Hotel Las Torres

– Mirador De Los Cuernos:The park’s most spectacular waterfall and an astonishing viewpoint are highlights of this relatively easy excursion.
The adventure starts with a 45-minute drive to Pudeto in the heart of the park’s lake district. The trail leads us through a portion of the park impacted by the great forest fire of 2011- 12. Between the remains of the fire-ravaged trees, new life is already sprouting from the rich Patagonian soul. The path continues to Sendero Mirador Cuernos. Possibly the Park’s most spectacular viewpoint, the panorama features the “Horns” (Los Cuernos), Mount Paine Grande and the French Valley and Glacier rising straight up from the the other side of Lake Nordenskjöld: a breathtaking spectacle of rock and water. From this point we continue the trail to Salto Grande, a raging aquamarine cascade that channels water between lakes Nordenskjöld and Pehoé. The roundtrip hike from car park to viewpoint takes about two hours. Given the open terrain, high winds are possible during this trek. Those who don’t want to undertake the complete hike can opt for a shorter version that features just the brief hike to Salto Grande waterfall (about 30min rountrip).

– Patagón: The ancient Aónikenk people of Patagonia and the park’s iconic animal species are the main attractions of this ramble along the trail in the park’s southeast corner. The excursion starts with a 25-minute drive close to the Laguna Amarga ranger station. From there, the trail leads south through an area that local guides and rangers have dubbed the “puma restaurant” because the big cats make so many kills there.

You’re chances of seeing them in the daytime are fairly slim. But the skeletons of their many guanaco kills are clearly evident along the trail. Herds of guanaco often graze along both sides of the trail, and there’s also a chance to spot foxes, condors and flightless rheas. About halfway along there is a large rock formation with overhangs where the Aónikenk people rendered pictographs (rock paintings). Residents of the region for around 7,000 years, the Aónikenk were called Patagones (Big Feet) by the early Spanish, who mistakenly thought they were giants. The lofty rock also offers a perch for gazing at the mountains and the surrounding terrain. After crossing through a marshy area, the trail continues to the pick-up point at Sarmiento Lake ranger station. From there it is a 40-minute drive back to the hotel.

-Lago Nordenskjöld: This celebrated lake at the foot of the Paine Massif is named after Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928), a Finnish-Swedish explorer who probed much of the Antarctic, Greenland, Chile and Peru in the early 20th century.

Starting out from the hotel, the excursion follows part of the famous “W” Trail that stretches between the lake’s gorgeous north shore and Monte Almirante Nieto, the glacier and snow-covered mountain the anchors the southeastern extreme of the Paine Massif. Although the routes are slightly different for horse and hikers, the scenery and terrain are very similar. The equestrian version includes numerous stream and river crossings. In addition to the flora and fauna, the excursion offers a chance to learn more about Patagonian gauchos and horses, and hone your own expertise on the saddle.

-Cerro Paine:Striking out from the hotel, this horseback ride or hike follows a steep trail climbing up the western slope of Cerro Paine which has a altitud of 1,500-meter (5,000-foot).

Climbing through lenga foress where you should look out for birds, the route breaches the treeline to reach the lofty Mirador D´Agostini and its views back across the valley to granite towers, glaciers and alpine lakes. This trek affords one of the best chances to appreciate the majesty of Torres del Paine National Park. This excursion is exclusive for guests of Hotel Las Torres.

-Cañón del Ascencio: On this excursion we will visit some little visited areas of the Cerro Paine Reserve. We start via horseback ride towards the Serón sector, where we will have a spectacular view of the Paine massif. Then we carry on skirting the edge of Cerro Paine to reach the Aboriginal Waterfall.
Here we will continue via foot for closer views of the waterfall.
Later we will return to our horses and ride to the Ascencio Valley — where we can contemplate the imposing rock walls that flank the valley. We will enjoy a beautiful view towards Lake Nordenskjöld and Mount Almirante Nieto.
On our way back, we will pass the so-called Puma cave, where we might see traces of the passage of this fantastic animal, the king of Patagonia.

-Bosque de Lenga: Designed for those interested in learning more about Patagonia’s famous lenga forests, the horseback ride or hike follows part of the Paine Circuit trail around the eastern edge of the massif. The final destination is the old-growth lenga forest.

One of Patagonia’s iconic trees, Nothofagus pumilio thrives in areas with low temperatures and heavy snow. Lenga woodland provides a habitat for many animals, and during this excursion there is a good chance to spot Magellanic woodpeckers, Austral parakeets, Chilean flickers and other forest small birds. Also be on the lookout for pumas, the so-called “Andean Lion” and member of the cat family, who roam this forest. Last but certainly not least, the trail features great views of Laguna Azul and Cerro Paine on the eastern side of the massif. This excursion is great on windy days because the trees block out most of the bluster. This excursion is exclusive for guests of Hotel Las Torres.

-Laguna Azul:This half-day excursion — the best option for those who want to observe and photograph the Torres towers without all the walking — also offers a small but significant historical footnote. The adventure starts with a 30-minute drive through the rugged terrain of the national’s park’s far eastern region Laguna Amarga where we can observe cianobacteria with stromatolites and sometime flamingos before continuing our journey to the Blue Lagoon. From the parking spot we strike off on a short (half hour) walk that blends wildlife and views of the Paine Massif.

Animals are abundant in this part of the park, especially guanaco and birds. The avian community around Laguna Azul includes water birds, as well as condors and raptors. Gazing from the east, the perspective of Torres towers is much different than elsewhere in the park, and in some respects even more awe-inspiring. Laguna Azul is also the spot where Lady Florence Dixie, the intrepid Victorian-era British traveler and author, first spotted the Torres del Paine mountains. She is considered to be the first tourist of Patagonia. In her 1880 book Across Patagonia she called the three towers “Cleopatra’s Needles” because the stone monoliths resembled the obelisks of ancient Egypt. During this 4 hour roundtrip we also visit the spectacular Paine waterfall, the first of three waterfalls of Paine river.

-Baqueano de la Patagonia: Learn the Patagonian cowboy way by spending a morning or afternoon with the baqueanos who lead the Hotel Las Torres horseback treks and look after the horses and stables of the Estancia Cerro Paine. During your time with these local vaqueros — the descendants of horsemen who came to work ranches in this remote region more than a century ago — you will learn about their special clothing, their saddles and other horse tack, and get a chance to share mate (an herbal tea made from yerba mate leaves).

Also, you can enjoy a typical breakfast made of “sopaipillas” (type of bread) with “pebre” (Chilean condiment). The baqueanos also demonstrate how to properly saddle a horse, nail a horseshoe and of course how to horsebackride. By the end of this cowboy adventure, you’ll have a much better understanding of what it was like to live and work in this remote corner of South American before the arrival of tourism.

-Horseback riding (per hour): For people who haven’t spent much time in the saddle, this is a great way to become more familiar with horses and learn the basic skills of riding them. Starting in our own corral and stables, Hotel Las Torres gauchos and guides demonstrate how to ride correctly before undertaking rides or horseback excursions on the estancia lands surrounding the hotel. This is an especially good way for children to learn how to ride.

-Mountain biking (half day): View the Reserva Cerro Paine via bike! You can choose between two routes to enjoy the Reserve by bike. One route is ideal for those who have little experience pedalling since it is mainly flat. It will take you to Lake Nordenskjöld through a valley with incredible views towards Monte Almirante
Nieto and the lake.
The second, more difficult route leads you to various lagoons, crossing rivers including steep climbs and descents. You will have the opportunity to see beautiful landscapes and enjoy the local fauna, especially birds.

-Biking (per hour):We give you the opportunity to get to know the beautiful landscapes of Patagonia by exploring part of our reserve on self-guided trails. Check with our excursion team, who will show you which trails you can use.

-Rock climbing:An area called the Puma Cave is located close to Hotel Las Torres. It is a large rock formation that has magnificent climbing walls with 3 levels of difficulty: basic (beginners), medium and expert. Starting with a complete instruction, this activity lasts for 2 or 3 hours where you will have the opportunity to climb different routes and enjoy this unique experience to the maximum.

-Multi-Activity: If you want to challenge your physical abilities, our “Multi- Activity” excursion is what you are looking for. Enjoy riding your bike and mountain climbing in the so-called Puma cave within Cerro Paine Reserve, an intense experience that gives you a different insight on fun activities in Torres del Paine besides
trekking and horseback riding.

-Full Paine (a)
This excursion truly lives up to its name by giving guests the fullest introduction to Torres del Paine National Park in the shortest amount of time. This road trip into the heart of the park features stops at scenic overlooks, short hikes to natural landmarks, and a wonderful lake cruise to Grey Glacier. Stops along the way include Puente Negro (Black Bridge), Nordenskjöld Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and Salto Grande waterfall.

After enjoying an al fresco gourmet lunch, guests have a choice of a hike along the southern shore of Lago Grey to a point where you can gaze down at icebergs or a narrated boat trip across the length of the lake to imposing Grey Glacier, which tumbles down from the massive Southern Patagonia Ice Field. The Catamaran is for 100 people and the cruise takes around three hours. Is offered by an external company, therefore, we don´t take any responsibility for cancellations due to weather conditions or technical issues.

