Whether your idea of the trip of a lifetime involves climbing one of the most formidable peaks in the West, kayaking side-by-side with 50-foot whales, or cycling through the vineyards of Tuscany, you don't have to spend your life's savings to do it. In fact, it's possible to plan amazing adventures in the world's most exciting destinations for under $1,000.
Hiking in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park
Outfitter: G Adventures Price: $795 USD per person
Located at the far southern tip of South America, Chile's Torres del Paine, often described as one of the most beautiful and rugged national parks on earth, has to be experienced in person to be comprehended. "I've lived, traveled, and worked in Latin America for six years, and this place is right at the top of the list," says Ben Weiher, Operations Manager for G Adventures. "It feels like some other realm, something out of a Tolkien novel—absolutely magical."
Rising abruptly from the Patagonia steppe, the glacier-cut Paine Massif attracts hikers and mountaineers from all over the world to trek and sometimes scale its severe granite peaks. The park's most easily recognizable peaks are the 9,184-foot Torres (towers)—three spherical salmon-colored spires that jut up like crocodile teeth—and the 8,528-foot Cuernos (horns).
On G Adventures's six-day trek, you'll get to pass through some of the best scenery in the park, including the French Valley, the Silence Valley, and the Torres themselves. Along the way, you can spot some of the park's unusual wildlife, such as guanacos (a relative of the llama), ostrich-like rheas, Andean condors, pink flamingos, and, if you're very lucky, a puma. The trip also includes a trek to the electric blue Glacier Grey, which, during warm periods, dumps icebergs into Lago Grey with spectacular crashes.
The details
The cost of the tour covers local guides, ground transportation, accommodations in simple hotels or campgrounds, and all meals in the park. For more details, visit the G Adventures website.
You should plan your trip for sometime during the Southern Hemisphere's spring or summer, between November and March. January and February are considered peak. Round-trip January flights from Miami to the trip start point in Punta Arenas, Chile, start at $900 before taxes on Aerolineas Argentinas