Torres Patagonia

AM: After arriving at the airport in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Calafate (Argentina), your guide will meet you and take you on a full- or half-day road trip to the Las Torres Patagonia Lodge. (This service is offered twice a day and is included for guests with all-inclusive programs). After checking in, you can enjoy a hearty Patagonia dinner there at the lodge before turning in for a good night’s rest for the days ahead.

AM: For those people interested in learning more about Patagonia's famous Lenga forests, this morning’s Lenga Forest excursion can be a hike along part of the park’s “Circuit Trail,” around the eastern edge of the massif. This will take you to the final destination: An old-growth Lenga forest that provides a habitat for many animals. During this excursion there’s a good chance to spot Magellanic woodpeckers, Austral parakeets, Chilean flickers and other forest small birds. Also keep an eye out for pumas (the so-called “Andean Lion”), which roam this forest. In addition, the trail features great views of Laguna Azul Lake and Cerro Paine, on the eastern side of the massif.

PM: This afternoon you will learn the ways of the Patagonian cowhand by spending time with baqueanos (gauchos), who lead the Las Torres Lodge horseback treks. During your time with these local range riders — the descendants of real-life ranches hands — you will learn about their special clothing, their saddles and other horse tacks, as well as get a chance to share mate (an herbal tea made from yerba mate leaves). These baqueanos will also demonstrate how to properly saddle and shoe a horse, and of course how to ride. By the end of this cowhand adventure, you'll have a clear understanding of what it was like to live and work in this remote corner of South America in days past.

AM: Today, you can get up close and personal with the famous “Horns” of Torres del Paine. As we make our way to the Refugio Cuernos, this hike will take you along the edge of the Paine Massif following the relatively flat section of the park’s "W Trail.” Located just below a cluster of jagged peaks called Los Cuernos ("the Horns"), the destination offers incredible views across Lake Nordenskjöld.

PM: After enjoying your box lunch, there will be plenty of time to linger by the lakeside and poke a finger or toe in the frigid water before returning along the 11 km (6 mile) trail to Las Torres Patagonia Lodge.

AM: This morning we will head out on the “Full Paine Excursion, which truly lives up to its name by giving travelers the fullest introduction to Torres del Paine National Park in the shortest amount of time. A road trip will take you into the heart of the park, where you can enjoy scenic overlooks, short hikes and an exhilarating lake cruise to the Grey Glacier. Along the way, we will make stops at Puente Negro, the Nordenskjöld Lookout, the Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and the Salto Grande waterfall.

PM: After enjoying an open-air gourmet lunch, you have a choice of hiking along the southern shore of Grey Lake to a point where you can gaze down at icebergs, or taking a catamaran trip* across the length of the lake to the imposing Grey Glacier. The cruise on this 100-passenger boat takes around three hours.

*The boat trip on Grey Lake is optional and not included as part of the excursion rate except for guests participating in the lodge’s all-inclusive programs.

AM: This afternoon, you can choose to go on a half-day excursion to the Blue Lagoon: the best option for those who want to observe and photograph the Torres towers without all the walking. The adventure starts with a 30-minute drive through the rugged terrain of the national's park's far eastern region Laguna Amarga, where you can observe cianobacteria with stromatolites, and sometimes flamingos, before continuing the journey to the Blue Lagoon. After parking, we will head out on a short half-hour walk that blends wildlife sightings and views of the Paine Massif. Animals are abundant in this part of the park, especially guanaco and birds such as condors, raptors and water birds. During this 4-hour excursion, we can also visit the spectacular Paine Waterfall, the first of three waterfalls of Paine River.

PM: After returning to the lodge for lunch, you will be driven back to Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Calafate (Argentina) on a scenic full-or half-day road trip. As you head to the airport for your departing flight home or onward, enjoy your last look back at the spectacular Torres del Paine Park and Patagonia, a unique region of inspiring natural wonders.

AM: After arriving at the airport in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Calafate (Argentina), your guide will meet you and take you on a full-or half-day road trip to the Las Torres Patagonia Lodge. (This service is offered twice a day and is included for guests with all-inclusive programs). After checking in, you can enjoy a heart Patagonia dinner there at the lodge before turning in for a good night’s rest for the week ahead.

