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Torres del Paine, A Look to the Sky - Eco Tourism & Adventure
Torres del Paine, in Chile, is the Park National
number one of Chilean Patagonia and Chilean
Tierra del Fuego is too one of the most beautiful and unique
places in the world. Their attractions be located in on its spectacular
mountain range, lakes, flora and fauna that make of this place an ideal
destination for Eco-tourism and adventure.
This place is without a doubt one of the 12 places that is necessary to visit before dying. Ideal for adventurers and lovers of the trekking.
Established Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1978, Torres del Paine National Park, (located in the Chilean Patagonia) in internationally renowned as one of the most attractive, unspoiled and distant places of the world.
The park is situated 1552 miles (2500 km) South of Santiago, the capital city of Chile. Despite its remoteness, this area has a pretty good tourist infrastructure. In the cities of Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, almost mandatory stopovers on the way, you have a full fledge of choices of quality and price. Inside the limits of the park you can choose form campgrounds all around the park, nice hostels like Hostería Pehoe, Hostería Torres and Hosteria Lago Grey, or a five star Hotel Explora.
The
Corporación Nacional Forestal, CONAF,
administers the park with a less than charming weather, you can find
strong winds even during summertime (December through March). The weather
of this zone is due to its latitude stretching from 51ª S to 56ª
S, a strong marine influence moderating the temperature and violent
winds blowing from the Pacific. The average temperature during November
ranges from 35,6 F (2° C) the minimum and 50 F (10° C) the maximum.
The mean summer temperature is 52 F (11 C) with a minimum of 33,4 F
(0.8 C) and a maximum of 75 F (24 C). The average rainfall is 27 inches
per year (700 mm) and altitude goes from 166 ft (50m) to 10.000 ft (3000m)
above sea level.
Without doubt, one of the major attractions of the park is the Paine Massif, mostly composed of granite, and originated 12 million years ago. The highest peak is the Paine Grande 10.004 ft (3050 m), although the most representative peaks are the "Cuernos del Paine" featured on most pictures of the park. The Torres del Paine are three sheer granite towers, that make a challenging and coveted prize for climbers.
En the southern extreme of the South Icefield, the park has many glaciers, lakes, lagoons and rivers. Among them we can mention the Sarmiento, Nordenskjold, Pehoe, Paine and Dickson, each one with waters of different shades of blue and green. The largest rivers that cross the park are the Pingo, Grey and Dickson. The latter having three spectacular waterfalls, Paine, Salto Grande and Salto Chico.
The park flora varies with the area and altitude. You will find from windy grasslands to coigue and lenga tree forests that grow smaller as you gain altitude resembling a natural Bonsai garden. There is a small bush called calafate that produces a berry that locals say you have to eat to return. Forests of “lenga” and “oires” trees as well as small bushes fill this National Park while guanacos, foxes, hares, woodpeckers, hawks, condors and other species do not shy away from visitors.
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
When to go?
In spring, is the best time in the year to visit this beautiful place, located in the austral region, the corresponding months are November and December.
How much?
The minimum cost to travel to visit this place, is 560 US dollars, it includes the flight ticket, accommodation in camping site for one week (the Camping site Pehoé, the best in Torres (the Towers), charges 34 daily dollars for a place for six people and journey auto guide).
SAMPLE OF A TORRES DEL PAINE ITINERARY
Day 1: Fly to Punta Arenas via Santiago, Chile. We meet you at the hotel, where we check your gear and have a short briefing. At dinner you will have the chance to taste delicious Patagonian dishes, and the best of Chilean wines.
Day 2: Drive to Towers of Paine National Park, crossing the Patagonian Pampas. After entering the park, our vehicle drops us at Hosteria Las Torres, where we enjoy a snack and begin our trek into the Paine Mountains. We will be carrying light daypacks while horses carry our gear up the Ascencio Valley to our Torres Camp.
Day 3: Hike to Valle del Silencio (Silence Valley), a special treat! We follow an almost unknown trail that climbs to the source of the Ascencio River. Surrounded by dense rain forest, the trail ascends this vast hidden valley. Here we can admire the sight of the mythical granite spires of Escudo (the Shield), Fortaleza (the Fortress), and the Towers of Paine.
Day
4: Morning hike to Mirador de las Torres (Overlook
of the Towers), where we will have an incredible panoramic view of glaciers
and the Paine Towers, reflected on the lake below. Hike back to Refugio
Las Torres, to spend the night in this cozy Patagonian hut, enjoy showers,
rest, and home cooking.
Day 5: A vehicle drops us at Pudeto, where we take the ferry boat across the turquoise waters of Lake Pehoe to our next point, Refugio Pehoe. After a snack we continue our hike through Circuito Chico (little circuit) towards Italian Camp, the entrance to the Valle del Frances (the French Valley).
Day 6: Day hike to Valle del Frances. As we head deeper into the valley we are welcomed by the breathtaking forms of granite pinnacles such as Los Cuernos (the Horns), La Hoja (the Leaf), La Espada (the Sword), and La Mascara (the Mask). The glaciated beauty of Paine Grande will astound you with thunderous sounds of massive chunks of ice falling from its heights.
Day 7: Return to Refugio Pehoe. In the afternoon we will follow the trail to Lake Grey, rewarded by the striking views of the Grey Glacier calving into its waters. In the distant background you will see the tremendous Southern Patagonian Icefield. Return to the Refugio Pehoe hut to enjoy a well-deserved rest.
Day 8: From Pehoe, we return to Pudeto on board the ferry, where a vehicle awaits us. We will drive out of the park to Puerto Natales, where we spend the night at a hotel and have a nice dinner before departing for the Fitzroy Massiff trip.
Day 9: Drive to Chalten, Argentina. We will spend the night in Chalten, the gateway to the Fitzroy Massif, another amazing patagonian paradise.
Day 10: Hike to Bridwell Camp, spectacular and pleasant hiking leading us to the base of Cerro Torre, one of the most spectacular mountains on the planet. Horses carry our gear, while we hike with daypacks.
Day 11: Hike to and spend the day on the Torre
Glacier. We will hike on the glacier, exploring the fascinating
world of glaciers.
FITZROY MASSIFF ITINERARY – Additional trip included in tour packages
Day
12: Move camp to Poincenot Camp, in the Fitzroy
area, spectacular hiking with impressive views of Fitzroy. On a sunny
day we can swim in one of the lakes we encounter on the hike.
Day 13: Hike towards Fitzroy and Laguna de los Tres.
Day 14: Move camp to Los Troncos. We step out of the Park to a less visited area, where we have very unique and impressive views of the back side of the Fitzroy Massiff. Los Troncos is like stepping into Snow White and the seven dwarves’house in the woods, where little cabins and homemade meals await us.
Day 15: Hike towards Guillaumet, a beautiful rock spire in the Fitzroy Massiff. Pleasant steep hiking takes us to the Upper Glacier where we can admire the Southern Patagonia Icefield.
Day 16: Our hike out to Chalten. We pack our horses for the last time and hike out to Chalten.
Day 17: Drive back to Punta Arenas. Celebration Dinner and end of the Expedition.
Day 18: Fly back to Santiago. Connect with your flight home or continue traveling in South America.
Note: This itinerary is intended to be a guideline only, weather days and rest days are always a possibility while on a trip.
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