Trekking Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile, is, by all means, an incomparable experience. Do you take the challenge to walk through one of the wildest places on the planet? Torres del Paine is made up of a small group of iceberg-strewn, azure and jade lakes. Besides, there are white rivers with astonishing waterfalls and the largest glaciers outside Antarctica. But above all, the red granite peaks that pierce the sky are the highlights of this National Park.
Things to do
Once inside the park, you have to make a choice. Two different hiking routes cover different areas of Torres del Paine National Park. Now, I will briefly explain the highlights of each route, so you can decide which one you want to do.
The W Trek
This is the most popular route since it’s shorter and easier. It can take you from 3 to 5 days to walk its 80 km (50 miles). On this route, you get to see three of the most famous sites of Torres del Paine.
The Grey Glacier
First, meet the Grey Glacier, a retreating glacier located in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Being almost 6 km wide and over 30 meters high, it can be seen for various viewpoints. Watching the huge pieces of ice floating on the waters of Lake Grey will leave you speechless.
The Frances Valley
Once you reach the Frances Valley, it doesn’t matter where you look, mountains will surround you. After around 2 hours of trekking into the valley, you start to hear the roar of avalanches. Then, the Glaciar Frances comes into view, with ice calving from it. If the weather in on your side, you will be able to reach the end of the valley. Here, you ger breathtaking views of Cerro Cota and Cerro Catedral, both being over 2000 meters high.
The O Trek
This trek covers the same route as the W trek. However, the O trek circles around the Cordillera del Paine, ending at the same point it starts. This makes the route around 110km long (68 miles), taking from 6 to 9 days to complete. But this backside is much less visited, so you will enjoy a peaceful track and have all the wonders of nature to yourself. This route is definitely not for everyone, as it’s more difficult and longer.
Paso John Gardner
Above all, the experience no one can forget once they take the O trek is crossing Paso John Gardner. This is truly a challenge for many people since the weather can be a bit harsh and the winds are strong. Besides, sometimes visibility is so low, that the Paso John Gardner can be closed off. The O trek is perfect for those who seek a different adventure and solitude.
How to get there
This incredible reserve is close to the small town of Puerto Natales, located some kilometers away from the southern part of Puerto Montt. You can get to Natales either by bus or ferry. From here, you will have to take a four-hour bus drive along dirt roads to reach the Park’s entrance.
If you have time, then you should definitely try to take a ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales. This way, you will be able to see icebergs and whales as you go through the route of Charles Darwin’s Beagle.
When to go
The best time to go to Torres del Paine is during the summer months, from December to March. At this time, the weather is warm and the days are longer; however, it can be very crowded.
Planning
You must know that if you want to trek the Paine circuit you will have to either camp or sleep in huts. Also, if you’re planning to stay at the Hosteria Grey, then you will have to book before you start this whole trip.
Inside Information
If you’re looking for some luxury in this place, then I highly recommend you to stay in the Hosteria Grey. This is a lodge located on the shores of the Lago Grey, and the perfect place for the end of your trek.
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