AM: This morning we will head out on the “Full Paine Excursion, which truly lives up to its name by giving travelers the fullest introduction to Torres del Paine National Park in the shortest amount of time. A road trip will take you into the heart of the park, where you can enjoy scenic overlooks, short hikes and an exhilarating lake cruise to the Grey Glacier. Along the way, we will make stops at Black Bridge, the Nordenskjöld Lookout, the Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and the Salto Grande waterfall.

PM: After enjoying an al fresco gourmet lunch, you have a choice of hiking along the southern shore of Grey Lake to a point where you can gaze down at icebergs, or taking a catamaran trip* across the length of the lake to the imposing Grey Glacier. The cruise on this 100-passenger boat takes around three hours.

*The boat trip on Grey Lake is optional and not included as part of the excursion rate except for guests participating in the lodge’s all-inclusive programs.

AM: For those people interested in learning more about Patagonia's famous Lenga forests, this morning’s Lenga Forest excursion can be a hike along part of the park’s “Circuit Trail,” around the eastern edge of the massif. This will take you to the final destination: An old-growth Lenga forest that provides a habitat for many animals. During this excursion there’s a good chance to spot Magellanic woodpeckers, Austral parakeets, Chilean flickers and other forest small birds. Also keep an eye out for pumas (the so-called “Andean Lion”), which roam this forest. In addition, the trail features great views of Laguna Azul Lake and Cerro Paine, on the eastern side of the massif.

PM: This afternoon you will learn the ways of the Patagonian cowboy by spending time with baqueanos (gauchos) who lead the Las Torres Lodge horseback treks. During your time with these local cowhands — the descendants of ranches hands — you will learn about their special clothing, their saddles and other horse tack, and get a chance to share mate (an herbal tea made from yerba mate leaves). These baqueanos will also demonstrate how to properly saddle and shoe a horse, and of course how to ride. By the end of this cowhand adventure, you'll have a clear understanding of what it was like to live and work in this remote corner of South American in days past.

AM: This morning’s adventure leads to the foot of the renowned Torres (towers). You will be guided to a viewpoint beside a glacier-fed lagoon with views straight up the slender, rocky peaks that give the Las Torres National Park its name. You will have the choice of undertaking the entire trek on foot or going halfway on horseback, as far as the Refugio Chileno. In either case, the excursion starts out from the lodge, quickly proceeds to the Ascencio Valley, crosses ice-cold mountain streams, and threads along glacial moraines before reaching the Las Torres base.

PM: After enjoying a snack at the base, you will return to the Las Torres Lodge via the same 18 km (11 mile) route. A hot Las Torres Lodge dinner will be there waiting for upon your return.

AM: Today’s Mountain Lion Footprint Excursion, a combined horseback and hiking excursion, culminates in one of the Las Torres National Park's most striking viewpoints: the more than 1,508 meter (5,000-foot) summit of Cerro Paine (Paine hill). The first section is undertaken in the saddle along a scenic forest section of the Ascencio Valley. This trail proceeds along “Agostini's Route,” where we will leave the horses behind and hike up to Cerro Paine's windy summit. The view is truly astounding, as you will witness the three towers rising in the west, the Paine River Valley and Laguna Azul Lake in the east, and lakes Nordenskjöld and Sarmiento to the south. This panorama that includes granite peaks, glaciers, lakes, forest and Patagonian pampas in a single glimpse. After a snack at the summit, we return via the same route to re-mount our horses and return to the lodge.

AM: Time permitting, this afternoon you can choose to go on a 2-1/2 hour trek around the large Sarmiento Lake, in the park's southeast corner. The lake was named after the Spanish explorer and author Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa (1532–1592), who made the first attempt to colonize the Magallanes region, which is one of the most tragic histories in Patagonia. The excursion starts with a 40-minute drive from the lodge to a trailhead, where we set off hiking down a steep valley with small bushes that flower in summer. Once we reach the lakeshore, we stop to examine the lake's famous thrombolites formations, which are basically ancient fossils formed as long as 7,000 years ago by bacteria growing in the saline lake. You should note that Lake Sarmiento is one of only six places in the world where these thrombolites are found today. The hike also includes a chance to see and photograph various aquatic birds and grazing guanaco, as well as incredible views of the Paine Massif. A 40-minute drive will take us back to the Las Torres Lodge.

