Traveling to Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile
- That's How We Travel
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Summary. On this day, we traveled from El Calafate, Argentina, to Puerto Natales, Chile, to explore the Chilean side of Patagonia. This region is home to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO site, and its renowned Paine Grande mountain peaks. On our first day in the Park, we embarked on an easy hike totaling 3.9 miles, suitable for anyone with basic fitness. We strongly recommend this hike, even if you're not an avid hiker. It's simple, mostly flat, and offers breathtaking views all along the way. You won't be disappointed!
[This blog is part of our 10-days in Patagonia trip].
Getting there. We drove from El Calafate, Argentina, to Puerto Natales, Chile, in a rented car. The journey was somewhat challenging because our initial Google Maps route led us onto a dirt road for several miles (as shown in the first photo below). Concerned about getting a flat tire in such a remote area, we decided to change our route. We then opted for the main highway, avoiding Torres del Paine National Park. Our original plan was to pass through the Park, explore certain spots, and then continue to Puerto Natales. When crossing the border, you'll need to stop twice: once on the Argentine side to exit and once on the Chilean side to enter. Make sure you have your car details and passports ready. The entire process took around 30 minutes.
Puerto Natales. Next, we reached Puerto Natales after approximately a four-hour drive. We left our bags at our Airbnb, had a quick snack and a cup of coffee at a local café, and then set off for the two-hour drive to Torres del Paine National Park. If you're up for tackling the dirt roads (which we weren't), you can reduce the total driving time for the day by 3-4 hours, as we returned to Puerto Natales after spending the afternoon in the Park.
The drive out to our hike in Torres del Paine was gorgeous.
Salto Grande Waterfall. After paying our entrance fees at Torres del Paine National Park, we drove to the parking lot just outside Salto Grande Waterfall. The walk to the water fall is short but you'll want to continue to the next stop as this easy and beautiful hike is accessible to most people.
Mirador Cuernos. If you can go on, the total walk is 3.9 miles from parking lot to view point and back with very little elevation gain. The hike is stunningly beautiful, with jaw-dropping mountain peaks and views everywhere you look.
Windy. Be prepared for wind. We lucked out on our next two days in the Chilean side of Patagonia, but on this first day, we got to experience the infamous Patagonia wind. It was worst in some areas so all in all, it wasn't so bad!
Viewpoint. At the conclusion of this out-and-back hike lies a crystal-clear blue glacier lake. As if the stunning mountain peaks weren't sufficient, Patagonia added a breathtaking blue lake to the scenery.
Video of Torres del Paine National Park Hike. Here is a short video of our time in the Park on this day.
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