Hiking and Trekking in Torres del Paine

Location:
Puerto Natales, Chile

Hiking, Trekking

For outdoor enthusiasts, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine can be like Disneyland. Declared an official Biosphere Reserve in 1978, the park offers a seemingly endless number of hiking, trekking and climbing routes. It is not uncommon for visitors to spend days and even weeks exploring the parks interior, the likes of which make up one of the Western Hemisphere’s most picturesque locales.

Popular hiking and trekking circuits include El Circuito, The W, The Valley of the Rio del Francés and others that either wind through the Río Pingo Valley to the base of Torres del Paine or onto Laguna Verde, Laguna Azul and Lago Paine.

Signing up for a trip through an agency is an easy way to hit the trails; guides can be hired from Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales. Most companies will take care of the nitty-gritty details such as arranging transport, food and lodging, leaving you time to contemplate the park’s unending beauty. Larger groups can custom design a trip and contract an agency to take care of the trip’s logistical details. When choosing an agency, be sure to focus on reputable, rather than cheap companies).

If you’re averse to guided tours, go-it-your-own trekking is possible with careful planning and foresight.

Getting There
Guides can be hired in Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas.