The Torres del Paine National Park is a popular must-see on the Chilean Patagonia. The actual Torres del Paine (Paine's Towers) having themselves a unique very recognizable geology form, with its three granite towers, are a great sight but it is just one of the reasons to visit the park. Its extension, particular wildlife and landscape, and specially its still preserved pure nature state makes it a magical park.
We booked a one-day excursion to Torres through our hostel, as we didn't have enough time to camp or do the multi-day hiking trail – we wanted to be back in Santiago for Christmas! We have considered a single day hike to the base of the Torres del Paine, but we've decided not to make it due to the weather conditions, what later would prove to be a wise decision.
We booked a one-day excursion to Torres through our hostel, as we didn't have enough time to camp or do the multi-day hiking trail – we wanted to be back in Santiago for Christmas! We have considered a single day hike to the base of the Torres del Paine, but we've decided not to make it due to the weather conditions, what later would prove to be a wise decision.
Our bus departed at 7:30, we were almost the only foreigners in the tour among a group of Chileans. I guess the international tourists want to spend more time in the mountains than we did.
The tour took us to the spotlights of the National park. We got to see the waterfalls (Salto Chico and Salto Grande), the Lakes Pehoé and Lake Grey and the small lagoon Laguna verde. In the tour we were supposed to get great views of the Torres del Pain towers, but the weather was just awful! The clouds blocked most of the mountain views and we never got to see them!...
Sure the landscape was still impressive and the mist gave it a special touch, but the wind was blowing strong and the freezing air got through us no matter how many pieces of clothes we wore. Every time we got out of the mini bus was a struggle against rain, gusts of wind and the cold!
The tour took us to the spotlights of the National park. We got to see the waterfalls (Salto Chico and Salto Grande), the Lakes Pehoé and Lake Grey and the small lagoon Laguna verde. In the tour we were supposed to get great views of the Torres del Pain towers, but the weather was just awful! The clouds blocked most of the mountain views and we never got to see them!...
Sure the landscape was still impressive and the mist gave it a special touch, but the wind was blowing strong and the freezing air got through us no matter how many pieces of clothes we wore. Every time we got out of the mini bus was a struggle against rain, gusts of wind and the cold!
It rains quite of lot in this region but there are almost no forests or trees, only small vegetation. Our guide explained us that this is because the wind is generally so strong that the rainwater evaporates before being absorbed by the soil! The park is also the habitat for the guanacos, that look quite similar to their relatives on the north, the vicuña, and are also wild. Together with the domesticated llamas and alpacas, by then we had seen one of every camelid species in South America!
Actually it was surprising how many different species of animals we could spot on a day trip on a mini-bus. We got to see huge condors hovering on the top of our heads, an rhea with its chicks (rhea are South American ostrich-like bird), and, perhaps the rarest and best sighting, the Chilean guemal or huemul, an endangered species of deer! See them below.
Actually it was surprising how many different species of animals we could spot on a day trip on a mini-bus. We got to see huge condors hovering on the top of our heads, an rhea with its chicks (rhea are South American ostrich-like bird), and, perhaps the rarest and best sighting, the Chilean guemal or huemul, an endangered species of deer! See them below.
After lunch next to the beautifully colored Lake Pehoé, we headed to the extreme point of Lake Grey. On the other extreme there was the Grey Glacier that feeds the lake. Parts of the glacier floats away from the glacier melting down as they float to the south. We got a glimpse of both the glacier and icebergs floating. The weather didn't help but even if it had been a clearer day the distance was still too far to have a good look to these impressive nature phenomenons. The only way to enjoy a better view was either to take a cruise on the Lake Grey up to the bottom of the Grey Glacier (more expensive) or make the 4-5 days famous 'W' trekking circuit.
Last stop of our tour was the Cueva del Milodón (Milodon Cave): an impressive rock formation which consists on a 200m cave. The cave was discovered by a German explorer named Hermann Eberhard in 1895. Along with the unusual geologic formation, the explorer found skin, bones and other relatively conserved parts of an unknown species until then: a giant ground sloth called Mylodon! The caves are a must-see due to it dimension and sense of scale. The Mylodon statue representation gave us an idea of what kind of animal was and it transports one's imagination to the long gone Ice Age.