Running Holiday in Patagonia, Chile

8 Days, Multiple Departures

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Running Holiday in Patagonia, Chile
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  • Itinerary
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A point-to-point run on Patagonia’s Eberhard Fjord. Run the trails of Laguna Sofia for the very best views of Torres Del Paine National Park, world renown for its mountains, bright blue icebergs and golden grasslands, with a finish at the prehistoric caves of Cueva del Milodon. A guided trek on Glacier Grey, southern Patagonia’s most iconic glacier with the most spectacular, glowing blue views of your life. Nights spent eating Chilean barbecue from our stunning private mountaintop lodges.

In Patagonia’s untamed wilderness, trail runners find their rhythm between glacial lakes and jagged peaks where guanacos roam freely beneath the towering spires of Torres del Paine. Each day brings new wonders – from crossing swaying suspension bridges above glowing blue glaciers to sailing through fjords dotted with ancient ice – before nights in remote mountain lodges where Andean condors soar past your window.

About

Expert trip leaders & local logistics team

Comprehensive pre-trip guidance and communication

Puerto Natales airport transfers on arrival and departure days

All ground transportation within the itinerary

7 nights accommodation: 2 nights in an upmarket Chilean hotel, 3 nights in a private boutique lodge, 1 night in a comfortable refugio within Torres del Paine National Park, 1 night in a beautiful historical estancia

6 epic runs/hikes showcasing the best of Patagonia (5-9 miles / 8-15 km per day)

1 7-mile (12 km) hike to a remote glacial lake

All meals from dinner on arrival day to lunch on departure day

Snacks and water during runs

All entry fees, permits, and national park fees

2 boat excursions: catamaran ride across Lago Pehoe and glacier tour on Lago Grey

Guided glacier trek on Grey Glacier (weather permitting)

Cultural experiences including visits to traditional estancias

Expeditions swag

Small group experience (maximum of 12 runners)

Flights to/from Puerto Natales, Chile

Alcoholic beverages

Travel insurance (strongly recommended)

Personal purchases and souvenirs

Gratuities for guides and local staff (at your discretion)

Personal running gear and equipment

 Food

You’ll enjoy healthy, fresh, traditional Chilean meals throughout the trip. Breakfasts include bread, meat, cheese, cereals, and yogurt. Lunch is often picnic-style with sandwiches, fruit, and nuts. Dinners feature fresh, hearty ingredients, including traditional Chilean barbecues. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Accommodation

Accommodations vary throughout the tour:

Two nights in an upmarket Chilean hotel (clean, modern, double occupancy, private bathrooms, WiFi).

Three nights at a private, boutique lodge (amazing home-cooked meals, stunning views).

One night in a refugio within the national park (comfortable shared bunk rooms, designated male/female bathrooms).

Final night in a beautiful historical estancia (double occupancy).

All accommodations are welcoming, warm, and memorable, offering WiFi (though speeds may vary).

*please do not book flights until you receive confirmation from us that the group size minimum has been met

Participants will need a passport with at least 6 months validity. No visas are required for US, Canadian, UK or EU citizens; citizens of other countries should check with their respective embassy for entry information. There are no longer any covid-related entry requirements.

Participants should arrive in Puerto Natales by 2pm on arrival day and depart the same place no earlier than 2pm on departure day. Please note that if you are looking at flights well in advance, options to PN may be limited; more flights will be scheduled later in the year. Please don’t book flights until you receive more information from us, along with confirmation that we have hit the group size minimum (official group communication begins about 4 months out!).

Please note that travel insurance is strongly recommended. Although we hope you never need it, we've seen enough to know that it can be a lifesaver in the event of a medical emergency, flight delays that cause you to miss the start of the trip, lost baggage or cancellation on your part (broke your leg two weeks before the trip? Insurance could cover the entire cost of your trip!).

