Excursion to Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia

4.6 (20 reviews)
Explore Torres del Paine National Park with a guide to view a giant sloth replica, stop at viewpoints, and witness a waterfall.

Overview

Embark on a day trip from Puerto Natales to the Torres del Paine National Park, known for its mountains, glaciers, and hiking trails. For this excursion, it's common to start by exploring Cueva del Milodón ("Milodon Cave"), home to a replica of a prehistoric sloth that once lived in the caves. You'll likely continue the excursion by visiting landmarks like the Cuernos del Paine ("Horns of Pain") and/or Lago Grey ("Grey Lake"). Next, if you go to Salto Grande waterfall, it's popular to take a scenic trek where you may spot species like pumas and foxes. The adventure concludes with a return to Puerto Natales, where you might stop at Lake Sarmiento Viewpoint, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the granite peaks of Paine Massif and the picturesque lake below.

Highlights

  • Explore the Cueva del Milodón with a life-sized replica of a prehistoric giant sloth 
  • Trek along the scenic shores of Lago Grey and stop to enjoy a picnic lunch
  • See Salto Grande waterfall and admire the views from Lago Nordenskjöld Viewpoint
  • Spot guanacos, rheas, and condors in their natural habitat at Laguna Amarga
  • Take in the views from the Lake Sarmiento Viewpoint on the return journey to Puerto Natales

Know before you go

Duration
10 hours
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
Lunch Included

What you'll do

Your day-long adventure will likely begin with a pick-up from your hotel in Puerto Natales. Next, you'll head to the Cueva del Milodón, a vast cave system featuring a giant replica of the prehistoric giant sloth, the Mylodon, after which the explorer Hermann Eberhard named the caves in 1895. Your guide will also likely show you the Silla del Diablo ("Devil's Chair"), an unusual chair-like rock formation steeped in local lore.

Next, you may enter Torres del Paine National Park, where the Cuernos del Paine, granite peaks known for their sharp, horn-like spires that rise dramatically from the surrounding terrain, will greet you. You can continue with a leisurely hike along the shores of Lago Grey, with a stop at the viewpoint where you can admire the surroundings and possibly see icebergs that have drifted from nearby glaciers. Once you finish the walk, it's the perfect time to enjoy a peaceful picnic lunch.

You can also make a stop at one of Patagonia's most powerful waterfalls, Salto Grande. Then, you may visit the Lago Nordenskjöld Viewpoint, where you'll view the park's diverse landscape before meandering toward Laguna Amarga ("Bitter Lagoon"). With native animals like guanacos, rheas, and condors, this landmark is an excellent location for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. On the way back to Puerto Natales, your guide may stop at the Lake Sarmiento Viewpoint for one final photo opportunity to capture the park's beauty. 

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Traveler reviews

20 total ratings, 13 with reviews
4.6
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.6
Food
4.1
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.6
Transport
4.5
N
Noorul and Maliha R.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Nov 13, 2024
Wonderful day-long trip. Very scenic, populated with llama-like deers. Took plenty of pictures with many stops along the way. Good lunch with soup, entree, and dessert. Good local guide, Daniella who made the trip enjoyable and comfortable. Read more

Wonderful day-long trip. Very scenic, populated with llama-like deers. Took plenty of pictures with many stops along the way. Good lunch with soup, entree, and dessert. Good local guide, Daniella who made the trip enjoyable and comfortable.

Tips for future travelers

Road thru the park is unpaved, so be prepared for a little bit of rough ride with bumps and jolts.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
L
Lisa S.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Nov 06, 2024
This trip was disappointing. Our tour was for just the four of us, but the small SUV we rode in required that one of us sit up front with the driver, while the other three sat in the back, with someone in the middle seat. Not ideal for looking out the windows, which was a big part of this driving tour. Two of us were native Spanish speakers with good English, and two of us were native English speakers who know a little Spanish. Our guide was fluent in Spanish, but his English was... Read more

This trip was disappointing. Our tour was for just the four of us, but the small SUV we rode in required that one of us sit up front with the driver, while the other three sat in the back, with someone in the middle seat. Not ideal for looking out the windows, which was a big part of this driving tour. Two of us were native Spanish speakers with good English, and two of us were native English speakers who know a little Spanish. Our guide was fluent in Spanish, but his English was definitely not fluent. The result was that he spent 90% of the time conversing with the Chileans, and much less time talking with the English speakers. It was frustrating when we had questions. That being said, we visited some beautiful parts of the park, places we never would have seen if we had been driving on our own.

