Wisconsin Adventure Family — Women’s Expeditions
Patagonia Was Made
for Women Like Us
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The Adventure
Nine Days at the End of the World
Torres del Paine is not a destination. It is a reckoning. Jagged granite towers rise thousands of feet above sapphire lakes. Glaciers calve into rivers you will kayak. Trails wind through forests that have never been tamed. Every day is a different kind of hard — and every evening you return to camp with something you didn’t have that morning.
Over nine days, you will hike to the iconic Towers, trek through the French Valley, paddle Grey Lake past floating icebergs, ride horseback through a working Patagonian estancia, and close the journey with a rare cultural encounter with indigenous Kaweskar artisans. This is a multisport expedition designed for women who want to earn every view.
Due to significant elevation gain, multi-hour daily hikes (up to 22 km / 8–10 hours), and physically demanding activities including sea kayaking and horseback riding, this trip requires a strong fitness base. If you are currently hiking regularly, training for distance, and comfortable with elevation and varied terrain, you are in the right place. I strongly recommend building your training at least 8–12 weeks before departure. Travel and emergency evacuation insurance is required for all participants.
Day by Day
The Full Itinerary
Arrive Puerto Natales — October 1
You’ll arrive at Puerto Natales Airport where a private transfer takes you to your hotel. Puerto Natales sits on the Última Esperanza Sound, surrounded by sea, forests, and Patagonian mountains — the gateway to Torres del Paine. At 5pm, gather with your guide for your trip briefing (book flights with this in mind), then close the evening with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant featuring authentic Patagonian flavors.
Estancia Lazo to Weber Bridge
A 2-hour transfer brings us to Estancia Lazo, a 13,000-hectare cattle ranch founded over a century ago on the shores of Laguna Verde. From here we hike into Torres del Paine National Park on a generally flat trail through native beech and coigue forests. Watch for condors, guanacos, and the cachaña (Austral parakeet) along the way. We climb to the Toro Lake lookout at 559 m / 1,834 ft. for 360-degree views of the Grey, Serrano, and Paine Rivers, Mount Balmaceda, and the Geike and Tyndall Glaciers. Our private transfer then takes us to Riverside Camp on the banks of the Serrano River.
Hike to French Valley
The most demanding day of the expedition. A transfer to Lake Pehoe is followed by a 35-minute catamaran to Refugio Paine Grande. From there we hike into the French Valley — a spectacular glacial basin surrounded by hanging glaciers and granite peaks. We ascend through a dreamlike boulder landscape to the plateau viewpoint, where you’ll see Paine Grande (3,050 m), La Espada, La Hoja, La Máscara, and Los Cuernos arching across the sky. We take our time at the top before returning the same way and crossing back by catamaran. A prepared dinner awaits at camp. This day requires strong physical stamina.
Salto Grande & Sarmiento to Laguna Amarga
Two hikes in one day. First, a transfer to Pudeto for a gentle walk past Salto Grande waterfall — where Nordenskjöld Lake flows into Pehoe Lake in a cascade of turquoise — continuing to Mirador Los Cuernos for sweeping views of the French Valley and Paine Grande. Then a second transfer to the Sarmiento Lake ranger station for a wildlife trail connecting two park entrances. Along the way: guanacos, endemic waterbirds, and 6,000-year-old cave paintings in a rock eave formation. This corridor is also prime puma territory.
Full-Day Kayak — Grey Lake & Grey River
Trade your boots for a paddle. A transfer to Lake Grey brings you to your kayak guide and the morning backdrop of Paine Grande and Grey Glacier. After a safety briefing, you’ll paddle 2 hours across Grey Lake navigating among icebergs carved by wind and sun. Then you descend the Grey River through canyons and rocky walls for 25 km total, arriving where the Grey meets the Serrano. All double kayaks and gear are provided.
Horseback Riding — Estancia Lazo
We return to Estancia Lazo for a full-day ride on horseback with a local gaucho guide. From the ranch’s main house, we ride through ancient native forests and stop at viewpoints with direct views of the Paine Massif. The route crosses the Magellanic steppe along Sierra del Toro and reaches the shores of Sarmiento Lake where you’ll see the fascinating thrombolites — rare natural formations found in only a few places on earth. A midday lunch break on the trail, then we ride back along Laguna Verde to the start.
