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TORRES
DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK - PATAGONIA
TORRES DEL PAINE: UNESCO WORLD BIOSPHERE RESERVE
South
America's most famous park and a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Torres
del Paine is best recognized for its magnificent central massif, sculpted
by glaciers into the unmistakable cuernos (horns) and torres (towers).
Varied and abundant wildlife, including guanacos and dozens of bird species,
make this Patagonia's top adventure travel destination.
Torres del Paine sector is an
extensive geographic zone with numerous natural attractions that includes
from the Torres del Paine National Park, a known world Biosphere Reserve
to the limit of Ultima Esperanza and Magallanes provinces. The Fairway
lighthouse is the southwestern extreme of the zone and is located in the
Pacific Ocean mouth of the Magellan Strait.
TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
It
was created in 1959 and declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978.
Is located in Ultima Esperanza province, 145 km. north of Puerto Natales.
It has 3 accesses: Porteria Sarmiento, Laguna Amarga and Laguna Azul.
It has a surface of 242,242 hectares, with an altitude from 200 meters
to 3,050 (Paine Massifs).
PAINE MOUNTAIN CHAIN
It
is an impressive joint of mountains, governed by steep granite towers
and by the photogenic Corns and the imposing Big Paine. The mountainous
massif is crowned by glaciers and surrounded by lakes with aquamarine,
emerald, turquoise, sapphire and lapis lazuli colors. A microclimate holds
a rich flora and many wild fauna that romps freely around lagoons and
among beautiful woods of bearded trees. It is not a surprise that UNESCO
designated the place as World Biosphere Reserve or the Chilean State as
a National Park.
A web of well kept paths, with
widely separated refuges allow access to best corners and had contributed
to fill the dreams of trekkers from all over the world. If in addition
there are lodgings from camping to well equipped hotels, it is easy to
realize why Torres del Paine is the crowning point of every trip to South
America and why this park justifies to venture until the edge of the world
itself.
THE PAINE HORNS
The
characteristic black rock that crowns the Paine Horns is an account of
the tectonics and icy forces that sculpted this massif. Something more
than ten millions years ago, this kind of sedimentary rock covered wide
areas in the region. Sometime said rocks had contact with the magma of
the inside of the earth, forming the granite rocks. Afterwards, the colossal
pressures of the planet bowels made rise these impressive mountains that
we know today as Torres del Paine.
When the glacial era came, the
ice covered all the territory. Only stacked out the top of the highest
mountains. The withdrawal of the ices brought the granite to view, over
which remained the black rock not covered by glaciation, because of that
today we may appreciate huge Towers with different colors in a same massif,
which is doubtless one of the biggest silent shows of Patagonian nature.
BASE OF PAINE TOWERS
This excursion takes us to the mythical towers of
granite rock, through a trekking by narrow paths and steep ascents. Starting
the trip we found the Ascensio River, which force us to cross by a footbridge
so we may climb some small hills and arrive after 2 hours walk, to the
Chilean refuge. After continuing skirting round the Ascencio river and
one and a half hour later, we find a lagoon at the foot of the majestic
Torres del Paine. The south, central and north towers form this spectacular
landscape that by years has been gazed by thousand of tourist from all
the world, the same way its more than 1 km. walls have defied expeditions
that yearn for reaching its summits. It is possible to return the same
day and sleep in hotel, refuge or camp. If you wish, you can camp in the
interior of the valley, in Torres camp or Japanese camp.
"W",
TORRES DEL PAINE BASE, FRENCH VALLEY AND GREY GLACIER
This circuit of well-designed paths allows a lengthy excursion to the
inside part of the Massif of Torres del Paine Park, besides of knowing
the main attractions of it. It has several refuges in the journey.
First day: the
start is very early to set out for Torres del Paine, enjoy the beauty
of the mountain and return to sleep in the inn, camp or refuge Las Torres.