"“If you’re even considering signing up for this trip, do yourself a favor and put down the deposit right now before it sells out! You won’t regret it! It’s been a few days since getting home from the Patagonia trip and I keep finding myself day dreaming about all the adventures packed into those 9 days. This wasn’t the typical “hike/camp through Patagonia for a week” kind of trip - we got the highlights within the park but also SO. MUCH. MORE. From getting up close and personal with whales and glaciers, to climbing “small rises” for breathtaking views, to running through fields with guanaco herds - each time I thought “this will be the highlight of the trip”, I would be blown away by something new! Being surrounded by such an awesome group of running enthusiasts also added to the overall experience! The RE team has everything planned out meticulously - this isn’t their first rodeo so just trust them completely and you will have the trip of a lifetime. And yes, their suggested packing list is on point. Also, you may come away with the best pictures you’ve ever seen of yourself running! If your race photos look anything like mine, then that alone is worth the price of the trip!"

- Erika

"This trip absolutely exceeded my expectations! The trip is organized SO well and the team was prepared for everything! I loved that I didn’t have to think about anything. Each night we were told what to expect the next day/wear/pack/timing/etc. The hotels were all amazing as was the food. I will 100% be going on another trip with the team."

- Deborah J

"Oh my awesomeness. I am so glad my friend Sarah and I joined Run Patagonia. It’s the perfect way to see a new place in the world. The plans EVERYTHING for you so you just show up and get to run, laugh, eat, drink, sleep in the most lovely of accommodations, and see truly amazing vistas. This is my 2nd trip with the team. I’m looking forward to my 3rd."

- Sally L

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About The Host

Each person on our small, multinational team brings a unique set of running abilities, travel experience, and guiding expertise to the table, but something that we all have in common is an addiction to exploration, a borderline obsession with running, and a love of helping others experience the world in this very unique way. Our guides are certified Wilderness First Responders, practice Leave No Trace principles, and have guided well over 200 running trips combined. When you join a trip you’ll be traveling, running, and exploring with at least one (if not 2 or 3) of us.

Itinerary

Day 1 Puerto Natales Arrival Day

Arrive to Puerto Natales, a beautiful seaside town that serves as the gateway to the national parks and surrounding wilderness. Your guides will greet you at the airport upon arrival or at our hotel for anyone arriving earlier. We will grab a quick lunch and then head to a private farm at a beautiful secluded fjord just outside of town for a fairly cruise-y shakeout run that ends with a short boat trip! That evening we’ll take care of introductions, enjoy a big welcome dinner at a local restaurant serving up regional specialties and then turn in - we’ve got a big day tomorrow!

Meals included: LD (lunch & dinner)

Running: Optional afternoon run along fjord (5 mi / 8km)

Day 2 Laguna Sofia and Milodon Caves

Wake up to a relaxed breakfast and perhaps a stroll down to the bay before taking a short mid-morning drive to Laguna Sofia where we will start our run and explore the local trails to find the very best views of the surrounding wilderness. The run will eventually finish at Cueva del Milodon where we’ll have a chance to check out the cave and learn about the colossal prehistoric sloths that once inhabited the area. A picnic lunch will be waiting, and then the afternoon is yours to explore town before we wrap up the day with dinner at a great local restaurant.

Meals included: BLD

Running: Up to 7 mi / 12km. Single track trail (1800 ft ascent)

Day 3 First Glimpses of Torres del Paine...

After breakfast we’ll pack up and head towards the legendary Torres Del Paine National Park for a mid-morning trail run with absolutely spectacular views of the mountains, multi-colored lakes and, off in the distance, Grey Glacier. The best part? We’ll have this trail all to ourselves! The run finishes with a panoramic descent into the pristine Rio Serrano valley, our home for the next two nights. Ice your legs in a glacial river then spend the evening relaxing with a cold beer and big views from our stunning private lodge!

Meals included: BLD

Running: Up to 9 mi / 15km, 1200 ft / 300m ascent; trail & 4x4 track (shorter and longer options available if needed, but everyone is encouraged to prepare for the full distance. No time limits!)

Day 4 Rio Serrano Valley

No travel today! We’ll enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the lodge before heading out to sample a portion of the world famous Ultra Paine race route that weaves amongst a chain of glacial lakes on the edge of Torres del Paine National Park. Afterward we’ll have the afternoon free to kick back and enjoy the lodge - soak your legs in the river, indulge in a nap and get ready for another delicious dinner and stellar sunset over the mountains.