PM: Following lunch at the lodge, you will be driven back to Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Calafate (Argentina) on a scenic full-or half-day road trip. As you head to the airport for your departing flight home or onward, enjoy your last look back at the spectacular Torres del Paine Park and Patagonia, a unique region of inspiring natural wonders.

AM: For those who want to observe and photograph the Torres del Paine National Park’s Cuernos (“Horns”) without all the walking, this half-day excursion is the best option, while also offering a small but significant historical footnote. The adventure begins with a 30-minute drive through the rugged terrain of the national park’s far eastern Laguna Amarga region, where flamingos are sometimes observed. From there, we will continue our drive to the Blue Lagoon. From the parking spot, we head out on a short half-hour walk that combines wildlife watching and views of the Paine Massif.

Among the many animals that can be seen in the park, the most abundant are guanacos and birds. Among the Laguna Azul (“Blue Lake)”) avian community are water birds, as well as condors and raptors. From this area, the sight of the Torres towers is much different than elsewhere in the park …even more awe-inspiring in some respects. Blue Lake is also the site where the Torres del Paine Mountains were first spotted by the intrepid Victorian-era British traveler and author Lady Florence Dixie, who is considered the first tourist to visit Patagonia. In her 1880 book Across Patagonia, she dubbed the three towers “Cleopatra’s Needles,” as the stone monoliths reminded her of the obelisks of ancient Egypt. During this four-hour adventure, we will also visit the striking Paine Waterfall, which is the first of three waterfalls on the Paine River.

AM: On this easy hike from the hotel to nearby Inge Lake, the spotlight is on flora and feathered fauna. Like several of the other Hotel Las Torres Patagonia excursions, this outing begins along a portion of the “W” Trail before veering south. During this trek, your guide will point out and identify a host of bird species, flowers and shrubs that occupy this area situated entirely within the grounds of the Hotel Las Torres estancia (ranch).

After making our way to the shore of Lake Inge, a brief pause on will give you plenty of time to also take in the views of Lake Nordenksjöld to the south and Monte Almirante Nieto Mountain to the north. An excursion that’s perfect for those people craving a good leg stretch – but nothing too strenuous – this outing normally takes about two hours, though travelers with more energy can request a longer return along an alternative trail.

AM: This horseback ride or hike follows a steep trail that ascends up the western slope of Cerro Paine, which itself reaches an altitude of almost a mile above sea level. As we trek through lenga forests, you should keep your eye out for various species of birds. The route will take us above the tree line to reach the lofty D’Agostini Lookout Point, which provides striking views back across the valley to glaciers, granite towers and alpine lakes – one of the best opportunities to appreciate the true splendor of Torres del Paine National Park.

AM: Truly living up to its name, this excursion gives travelers the fullest introduction to Torres del Paine National Park in the shortest amount of time. A road trip takes guests into the heart of the park, where you will discover scenic overlooks, take short walks to natural landmarks, and go on a wonderful lake cruise to the Grey Glacier. Along the way, our stops will include Puente Negro (“Black Bridge”), Nordenskjöld Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and the Salto Grande waterfall.

Following a gourmet al fresco lunch, guests can choose to hike along the southern shore of Lake Grey to view icebergs or you can opt to go on a narrated boat trip* across the length of the lake to the imposing Grey Glacier (the 3-hour cruise is on board a 100-person catamaran). (*)The boat trip on Lake Grey is optional and is not included in the excursion rate, except for guests participating in the hotel’s all-inclusive programs.

AM: This activity is a great way to become more familiar with horses and to learn basic riding skills. For travelers who haven’t spent much time in the saddle, you will start out in the hotel’s own corral and stables, where gauchos and guides will show you riding essentials before you head out on a ride or excursion on the ranch’s grounds. For children to want to learn how to ride, this is an especially good activity.

AM: This full-day adventure leads to the very base of the celebrated Torres (“Towers”), the slender peaks that give the national park its name. On this 18 km (11 mile) excursion, you will have the choice of taking the entire trek on foot or going halfway on horseback. Either way, the outing begins from the hotel and quickly climbs into the Ascencio Valley, rising through a beautiful lenga forest to the stony heights above (the elevation change is around 1,000 meters / 3,000 feet). The route crosses freezing mountain streams and snakes along glacial moraines before reaching the base of the spectacular Torres. Following a snack and time for iconic photographs, our group will return to the hotel via the same route.

