- 6 mins
When we talk about the Torres del Paine National Park, we’re not just talking about any old place; we’re talking about a photographic paradise for nature lovers: 1,814 km² of majestic mountains that crown the horizon, viewpoints that offer breathtaking picture-perfect scenes and landscapes that seem to have been taken straight out of Middle Earth.
And knowing that time is often short when you’re exploring Patagonia – and we all want to make the most of every second spent inside the park – at Las Torres Patagonia we’ve created a series of excursions designed for hikers with limited time, but a lot of enthusiasm.
The idea is to complement your hiking with van transfers, accompanied by a charismatic guide and an expert driver, who will take you to different attractive stops within the park in a single day. With our van tours, you can enjoy the scenery from inside and outside the vehicle, and have a peaceful and relaxed experience in Chilean Patagonia. In this blog, we’ll tell you about some of the experiences you can enjoy on the tour.
Azul Lagoon: Three views of the Las Torres Mountains
This is one of the most relaxing experiences in our tour catalog. A tranquil journey that allows you to enjoy the scenery from inside the van, before taking a short walk to reach the tour’s ultimate destination.
On this half-day excursion, we travel in an official Las Torres Patagonia vehicle to the eastern sector of the park, north of Amarga Lagoon. During the tour, you can observe the famous Las Torres Mountains from three perspectives, allowing you to capture a series of beautiful photographs before choosing your favorite.
A walk of about one kilometer will take you to the shores of Azul Lagoon, where the Paine Massif is the main protagonist. On the tour, you can also observe the Paine Waterfall and the amazing picture-perfect view of the Las Torres Mountains from Amarga Lagoon.
The places you visit on this tour also bring you close to the various animals that are characteristic of the region, such as condors and guanacos. And if luck is on your side, you might spot a majestic puma roaming the pampa.
Los Cuernos Lookout: A must-have postcard for your gallery
Perhaps one of the most recognizable images of Patagonia, very much on a par with the Base Torres Viewpoint, the Los Cuernos Mountains have a unique charm. If you take this tour in the afternoon, you can observe the sunset painting the mountain walls. You can also see Lake Nordenskjöld, the gigantic body of water that bathes the shores of this sector.
The tour begins by driving east, then traveling to the south of the park in a westerly direction. It is a journey of approximately one hour and a half that takes you to the north of Lake Pehoé, where the hike begins.
The trek follows the trail to Salto Grande, a waterfall that carries water from Lake Nordenskjöld to Lake Pehoé. The walk is approximately six kilometers, and takes you to an impressive viewpoint from which the full extension of the Los Cuernos Mountains can be seen: a dream postcard for any lover of Patagonia.
Patagon: Following the footsteps of the first inhabitants
Before hikers from all over the world immersed themselves in the adventure of exploring the Torres del Paine National Park, the territory was roamed by indigenous groups who called Patagonia their home. On this tour, we can see vestiges of the record of their history in the area.
Like the other tours discussed here, Patagon combines van transfers with a walk through Patagonia. The tour begins very early in the morning, in order to make the most of the sights you’ll see during the day. Our route takes us southeast of the Torres del Paine National Park on a journey of about one hour.
On arriving at our destination, we trek through mostly flat terrain, crossing the pampa to contemplate the iconic landscapes of the open Patagonian steppe. Here, seeing the wind play across the grassland and experiencing possible encounters with the wildlife are the perfect ways to get a feel for the region and acknowledge its wild natural state.
Our bilingual guide is a key part of the tour. In addition to accompanying you and making sure you have an enjoyable and enriching experience, they also provide highly relevant information about the geology of the area and tell stories of the Aonikenk indigenous people who inhabited it hundreds of years ago, leaving their mark through cave paintings that are still visible today.
Lakes Trail: Patagonian winds playing across the water
The lakes provide a special touch to Patagonia. Waters that appear calm from a distance are moved throughout the day by the region’s winds, forming small waves that wash onto the shores. This gentle movement brings tranquility to hikers, who contemplate the lapping of the water as a sweet song of nature. This is the special charm of the Patagonian lakes.
This full-day tour takes us far from the hotel, inviting us to explore the southern sector of the Torres del Paine National Park. The journey by van takes about two and a half hours, passing by Amarga Lagoon and Lake Sarmiento.
As we approach Lake Sarmiento, you can see a wide variety of fauna, particularly birds soaring across the Patagonian skies and guanacos grazing peacefully on the pampa.
Our transport drops us off at the Estancia Lazo ranch, where the guide invites you to begin the famous lakes route, venturing through dense lenga beech forests to reach one of the tour’s highlights: the Verde and Honda lagoons.
You will see a lot of wildlife on this tour, so have your camera ready to capture some beautiful images of Patagonia. The last viewpoint on the tour provides impressive views of the Paine Massif, Lake Toro and the endless Patagonian pampas.
Full Paine: Conquering the Patagonian ice
One of our favorite excursions at Las Torres Patagonia is Full Paine. This tour combines three different means of travel: by van, foot and boat.
On this full-day activity, we head south of the park, visiting the viewpoints that overlook Lake Nordenskjöld and Lake Pehoé, and giving you different views of the natural wonders that Patagonia has to offer. These viewpoints include Nordenskjöld, Sarmiento, Pehoé and Salto Grande.
The tour begins in the comfort of the van, and our guides complement the experience with interesting facts about the area.
Once we arrive at Lake Grey, you can take a walk along the shore, where the charming beach presents the glacier in the background. Our next activity is a boat trip through the icy waters of the lake.
If you decide not to go on the boat trip, you can head off on your own to explore the Grey Peninsula. Halfway along this gentle walk a lookout awaits you, from which you can observe the ancient ice beyond.
With these tours, you are able to cover long distances in a short time. They are also an inclusive option for people with reduced mobility, allowing you to discover the most remote corners of Patagonia.
What are you waiting for? Our van is running and only you are missing. Start your journey through the least explored parts of Patagonia!
