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WHAT
TO SEE
Grey Lake, Glacier
Grey, Salto Grande (Big Fall), Salto Chico (Small Fall), Paine
mountain range (‘Horns’ and Monte Almirante Nieto).
WHAT
TO DO
Fishing, climbing, natural
trail walking, river activities such as kayaking and rafting,
environmental education, rambling and wildlife observation.
TRAILS
In general, the trails
are suitable for all types of people with mountain clothes and
equipment. There is a large network of trails with refuges that
allow visitors to rest or stay the night.
Pingo Zapata Circuit:
The path starts at the Administration
Office and follows the vehicles road until arriving at Lake Grey
ranger station (18km.) The path then follows low hills until arriving
at the Pingo refuge, until you come to the Zapata glacier.
Paine Circuit:
The paths goes around the Macizo Paine, first midway up a mountain
and then rises up to 1.350 msnm, passing rivers, lakes and glaciers
like the Grey, Dickson and Perros. Time required for route: 7
to 10 days walking.
Dickson Glacier
Circuit: The trail begins in the laguna Amarga ranger station
following the plain until the Seron camp, and after continuing
over little hills, passes the Coiron camp and again follows the
plain until the Dickson refuge, from where one can see the glacier.
Grey Glacier - Frances
Glacier Circuit: The trail starts on an open plain which is
highly exposed to the wind and then continues midway up the mountain
until you arrive at the glaciers.
Las Torres Circuit:
The trail starts in the Amarga lagoon ranger station, taking the
vehicles road for 7 km until the Cerro Paine ranch, and after,
climbing up to the Chilean camp until arriving at the base of
Torres del Paine (600msnm.)
Paine Lake Circuit:
The path starts in the Azul lagoon ranger station, until arriving
at the laguna Cebolla and following to an old vehicular track
until the Paine Lake refuge.
Laguna Verde Circuit:
The path begins in the Administration Office and follows a vehicular
track for 2.5 km, then take the turning to the right to start
climbing Sierra del Toro (800 msnm) and continuing over little
hills until laguna Verde ranger station.
FACILITIES
Ranger
station and control huts:
The administration area is found in the Toro Lake sector,
145 km from the city of Puerto Natales and 33 km inside the principal
entrance to the park. In the same building, there is a visitors
center where you can find environmental activities and information.
The opening hours are from 8.30 to 8.00. The ranger stations are
situated in Sarmiento Lake entrance, Laguna Amarga entrance,
Laguna Azul entrance, Pehoe Lake ranger station, Grey Lake ranger
station and Laguna Verde ranger station.
Camping
area: administrators manage the camping areas.
Lake Pehoe
camping area is found in the Pehoe Lake sector, 138 km
from Puerto Natales and 12 km from the Administration Office.
Mr. Sergio Zalek administrates it. Address: Arturo Prat 270
telephone 411355, Puerto Natales.
Rio Serrano camping area is found in the Toro Lake sector,
157 km from Puerto Natales and 7km from the Administration Office.
There are 28 sites Mr. Sergio Zalek administrates them.
Laguna Azul camping area is found in the Laguna Azul
sector, with 15 sites, administrated by C.C.A.F La Araucana.
Address: Bories No 466, telephone: 411157, Puerto Natales.
Picnic
areas: There are picnic areas in Lake Pehoe, Laguna
Azul and Rio Serrano camping areas.
Shelters
and Camps: On the long trails there are primitive places,
shelters and camps for visitors to rest and stay the night. For
more information consult the park administration or the park rangers.
Food:
At the Laguna Amarga ranger
station there is a kiosk, which sells non-perishable\dried foods.
Other
services: There
are also facilities for rafting and horse riding. Telephones
can be found in the Administration Office, in the Pehoe Lodge
and in the Explora Hotel. There is also a first aid health center
in the park (Administration Office) and a police station.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To help protect the
natural resources and to maintain it as a pleasant destination
for other visitors, please follow the below recommendations.
- Protect the environment.
- Protect the animal species, protect
the nesting grounds and refuges of birds.
- Only picnic in designated areas.
- Camp only in authorized areas.
- If you come across anything which
appears unusual or which worries you, contact the rangers or
the administrator.
- When cooking, visitors must be
considerate in their use of gas or coal.
SERVICES
RELATED
ARTICLES
 Torres
del Paine National Parks: Nature and Tourism in Southern Chile
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