Comfortable adventure in Patagonia

8 km / 5 mi

3-4 hrs total

Low-Mid

 

Hike part of the O Circuit trail around the eastern edge of the massif, into a magical old-growth lenga forest. One of Patagonia’s iconic trees, the Nothofagus pumilio thrives in areas with low temperatures and heavy snow. Lenga woodland provides a habitat for many animals and if you keep your eyes peeled, you have a good chance at spotting Magellanic woodpeckers, Austral parakeets, Chilean flickers and other forest birds. While it is unlikely to see them during the day, be on the lookout for our “Andean Lion”, as pumas are known for roaming this forest. You’ll walk along the foothills of Cerro Paine, crossing little streams and arrive at a gorgeous valley that is filled with daisies during spring. Finishing with a walk along the turquoise Paine River, you’ll enjoy the deep visual contrast of forest and pampas. The trail also features great views of Azul Lagoon, Guido Mountain, and the Sierra Baguales Range on the eastern side of the Massif.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ride towards the valley on the little known trails that the colonists and baqueanos used in Patagonia’s early days. You’ll look up at imposing rock walls and a spectacular view of the Las Torres Mountains, while feeling truly connected to the horse and the environment around you. Skirting the slopes of Mount Paine, we’ll make a stop to enjoy the landscape, where you’ll note a unique microclimate and distinct vegetation. After the valley, you’ll have glorious views of Mount Almirante Nieto and feel the serenity of Lake Nordenskjöld. If you’re lucky, you’ll see traces of puma as you pass by the “Puma Cave” on the way back to the stables. Guided by our baqueanos, riders of all levels will love getting a glimpse into the culture and heart of Patagonia.

 

 

 

 

This tour combines the Park’s “must see” with a special twist. Horseback riding in Torres del Paine offers a unique and exhilarating experience. Start the day in the stables, learning about the horses, and then start your ride across typical Patagonian lands of low vegetation and wide open spaces. You can let the horse walk freely and instinctively, and lose yourself in the impressive, mesmerizing views of the Ascencio Valley. When you reach the Chileno Mountain Hostel, you’ll leave the horses behind and they’ll patiently wait for you to climb up to the Las Torres Base Viewpoint. After crossing a dense forest, you’ll hit a rocky trail that eventually leads you through a moraine of huge rocks and reveals the highly anticipated granite towers. Here we’ll take time to process the magnificent sight, eat lunch, and take the iconic photo of the three peaks soaring over the ice blue lagoon.

 

 

Walk along the foothills of Mount Almirante Nieto, where the combination of the breeze and the view will make your soul feel alive. Granite peaks stand in the distance as you follow the trail along the steep slopes of the Ascencio Valley. Lush trees and vegetation line the river below and your sight extends to the end of the valley, giving you a full view of the hike ahead. You’ll enter a native lenga forest and eventually hit a rocky area, which represents the final, yet hardest, section of the trail. This climb will literally keep you on your toes, and you’ll need to pay attention as you step from one rock to the next. But like all hard work, you’ll get your reward. At the top you’ll get to relax and ponder the beauty of the world in front of the Las Torres Mountains.

 

 

The day starts leaving the hotel at 7:45 a.m., where you will take a van that will take you to the Sarmiento gate of the National Park. Afterwards you will walk 9.5km on a mostly flat terrain, crossing the pampas, where you will understand ancient geological processes that have shaped this world biosphere reserve, finding records of the first inhabitants of these lands. It is a protected territory that you can only enter with certified guides where you can find Aonikenk rock paintings as well as a great wildlife activity, mainly guanacos, as well as a high presence of birds of prey, scavengers and pumas.

 

 

Get a different take on the Torres del Paine flora and fauna — and a dramatically different view of the mountain. As soon as your eyes hit the first lake, you’ll want to get out and take photos immediately. You’ll see a lot of wildlife as we drive alongside the intense blue of Lake Sarmiento, one of the largest in the Park, and as we move away from the Paine Massif, you’ll get an incredible panoramic perspective of its immensity. Making a stop at the nearby agricultural Estancia Lazo Ranch, you’ll see Verde Lagoon and start hiking the Lakes Trail. First, you’ll wander through big, thick forests of native lenga trees, which open up for breaks along the beautiful shores of the Verde and Honda Lagoons. Be on the lookout for owls, woodpeckers, guanaco and other wildlife, and don’t miss out on the tiny details like orchids and other wildflowers that decorate the forest floor. We’ll temporarily change water for mountains and climb to a summit with a 360° view of the Paine Massif to the north and Lake Toro and endless Patagonian pampas to the southwest.

 

 

Take a breathtaking hike between the ominous Mount Almirante Nieto and the ice blue north shore of Lake Nordenskjöld. As you walk along the lake, pristine streams fed by hanging glaciers slash across the rocky trail leading you to the Cuernos sector. You’ll cross a hanging bridge over the Arriero River, make a stop to see the deep blue Inge Lagoon, and see moon-like rock and land formations. Located just below a cluster of jagged peaks called Los Cuernos, this area offers incredible, contrasting views of the Lake Nordenskjöld, towering granite peaks, and a thick, deep green treeline. You´ll likely see the renowned winds that look like little tornadoes buzzing from one part of the lake to another.

 

 

Start with a drive to Pudeto and fall in love with the magic of nature as you see trees sprouting new life. The big picture of the Paine Massif hovering over Lake Nordenskjöld is a powerful perspective. You’ll visit the Salto Grande Waterfall, a raging cascade that channels water between the Nordenskjöld and Pehoé Lakes. With renewed energy, you’ll continue along a path to one of the most humbling views in Torres del Paine National Park, a panorama that features the Los Cuernos Mountains, Mount Paine Grande, and the Francés Valley and its glacier rising straight up from the other side of Lake Nordenskjöld. It is hands down a breathtaking spectacle.