Dramatic Torres
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Puerto Natales
Most travellers arrive in Puerto Natales in the early afternoon, either by bus from Punta Arenas airport or El Calafate in Argentina. You’ll be picked up at the bus station and transferred to your cosy guest house just a short walk from the centre of Puerto Natales. Your rustic room is simple, but very comfortable, with good central heating, essential for the cold nights.
If you arrive early, you could take a boat trip to the Balmaceda Glacier on the Serano River, or take a stroll through Puerto Natales village, where you will find a pizzeria, a few bars and benches along the boulevard perfect for watching the sunset. This evening, settle into the guesthouse’s living room with a book or map of Torres del Paine, and get some tips from the owner, ready for your action-packed day tomorrow.
Day 2 – Torres del Paine National Park
After an early breakfast, you will pick up your rental car at the village office and find out about the weather conditions for today, which will determine your route to the national park. Torres del Paine is famous for its two jagged peaks, which are often covered by clouds, so it’s good to know the best direction to head to find the best views. If the weather is not on your side, you can drive anticlockwise, starting at Lake Grey and walking from here to get a closer look at the glacier, then drive to your accommodation.
If the weather is clear, then you can drive the scenic clockwise route and reach your accommodation after around two hours, where you will begin your climb to Base de Torres – a three-hour drive there and a three-hour return trip. Although it sounds very ambitious, between December – February, there is daylight here until 10 pm, so it’s common to complete this trip in one day. The roads are unpaved, so it’s important to take it slow, but the views along the way are well worth it!
Whichever route you choose, you’ll sleep in a traditional refugio located right at the start of the trail, surrounded by roaming horses and sweeping views of the valley. You’ll sleep in a bunk bed in a shared bedroom for about six people, with hot showers and toilets powered by solar. The refugio will provide you with a warm sleeping bag, but you will need to bring your own towel and don’t forget your earplugs.
Day 3 – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales
Today is free for you to explore the park under your own steam, which is by far the best way to do so. Hop into your hire car, pass the jagged peaks of the Cuernos del Paine and stop off at several viewpoints for some breathtaking scenery. You could also drive to the ancient forest on the banks of Grey Lake, a glacier-fed lake filled with icebergs. If you were unlucky with the weather yesterday, hopefully you’ll have better luck today and set off on your climb, returning to Puerto Natales in the evening.
At the end of the day, you’ll drive back to Puerto Natales. Looking in your rear-view mirror you can see the peaks of the Torres del Paine disappearing in the distance. You’ll spend another night in the same hotel where you spent your first night. If you can’t drive or just prefer not to, we can also arrange this module as a group tour. You’ll have less freedom, but you’ll still be able to see all the main sights of the park.
Day 4 – Departure from Puerto Natales
After breakfast, say goodbye to your hostess and walk to the bus station, ready to head to your next destination. Take the bus to Punta Arenas to spot penguins, or fly straight to Temuco to meander through volcano country.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Torres - Standard accommodation
If you’d like to swap a dorm room for a little more comfort, we can arrange for you to stay in a traditional hosteria located right at the start of the trail, surrounded by roaming horses and sweeping views of the valley. You’ll sleep in a comfortable private room with an en-suite bathroom, perfect for a good night’s sleep after your active day.
Torres - Camping
Swap a night in the refugio for a night under the stars, sleeping in a tent with a mattress and warm sleeping bag. You will enjoy a tasty dinner inside the refugio, and after dinner, when the lights go out, you’ll walk back to your tent for the night surrounded by nature. You can use all the refugio’s facilities, including hot showers and toilets.
