Five Day Adventures in Torres del Paine, Patagonia

If you're travelling to Torres del Paine for adventures in Chilean Patagonia, you may have heard of the W Trek and the O Trek, which are multi-day treks that require camping beneath the mountains, walking from morning until night, and bracing constantly for Patagonia's changing weather conditions. Though some of these treks are epic, staying in the wild for four or more days may seem a little intense, even for the well traveled adventurer. Luckily, there are ways to still experience and make the most out of Patagonia, without actually staying out in the wild.

When my friend, Greg, and I traveled to Torres del Paine for our Patagonian adventures, we, too, opted out of the big treks and instead stayed in a town called Puerto Natales, which is about an hour and a half south of the park; it is also considered the gateway to Patagonia, as the mountains start right in the town, and is the closest town to the park's entrance. Aside from providing shelter and lodging from Patagonia's prevailing winds, Puerto Natales offers great restaurants and bars, stores that will fit you out with everything you need for your rugged day trips into Torres del Paine, and even a little Patagonia boutique (yes, the American store) just in case you wanted to buy some Patagonia products in Patagonia.

The drive from Puerto Natales is a little bumpy (you basically take gravel roads the entire way), however it is fairly easily and enjoyable if you've got a coffee, some tunes playing and some good company, as the mountain views grow more and more spectacular as you drive closer to the park. You'll want to leave early in the morning, however, as some of the day hikes can take a fair amount of time, and it's hard to say what the road conditions will be like (when I went, the road into the park was under construction in several sections). We typically left around 8 or 9 in the morning, which gave us plenty of time to hike, eat lunch and take photos each day. So, if you're itching for Torres del Paine adventures in Chilean Patagonia, but you feel like staying within the comforts of a hotel in Puerto Natales instead of within the park itself, here are a few day trip ideas to get you out exploring!

Hike Mirador Condor (Condor Trail)

This trail, as the name suggests, is a condor lookout trail. It is also a fairly short (but challenging) trail that leads to one of the most picturesque views of Torres del Paine's famous spires. The hike essentially leads you up the side of a hill and onto a platform that looks over Pehoe Lake, which is a bright turquoise lake at the base of the mountains. The hike itself is a moderately steep incline all the way to the top. The trail is, for the most part, just gravel and dirt that's been well worn down by other tourists. The round trip journey takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to complete, which makes it the perfect introduction Torres del Paine adventure.

Eat at One of the Island Hotels

Now, assuming that you've worked up quite an appetite from hiking all day and, like me, you didn't pack a lunch, there are thankfully restaurants throughout the park the provide great meals, a drink and incredible views of the mountains. We ate at restaurant on the island in Pehoe Lake, as the bridge across to the island was right near the Mirador Condor trail, making it the perfect post-hike option. The restaurant was in a hostel, and they offered a (surprisingly) delicious three course meal. The restaurant was also lined with windows facing Pehoe Lake, which made this lunch one of the most scenic lunches I've ever had. To make the most out of your first day in the park, I'd suggest hiking the Mirador Condor trail, and then coming down and lunching at this restaurant. The beer will be worth it after putting in the effort on the hike!

Boat to Grey Glacier

This is something that we didn't actually do, however we did drive on our second day trip to the west side of the park to see the Grey Glacier from a distance. From what we saw, the Glacier looks massive and spectacular, so I imagine the boat cruise there would be even better. There is a hotel and restaurant at the base of Grey Lake that offers boat rides throughout the day that will take you right up to the Glacier so that you can truly experience the size of it. Aside from that, Grey Lake also offers a different viewpoint of the Torres del Paine mountains. We also saw a number of condors flying above the lake here. When you're done your boat cruise, grab a bite to eat at the hotel restaurant. It offers massive panoramic views of the mountains, lake and glacier, provides Chilean Sandwiches (which are basically just sandwiches filled with beef and avocado), and offers ski lodge vibe in Patagonia.

Seek Out the Wildlife

Torres del Paine, much like the rest of Patagonia, is filled with incredible wildlife. While exploring through the park, there is a good chance you'll run into a guanaco, which looks very similar to a llama. There are tons of them running around the park. If you Google photos of Torres del Paine, chances are you've seen a photo of them posing in front of the mountain and lake backdrops. When you're there, you will most likely be given the same opportunity.

Condors, which are the largest flying predatory bird in the world (with a wingspan of up to ten feet), also call Torres del Paine home. These are a little more rare to see than Guanacos, however a large amount of them do inhabit the park and the surrounding areas, so glance up at the sky every once in a while. If you see a massive shadow drift overhead, chances are there's a condor soaring by.

The other animal you may encounter is a puma, which is Patagonia's version of a mountain lion. The guide maps warn hikers about pumas, and suggest that you stare them down and try to intimidate them if you run into one. The chances of seeing one, however, are extremely slim, and shouldn't cause too much worry. If you do see one though, and are a safe distance from one, you will be provided with the opportunity to photograph one of Patagonia's most iconic creatures.

Hike Mirador las Torres

Mirador las Torres is the most iconic hike in Torres del Paine and is a must do adventure for any hiker visiting the park. It is, however, not for the faint of heart. The hike takes anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to complete, requires you to hike up the side of a mountain for most of the way, and traverses you along cliff edges throughout. The last forty five minutes to the top also requires you to hike a very steep incline on loose rock. The view at the end is worth the effort, however, as the hike leads to a turquoise mountain lake and a view of the iconic three towers that the park is named after. Just make sure you arrive early, as we found out that the park rangers won't allow you to embark on the hike after about 1 PM (the last 45 minute ascent closes at 4 PM). For more information about this hike, check out my post about it here.

So, if you decide that the multi day treks aren't for you, and you'd rather stay in a hotel in the nearby town of Puerto Natales, there are several day adventure options for you in Torres del Paine. The hour and a half drive to and from the park really isn't bad, and the food and beers back in town after an epic day of adventure makes the effort all worth while. Plus, you'll have the added bonus of sleeping in a comfortable bed after grinding across the rugged Patagonian landscape. Happy exploring.

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