Meals included: BLD

Running: 8 mi / 13km; 1500 ft / 500m gain; single track trail

Day 5 Into the Park!

Wake up for an early breakfast and a quiet sunrise over the mountains before packing the essentials; today we’ll be leaving our other stuff behind and heading into the park! We’ll take a scenic catamaran ride across the brilliantly blue Lago Pehoe before beginning a stunning hike towards Grey Glacier, part of the Southern Patagonian Icefield and the star of the show for the next 24 hours. After reaching the refugio that we’ll call home for the night, you can choose to continue hiking up to a couple of vertigo-inducing suspension bridges overlooking the glacier or simply kick back and soak it all in before a hearty dinner.

Meals included: BLD

Hiking: 7 mi / 12km (mandatory); 1300 ft / 420m gain; technical trail Additional run/hike option: up to 5mi / 8km afternoon, single track trail

Day 6 Up Close & Personal with Glacier Grey

Today begins with a guided trek on Glacier Grey (weather permitting!), which involves an early start, a short boat shuttle, 3-4 hours of hiking on rock and ice and some of the most spectacular, glowing blue views of your life! Those who do not wish to do the trek have a free morning to go for a trail run, hike or relax. Around lunchtime we’ll all depart on a comfortable tour boat, which will sail the length of iceberg-laden Lago Grey and meet our bus and luggage at the dock for a short transfer back to the same beautiful lodge that we stayed two nights before. There will be an optional evening shakeout run for anyone itching for more, but otherwise the plan for the evening is a hot shower, a big dinner and plent of time to enjoy the sunset.

Meals included: BLD

Hiking: Ice trekking (optional and weather-dependent) takes 3-4 hours Running: optional evening run up to 7 mi / 12km; 300 ft / 100m gain; singletrack trail and grass paths

Day 7 Laguna Azul

It’s time for our final run! After breakfast we will drive to see the impressive cascadas of the Rio Paine. From here our run begins, winding along quiet gravel roads and remote single track trail amongst herds of guanaco, eventually dropping down to the sparkling Laguna Azul where a picnic lunch awaits along the grassy shore of the lake.

Once satisfied we’ll head back towards Puerto Natales for a final evening in a sleekly modern lodge whose seafront location on the outskirts of town provides a luxuriously easy transition back into civilization (and a fantastic final dinner!).

Meals included: BLD

Running:7.5 mi / 12km; 1200 ft / 400m gain; gravel road & single track trail

Day 8 Departure Day

This is it!

Although we said that the final run was yesterday, we will have time to sneak in a morning shakeout run along the seafront for those who want one last dose of that fresh Patagonian breeze. Then, we’ll have enjoy a relaxed breakfast and plenty of time to pack up before our departing flights. 

Meals included: BL

Running: Optional morning shakeout run

Things to keep in mind

If you cancel:

Within 30 days of signup (but more than 90 days from departure): Full refund.

90+ days from the trip start date (but after the 30 day grace period): Deposits are non-refundable.

61-90 days from the trip start date: 50% of total payment refunded**

60 days or less from the trip start date: No refunds.


*If you register using a transfer credit, you may transfer again without penalty within 30 days of signup but will not be eligible for a refund

**This only applies to participants who have paid their balances on time. If you do not pay the balance by the due date and cancel after the fact, your deposit is non-refundable.

Deposit
You are required to pay a deposit of $600USD per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed. This deposit is fully refundable for 30 days after which point it is non-refundable. If your booking is made within 90 days of departure then the full amount is due at the time of booking and the 30 day full refund offer does not apply; you will be refunded 50% of your total payment if you cancel between 61-90 days from departure. Please note that trip transfer credit is not redeemable for cash; if you use a credit to pay your deposit then you may transfer to another trip without penalty for the first 30 days, but you cannot receive a refund.

Final Payments
Payment of the balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Though we will make every attempt to remind you of the due date, if this balance is not paid on or before the due date we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled.

Passport and Visas
You must carry a valid passport and obtain all of the appropriate visas, permits and certificates for the countries which you will visit during your trip. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the duration of the trip, or for the length of time specified by your country. We are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation.

There will be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 14 runners. Spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis!


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