Joya Trek in the South of the World – Torres del Paine National Park

After almost 12,000 years since its aboriginal settlement, the icy and remote destination in the middle of Chilean Patagonia was only reached by true explorers and scientists from the end of the 19th century until the date of creation of the park, in 1959. Later called Torres National Park del Paine for its remarkable geological characteristics, the 3 main granite towers, the protected area soon became known throughout the planet.

Since then, every year it receives up to 150,000 tourists, mostly foreigners. Mainly during the summer, they look for the harsh, but still preserved surroundings of the park, despite the cases of fires, as seen in the burned trees. The diversity of ecosystems, biological endemism and geological formations are relevant enough to justify the designation as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and the inclusion in most of the lists of the best trekking circuits in the world.

As the area is located hundreds of miles from the nearest airport in El Calafate (Argentina), home to the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier, visitors can only reach Torres del Paine by land. One of the most common options, although quite expensive, is to hire a tourist bus trip from the old city or from Puerto Natales, Chile. Alternatively, you can drive a rented vehicle through the part of the park carved out by tens of miles of paths, where you can see groups of guanacos and rheas amid the steppes and thickets, flocks of flamingos in blue ponds of various shades and the most flying bird. biggest in the world. world (Andean condor) in the sky and mountains. You can also embark on some navigations on the beautiful Gray and Pehoe glacial lakes.

The most recommended way to face the park, however, is to enter the incredible landscapes by traveling the trekking circuits: the O, which is the longest, or the W. The latter is rather crossed by young adventurers and even older ones, with their large backpacks, hiking poles and waterproof clothing, to overcome uneven ground and unpredictable weather. On the same day, you can witness the sun, rain, snow, windstorm, and even a waterspout!

To alleviate the fatigue of 3 to 5 days of hiking, there are free and paid campsites well located along the sections. In addition to a hot bath and electricity, you can buy groceries, although the prices are somewhat outrageous. So make sure you have enough food with you, because the berries that can be found along the way will definitely not be enough for your caloric expenditure. At least the water won’t be a problem as there are numerous unspoiled fountains along the trails.

The best views are only achieved on foot, which makes all the effort worthwhile. The base of the towers that surround a azure blue lake, the melting rapids and the subpolar forests of Magellan in the ascent of the French Valley, the wall of the Gray Glacier and its drifting icebergs; These are some of the incredible sights that explorers will see every mile on their way.

When leaving the park, that feeling of joy and desire to return is maintained, fulfilling the local saying that whoever eats the calafate berry will return one day. All this makes Torres del Paine National Park an almost obligatory destination for those who enjoy leaving their comfort zone, getting in harmony with nature and taking on great adventures.