AM: This excursion takes us to the renowned lake at the foot of the Paine Massif. This body of water was named after the Finnish-Swedish explorer Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928), who in the early 20th century explored much of the Antarctic, Greenland, Chile and Peru. This half-day excursion traces part of the famous “W” Trail, which extends between the lake’s scenic north shore and Monte Almirante Nieto, the glacier and snow-covered mountain that anchors the southeastern extreme of the Paine Massif. While the trails covered are slightly different for horseback riders and hikers, the scenery and terrain are quite similar, though the equestrian route includes a number of stream and river crossings. In addition to the remarkable plant and wildlife, this riding excursion provides a chance to learn more about Patagonian gauchos and horses, as well as sharpen your own skills in the saddle.

AM: This activity is a great way to become more familiar with horses and to learn basic riding skills. For travelers who haven’t spent much time in the saddle, you will start out in the hotel’s own corral and stables, where gauchos and guides will show you riding essentials before you head out on a ride or excursion on the ranch’s grounds. For children to want to learn how to ride, this is an especially good activity.

AM: The highlights of this relatively easy half-day excursion are the Torres del Paine National Park’s most spectacular waterfall and an astonishing viewpoint. Your adventure starts in the heart of the park’s lake district after a scenic 45-minute drive to the Pudeto parking area. From there, we will make a short walk to the raging Salto Grande Waterfall, which channels water between the Nordenskjöld and Pehoé lakes. From the waterfall, we will continue along the trail that leads through the portion of the park that was impacted by a major forest fire back in 2011-12. Among the remnants of fire-ravaged trees, new life is already sprouting from the rich Patagonian soul. The path continues to the Sendero Mirador Cuernos lookout point. At this site, which is possibly the park’s most spectacular viewpoint, you will have striking views of the three “Horns” (Los Cuernos), Mount Paine Grande and French Valley, as well as a breathtaking spectacle of the French Glacier’s rock and water and ice of the on the north shore of Lake Nordenskjöld. For those who don’t want to undertake the complete two-hour hike, you can opt for a shorter version that features just the brief hike to Salto Grande waterfall.

AM: Another “full tour” that gives guests the fullest introduction to Torres del Paine National Park, this 4-5 hour excursion will take you into the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park. The adventure includes visits to the park’s best lookout points, short walks to memorable sites, and the chance to go on an incredible sailing adventure to the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. During this excursion, visits include Puente Negro (“Black Bridge”), Nordenskjöld Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and the Salto Grande waterfall.

After enjoying a traditional lunch, you will have a chance to sail along the Serrano River to Mount Balmaceda and visit the largest national park in Chile: Bernardo O’Higgins. During this incredible adventure on a motorized 5-16 passenger zodiac boat, you will be able to observe the Tyndall and Balmaceda glaciers, where the national park’s currents join and flow on into the Pacific Ocean. The sailing expedition also includes a 1-1/2 hour stop in the area near Serrano, a place where you can walk through evergreen forests for an incredible view of that glacier. The return trip heads out from the same place. *The sailing trip is optional and is not included as part of the excursion rate, except for guests participating in the hotel’s all-inclusive programs.

AM: The famous Valle del Francés (“French Valley”) provides for one of the hotel’s longest excursions, venturing into the heart of Torres del Paine National Park and proceeding along part of the famous “W” Trail. After a 45-minute drive from the hotel, we will board a catamaran near the Pudeto Ranger Station, and then take a half-hour cruise across Lake Pehoé to then start the trek. The first part of the trail is relatively flat (changing about 300m/980 ft). It leads along the north side of Lago Skottsberg to the bottom of French Valley and the Italiano campsite, where we will stop for water and snacks. There at the campsite, you will have the option of turning back or continuing onwards into the French Valley, which is along a steep trail through a lenga forest, and then enters a rocky moonscape above the tree line. Roughly 2.5 km (1.5miles) from the Italiano campsite, we will reach a lookout point at the foot of the Los Cuernos (“The Horns”), which affords an awesome view of the French Glacier. The altitude change from start to finish is 700-800 meters (2,300-2,600 feet).

There is also an option of returning to the hotel on the “W” Trail via the Cuernos base camp rather than taking the catamaran back across the lake. This is a 16 km (10 mile) hike from Italiano campsite, which will take about 5 hours to cover (it’s possible that you would have to do this hike by yourself if the guide has to return by catamaran with the rest of the group.)

