- 4 mins
Before Torres del Paine became known for its trails, mountains, and refuges, this territory was already being travelled by ancient human groups. Across the pampas, lakes, and rock shelters of southern Patagonia, hunter-gatherers moved through the landscape following guanacos, using the natural resources around them, and leaving traces that can still be seen on the rock today.
The cultural history of this area of Patagonia began long before the rise of tourism that now attracts travellers from around the world. Its landscapes speak not only of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife, but also preserve the memory of those who inhabited and moved through this territory for thousands of years.
The Early Inhabitants of Torres del Paine
Human presence in Patagonia dates back thousands of years, with cultural traditions and rock art associated with the earliest inhabitants of the southern tip of the Americas. In the Torres del Paine area, archaeological records have identified sites dating back around 3,500 years, particularly in places where rock shelters and cave paintings are still preserved, such as the area around Lake Sarmiento.
These groups moved across the steppe, along lake shores, and through rocky areas, adapting to a territory shaped by wind, long distances, and the presence of the guanaco. Their traces remind us that the history of this region did not begin with tourism, but with a much older relationship between people and the Patagonian landscape.
Over time, this territorial memory became linked to historically documented Indigenous peoples, including the Tehuelche. More specifically, this history is associated with the Aónikenk. While “Tehuelche” is the more widely recognised name, “Aónikenk” refers more precisely to the groups connected to the far south of Patagonia and to the territory surrounding Torres del Paine.
Life on the Patagonian Steppe
Living on the Patagonian steppe required constant adaptation to an environment marked by extreme weather, long distances, strong winds, and scattered resources. For the Tehuelche, movement was an essential part of life: travelling allowed them to follow animals, find food, and make use of different parts of the territory according to the season.
The guanaco played a central role in this way of life. Its meat was an important source of food, while its hide was used to make clothing, shelters, and other everyday items. They also gathered resources such as eggs, roots, and wild fruits, complementing their diet with what the landscape provided.
Their dwellings, known as toldos, were temporary structures made from wooden poles and guanaco hides. This practical solution allowed them to set up seasonal camps and move again when environmental conditions changed. They also used hide cloaks, which were sometimes decorated on the inside with geometric designs.
The Origin of the Name Patagonia
One of the best-known episodes associated with the Indigenous peoples of the far south is the origin of the name “Patagonia”. When Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition reached southern South America in 1520, its crew encountered inhabitants who appeared very tall compared with Europeans.
For a long time, the idea circulated that the name “Patagones” came from their large feet or from the footprints left by their leather footwear. However, a more widely accepted explanation today suggests that Magellan may have used the term “Patagón” in reference to a character from a chivalric romance.
In this way, the name Patagonia emerged from a combination of European observation, imagination, and the stories that turned the Indigenous peoples of the south into almost mythical figures. Behind that myth, however, there was a real, complex culture deeply adapted to its territory.
What Remains of the Aónikenk Today?
The recent history of the Tehuelche people, especially the Aónikenk, was marked by a strong process of territorial displacement, disease, the loss of mobility across ancestral lands, and the pressure brought by colonisation and the expansion of sheep ranching.
Their language, aonek’o ’a’ien, also experienced a profound process of decline. Dora Manchado, recognised as one of the last fluent speakers of the Tehuelche language, played a key role in recording words, stories, and materials that today form part of the efforts to preserve and revitalise this cultural memory of Patagonia.
Despite this process, Tehuelche history has not disappeared. It remains present in archaeological studies, in transmitted stories, in the memory of descendants, and in the heritage sites that are still preserved across Patagonia.
Follow Their Traces on the Patagón Tour
One way to connect with this history is through Las Torres Patagonia’s Patagón Tour. This half-day excursion explores part of the pampa near Lake Sarmiento and includes visits to rock shelters with paintings associated with the ancient inhabitants of the area.
The route covers approximately 9.5 kilometres over mostly flat terrain. During the walk, it is possible to observe guanacos, birds of prey, and, with some luck, emblematic wildlife of the park in the distance.
More than an excursion focused on elevation gain or iconic mountain views, the Patagón Tour offers a different way of looking at Torres del Paine. It is an invitation to understand who inhabited this territory before the roads, park entrances, and refuges, and to recognise that the cultural history of Patagonia is still present in its landscapes.
