TORRES DEL PAINE CHILE
Torres del Paine National Park is a natural wonder in the southern Chilean Patagonia region. I’ve travelled all over the world, and this mountain range is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The park boasts stunning glaciers, snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, and diverse flora and fauna, making it like no other place on earth and ita mecca for hikers and nature enthusiasts. In this blog, we will discuss three hikes to do in Torres del Paine, how to travel between Argentina and Chile, how to access the park, and transportation options and places to stay in Torres del Paine national park.
Where is Torres Del Paine?
The park is located in the southern region of Chilean Patagonia, around 112 kilometres (69 miles) north of Puerto Natales. The nearest airport is in Punta Arenas, which is around 5 hours away by bus. You can take a bus from Puerto Natales or hire a taxi ( $200 USD) to reach the park. The park has three main entrances - Laguna Amarga, Sarmiento, and Lago Grey. The entrance fee to the park is around $40 USD per person.
Getting there.
There are several ways to get to Chile. If you are flying from North America, you can fly to the capital city of Chile, Santiago, and then fly to Puerto Natales. Note that there aren’t always direct flights, especially outside the primary summer tourism months (December through February). The flights cost around $240 USD (including checked luggage). If you want to visit Argentina first, then you will fly to the capital city of Buenos Aires, and from there, you will hop on another flight to El Calafate. From El Calafate, you will take a bus to Puerto Natales ( this takes about 6-7 hours with the border crossing and costs around $90 USD).
Puerto Natales, Chile to Torres del Paine
The closest town to Torres del Paine National Park is Puerto Natales which sits 47 miles (75 kilometres) south.
Once you arrive in Puerto Natales,you can choose to spend the day here or hop on another bus to take you to Torres Del Paine. We decided to head straight to our hotel, which was in the park.
The easiest way to get to Torres del Paine National Park is from Puerto Natales. Twice daily, two companies provide public bus services into the national park, with tickets costing from $10 USD one-way to $20 USD round trip. If your hotel is located near the park, you can check with them as they will most likely have transport. We arrived late at night and took a taxi to our hotel ( Rio Serrano), which cost us around $216 USD.
For bus schudale check out this website BusBud.
Find the most up-to-date schedules for Bus Sur here.
Find the most up-to-date schedules for Turismo Zaahj here.
Rental Cars
If your visiting Torres Del Paine, a rental car is a must. In this park, everything is far away, and bus transportation is challenging to plan if you want to visit all the spots, especially if you are a photographer.
You can hire rental vehicles in Punta Arenas (with plenty of stock and lower prices) or in Puerto Natales ( cars are booked up very quickly).
I recommend Rental Cars as they give you insurance documents in English. Bear in mind that you need additional insurance if you plan on crossing into Argentina; organize this with your rental company at least four weeks in advance and expect to pay around $100 USD.
We rented a car from Euro Car for my trip but were late to pick it up due to our bus getting stuck at the border for 5 hours. Because of this we were unable to pick up our car, and they wouldn’t give us another one even though we had paid for the car for seven days. So unfortunately, we lost $1300 and were unable to have our own transportation, which ruined this part of our trip.
The national park has two main entrances:
Portería Serrano: located in the south of the park and accessed by the Y-290. It is the closest entrance to Puerto Natales. The road to enter here is not fully paved, but when I was there in February 2023, they were in the process of paving this road. However, it has the best views of Los Cuernos (the mountains at the heart of the Paine Massif) as you drive north through the park.
Portería Laguna Amarga: located in the east of the park and accessed by the Y-150/Y-156. It is the closest entrance to El Calafate but is also accessible from Puerto Natales. This road is fully paved and therefore is the quickest route into the park from Puerto Natales. The scenery isn’t as impressive as entering the park via Portería Serrano. I would recommend taking the Portería Serrano as the views are mindblowing.
When’s the best time to visit Torres del Paine National Park?
Torres del Paine National Park is open all year round. However, hiking conditions are best during the summer months (December through March) and the shoulder season (October/November and April).
During these months, you can visit Torres del Paine independently without hiring a licensed guide. Outside of these months, you are required to visit the national park with a licensed guide.
While climatic conditions are very hard to predict in the Andes, expect to experience four different seasons in one day!)
During my visit, we planned to be there during fall, which is a time of year I highly recommend you visit. The peaks of the mountains will have a dusting of snow, and the trees will be turning a vibrant red and orange. We spent a total of five days there, and every single day was sunny and cloudy, which is perfect hiking weather as well as amazing conditions for shooting photos.
Where to stay?
There are plenty of places to stay in the region. Depending on your budget, you can stay at luxury hotels such as the Río Serrano Hotel + Spa for $765 per night)or the Awasi Patagonia for $1330 per night, or if you are going for the cheaper side, you can stay at campgrounds such as the Refugio Campsites.
On our trip, we decided to stay at the Río Serrano Hotel + Spa for four days. In my blogs, I will always give you my honest opinion of the places I stay and my experiences, whether good or bad. Río Serrano Hotel + Spa is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful and speak English reasonably well. We opted for the all-exclusive package, which I highly recommend. The food at this hotel is some of the best food I have had in South America. The only downside of this place is it's a 40 min drive from the mountains. They do offer transportation which is a bit pricy, so I would highly recommend bringing a rental car so you have the freedom to come and go as you please.
Río Serrano Hotel + Spa
This resort is located right on the banks of the Río Serrano; the large Río Serrano Hotel + Spa ($765 USD all-inclusive) is the most upscale but still affordable lodgings in this part of the national park. I highly recommend choosing a Superior room for the best views in the house. The Photo below was taken from the bedroom window.
Part of the appeal of this hotel is its facilities, which include a stunning pool with similarly spectacular views, plus an ample spa with a sauna, gym and rooms for massages and other treatments.
There are also cozy reading areas on the ground floor, plus a large restaurant. They do offer a limited number of excursions, but these are only available at an additional cost.
Hiking in Torres del Paine
Top Three Hikes to Do in Torres del Paine
The W Trek: The W Trek is one of the most popular hikes in Torres del Paine. It is a 5-day trek that takes you through the highlights of the park, including the Grey Glacier, French Valley, and the base of the iconic Torres del Paine. This trek is suitable for hikers of all levels and offers stunning views of the park's natural beauty.
The O Circuit: The O Circuit is a more challenging and longer trek that takes around 8-10 days to complete. This trek takes you around the entire park and offers some of the most stunning views of the glaciers, lakes, and mountains in Torres del Paine.
The Torres del Paine Summit: The Torres del Paine Summit is a challenging day hike that takes you to the base of the iconic towers. The hike is steep and takes around 8-10 hours to complete, but the reward is worth it, as you will be able to witness the breathtaking views of the towers and surrounding landscapes.
