Trekking in South America offers some of the most breathtaking and awe inspiring scenery on the planet. Chile the world’s thinnest country has an incredibly diverse geography, and within its narrow perimeter you can hike through remote wilderness regions as well as more accessible walking trails.
Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales at the southernmost end of Chile faces the Patagonian Andes mountain range and is the main transit point for the Torres del Paine National Park. Against a panorama of snow capped mountains, Puerto Natales is not only the gateway to the park, but is a legitimate destination in its own right. In recent years the influx of tourism to the Patagonian region has seen this once sleepy fishing village grow into a vibrant waterfront city. From Puerto Natales you can embark on unique sailing adventures through spectacular glaciers and travel to the Southern Ice Fields beyond and experience some of the most beautiful hiking in South America.
Torres Del Paine National Park
About 150km from Puerto Natales is the main reason people travel to this remote part of Chile – the vast sweeping vista of the Torres Del Paine National Park. Renowned as an area of unspoilt beauty, this raw yet vulnerable landscape is an extremely popular destination for holidays trekking in South America. The many walking trails which criss cross the park are safe and suited to average hiking skills, and there are various lodgings dotted throughout ranging from campgrounds to five star luxury resorts.
The expansive landscape of the National Park is dominated by the ‘Paine Massif’ which forms a spur of the Andes. It was created over 12 million years ago as a result of lava breaking through the earth’s crust and rising up to shape the crags and peaks. The iconic rock formation known as the Torres Del Paine is made up of three soaring granite towers – Torre Central, Torre Sur and Torre Norte. The natural centrepiece of the park, the majestic peaks rise up to nearly 3000 metres and to stand in their shadow is an awe inspiring experience. The lagoon at the base changes colour throughout the day from a vibrant blue to a deep green depending on the light, and adds to the aura of mystery surrounding the towers.
The flora and fauna of the park is as diverse as the landscape. Across the different altitudes and terrains of the grasslands, rocky peaks and glaciers you will encounter such wildlife as cougar, foxes, mountain lions and of course the guanacos – the unique South American camel. Birdlife is abundant as well and the valleys, lagoons and rivers are filled with a huge variety of condors, flamingo, ostriches and swans amongst others.
There are a number of well trodden circuits through the park the best known being the ‘W’ which takes about four days to complete, and the epic Paine Mass which encompasses around ten days trekking. South America is justifiably proud of this Chilean adventure and it is one of the most popular trails for nature loving hikers in this part of the world. The Torres Del Paine is part of a protected system in Chile which is made up of three national monuments, three reserves and five national parks. Collectively, it has been declared by UNESCO as the Reserve of the Biosphere and fortunately is now recognised for the valuable heritage region that it is.
Trekking South America through the expansive mountain scenery and icy glacial beauty of the Torres del Paine National Park is an unforgettable journey, and a humbling reminder of the power of Nature that should not be missed.
Author Resource:
Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. On a South America trekking holiday (http://www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/map_search/south_america.aspx )
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