Chile
Torres del Paine National Park

The Torres del Paine National Park is found in the region of Seno de la Última Esperanza, 150 km from Puerto Natales. It covers and extension of 181.000 hectares and is recognized as one of the most spectacular places in the world because of its landscapes. Created in 1959, it was declared a World Ecology Reservation by UNESCO in 1978. This park is full of rock formations and ideal trails for trekking, surrounded by forests, lagoons and impressive glaciers. Other adventure sports are also very popular in the region, like rafting, kayaking and horse-back riding.

Starting point

The starting point when traveling to the park is the small city of Puerto Natales. Capital of the province of Última Esperanza, it is considered the most important base city for adventure sport expeditions in the Chilean Patagonia. It is a small population dedicated to cattle and tourism.

The adventure

To get to the park, you take the road that leaves Puerto Natales, towards the North. 63 km away, right beside the Argentine frontier, is Mount Castillo. From there, the road goes on to Lakes Toro and Sarmiento, inside the park's domains.

When arriving at the park, the lagoons, glaciers and forests are impressive. But nothing in the park is as impressive as the Paine Towers (Torres del Paine), three neighboring peaks almost 3000 meters high. The park´s climate is cold. During the Summer, maximum temperature can oscillate between 25º and 10ºC, and the minimum temperature drops below 0º. During the Winter, conditions are extreme.

Kayak navigation in among the icebergs of Lake Grey

The excursion is approximately two hours long. If inexperienced, you must be accompanied by expert guides. The trip begins at the Lake Grey hosting house. There is a bay there, protected from the wind, which allows a journey in perfect weather conditions. Only on an excellent day can the whole lake be explored.

Trekking in the Towers

A more than interesting trekking is possible. After hiking for a while, you can sleep in a shelter near the Torres del Paine look-out point. The three towers are called South (2850 meters), Central (2800 meters) and North (2600 meters). Together with the Cuernos del Paine (Paine horns), they are the most overwhelming visual attraction in the park. From here, you can carry on to Lake Pehoe, where there is another shelter. The last part of the trekking covers the trails between this lake and Lake Grey, another popular attraction among tourists.

Horse-back rides

The classic horse-back riding trails are the same ones that are used for trekking. Horse rental can take place in Puerto Natales.

Rafting in Serrano river

Rafting river descent in Serrano is a Torres del Paine classic. It is an activity without too much difficulty and accessible for almost anyone, as long as there is a guide.