Las Torres — The Towers Viewpoint
The defining day of the trip. A 2-hour transfer to the trailhead, then we ascend the Ascencio River into the Ascencio Valley past beech forests, waterfalls, and glaciers. The final climb scales the gigantic terminal moraine to 900 meters above sea level. At the top: the three Towers of Paine, standing in silence above their teal glacial lake. Take your time. Have lunch. This is what you came for. The descent follows the same route. A private transfer back to Puerto Natales and your hotel awaits at the end. This day requires strong physical stamina — a minimum of 8 hours on rugged mountainous terrain. Dinner is on your own tonight — Puerto Natales has excellent restaurants to explore.
Rest, Yoga & Kawésqar Cultural Workshop
We start the morning with a sunrise hike near Puerto Natales, followed by a restorative yoga session. The rest of the morning and midday is yours — stroll the waterfront, explore local shops, or grab lunch at one of Puerto Natales’ excellent restaurants. In the afternoon, we step into the world of the Kawésqar people — one of Patagonia’s oldest indigenous communities — through an intimate weaving workshop led by the artisans themselves. Charcuterie boards, cheese, and beverages are served during the workshop. You’ll learn the cultural significance behind each pattern and thread, and hear stories that connect this land to thousands of years of human presence. Dinner is on your own — your last evening to explore the town.
Departure — You’ll Leave Changed
Your last morning in Patagonia. A private transfer will take you from your hotel to Puerto Natales Airport (PMC). If flying home via Punta Arenas (PUQ), plan your connection accordingly. Book departures for mid-morning or later. Flights are not included in the trip price. Patagonia doesn’t let go easily. Neither will you.
Getting There
How to Reach Puerto Natales
Torres del Paine is one of the most remote destinations on earth — and that is exactly the point. There are no direct international flights. Plan for approximately 22–26 hours of travel from Wisconsin. Here is the route we recommend.
Fly to Chicago or connect from Madison
Madison (MSN) → Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
Short connection flight or 2.5-hour drive. Chicago O’Hare is your international departure hub. American Airlines, United, and LATAM all operate routes from ORD to Santiago.
Overnight flight south
Chicago (ORD) → Santiago, Chile (SCL)
Approximately 10–14 hours depending on connections. Most flights depart Chicago in the evening and arrive in Santiago the following morning. No direct flight — common connections are Miami (MIA) or Lima (LIM).
Fly deep into Patagonia
Santiago (SCL) → Punta Arenas (PUQ)
LATAM operates up to 6 daily flights in October high season. Flight time: approximately 3.5 hours. Tip: If you can find a seat on the once-daily flight into Puerto Natales (PNT), take it — it saves 3 hours of ground travel.
Final transfer by bus
Punta Arenas → Puerto Natales
Buses Pacheco runs direct from Punta Arenas Airport to Puerto Natales. Journey time: approximately 3 hours. Cost: around $10 USD. Buses run frequently throughout the day. Note: this bus is not included in the trip price — it applies only if you fly into Punta Arenas rather than Puerto Natales directly. If you fly into Puerto Natales (PMC), your airport transfer is included.
Your group trip briefing takes place at 5pm on Day 1 (October 1) in Puerto Natales. Plan your arrival to reach the city well before then. We recommend arriving the night before if possible — or at the latest, the morning of October 1. Flights are not included in the trip price.
Where You’ll Sleep
Riverside Camp & Puerto Natales
Nights 2 through 6, you’re based at Riverside Camp — a thoughtfully designed wilderness camp set directly on a riverbank with unobstructed views of the Paine massif. Fall asleep to the sound of the river. Wake up to the mountains.
A Look Inside
What This Trip Looks Like
What to Know
What’s Included
Included
- ✓Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- ✓Hotel in Puerto Natales — Nights 1, 7, 8 (double occupancy)
- ✓Riverside Camp — Nights 2–6, double tents with private bathrooms
- ✓Most meals included — all breakfasts, all camp dinners (Days 2–6), welcome dinner (Day 1), and boxed lunches on trekking days. Dinners on Days 7 & 8 and lunch on Day 8 are on your own in Puerto Natales.
