TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK

MAIN ACTIVTIES IN THE PARK

ROCK ASCENT IN TORRES DEL PAINE

For people willing to climb and enjoy the wonderful mountains of the Patagonia, this is the opportunity to challenge summits as the Paine North Tower or Almirante Nieto mount. These expeditions can be made through organized tours, which include all the necessary equipment, and vast experienced guides to do the ascent to the Patagonia summits. It is necessary a physical shape appropriated to the activity as well as technical knowledge.

An example is adventure expedition towards Paine North Tower, that starts from the moment the guide pick up the client in its hotel towards Torres del Paine National Park. Afterwards the equipment shall be transported by horses to base camp, to wait for the best day, when climate conditions allow the ascent. The idea is to get to the summit in a 20 hours journey, including base camp - summit - base camp, reaching the 2,600 meters above sea level summit and with a well-deserved rest. It is impossible not to be amazed with the view and the achievement.

The entire journey can be done in 12 days approx., depending on climate conditions.
This is one of the alternatives of climbing in Torres del Paine National Park and its surroundings. The diversity of summits that gives us these world corners, also allow us the chance of being able to adapt to the different degrees of climbing difficulty.

ON THE WAY TO THE TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK

The tour to visit the Torres del Paine National Park starts in Puerto Natales (18,000 inhabitants), by a 148 km. trip until the administrative office of the Park (CONAF).

The tour starts at the bank of Senoret channel, where it is possible to watch a great number of birds, among which stands out the black neck swans, cormorants and ducks. Another outstanding of the Puerto Natales landscape is Sierra Dorotea, at the east of the city and it is the geographical boundary post that delimits Chile and Argentina. In the way to Cerro Castillo (main town of Torres del Paine commune) the steppe and the appearance of nirres, the identity tree of the Patagonia, dominate the landscape. Associated to these small woods comes up the caranchos, small Nature's garbage collectors.

The estancias (ranches) that were at the height of its fame between 1910 and 1970 are other of the peculiarities of the Patagonian landscapes. The estancias belonged to the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego and easily had 500,000 hectares and 200,000 and more sheeps. Nowadays these estancias, thanks to the agrarian reform, are smaller and their owners are the former workers of the Sociedad Explotadora.

The way keeps on until Cerro Castillo, an international tourist crossing that joins Ultima Esperanza province with Calafate, Argentina, where is the Los Glaciares and Chalten National Park. This border crossing is open all the year.

The route goes now to the Torres del Paine National Park, crossing a landscape similar to the preceding and with abundant fauna, especially birds. Before reaching the Park territory it is seen the majesty of the Paine mountain chain and one of its spectacular lakes, the Sarmiento.

To the National Park we may enter by the entrances of Laguna Amarga, Lago Sarmiento or the Laguna Azul sector to enjoy one the most spectacular views of the Torres del Paine, where these huge walls of granite rock contrasts with the intense blue of the lake.

Going in by Laguna Amarga, the estancia "Cerro Paine", at the foot of Almirante Nieto mount, invites to discover the magic of Patagonia in Las Torres inn, that has more than 30 rooms and the slogan "A landscape painted by God… where you listen the silence". It promises to its visitors an unforgettable adventure with its recreation choices: tours, trekking, horse riding, etc.

If you enter by Sarmiento lake you will enjoy an entertained spectacle presented by a small family of grey foxes which, noticing the kindness of tourists, will seek a reward in food among jumps and rushes.

In the interior road of the Park the first obligatory stop is in the Nordenskjold Lake viewpoint, where the Towers are already hiding but appear, imposing, the Horns with the Big Paine.

An informative scale model guides the tourist about the formation of this mountainous massif.

A few kilometers ahead, a detour invites to meet the Salto Grande (big waterfall), a Nature's spectacle that allows the Nordenskjold lake to flow into Pehoe lake.

The hotels presence is represented by Pehoe inn, placed in a small island and to get to it is necessary to cross a footbridge that shows the visitor its environment. In the Salto Chico sector we find the Explora hotel, a tourist complex of high level (five stars).

Staff members of the Corporacion Nacional Forestal (CONAF) delivers at the administrative office interesting information about the National Park, such as the excursion paths, the main areas to visit and the activities possible to do. Near the administrative office, in the bank of Serrano river, we may find the Paine Cabins and Tyndall lake inn, two hotel establishments for lodging and at the same time carry out a fascinating navigation.

At the end of this route is the access to Grey glacier, which, together with the homonymous lake show a unique landscape. It is impossible not be amazed with the unusual forms of its ice floes that reach the shore after giving off from the glacier. If you find this is an ideal sector, you may lodge. The Grey inn has comfortable rooms and you will enjoy a beautiful view of the lake and the glacier.

It is unbelievable how the nature has wanted to be present in this extreme of the world and that is why we may enjoy the mountain, lakes, rivers and glaciers. If you are after a place where to be in touch with nature, this is it and its name is Torres del Paine.

RECOMMENDATIONS

You may only camp at the interior of the Park in authorized places.Remember to do a good planning of your trekking hours.

In the inside of the circuits there are private mountain refuges and camps, whose service must be paid and there also are free camps and refuges.

The Administrative office has basic services such as:

- A first aid post looked after by a nurse.

- A police (Carabineros) patrol trained for rescues.

- A public phone

Remember you are near mountains where weather is very changeable. Never forget you are only a few kilometers from the South Patagonia Ice Field.

"Your life is your responsibility"

Source: Tourist Guide, Magallanes y Antartica Chilena regional government