by Allan Taylor

Created on: January 07, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2011

Torres del Paine National Park - Chile

Chile is a land of spectacular mountains and volcanoes.

Its backbone of the Andean Cordillera extends over 4000 kilometers north to south forming a natural boundary with neighboring Argentina.

Some of the best mountain scenery in all of South America is found in the Torres del Paine National Park, located about 350 kms north of

Punta Arenas, the capital of Chile's prosperous 12th Region, and seaport on the Strait of Magellan.

In winter time the region is snowy and inhospitable, but the southern summer, December to March, brings an increasing number of visitors. For tourists, Chile is a pleasant, economical and safe place to travel, and exploring the Torres del Paine region is a great  ecological adventure.

The southern fiordland town of Puerto Natales (population ca 20,000) is the jumping off point for visiting Paine. To get there you can either fly or bus or boat (cruise ship) into Punta Arenas and then bus the final 247 kms north to Puerto Natales, which has no commercial airport.

Finding accommodation in Puerto Natales is no problem. The town is awash with economical guest houses (hospedajes) plus many motels and hotels ranging up to the impressive 4 star Hotel Costa Australis on the waterfront.  There are some fabulous up-market estancias and tourist hotels located within  the Park  and close by.

The website Hostelworld.com gives details of computerized budget places with reviews and online booking. The nicest hospedajes are run by little old ladies who make a modest living catering wonderfully to international travelers. You will find them in the Lonely Planet guide book, or by word-of-mouth from other travelers.

Access from Puerto Natales to the National park is by bus or car traversing 170 kms of rough road. Puerto Natales has many tour operators ready to organize anything. Your hostel or hotel manager will provide good advice on such matters. Minibus tours to the Park for the day are very good as the driver will stop any time for photography which is not possible if you go by regular bus. You'll get to see the highlights of the Park in comfort.

The most stunning close-up view of the mountains is from the mirador or lookout point near Pudeto. From the car park it is a short walk to see the Salto Grande. This is a spectacular waterfall on the short stretch of river linking the two glacial lakes Lago Nordenskjold which lies in front of the Cuernos (Horns) of Paine, and Lago Pehoe. An inviting track

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>