The Most Magical National Park You’ll Ever See

Photo by Alex Wolo on Unsplash

Torres del Paine National Park is a national park in southern Chilean Patagonia. It is located 112 km north of Puerto Natales, between the Magellanic subpolar forests and the Patagonian Steppes. It is one of the largest and most visited parks in Chile, with around 252,000 visitors a year, coming from all over the world. 

Founded in May of 1959, under the name of Lago Gray National Tourism Park, the park now encompasses 227,298 hectares of mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers and is a world-class tourist attraction for all nature lovers. Some of the well-known lakes include Grey, Pehoé, Nordenskiöld, and Sarmiento, but the most impressive sight to see are the distinctive three granite peaks of the Paine mountain range that stand 2,500 meters high above sea level.

It is a very popular hiking destination in Chile. There are clearly marked paths and trails to choose from, such as the popular five-day “W” route, or the 7-9 days full circuit “O” trek. But even if you’re looking for a more passive vacation here, there are several hotels located around the park where you can stay and still enjoy the surrounding nature. Visiting the park is recommended between September and April, during the southern spring, summer and early autumn.

In 2013, Torres del Paine National Park was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and the eighth wonder of the world. It is adorned with beautiful vegetation, including 7 species of orchids. As far as animals go, the park is a habitat for guanacos, foxes and pumas, as well as more than 15 species of birds.