*The navegation trip on Grey Lake is optional and NOT included as part of the excursion rate.

“Full Paine” with navigation on Lago Grey: tour requires prior reservation (Limited availability, require a minimum of 15 pax between Sept – Oct and Mar – Apr). All tours have departure time scheduled during the morning and afternoon.

-Full Paine (b)
This excursion truly lives up to its name by giving guests the fullest introduction to Torres del Paine National Park in the shortest amount of time. The journey towards the heart of the park includes stops in the most important and attractive lookout points, brief walks towards some of the most memorable sites within the park, as well as the chance to participate in an incredible sailing experience to observe the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. The stops and visits include Puente Negro (Black Bridge), Nordenskjöld Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and Salto Grande waterfall.

After enjoying a tradicional lunch, guests have the opportunity to sail along the River Serrano towards Mount Balmaceda and visit the largest national park in Chile, Bernardo O’Higgins. During this incredible adventure on a zódiac, where the National Park’s currents join together and flow towards the Pacific Ocean, you will be able to observe the Tyndall and Balmaceda glaciers. The sailing expedition also includes a 1.5 hour stop in the area surrounding the Serrano glacier, a place from which you can walk through evergreen forests for 15 minutes to an hour in order to take in an unbeatable view of the glacier. The return trip departs from the same place.

The navigation takes about 4 to 5 hours (including the walks) and is offered by an external company, therefore, we don´t take any responsibility for cancellations due to weather conditions or technical issues.

**The navegation trip is optional and NOT included as part of the excursion rate.

-Las Torres Sendero de Ascencio
This adventurous journey leads to the very base of the celebrated Torres (towers), a viewpoint beside a glacier-fed lagoon with views straight up to the slender, rocky peaks that give the National Park its name. You are given the option of undertaking the entire trek on foot or going halfway on horseback, as far as the Refugio Chileno.

Either way, the excursion starts out from the hotel and quickly climbs into the Ascencio Valley, rising through a beautiful lenga forest to the stony heights above. The route crosses ice-cold mountain streams and threads along glacial moraines before reaching Base Las Torres. After enjoying a snack at the base and time for iconic photographs, the group returns to the hotel via the same route. Total length is 18 km (11 miles) and the elevation change is around 1,000 meters (3,000 feet). The last part of the route is extremely rocky, while other parts feature steep drop offs that may induce vertigo and have a high impact on your knees.

-Valle del Francés
One of our longest excursion ventures into the famous Valle del Francés, in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, and part of the famous “W” Trail. After a 45-minutes drive from the hotel, you will board the catamaran Hielos Patagónicos on the lakeshore near Pudeto Ranger Station. A half-hour cruise across Lake Pehoé brings us to Paine Grande, landing on the other side of the lake and the trailhead for the start of our trek. The first part of the trail is relatively flat (it changes about 300m/980ft), leading along the north side of Lago Skottsberg to the bottom of French Valley and Italiano Campsite where we break for water and snacks.

Guests have the option of turning back at Italiano or continuing upwards, deeper into the Valle Francés along a steep trail through lenga woods and then a rocky moonscape above the treeline. Roughly 2.5 km (1,5miles) from Italiano, we reach a viewpoint on the foot of the “Horns” (Los Cuernos), that affords an awesome view of French Glacier coming down from Mount Paine Grande, the Cuernos del Paine peaks rising behind us, and down the valley to the lakes. Altitude change from start to finish is 700-800 meters (2,300-2,600 feet). There is also an option of returning to the hotel on the “W” Trail via Refugio Cuernos rather than taking the catamaran back across the lake. This is a 16km (10 miles) hike from Refugio Italiano which will take about 5 hours. It is possible that you would have to do this hike by yourself if our guide has to return by catamaran with the rest of the group.

* Navegation with catamaran is obligatory (one way) and included for guest with our all-inclusive porgram.
** Excursion available November to March.

-Valle Encantado
Gallop across the pampas and through the lenga forest on this equestrian adventure across the Estancia Cerro Paine. Starting off from our stables, the trip follows the “O” Circuit around the eastern edge of the Paine Massif into the valley of the Paine river.

The lenga forest of this area provides a habitat for many birds including Magellanic woodpeckers, Austral parakeets and Chilean flickers. The trail also offers great views of Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon) and Cerro Paine mountain before reaching Serón Campsite in the Valle Encantado (Enchanted Valley) where we can find a beautiful daisies during spring. After enjoying our box lunch at Serón, the group returns to the hotel via the same route — with a chance to gallop across the open pampas.

