At a Glance
Embark on a transformative 5-day expedition in Chile’s Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park, led by seasoned guides unveiling its most picturesque trails daily. After each adventure, unwind in park accommodations featuring private bathrooms, cosy beds, and gourmet cuisine. Engage deeply with nature’s marvels, contributing to conservation efforts and forming lasting bonds with fellow explorers. Discover a harmonious blend of exploration, relaxation, and camaraderie amidst Pumalín’s untouched wilderness.
Your adventure commences from Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, or Caleta Gonzalo. After a thrilling 40-minute flight from Marcel Marchant Aerodrome (La Paloma) in Puerto Montt, featuring breathtaking aerial vistas, a scenic 90-minute drive along Carretera Austral Norte awaits, perfect for capturing endless photo opportunities. Arriving at serene Lodge Caleta Gonzalo, your base in Pumalín National Park, you'll discover a hiker's paradise over the next ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Transfer services from your hotel in either Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas to La Paloma aerodrome, as well as transportation back to your accommodation
- Round trip plane tickets from Puerto Montt to Chaitén. Flights are provided by two reputable commercial airlines that have extensive experience in the area
- All ground transfers within Pumalin Park will be provided, allowing you to explore the park alongside other guests of the Lodge
- 4 nights accommodation in a lodge on a twin share basis
- All meals (breakfast, box lunches, and dinners) as specified. Drinks are not included, except for the complimentary house wine during the dinner
- Experienced guides who specialise in hiking. They hold WFR certification and possess extensive knowledge of all the trails within Pumalin Park. Please Note: During your hikes, you will be joined by other guests of the Lodge who are participating in similar programs
Itinerary
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In the morning, you'll be you'll be picked up from your chosen location in Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, or El Tepual Puerto Montt Airport (PMC), ensuring a smooth journey to the charming Marcel Marchant Aerodrome (La Paloma) in Puerto Montt. Here, you'll board a thrilling 40-minute flight that offers breathtaking views en route to Chaitén Aerodrome (SCTN). Awaiting you will be a dedicated driver, ready to escort you on a picturesque 90-minute drive along the scenic Carretera Austral Norte. This 60-kilometer journey is a photographer’s paradise, with endless vistas begging to be captured. |
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Upon arrival at the serene Lodge Caleta Gonzalo, you'll settle into your cosy cabin and savour a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, adventure awaits as you explore nearby trails, including the enchanting Cascadas Trail. Discover the lodge’s hidden gems, from the organic garden and pristine beach to the secluded pools of the Gonzalo River. Later, your guide will unveil the thrilling activities planned for you. As evening falls, enjoy a sumptuous dinner before retreating to your cabin for a peaceful night's rest, ready to dream about the adventures to come. |
Lodge Caleta Gonzalo, Pumalin National Park
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Over the next few days, you’ll be hiking different trails for deep exploration of this pristine national park. Traverse lush temperate rainforest, waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, smoking volcanoes, glaciers, fjords and jaw-dropping beauty. Each day begin your adventure at dawn with a hearty breakfast in the Lodge's restaurant. Afterward, you'll be handed a packed lunch for your journey, perfect for tucking into your backpack. Around 9:00 a.m., we'll board a shuttle from the Lodge, setting off for the trailhead where our exploration begins. The day's trails are carefully chosen by your guide, taking into account the weather, your preferences, and skill levels, ensuring a perfect adventure for everyone. Some favourite trails include the picturesque Cascadas Trail near the Lodge, the hidden gem Cascadas Escondidas, offering a spectacular display of waterfalls and plunge pools. This trail is a wild, immersive journey through lush, overgrown forests. Expect steep, sometimes muddy descents, but the stunning scenery makes it worthwhile. The majestic Alerces Trail, leads to a 3,000-year-old alerce tree, one of the world's oldest. The awe-inspiring Volcán Chaitén Hike that leads to the volcano's caldera, which reshaped the park in 2008. The ascent reveals pumice and obsidian from the eruption. The trail is well-marked, winding through open forests bursting with flowers and hummingbirds. Once above the treeline, you're rewarded with breathtaking views of distant Chaitén town. Other favourite trails include the rugged Tronador, the informative El Volcán and the captivating Michinmahuida Trail. |
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After a day out on the trails, you’ll be rewarded with a delicious and hearty dinner complimented by house wine to celebrate your day’s adventure. |
Lodge Caleta Gonzalo, Pumalin National ParkBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
On the morning of your departure, after savouring a delicious breakfast, your adventure continues at 9:00 a.m. with a scenic drive to Chaitén Aerodrome. There, you'll board a flight back to Puerto Montt, enjoying the breathtaking views one last time. Once in Puerto Montt, a seamless transfer awaits, ready to transfer you to your chosen location in Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, or directly to El Tepual Airport if you have an onward flight that same day. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
NoneBreakfastDates & Prices
Max. 8 people per group. Departs daily on request. Please contact us for private departures or group bookings.
More Info
- The start point is either in Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas or Caleta Gonzalo
- The finish point is in Puerto Montt
- The closest airport to Puerto Montt is El Tepual Airport (PMC), also known as Aeropuerto El Tepual. It serves as the main gateway for air travel to and from Puerto Montt and the surrounding region in Chile.
During the summer months (December to March), you can expect to have some nice weather and warm days. However, you also need to bear in mind that it may rain a lot, no matter the season. Please prepare accordingly. Remember: the weather in Patagonia is unpredictable and may move between all 4 seasons in one day. It is recommended to come prepared.
Max. Temperature average: 15°C (59°F) during summer.
Min. Temperature average: 7°C (44°F) during summer.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. The tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
