Torres de Paine: One Beautiful Day in a Patagonian Paradise

Flamingos, aquamarine lagoons, and sky-high mountaintops are the norm in this very special corner of Chile’s Patagonia region.
Torres de Paine: One Beautiful Day in a Patagonian Paradise
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Having disembarked our small expedition ship this morning in Puerto Natales, we rode a carriage through a broad, flat, dun-colored valley to the national park. The drive revealed little about the splendor that awaited just a bit further along the road.

Yes, the Andes were there—dark rises off to both sides, capped with snow and sometimes enveloped in cloud. But at this point, they were more the suggestion of mountains rather than a high-altitude wonderland. That would soon change.

From off the plains, a few ostriches and a big herd of guanacos wandered out to the two-lane highway. Looking like wild lamas, they were as close as we would get to a South American safari. We snapped photos and heeded the guides’ warnings not to pet the guanacos. “Lamas are domesticated, like dogs,” a guide explained. “These are more like wolves.” We rumbled off. Even bigger and better things lay just ahead.

(Dmitry Pichugin/Shutterstock)
Dmitry Pichugin/Shutterstock

A Special Refuge

I was in Chilean Patagonia, headed to Torres del Paine National Park. Recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the eighth wonder of the world, the park is a bucket-list destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and all sorts of outdoorsy types. It’s the kind of place you hear about, over and over, in discussions of the world’s most spectacular natural paradises.
Many come here to strap on their backpacks and complete multi-day trips, especially the famous W Trek. That route traverses 46 miles of trail and encounters an elevation change of close to 9,000 feet. Most people take four or five days to complete it, pitching their tents to camp or staying in basic shelters (refugios) along the way.

Others come here to kayak and canoe, fly fish, rock climb, and ice hike on the glaciers. No such thing was on the schedule for us—this was just a day trip. So we’d have to pack as many spectacular sites as possible into a short amount of time.

Torres del Paine was established as a national park in 1959, and it covers some 700 square miles of remote territory in the southern reaches of Chile. It’s a place of crashing waterfalls, flashing glaciers, rushing rivers, and, above it all, snow-capped mountains. Three granite Torres (towers) form the centerpiece of this place and also serve as the inspiration behind its name—Torres del Paine. Paine is a local indigenous word for “blue.”

(Douglas Pfeiffer/Shutterstock)
Douglas Pfeiffer/Shutterstock

Nowhere Else on Earth

We got our first glimpse of the Torres—albeit, a brief one—soon after crossing into the park. The coach stopped so we could disembark and look out over the cold expanse of the Amarga Lagoon, so brightly aquamarine that it seemed to glow. The peaks beyond were covered in snow and cloud, which blew off for just a moment to reveal jagged and craggy summits rising at almost-straight angles, searching for the sky. They were breathtaking, and unlike any mountains I’ve ever encountered.

There was more wildlife, too. Especially in the form of flamingos. The often-tropical birds seem strange at this latitude and environment, but they’re down there—just a handful of bright pink birds doing their thing. They migrate here during the warmer months to feast on the crustaceans that thrive in the high-saline lagoon.

(Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock)
Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock

Our guide suggested it was also possible to see an elusive, big cat. “We could see a puma,” she noted, sending a ripple of excitement through the group. “We don’t see them all the time, but we spotted one three days ago.”

At midday, lunch was perhaps a little more perfect than expected. Veterans of day trips are accustomed to less-than-adequate bagged meals, such as egg and mayo sandwiches and a little bag of almost-stale chips.

This definitely wasn’t that. As we parked near a small lake and strode into a handsome wooden building with a wall of bright, floor-to-ceiling windows, a delicious aroma greeted us. Chileans in general—and Patagonians in particular—pride themselves on their grilling. Here, chicken, beef, and salmon sizzled over a wood fire on a barbecue built into a stone frame. The hosts paired these meats with a bold red wine. It was excellent fortification for a busy afternoon.

(fcm82/Shutterstock)
fcm82/Shutterstock

We began with a short hike to a big waterfall. Patagonia is legendary for wild, unpredictable weather. While the day had been sunny and relatively warm, the wind here whistled.

Gusts were so strong that it was hard to stay steady and rooted on the solid path leading to the Salto Grande—or “big jump.” But it was worth the effort, especially with that big lunch steak powering me through the wind tunnel. We soon arrived at a chute fed by white rapids. The main cascade dropped and frothed more than 30 feet.

(SL-Photography/Shutterstock)
SL-Photography/Shutterstock

While the trio of Torres had backdropped much of the afternoon, the best vista came at the end of the day. As we exited the park and prepared for the drive back, we pulled off along a high ridge. A valley swept out at our feet, rising again on the horizon to the namesake peaks. Nature was the artist. The Paine massif was formed by volcanism and shaped into its dramatic angles and shapes by glaciers.

As we savored this last look in the late-afternoon light, some big birds swooped overhead. First, buzzard eagles. Then the mascot of the Andes: three pairs of majestic, soaring condors.

“Such a nice way to say goodbye to this beautiful area,” said the guide as we loaded back onto the coach. The road back would be long and filled with switchbacks. We didn’t spot any pumas in the twilight. But the ride was a perfect chance to reflect on the memories of an amazing day. The images stayed in the front of my mind as the light faded and Puerto Natales came closer on the horizon. I could feel that a nice nap, fueled by all that fresh air, was imminent.

If You Go

Getting There: While some will arrive by ship, it is possible to fly to Puerto Natales. Teniente Julio Gallardo (PNT) only services other airports in Chile, so if arriving by air, your trip will almost certainly involve a connection in the capital, Santiago.
Getting Around: It’s possible to rent a car and self-navigate Torres del Paine, but if you’re here for a brief time (including a day trip), I highly recommend a guided tour to get the most out of your limited schedule.
Stay: The Singular Patagonia is definitely a destination unto itself. Once a cold storage plant and a national heritage site since 1996, the hotel retains its original industrial feel while delivering luxury to a windswept point on the Fjord of Last Hope Sound.
Take Note: While many shops and restaurants will accept credit cards, it’s helpful to have some local currency in your pocket, especially if you’re hoping to buy a few souvenirs. One U.S. dollar will buy about 950 Chilean Pesos (CLP). The easiest way to get local currency is to visit an ATM in Puerto Natales before you head to the park.
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson
Author
Toronto-based writer Tim Johnson is always traveling in search of the next great story. Having visited 140 countries across all seven continents, he’s tracked lions on foot in Botswana, dug for dinosaur bones in Mongolia, and walked among a half-million penguins on South Georgia Island. He contributes to some of North America’s largest publications, including CNN Travel, Bloomberg, and The Globe and Mail.