Second day: The
route goes around lake Nordenskjold and after 5 hours of trekking arrive
to the foot of Paine Horns, where we find the Refugio Cuernos. Going on
in the middle of woods and pastures, after 2 hours walking, we arrive
to the Italian camp, where we have the possibility of camping in a place
well protected from the wind and enjoy the beauties of the Valle Frances.
Another option is to keep on for another two hours, enjoy the view of
the glacier and Rio Frances and penetrate in the deepest of the valley
and sleep in the Britanico camp.
Third day: The
route to follow is to go in the morning to Pehoe refuge from the Britanico
camp, 4 hours, or from the Italiano camp, 2 hours. It is necessary to
cross a footbridge over the Frances river to meet later a view of Pehoe
lake. From the refuge we continue by a path very well signaled, between
the Grey lake and the Big Paine, and after 3 hours of easy trekking, arrival
to Grey refuge, where it is possible to spend the night. Keeping on, at
30 minutes, is the main viewpoint of Grey glacier.
Fourth day: The
return force us to take the ship crossing in Pehoe lake and navigate for
45 minutes, arrive to Pudeto sector and connect with the different buses
companies toward the destination we choose.
CIRCUITO MACIZO MONTAÑOSO PAINE
It is the most extense excursion around the big mountain joint and that
for years has been described as forced route in all the books that promote
trekking in Patagonia. It allows achieving it in 6 or 8 days according
to the physical conditions of the visitors, and the climatic variability..
- First day: Trekking
to the base of the Towers, by the valley of Ascencio river, lodging in
refuge or Las Torres camp .
- Second day:
Four hours run, leaving
from the refuge or Las Torres camp to arrive, a later lodge, at Seron
camp.
- Third day: Departure form Seron camp
for a 3 hours trekking up to Paine lake an another 3 hours to Dickson
refuge.
- Fourth day: Departure from Dickson
refuge towards Los Perros camp in 4 hours.
- Fifth day: The climate will influence
in the length of this trekking, since is the highest crossing of the park.
Departure form Los Perros camp, going through Paso and Guardas camps and
finally arrive to Grey refuge, in about 9 hours.
- Sixth day: Departure from Grey sector
towards Pehoe refuge, a 3 hours run, leaving optional time to visit the
Frances valley.
- Seventh day: Return journey by seaway
boarding a ship in Pehoe or else walking to CONAF administration office.
ADMINISTRATION - LAGUNA VERDE
This tour is a good choice by its short distance and its great scenery
beauty. The trekking starts on Weber bridge toward Laguna Verde. The run
is in the middle of exuberant vegetation, mostly lenga trees. The trekking
lasts 3 hours and the end of it we find the beautiful sight of Laguna
Verde contrasted to the Paine mountain massif. It is important to point
that at some few meters is the Estancia Lazo, a cattle center established
at the end of 19th century, now a tourist inn, "Mirador del Paine",
where you may enjoy wonderful landscapes, specially an exceptional view
of the Paine massif, impressive lakes, glaciers and thousand-year-old
woods.
CIRCUITO UNIÓN
DOS PARQUES NACIONALES
With a 9 hours length, this tour promises to give the chance to discover
extraordinary beauty zones. The tour borders the Serrano river until,
in one-day link Bernardo O'Higgins and Torres del Paine national parks,
on a route of medium exigency.
Thus tour can be made in both ways,
being the commonest the one that starts in Monte Balmaceda complex. The
route includes several waterfalls, abundant vegetation and the view of
Geyke and Tyndall glaciers, part of South Patagonian Ice Field, ending
in Rio Serrano camp, at twilight.
TREKKING TO PINGO LAKE
The viewpoint of Grey lake and glacier is the end of the way in a vehicle.
There is here a parking lot and the Lago Grey daycare. In this point starts
the trekking to the Pingo area; is a three and a half hours run to the
rustic Zapata refuge, and another hour trekking to reach the lake viewpoint
and at the back, the sight of Pingo glacier, the last presence of the
South Patagonia Ice Field in Torres del Paine National Park.
