22 CHILE: Torres Del Paine

The Torres Del Paine national park is located 150 kms. from Puerto Natales, in Chilean Patagonia. Puerto Natales is a typical fishing town surrounded by mountains and is close to the border with Argentina.

A panorama of the granite towers in the park.

Where does the name of the park originate? Some say Paine was an early settler. Others say the name comes from an ancient Indian word meaning blue hearkening to the intense blue of the areas lakes. Whatever the name comes from or means, this is a spectacular park, comparable to Yellowstone or Yosemite in the U.S. Founded in 1959, Torres del Paine takes in 450,000 acres. In 1978 UNESCO recognized it as a World Biosphere Reserve, and advocates are now lobbying to have the park inscribed as a World Heritage site.

Cuerno Principal (2600m) and Cuerno Este (2200m) exhibit shear walls of light-colored granite capped by jagged peaks of black shale. The granite intrusion has been dated as occurring only 12 million years ago, making the Paine massif extremely young geologically. The entire area was covered by a thick ice-sheet about 100,000 years ago, which has now largely melted away to expose a well glaciated landscape.

It is possible to complete the circuit of the park in about 7-10 days. Another popular trek is the `W` which can be completed in about 3 days. We contented ourselves with a one day trek reaching the mirador of Torres Del Paine, probably the most beautiful and famed part of this stunning national park. Whilst this was certainly worthwhile it admittedly offered just a mere glimpse of the glory of this national gem.

Roberto at the Mirador of the Torres Del Paine