Hiking the marvelous Torres del Paine

Patagonia, simply put, is an indescribable-jaw-dropping-fairy-tale like paradise found on Earth. My adventurous soul awakened just at the mere thought of embarking to this remote region located at the southernmost tip of South America, in search of thrill and change of scenery. I was blown away! I just couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing! No pictures would do it justice… so if you have the chance, I truly recommend embarking on this journey yourself and fully immersing and connecting with nature. You will not be disappointed!

Keep reading for information on how to trek this wonderful place, from how to get there to what to pack.

However, it's important to keep in mind that negligence and irresponsible behavior can put its beauty at risk. In 2011 there was a forest fire that destroyed an impressive 17,000 hectares of Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO site, along with native species. Sadly, forest fires are not uncommon and the majority have been caused by humans who failed to put out campfires.

Many organizations in conjunction with the Chilean government have worked together for the reforestation of the National Park and its visitors can partake in these projects. Below are some ways that you can contribute with the reforestation of this breathtaking UNESCO site:

Join the campaign to help plant 1,000,000 trees in Patagonia.
Plant a tree virtually with only $4 USD, in return a real native tree will be planted.
Better yet, plant a tree yourself! Go to Torres del Paine and check out its beauty and while you are at it, volunteer with AMA Torres del Paine and get your hands dirty planting trees :)
Hike consciously by keeping in mind the code of conduct for responsible tourism, to minimize the human impact in natural habitats.

“Patagonia” had always had a connotation of a very far, far away place for me, I wasn’t even sure if this was actually a real place growing up. Fortunately, it is a real place on Earth and it has the most magical landscapes.

VERY REMOTE INDEED!

How to get there:

First: you need to get to South America and fly to Punta Arenas, Chile. 3100 km from Santiago, Chile to Punta Arenas (~4 hr flight
Second: 254 km from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales (~2hr bus)
Third: 112 km from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park (road is 50% unpaved)

First glimpse of Torres del Paine from the bus (unedited photo)

When to visit:

The best time to visit is during the summer (November – January in the Southern Hemisphere) but either way the weather can be very unpredictable as you can experience all 4 seasons in one day. It can get extremely windy and then have freezing mist and snow from the mountains, and a few hours later, it could be blazing hot. Preparation is key and be sure to bring extra layers. :)

Itinerary:

I did not choose the guided trek option and instead opted to trek on my own. Apart from a few kilometers where I trekked with others, the majority of the 71km (44 miles) journey in the wilderness, I did on my own in 5 days and 4 nights. This really allowed me to connect with nature and be blessed with the opportunity to feel the energy of creation and have the space to admire its beauty. It was paramount to the experience to have those still moments.

At Torres del Paine I did the most popular circuit which is the “W”, but there’s also the “O” circuit which is more challenging and requires more days & planning. Everything was booked through Fantastico Sur (Video), which included food and lodging to all of the refugios (campsites) that I would need to stay in during the whole circuit. For the most experienced and prepared individuals, there’s the option of renting a space outside each refugio to put up tents and cook your own meals.

What to pack:

I packed as light as possible (and failed miserably), I probably could have done better. As I encountered other people along the way I was amazed at how light their bags were and on top of that they also had their own tents and cooking utensils.

My bag consisted of clothes, as I didn't have to bring my own tent; I booked all the refugios in advanced and one night I rented a tent because I wanted to have the experience of sleeping outdoors in Patagonia. I definitely learned a lot from other experienced hikers that I met along the way; there were lots of international people, nature junkies, and adventure enthusiasts.

Nevertheless, it wasn't so bad for my first experience hiking at that scale. I was living in Chile at this time, so I got everything from this Chilean outdoor store, Doite.

Most important items to bring are:

Hardcore trekking shoes
1 pair of regular hiking shoes (it feels nice to change shoes after you have been trekking all day)
Sandals (for the showers inside the refugios)
Hiking pants/yoga pants
Short-sleeve dry fit shirts
Long-sleeve shirts
1 rain jacket
Gloves and beanies
Windproof mask
Trekking sticks
A second smaller backpack for shorter hikes (I brought one that would fit in a small pouch then expand)
Microfiber towel

Additionally it's important to bring a camera, sunscreen, lantern, kleenex, hand sanitizer, wipes, stainless steel bottle (keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold the entire way), and lots of healthy snacks :)

If you are staying at the refugios, breakfast will be served before your hike to the next refugio and lunch will be given in a to-go bag so you can eat it along the way. By the time you arrive to the next refugio it will be time for dinner so you never have to worry about cooking outdoors. I met people along the way who also prepped their own meals after trekking for so many hours. I admired them, quite honestly, but I also enjoyed having a nice warm meal and a glass of wine waiting for me at each refugio!

Wildlife:

Prior to embarking to Torres del Paine National Park, I went to the Island of Magdalena in the Magallanes region to see the cutest penguins in their natural habitat. The entire island is full of penguins! To visit the island you can take a ferry which departs from Punta Arenas.

Though the smell might not be so pleasant :)

It was too much cuteness to handle. I have tons of videos of them and it makes me laugh every time I see them. These little guys migrate to this island every summer. First the male arrives to reclaim his burrow from the previous year and waits to reconnect with his female partner. The Magellanic penguins mate with the same partner year after year and the females are able to recognize their mates through their call alone (which I found very impressive!). In winter, they head north for warmer waters, the whole cycle is repeated again the following summer.

Overall you can see all types of animals in their natural habitat. During the bus ride you can see endless fields full of sheep and Guanacos (small camelid native to South America, not to be confused with llamas or Vicuñas)

Fox on the left and guanacos on the right

While hiking I also noticed all sorts of wild flowers I've never seen before, as well as, tiny little fruits similar to blueberries. They are actually wild berries called calafate and their flavor is so rich! Their color and smell grabbed my attention but I was hesitant to grab them from the bush and try them, as for all I know they could be poisonous! I saw one of the tour guides eating them and they assured me they are safe. I tried them and they were very good, although a bit sour! A Chilean beer company (Cerveza Austral) actually sells a calafate flavored beer.

Pure Bliss

When there’s no one around to take you a photo and you leave your camera on self-timer then you run through the little rocks trying not to twist your foot to quickly sit down on the big rock and suddenly the wind is SO STRONG that you lose balance and fall, and the moment is captured at the perfect timing to always remind you that, the best experiences in life are raw, unfiltered, pure bliss, and found outside your comfort zone.

Indeed the world is a beautiful place full of incredible people, places & animals. Go explore it!

I hope this was informative and will motivate you to experience, first-hand, the Magic of the South and Tierra del Fuego (land of Fire) – Patagonia.