TRES PASOS SECTOR
A cultural prestige has the
"Tres Pasos" hotel, where there is, next to it, a monument of
Gabriela Mistral, reminding the stay of this great Chilean poetess. There
also is camping area in Tres Pasos estancia.
SECTOR LA PENINSULA
Is a place of beautiful landscape
environment, where is the camping area "Bahia del Bote", with
a variety of services, among which out stands their functional cabins.
LAZO SECTOR
In this area is the Lazo estancia
and an inn with a beautiful sight of the Paine mountain massif. From here
it is possible to go to different points of the Torres del Paine National
Park, by trekking or on horseback.
CERRO CASTILLO
ESTANCIA
The estancia has a spacious
construction, newly built and thought in the setting of a family characterized
by its services. This house contrasts with the other typical buildings
of a Magellan estancia where it is possible to watch country work, to
walk about the beautiful and privileged sector where it is seen the Castillo
hill, to do horse rides or trekking to the Ballena hill, sighting of a
variety of birds, and enjoying the typical "asado al palo" (roast
meat stick-style).
TREKKING ON
ICE IN GREY GLACIER
The tour starts in Grey camp (Torres del Paine National Park) every day
at 9 o'clock (high season November-February). The trekking on the glacier
lasts 5 to 8 hours. At the beginning of the tour, the participants are
instructed how to travel on the ice with the help of the expert team (crampons,
ice axes, harness, ropes, etc.). During the course of the program it will
be possible to appreciate a variety of ice forming, such as cracks, at
the same time that the guides deliver explanations about the geographical
environments and general glaciology. Everybody interested in this experience
must use clothing fit to Patagonia climate: gloves, hat, glasses, parka,
etc.
DOWN SERRANO
RIVER TOUR
A unique experience is to link two national parks by river navigation
and at the same time get pictures of the South Patagonian Ice Field. Furthermore,
this tour can be made in one day.
This travel starts every day (high season, November-March) at 9.30 a.m.
from Serrano camping, Torres del Paine National Park, where guides with
vast experience on Patagonia navigation will wait along the zodiac boats,
which set sail down the river completely equipped. After ten minutes sailing
we may begin to appreciate a landscape really amazing and seldom totally
explored. As we are navigating down the river, the guides give information
about vegetation and bird life of the area. At the moment of leaving Torres
del Paine National Park territory we have the first sight of South Patagonian
Ice Field, approximately 350 km. of ice that here receive the name of
Tyndal Glacier, and the most spectacular Geyke Glacier. Later, near noon,
it is possible to visit Estancia Anita, a typical example of life in Patagonia,
appreciating the warmth that distinguishes Magallanes people.
At the end of the navigation, we get
to the mouth of Serrano river, where Ultima Esperanza fiord invite us
to visit Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers, part of the Bernardo O'Higgins
National Park.
HORSE RIDE
AND ADVENTURE IN GEYKE GLACIER
Interesting and full of pure adventure is the chance of extending this
travel staying in Estancia Anita, in a country atmosphere where Mr. Luis
Guerrero Casola and family will give you all the necessary services to
undertake the special experience of going deep into the Patagonia steppe
setting course to the imposing Geyke glacier.
The horse riding and the perspiration
by the effort that make us go on by a path full of illusion, with clean
skies occupied by the flight of condors and the silence of Nature, let
oneself go after the charm of this magic land.
Not less spectacular is the reward obtained
by three hours riding and finding the Geyke lake, full of ice floes, floating
wit their singular shapes and attractive colors at the bank of the lake.
Its is possible to watch the glacier
from a viewpoint on top of a nearby hill. Here the presence of South Patagonia
Ice Field let us appreciate one of the first-rate glaciers in the Patagonia,
the Geyke glacier.
Thanks to: Sernatur
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