- ✓All private transfers between activities
- ✓Catamaran crossings (Day 3 — French Valley)
- ✓All kayaking equipment (neoprene suit, life vest, dry gear)
- ✓Professional local guide (1:6 ratio)
- ✓Kaweskar cultural workshop — Day 8
- ✓Group leader — Dini travels with you throughout
Not Included
- —International and domestic flights
- —Travel & emergency evacuation insurance (required)
- —Single supplement — $960 per person (if applicable)
- —Personal hiking gear and clothing
- —Alcoholic beverages
- —Optional tips for local guides
- —Any meals not listed in the itinerary
Pricing & Registration
Reserve Your Spot
Payment Plan
per person
$350 deposit to hold your spot. Remaining balance paid in installments — final payment due July 2027.
Pay in Full — Early Bird
per person
Pay in full by September 15, 2026 — within 15 days of registration opening — to lock in the early-bird rate and save $350. After that, the full price is $4,300. No installment tracking needed.
To hold your spot: A $350 deposit is required at registration. This secures your place in the group.
Group size: Limited to 10–12 women. When we reach minimum enrollment, deposits are collected and the trip is confirmed.
Cancellation policy: Within 30 days of registration — full refund, no questions asked. More than 180 days before departure — refund minus $350 deposit. 90–179 days before departure — 50% refund of amount paid. Within 90 days of departure — no refund. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. If Dini cancels the trip for any reason — 100% refund to all participants.
Registration opens August 31, 2026 — pay in full by September 15, 2026 to claim the early-bird rate of $3,950. Join the waitlist to be notified first.
Your Host & Guide
Meet Dini
My name is Dineo Dowd — but everyone calls me Dini. I was born and raised in South Africa. I grew up watching mountains from the window, being told they weren’t for people like me. At 25, I immigrated to the United States. Three days after landing in Salt Lake City, Utah, I followed strangers up a trail with no map, watched the sun set from the top, and felt — for the first time — completely free. Nature had been calling me my whole life. I had finally answered.
I’ve since summited Kilimanjaro three times — each time raising funds to build digital libraries in South African schools. I’ve guided women across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Peru, and the American West. In 2017, I founded Wisconsin Adventure Family in Madison, Wisconsin: a platform built on the belief that every woman deserves to know what she is capable of in wild places.
I am a travel writer, children’s book author, and outdoor educator. I’ve been featured on Wisconsin Public Radio, in Madison Magazine, and named one of Wisconsin’s 48 Most Influential Black Leaders. When you travel with me, you are not booking a tour. You are joining an expedition — with a host who has walked the hardest trails and knows exactly how to get you to the top.
Before You Go
Travel Insurance — Required
Patagonia is remote. High-elevation hiking, sea kayaking, and horseback riding in a national park far from major medical facilities means that travel and emergency evacuation insurance is required for every participant on this trip. Do not book your flights before you have coverage in place. Here is what I personally recommend and use.
Global Rescue
Global Rescue provides best-in-class emergency medical evacuation and travel protection — including field rescue from remote wilderness locations. This is the coverage I carry on every international expedition. For a trip with this level of elevation and physical demand, Global Rescue is what I trust.
Get Global Rescue CoverageUse my link to access coverage designed for adventure travelers.
Chase Travel Benefits
Traveling with your Chase credit card? Many Chase cards include built-in travel protection — trip cancellation and interruption, baggage delay, and more. Check your card benefits before purchasing additional coverage. You may already be more protected than you think.
Explore Chase Travel BenefitsCheck your existing card benefits — coverage may already apply.
Torres del Paine 2027
Ready for the Most Demanding
Trip of Your Life?
Spots open August 31, 2026. This trip is capped at 12 women — and the waitlist is already moving. Get your name on it now so you’re first through the door. A $350 deposit holds your place when registration opens.
Join the Waitlist — It’s Free