-Los Cuernos
Get up close and personal with the famous “Horns” of Torres del Paine on this hike along the edge of the Paine Massif.

Leaving the hotel, the route follows a relatively flat section of the “W” Trail between Monte Almirante Nieto and the north shore of Lake Nordenskjöld. Streams fed hanging glaciers slash across the rocky trail as the group makes its way to Refugio Cuernos. Located just below a cluster of jagged peaks called Los Cuernos (“the Horns”), the campsite offers incredible views across the lake Nordenskjöld. While enjoying our box lunch, there’s plenty of time to longer by the lakeside and stick a finger or toe in the ice-cold water before returning along the path trail to Hotel Las Torres. Total length is 22 km (13 miles) round trip, either by foot or on horseback.

-Sendero de los Lagos
Get a different take on Torres del Paine flora and fauna — and a dramatically different view of the mountain. The excursion starts with a 90-minute drive alongside Sarmiento lake, around the Park’s south eastern edge to the Laguna Verde entrance gate and the Estancia Lazo ranch (also known as “Hostería Mirador del Paine”). After a break at the cozy and very friendly Hostería, the group sets off along the Sendero de los Lagos (Lakes Trail), a one way journey of around 15 km (9.5 miles) to the pick-up point.

The route passes through lush lenga forest as well as open areas along the shore of Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) and Laguna Honda (Deep Lagoon) before veering off to the south and climbing to a summit with a 360° view of the Paine Massif in the north, and Lago Toro (the biggest lake of the Region) along with the endless Patagonian pampas to the southwest. Along the way be on the lookout for owls, woodpeckers, guanaco and other wildlife, as well as orchids and other wildflowers on the forest floor. The last part of the trail, which takes about 50 minutes, drops 500 meters (1,640 feet) to a roadside pull-out near the Paine river. This part might cause vertigo and has a high impact on your knees. Once we reach the road, a vehicle picks up the group for an hour´s drive back to the Hotel.

-Mirador Grey
One of the park’s most incredible views awaits at the end of this water and trail adventure on the western side of the Paine Massif. The excursion starts with a 45-minutes drive from the Hotel to the Pudeto area, where the group boards the Hielos Patagónicos catamaran for a half-hour crossing of Lake Pehoé. After reaching Paine Grande Landing on the far side, we set off on a trail along the east side of Lago Grey beneath the towering bulk of Mount Paine Grande.

The path undulates through rocky areas, mixed native forests and woodland destroyed by the wild fires of 2011-12, before heading upwards to Mirador Grey with its magnificent views of the lake and glacier. This is the first part of the area placed under government protection, a 1959 decree that created “Parque Nacional de Turismo Lago Grey” — a reserve that would later expand into today’s Torres del Paine National Park. The hike is a 22 km (14 mile) round trip (same trail) from Paine Grande Landing; conditions can be exceedingly wet, cold, rainy and windy even during the height of summer. This is probably one the hardest excursions along with “Huella del Puma” and “Las Torres Sendero de Ascencio”. Anyone undertaking it should be in pretty good physical shape.

* Navegation is mandatory (round trip) and not included as part of the excursion rate, except for guests participating in our all-inclusive programs.
** Excursion available November to March.

-Cerro Paine Full Day
This combined horseback and hiking excursion culminates in one of the National Park’s most striking viewpoints — over the 1,508 meter (5,000-foot) summit of Cerro Paine (Paine hill). The first section is undertaken on the saddle along a scenic forest section of the Ascencio Valley. This trail heads up on Agostini’s route where he took a famous picture in the 40’s. Leaving the horses behind, the group passes the treeline and hikes upwards to Cerro Paine’s windy summit.
The view is truly astounding: the three towers rising in the west, the Paine river Valley and Laguna Azul in the east, lakes Nordenskjöld and Sarmiento in the south. A panorama that includes granite peaks, glaciers, lakes, forest and patagonian pampas in a single glimpse as you slowly twirl around. After a snack at the summit, we return via the same route to meet our horses and comeback to the Hotel.

Valle Encantado

During this full-day excursion, you will ride east from the hotel towards the Cerro del Paine, where you will come upon a magnificent view of the Serón Valley. Much of the journey will take us through a beech forest before riding home along the Río Paine.

Los Cuernos, Arriero Path

We leave Las Torres on horseback or foot and skirt the south face of the glacier-capped Monte Almirante Nieto, which will provide us a spectacular view of both the mountain and Lago Nordenskjöld in the distance. We end the hike at the base of the Cuernos del Paine, or the Paine Horns. In the walls of these three peaks, we can see geology at work: layers of light-coloured granite rock sandwiched between two layers of darker sedimentary rock.