Exploring the Towers Trekking Experience in Puerto Natales
Are you eager to discover the breathtaking beauty of the Torres del Paine National Park? Puerto Natales is the ideal destination for your unforgettable trekking experience. Located at the southern tip of Chilean Patagonia, this small port town is not only surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains, but also serves as the gate to one of the most exciting treks in the world – the Torres del Paine circuit.
Owing to its strategic location, Puerto Natales offers excellent access to the Torres del Paine national park. The 180 km trail will take you through a rewarding journey full of diverse landscapes and beautiful views. From lush rainforest patches and immense glaciers, to gleaming turquoise lagoons and thundering waterfalls, you’ll be captivated by all that you’ll encounter on your expedition.
In order to make the most out of this unique opportunity and prepare for a successful journey, here’s a comprehensive guide on the Torres del Paine circuit trekking experience departing from Puerto Natales. Read on to find out all the details regarding gear, budget, preparations, itinerary and more.
Understanding the Torres del Paine Circuit Trail
The Torres del Paine Circuit trail is an excellent example of vibrant Patagonian nature, offering you a thrilling journey to some of the most spectacular regions of the world. This 8-day trekking trip lets visitors discover up to 85 miles of varied terrain, boasting diverse flora and fauna along with breathtaking views.
The celebrated Circuit Route usually follows the “D” shape within the park. It begins in Puerto Natales and takes you South, around Lago Pehoe, with a choice to continue up to Lago Grey. From there, you continue South East towards Valle de Frances and the French valley , and from there, you can reach Las Torres viewpoint, to admire the renowned towers. The rest of your journey will take you North West through glacial landscapes, past Khimsa Falls and Cerro Paine Grande, until you finally reach Pehoe viewpoint above Lago Nordenskjöld where your hike also comes to an end. This loop around is usually done in 8 days so if you’re short in time, you can always opt for a shorter route within that 8 day timeframe that suits your needs better.
Gear and Budget
For this trekking trip you should already have some prior experience in trekking as well as mountaineering skills as it involves a significant amount of physical effort. However, before you take off it’s crucial that you pack accordingly. Regardless if you’re staying in campsites, refugios or using local porters, here are some basic supplies that you must bring along:
- Sufficient clothing for cold and rainy weather
- Durable backpack and sturdy hiking boots
- Sleep bag
- Headlight
- Thermal underwear
- Comfortable shirt or jacket
- Down jacket or raincoat
- Camping oven
- Flashlight
- First-aid kit
- Camping utensils
- Extra food rations
Once your prepared with all the needed camping materials, consider also buying some Patagonian souvenirs such as wines, chocolate or products made by local artisans as a token of appreciation for this magnificent journey.
As for budgeting this trip, there are several costs which you should consider prior to booking your flights to Puerto Natales. For instance, entrance tickets fee to enter Torres del Paine National Park cost around $30 USD/chilean pesos per person. In addition, many services such as camping supplies rental, private transport in case you wish for one or tour guides are available at extra cost. Overnight stays can also increase your expenses significantly as some hotels and cabins can be quite pricey.
Preparations
Once you’ve gathered all the necessary gear and accessories and have taken a full tour around Puerto Natales for souvenir shopping, it’s now time for you to plan ahead and ensure safe travel through this wild exotic route. Start your preparations by getting familiar with some important details about the trail itself:
- Timeline
Typically this hike requires somewhere between 8-10 days which should be kept in mind so as not to fall behind the itinerary and complete your adventure on time. Of course if you’re short on time there are alternatives such as day hikes you can do instead, starting with shorter routes and then progressing to longer ones. Additionally, allow some room to be flexible because everything always depends on factors like weather conditions or if your plans change unexpectedly.
- Notebook
As Puerto Natales is one of Chile’s most remote destinations you’ll need a lightweight easy-to-carry notebook in order to keep track of dates and navigation instructions throughout your trekking experience. This way you’ll have all necessary information easily accessible throughout this whole journey which is essential when condensing those 8-10 days into an unforgettable adventure.
- Planning in Advance
Prior booking for campsites/refugios should be done at least 3 weeks before your expected arrival date as availability varies from one season to another. Nevertheless, in case your initial plans don’t work out there are still other options such as guided hikes or private transport services departing from Puerto Natales daily which can make your journey less complicated especially if you know Spanish.
- Accommodation
While during this excursion you’ll spend mostly nights in refugios/campsites there are some accommodations along the way so consider what best meets your needs during this trip. Some accommodation packages also offer food & beverages so need not carry too much rations with you. Moreover, some places provide shared dorms & cottages while some offer private rooms , hence choose wisely according to your budget and preference.
- Notifications & Maps
Don’t forget to notify the park authority about your journey prior departure as emergencies may occur at any given time during the hike so for your own safety be sure to instantly notify park offices about your progress and leave them a copy of itinerary with contact information so they can easily trace & monitor your efforts during this Circuit Route trek if any emergency was to occur. Also be sure to carry a map with yourself just in case of avoiding any wrong directions.
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Puerto Natales – Lago Grey
For this breathtaking journey you’ll begin from Puerto Natales and disembark onto Lago Grey area which is situated about 40 km away via bus/car or even hiking depending on your preference beginning from old train station known locally as “Estacion Roggergram’ which happens in about 2-3 hours ride into the park.
Day 2: Las Torres Viewpoint
On your second day in Torres del Paine you’ll get a chance to view one of its iconic landmarks – Las Torres viewpoint memorable for its three distinguishable granite spires overlooking peaceful lagoons located nearby.
Day 3: Valle de Frances
Valle de Frances is renowned for its rare beauty enriched with multiple waterfalls through which wild waters dramatically rush down into lakes with turquoise water so crystal clear it almost looks unreal.
Day 4: Cerro Paine Grande
On your fourth day allow yourself a pleasure of conquering one of Chile’s most spectacular Patagonian destinations – Cerro Paine Grande 4059 mts high mountain offering views that would take your breath away.
Day 5: Los Cuernos
Enjoy a refreshing morning as when you wake-up in Campamento Italiano tent area you’ll watch rising sun from Los Cuernos ridge.
Day 6: Lake Nordenskjöld – Pehoe viewpoint
Ride through Lake Nordenskjöld on final day which offers unique glacial landscape views full of many awe-inspiring sceneries waiting just around the corner along with Pehoe viewpoint overlooking it granting breathtaking panoramas with winding rivers & shining glaciers.
Day 7: Salto Chico – Seron Area
>Walk across Salto Chico falls and continue towards Seron area finishing off tour with fantastic views over glacial lake.
Day 8: Refugio Las Torres – Puerto Natales
| Location | Activity | Description | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Natales | Estacion Roggergram | Briefing and bus ride departure | 2hrs approx. |
| Lago Grey area | Tent camping setup | Setup camping equipment into one of sites near lago or nearby. | 1hr approx. |
| Las Torres Viewpoint | Trekking excursion & rest | Tour around Las Torres viewpoint follow by picnic lunch & rest time. | 7hrs approx. |
| Valle de Frances | Hiking & sightseeing | Hike Vde Frances valley followed by exploring cascading waterfalls & marble canyon. | 7hrs approx. |
| Cerro Paine Grande | Summit ascent & descent | Day trip up to Cerro Paine Grande summit followed by descent back to Refugio Chileno. | 12hrs approx. |
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