* The boat ride on board the catamaran is obligatory (one way) and included for guest with the hotel’s all-inclusive program.

** Excursion available November to March.

AM: On this all-day excursion, you can gallop across the pampas and through the lenga forest on this equestrian adventure. Starting off from the Estancia Cerro Paine stables, your ride follows the “O” Circuit around the eastern edge of the Paine Massif into the Paine River valley. This area’s lenga forest provides habitat for many species of birds, including Magellanic woodpeckers, Austral parakeets and Chilean flickers. The trail itself provides great views of the Laguna Azul (“Blue Lagoon”) and Cerro Paine Mountain before we reach the Serón Campsite in the Valle Encantado (“Enchanted Valley”), where you can find colorful daisies in the spring. After enjoying our box lunches at the campsite, the group will ride back to the hotel via the same route, galloping free across the open pampas.

AM: Proceeding by foot or on horseback along the edge of the Paine Massif, this 22 km (13 miles) round trip will bring you up close and personal to the famous “Horns” of Torres del Paine. After heading out from your hotel, we will follow the route along a relatively flat section of the “W” Trail, between Monte Almirante Nieto and the north shore of Lake Nordenskjöld. As we make our way to the Cuernos base camp, you will find streams fed by slowly moving glaciers cutting through the rocky trail. Located just below a cluster of jagged peaks called Los Cuernos (“the Horns”), the campsite offers incredible views across the lake Nordenskjöld. While enjoying your box lunch, you will have plenty of time to linger by the lakeside before returning along the same path to Hotel Las Torres.

AM: This water and trail adventure on the western side of the Paine Massif provides one of the Torres del Paine National Park’s most incredible views. Beginning with a 45-minute drive from your hotel to the Pudeto parking area, we will board a catamaran* for a half-hour crossing of Lake Pehoé. After reaching the other side, we set off on a trail along the east side of Lake Grey beneath the towering Paine Grande Mountain. The path rises and falls through rocky areas, endemic forests and woodland areas destroyed by the wildfires back in 2011-12, before ascending to the Grey Lookout Point and its magnificent views of the lake and glacier. The 22 km (14 mile) round trip hike can be exceedingly wet, cold, rainy and windy even during the height of summer, making it probably one the hardest excursions, along with “Huella del Puma” and “Las Torres Sendero de Ascencio,” so anyone undertaking it should be in good physical condition.

* The round trip boat ride is mandatory but not included as part of the excursion rate, except for guests participating in the hotel’s all-inclusive programs.

** Excursion available November to March.

AM: This combined horseback and hiking excursion is capped off with one of the national park’s most striking lookout points: the 1,508 meter (5,000-foot) summit of Cerro Paine (“Paine Hill”). The first part of this excursion is on horseback along a scenic forested section of the Ascencio Valley. Later, leaving the horses behind, we will ascend pass the tree line and hike up to Cerro Paine’s windy summit for truly astounding views of the three towers, the Paine River Valley, Laguna Azul (“Blue Lake”), and the Nordenskjöld and Sarmiento lakes. This view includes granite peaks, glistening glaciers, shimmering lakes, lush green forest and Patagonian pampas in a single view as you slowly pan around. Following a snack at the summit, we will return via the same route to meet back up with our horses and ride back to the hotel.

AM: The main attractions of this trek in the park’s southeast corner are iconic animal species and remnants of the ancient Aónikenk people of Patagonia. This excursion begins with a 25-minute drive near the Laguna Amarga ranger station, and continues along the southern trail. This area is called the “puma restaurant” by locals because these big cats make so many kills here. Though you’re chances of seeing these cougars are fairly slim, the skeletons of their many guanaco kills can clearly be found along this trail, as numbers of guanaco often graze along both sides of the path. You will also have a good chance of spotting foxes, condors and flightless rheas. About halfway along the trail is a large rock overhang on which you will find pictographs (rock paintings) created by the ancient Aónikenk people, who inhabited this region for around 7,000 years. These people were called “Patagones” (Big feet) by the early Spanish, who mistakenly thought they were giants. The large rock also serves as a deck for viewing the surrounding mountains and terrain. The trail will lead us across a marshy area until we reach our pick-up point at the Sarmiento Lake ranger station. A 40-minute drive will then take us back to your hotel.