Torres del Paine (Puerto Natales)
South America's most famous trekking paradise, where the granite Towers, the Horns, glacial lakes and glaciers make up the classic W Trek scenery; Puerto Natales is the gateway town.
Torres del Paine National Park lies in Chile's southernmost Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region and covers about 2,270 sq km. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is famed for its granite towers, the Cuernos (Horns), glaciers and turquoise lakes, and is South America's best-known trekking destination. The gateway town of Puerto Natales is about 110 km south of the park (roughly 2 hours by road). It has a waterfront promenade and the ruins of the Bories meatpacking plant, the Milodón Cave nearby, and boat trips to the Serrano Glacier. In the park, the main activities are the one-day hike to the base of the Towers, the 4–5-day W Trek (Towers, French Valley, Grey Glacier) and the 8–10-day O Circuit. If you're not trekking, you can drive the road past Lake Amarga, Paine Waterfall, Lake Sarmiento, Salto Grande and Lake Pehoé, where guanacos and rheas are often seen. The best season is November–March, with autumn colors in March–April; it is windy all year, with four seasons in a day, and in winter some campsites and trails close. Getting there: fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, then continue by bus or self-drive. Park tickets must be bought online, and W Trek refugios and campsites must be booked months ahead. Recommended stay: 4–6 days. Note: open fires are strictly forbidden in the wild (they once caused a major fire); bring windproof, waterproof clothing and warm layers.
Top sights
- Torres del Paine National Park – South America's most famous trekking destination. The W Trek, past three granite towers, horn-shaped peaks and glacial lakes, is considered…
- Grey Glacier – A huge glacier flowing from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field into Lago Grey. Its front is about 6 km wide, and blue icebergs drift across…
- Mirador Base Las Torres – The finish point of Torres del Paine's most famous day hike, where three granite towers rise above a glacial lake and glow orange-red at su…
- French Valley & Mirador Británico – The glacial valley in the middle of the W Trek. Hanging glaciers on Monte Paine Grande collapse with thunderous roars on one side, and at t…
- Lake Pehoé & Mirador Cuernos – Across the emerald waters of Lago Pehoé, the Cuernos, light granite capped with dark layered rock, are mirrored on the lake. It's one of th…
- Salto Grande – A turbulent waterfall where the waters of Lago Nordenskjöld flow into Lago Pehoé, with the Cuernos del Paine as a backdrop. It's a 10-minut…
- Nordenskjöld Lake – A long, narrow glacial lake with turquoise waters at the foot of the Cuernos del Paine. The eastern section of the W Trek follows its shore…
- Mirador Cóndor – A short, steep trail starting behind the Pehoé campsite. From the top you get a panoramic view of Lago Pehoé and the Cuernos, and Andean co…
- Laguna Amarga – A saline lake beside the park's eastern entrance, reflecting the distant Torres. Chilean flamingos and guanacos are often seen here, making…
- Paine Waterfall – A wide waterfall where the Paine River tumbles down in the northeast of the park, with the Torres and Paine mountains in the distance. It c…
- Laguna Azul – A blue lake in the quieter northeastern corner of the park, offering a view of the Torres from the north. There's a picnic area and campsit…
- Sarmiento Lake – A large sapphire-blue lake in the southeast of the park, with rare white calcareous reefs (thrombolites) on its shore and a sweeping view o…
- Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers – A boat trip from Puerto Natales through Last Hope Sound to see two glaciers, sea lions and cormorants, with a walk to the ice lake in front…
- Cueva del Milodón – A giant rock cave where remains of prehistoric giant ground sloths were discovered, with a life-size sloth sculpture at the entrance. It li…
- Puerto Natales – The gateway town to Torres del Paine, lined with colorful corrugated-metal houses, outdoor gear shops and restaurants. It's the base for st…
- Costanera & Monumento de la Mano – A seaside path along Last Hope Sound, where you can see black-necked swans, cormorants and snowy mountains across the water. The Hand Monum…
- Cerro Dorotea – A peak behind Puerto Natales. From the top you overlook the town, Last Hope Sound and the distant Paine range, making it a good hike for ac…
- Frigorífico Bories (The Singular Patagonia) – A British-built brick meat-freezing plant from 1915, declared a Chilean national monument. It has been converted into a design hotel, with…
- Museo Histórico Municipal de Puerto Natales – A small municipal museum introducing the indigenous Kawésqar people, European settlers and the history of sheep ranching. Admission is free…
Where to eat
- Lago Grey Bar Restaurant – A hotel restaurant on the shore of Lago Grey in Torres del Paine, facing icebergs and Grey Glacier. Non-guests can also…
Itineraries
- Southern Patagonia Glaciers & Torres del Paine – Cross Argentina and Chile to experience Perito Moreno Glacier, Fitz Roy trekking, and the Torres del Paine towers.
- Torres del Paine W-Trek – Hike the classic W-Trek from east to west, covering the Base Torres, French Valley, and Grey Glacier while staying in r…
- Tierra del Fuego, Glaciers & Torres del Paine Cross-Border Route – From Ushuaia through El Calafate to Torres del Paine, linking the three most classic sections of Southern Patagonia.
- Torres del Paine & Falklands Carcass Island – Hike to the Torres del Paine base first, then take the Saturday flight to the Falklands to see penguins on the outer is…
- Grand Chile North-to-South Classic – From deserts and port cities to the Lake District and Torres del Paine, covering the highlights of Chile with three dom…