Patagonia, Chile: Torres del Paine National Park; things to do

 

Torres del Paine National Park 

(pronounced TOR-ehs del PIE-nay; “paine” is an Indian word for “blue”) 

lake and peaks of Torres del Paine National Park
in Patagonia, Chile

After several hours of traveling in a van over bumpy dirt roads and through green pastures filled with fat sheep and baby lambs, we got our exciting first glimpse of the iconic jagged peaks we traveled half way around the world to see--the three sheer granite peaks forming the Paine Massif, the very symbol of Patagonia.  Established in 1959 by the Chilean government, this massive 450,000-acre park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also a hiker's paradise.  An extensive collection of groomed trails range from an easy walk around a lake to a challenging 7-hour trek to Glacier Grey (though you can see this massive glacier and lake up close with a much shorter hike, too).  You’ll also most likely see—as I did--herds of docile, camel-like guanacos (they are related to the llama, but with shorter hair) and flocks of Andean condors.  Armadillos, black-throated swans, pink flamingos, and the Andean puma are also sometimes spotted.  Interestingly, the park has no poisonous plants or reptiles.  The area is famous for strong winds that sometimes knock people over.  Hear the whipping winds in this video taken at milky turquoise-colored Lago Nordenskjold.   

Lago Nordenskjold in Patagonia, Chile

More things to do in Chile.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

More ideas for exploring South America.

images copyright 2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers