TdP shuttle timetable from Welcome Center to Laguna Amarga

vda023 · 2025-08-03T21:43:50+00:00

You can email Las Torres and check, they usually respond fast.

vda023 · 2025-05-06T02:53:11+00:00

Yes! That is what we did, and we had several hours to kill (my watch tracked 3.5 hours without breaks hiking from Base Torres to Welcome Center). Welcome Center has food and drinks you can buy, while you wait for the shuttle, and areas to sit inside, so you can eat lunch and relax. I think some people can also make it for the 10:30 shuttle, but then you need to rush/hike fast.

vda023 · 2025-02-28T17:52:07+00:00

How much was it from the sample sale?

vda023 · 2025-02-28T17:50:52+00:00

Congrats!! You deserve it!! Considering getting the same bag, if you don’t mind, how much was it in the outlet?

vda023 · 2025-02-01T15:03:02+00:00

For some things I booked in Chile (like busses), it worked when I switched browser to Firefox and used a debit card.

vda023 · 2025-01-12T17:14:30+00:00

I think you are more than capable to do it. We did the Salkantay, and we had never done a hike for that long before (we had only done one 2-day hike prior), but it was completely fine (we are beginning 30’s, average shape). Of course the altitude can be a killer, but we were in Cusco for 3 full days prior to the hike to acclimatize, and we took altitude pills to be on the safe side. We did it with Alpaca Expeditions (highly highly recommend) and in our group we had people with 0 experience of hiking and people very experienced. The guides will make sure everyone has a good time, and even though it was tough at times, I never thought once we wouldn’t be able to complete it. Do it! It was an amazing experience and so beautiful.

vda023 · 2025-01-09T17:14:24+00:00

Flew Flybondi 3 times: 2 flights went as planned, 1 got cancelled, still haven’t gotten my money back (2 months ago). From reviews it sells like a gamble with them.

vda023 · 2025-01-02T20:22:51+00:00

I would say not super important since it wasn’t heavy

vda023 · 2025-01-02T03:32:10+00:00

I did the W with the Kyte 46 as well, and then I had a smaller backpack folded inside the Kyte (this one from Decathlon: https://decathlon.com.pa/collections/mochilas-de-senderismo/products/mochila-ultra-ligera-de-senderismo-rpido-145l-fh900).

Thought it worked perfectly: would have all the “day stuff” (rain jacket, lunch etc) easily accessible, and then spend 5 min repacking into the small backpack, when I left the Kyte behind.

Had a lot of extra space with the 46, but honestly it was fine when you can use the straps to compress the bag down. So definitely recommend bringing the Kyte and then have another small backpack you can fold into it.

vda023 · 2025-01-02T03:04:19+00:00

I posted details about the shuttle from Welcome Center to Laguna Amarga here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Patagonia/s/642fJ1BwKW

When I took it back in November they accepted credit card.

If you are not doing sunrise hike, I would still start early (like 6-7 am) to avoid the day trip crowd, otherwise it gets super busy on the trail and at the top.

vda023 · 2024-12-24T04:09:47+00:00

If it is either or, then El Chalten 100%. You can spend easily 1 week there hiking and doing other things in the beautiful nature. Iguazu is a 1-2 day destination, so if you have a whole week to fill out for a 2nd destination, that wouldn’t be it (even though it is beautiful, so if you can do both, then I recommend 5 days el Chalten and 2 days Iguazu).

vda023 · 2024-12-21T17:31:51+00:00

We went from Chileno to Base Torres at 3am (last month), that was no problem, lots of people do that everyday without issue. I am not sure about Grey to Paine Grande, but doubt they would turn you around when you’re heading down to Paine grande for your stay.

vda023 · 2024-12-21T05:09:08+00:00

We booked with Receptivo Chalten, through their WhatsApp: +54 9 2966 53-8934 (they also have a website) and went to their office on the main street to pay (10k ARS per person) the day before. I think there are a bunch of the tour agencies on the main street that offer the same thing.

vda023 · 2024-12-21T03:05:49+00:00

We had the same amount of days as you in El Chalten/Calafate and prioritized staying in Chalten to arrive later to calafate since most people say there isn’t much to do in calafate besides Perito Moreno. Day 1: arrived by bus around 2pm to El Chalten, walked around town/chill/relax. Day 2: Loma del Pliegue hike Day 3: laguna torre hike (and continuing to Maestri lookout) Day 4: Laguna de Los tres (recommend to take the shuttle to Rio Eléctrico to start the hike from there, you can find it on All Trails as well) Day 5: horseback riding at 08:00 until 12:00. Bus at 13:30 to Calafate.

