, the zodiac and catamaran navigations. Moreover, the park entrance ticket for Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, lunch and onward transfer in Puerto Natales.
Note: We offer this activity to be built into your main itinerary and not as a standalone.
Patagonia is “raw”, “rugged” and also at “the end of the World”, sandwiched between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Consequently, those visiting need to be prepared for any type of weather. Therefore, please pack clothing that you can put on and take off as you get cold and get hot. For example, if you are participating in a trek you will likely get hot, but when standing around you will get cold. For this reason, bring warm hats, gloves, waterproof top and hiking boots, as well as a pair of sun glasses.
Most importantly, for the zodiac navigation you will be provided with all the wet weather gear you will need for the trip, which goes over your usual clothing. Therefore, you will have protection from any wet weather.
In our web site we have published in full and verbatim, a number of testimonials from clients. However, it is not physically possible to publish all the comments we have received over the years from all of our clients, but we do have a good selection. Therefore, should you wish to read about how clients have found our services please revert back to the testimonials in the web site. Meanwhile, here are just few excerpts.
“One of the best things I have done, during my holiday in Patagonia”.
“As a result of having an extra day in Puerto Natales we could come out of TDP by the zodiac, and we loved it”.
“I wished I had included this trip when I was in Patagonia. Consequently, we missed a great experience”.
In Our Opinion
This is an ingenious way to get into, or out of, Torres del Paine. For this reason, please ask us to include this activity in your itinerary during your time in Torres del Paine.
