- Campsite: Las Torres
- Costs: Entrance Fee CP$18,000 pp. Campsite CP$8,500pp
- Distance covered: 18km
Convoys of buses carted us and hundreds of other keen hikers from Puerto Natales to the Torres del Paine National Park, the most famous park in Chile and Patagonia. We had turned up in Puerto Natales two days beforehand and with the little research we had done we intended to spend 5 days hiking the popular “w” trek through the park. After speaking to the knowledgeable owner of our hostel we decided this may not be the best idea.
As we were trekking in peak season the campgrounds would be full and the paths can get so busy that you end up walking single file behind a line of others. This did not sound like the kind of experience we wanted. Instead he suggested we do the “O” which is longer and also goes behind the main towers but would be a lot quieter. With time available we decided this sounded like the best option but not wanting to miss out on reaching the famous base of the Torres we decided we could camp at the bottom and climb up and down on the first day.
So after a two hour bus journey and lengthy registration process we were finally in the park. The shuttle bus dropped us off outside Las Torres and we set up camp. We wished we had checked the rental equipment more thoroughly as we realised we didn’t have guide ropes and one of the walking poles was broken. As we had decided to share a pair between the two of us this meant one of us was now poleless. A heated argument was had in which poles were thrown around the campsite until we eventually managed to repair the broken one in such a way that I would be able to use it. Then we were off.
Another great thing about camping at the Las Torres camp was that we were able to walk up without our heavy bags. I was thankful as although there were a few clouds in the sky it was hot and carrying a heavy load did not look pleasant. However, there was no point in pitying the walkers with the enormous bags as we knew that would be us tomorrow.
The walk up gradually got steeper and the final section to the mirador was a difficult path of boulders and rocks.
There were a lot of people doing this walk and when we got to the top we realised why. The view of the Torres was out of this world.
Vibrant greens of the lake contrasted against the grey walls of water that dripped from the glaciers causing subtle movements which made it look as if it were alive.
It almost looked like icings dripping from a cake.
Our first day had been a success and we wondered, as we walked back down, whether or not we had just seen the best the park has to offer.