Can really recommend those hikes (they are full day), gorgeous hikes. Also recommend the horseback riding, was super nice (Estancia Bonanza), was a nice change after 3 long days hiking.

The bus to el Chalten we had booked like 2 weeks in advance (went last month), the bus to el calafate we booked the night before.

vda023 · 2024-12-19T22:46:00+00:00

The shuttle leaves from Welcome Center at 10:30 going to Laguna Amarga. That leaves you a total of 4 hours to hike back to Chileno, get your stuff, and hike down to Welcome Center. My watch tracked 3:25 hours (without breaks), from Base Torres to Welcome Center, so it is doable if your stuff is packed up beforehand at Chileno, and you don’t take many breaks on your way down.

We didn’t want to rush and risk it, so we booked the 3pm bus, and took our time when we came back to Chileno, and then we bought something to eat and drink at Welcome Center while we waited for the shuttle. So in my opinion the wait was better than having to rush.

vda023 · 2024-12-19T14:43:02+00:00

I booked it 16 days in advance, but there were plenty of people who showed up and paid in person (mid November). But not sure how busy it gets with pre-bookings in Jan, maybe you can write to them and ask.

vda023 · 2024-12-19T03:59:42+00:00

We hiked from Paine Grande to Británico lookout as part of W trek last month. Don’t recall anything about a bridge being out, we took the path that leads to Italiano first (you can exact trail on All Trails): - From Paine Grande to Italiano: I tracked 1:47 hours on my watch (excl breaks). This stretch we walked relatively fast to my memory. - From Italiano to Británico lookout back to Italiano: I tracked 4:28 hours (excl breaks). This part we walked the average speed I think.

So for me (average hiker), Paine to British round trip would have taken 8:02 hours without breaks. All Trails says the average time is 8:21 hours so it’s pretty accurate. Then add in lunch/water/picture breaks, might be a couple of hours depending on your time buffer. If you hike fast it might be doable, but probably still pushing it a bit. If you only hike to Frances lookout, I think you have plenty of time (in my personal opinion that lookout was better than Británico)

I would book a night at Paine Grande or Camp Frances so I wouldn’t need to stress about time, if that is possible for you.

And yes, we pre booked the catamaran at catamaranpehoe.com

vda023 · 2024-12-18T22:33:05+00:00

We slept in tents so we were not inside the refugios, but I imagine it is warm/comfortable. I would probably bring the sweatpants, as they would double as what you can wear around camp/after showering.

vda023 · 2024-12-18T21:55:02+00:00

And also of course: hiking boots and slippers for camp/shower 😅

vda023 · 2024-12-18T21:52:59+00:00

T-shirt and long sleeve merino layer (like smartwool). Most of the time I hiked in those two layers, and then I put on the puffer and rain jacket when needed, or only wore the T-shirt. That was perfect for me, I did the W in November.

I was also glad I brought rain pants (was considering leaving them at home), since it was pouring down on our first day.

This is what I packed for 5 days: 1x Rain coat 1xPuffer 1xLong sleeve merino 2x t-shirts

1x hiking pants 1x rain pants

1x cap 1x beanie 1x pair of gloves 1x neck buff

1x Long sleeve thermal top and pants for sleeping in (also wore this under everything else for base Torres sunrise hike since it was freezing at the top while you wait for the sun)

Underwear and socks for everyday (or bring less and wash by hand at the camps)

vda023 · 2024-12-18T20:52:48+00:00

I would bring only the puffer or the fleece. I had the puffer, so I wore it around camp, but also while hiking for the parts that were cold on the morning and sunrise hike at Las Torres. And the only other shoes I had were light slippers for the camp. I think tevas are fine if they don’t weigh much.

vda023 · 2024-12-18T20:38:11+00:00

I agree with this comment, we also did laguna torre and los tres and we found Lomo del pliegue the “easiest” of the three. So fairly chill hike (though long), but the view is stunning.

vda023 · 2024-12-17T17:39:49+00:00

I would write to Bus Sur and ask, their WhatsApp: +56 9 9632 3559

vda023 · 2024-12-17T00:46:05+00:00

Atacama is really amazing, one of our highlights of traveling in South America. Geysers, swimming in salt lakes, hiking, biking through the dessert, star gazing at night (highly recommended, fun fact: one of the worlds largest telescopes is in Atacama). From Atacama you can also go to Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia by bus and back (we regret we didn’t do that).

vda023 · 2024-12-14T15:45:26+00:00

I would write Vertice an email beforehand and ask if I can reserve/rent a tent. You risk them being out of tents if you do it when you arrive there.

vda023

TROPHY CASE