Explora in Patagonia (Hotel Salto Chico)

With 50 guest rooms, Explora Lodge in Patogina is large enough to provide comprehensive service while remaining in harmony with its National Park surroundings.  With a heated lap pool and spacious lounge, jacuzzis in guest rooms and cozy duvets on the beds, the lodge offers year-round accommodation.  Guests select from a variety of daily excursions, according to their preferences and abilities.   The program is fully inclusive.

Use these Activity Level Ratings as a general guide to help determine which of our adventures is best for you. Your perception of level of difficulty may vary from ours according to your own level of fitness and travel experience. Whether or not you stay in your comfort zone on the trip you select may also be influenced by the pacing we build into the itinerary, and your own preparation for the trip. While relatively high elevations are unavoidable when you're traveling in the Andes Mountains, we may judge a trip as "moderate" so long as passengers have sufficient time for acclimation. Our detailed trip itineraries give much more information about what you can expect. If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please call us. We'll help guide you toward the right fit.

Moderate

These adventures involve fairly easy travel. There is no camping: you sleep in hotels and country inns each evening. Trips may include short hikes and/or walks of two to three hours. Our itineraries include excursions in passenger mini-vans, over roads with many curves and potholes. Elevations rarely exceed 12,600'. At Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, we climb and descend relatively steep stone staircases. Trips to Amazon lodges involve travel by boat and canoe, plus hikes on forest trails at a moderate pace. In the rainforest, you may encounter rain, mud, and pooled water. Trips to the Galapagos include optional hikes on sometimes uneven rocky and/or slippery terrain. Passengers must get into and out of dinghies on beaches and at docks.

Active

These adventures include more hiking than in our moderate trips. You negotiate a variety of terrain, at elevations no more than 15,000'. Some trips include long days of overland travel. You sleep comfortably in hotels each evening.

Strenuous

While we rate all of our treks as strenuous, there is a substantial range of challenge between the easiest and the most demanding of our treks. Expect to hike 6-8 hours each day over steep and rugged terrain. You may hike to elevations of 17,000', with options to hike higher from several camps. Many include camping multiple nights at relatively high elevations. On most treks in the Andes, night-time temperatures can drop below freezing on one or more nights. On our Inn to Inn based treks, you'll spend each evening in a comfortable mountain lodge.

Extreme

Our toughest treks are suitable for those that enjoy a good physical challenge. You trek (and in some cases climb) over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations with substantial altitude gains. Some glacier travel requires knowledge of basic climbing techniques including use of crampons, ice axe, and ropes. These trips are in remote wilderness areas and include camping as high at 17,700'. Successful summit bids top out at 18,871' (Nevado Pisco), 19,347' (Volcan Cotopaxi) and 20,945' (Nevado Ausangate).

Departures: all year, any day; in/out Punta Arenas

2011 Rates, per person -- valid from January 1, 2011 - March, 2012

*May - Sep: Family programs from 4 to 8 nights, open calendar, any arrival/departure day

*Oct - Mar: Family programs for 4 or 8 nights only, with fixed arrival/departure dates

Rates include: transfers to and from the lodge from Punta Arenas; all meals including house wine, sprits and soft drinks; choice of daily guided excrusions in Torres del Paine National Park, equipment, horses, vehicles and food. Group size no larger than 10 people.

Day One  Punta Arenas to Explora Hotel

Hotel staff meet you on arrival at Punta Arenas airport, and transfer in lodge vans via Puerto Natales to the park (4.5 hours drive).   Orientation and dinner.

Days Two-Three-Four  Daily Excursions

Choose from over 50 different excursions, ranging from strenuous hikes to the famous Torres del Paine, to a scenic cruise on Grey Lake to the face of the Grey Glacier.

Day  Five   Departure

You transfer out to continue your journey.

Weather conditions can vary dramatically within the same day.  Peak season is November through March, the Patagonian summer.  During the long hours of daylight we can undertake more ambitious longer excursions up the French River Valley and other rewarding destinations.  Extreme wind and rainy conditions may move in suddenly, hence you must always carry a weatherproof outer layer in your daypack.

A visit in the Patagonia winter presents a very different park.  With many fewer visitors, the wildlife comes down from the hills and is more visible.  The weather tends to offer more days of sunshine, without the strong winds of summer.

Spring starts in September, with many flowers in bloom and an abundance of migratory birds.

• 4 to 8 Nights
• in/out Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales
• rate includes all meals, guiding and most bar consumption
• choose from daily excursions according to your preference
• expert guides help you make the most of your stay

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