Quality of Experience
Food
We had box lunches which were very good.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A guide for English speakers who is truly fluent in English.
Transport
A larger vehicle with bigger windows.
Lauryn
Lauryn G.
North Port, FL | Reviewed on May 24, 2024
This was our favorite day of the whole trip with stunning views of Torres del Paine National Park. Our guide was Jhon Pineda and he was super friendly and helpful and took some absolutely amazing photos of our family. He truly went above and beyond to make sure we got the best quality photos and videos and we appreciate him so much. He made sure we were comfortable with our baby all day and always checked on us. This tour cannot be missed! Read more

This was our favorite day of the whole trip with stunning views of Torres del Paine National Park. Our guide was Jhon Pineda and he was super friendly and helpful and took some absolutely amazing photos of our family. He truly went above and beyond to make sure we got the best quality photos and videos and we appreciate him so much. He made sure we were comfortable with our baby all day and always checked on us. This tour cannot be missed!

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jhon Pineda is an amazing tour guide!
Transport
Alex was our driver and he made sure everything went smoothly for the entire day!
Mike
Mike S.
Waterford, MI | Reviewed on Apr 02, 2024
This is an amazing tour, you really get a chance to see all that Torres del Paine National Park has to offer. Hopefully the weather will be as nice for you as it was for us. The tour company did a great job of finding places for us to stop, stretch our legs, and take some wonderful photos. Read more

This is an amazing tour, you really get a chance to see all that Torres del Paine National Park has to offer. Hopefully the weather will be as nice for you as it was for us. The tour company did a great job of finding places for us to stop, stretch our legs, and take some wonderful photos.

Tips for future travelers

This is a full day! Be prepared to be away from town and your hotel for the full day.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jennifer
Jennifer C.
Sarasota, FL | Reviewed on Mar 19, 2024
Great tour but the bus was small and crowed. Not a deal breaker, but a little uncomfortable. We were the last hotel to get picked up so we were stuck in the very back corner of the bus. I am sure the front would have been amazing. Read more

Great tour but the bus was small and crowed. Not a deal breaker, but a little uncomfortable. We were the last hotel to get picked up so we were stuck in the very back corner of the bus. I am sure the front would have been amazing.

Quality of Experience
Food
Our tour guide Kim Kim had lunch arranged for us and it was great. Cafeteria style, but delicious and good quality. Love the lodge where we ate.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Minda
Minda H.
Maple Grove, MN | Reviewed on Dec 04, 2023

Loved our guide, Anna

Mark
Mark S.
Dowling, MI | Reviewed on May 23, 2023
Extremely challenging hike and the guide's pace was very fast. Some participants struggled with the pace and intensity of the hike. We suggest bringing breakfast/snacks for the hike due to its demanding nature. Read more

Extremely challenging hike and the guide's pace was very fast. Some participants struggled with the pace and intensity of the hike. We suggest bringing breakfast/snacks for the hike due to its demanding nature.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Desiree
Desiree K.
Bakersfield, CA | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2023
The local guide, John, was funny and energetic as a guide. He even acted as a photographer for many of us. The sights we stopped at were beautiful and well worth the tour. Read more

The local guide, John, was funny and energetic as a guide. He even acted as a photographer for many of us. The sights we stopped at were beautiful and well worth the tour.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The driver would stop so we could take pictures of the wildlife or other sights beyond the tour.
Transport
S
susan l.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 08, 2023
Wow..first exposure to the scenery mountains. Sky...guide and driver were knowledgeable pleasant helpful and seemed to enjoy their work..a great day.. Read more

Wow..first exposure to the scenery mountains. Sky...guide and driver were knowledgeable pleasant helpful and seemed to enjoy their work..a great day..

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Betsy
Betsy R.
Concord, NH | Reviewed on Jan 14, 2023
John was a great tour guide, taking the time to learn everyone's name. He enthusiastically offered to take our picture at every stop and made sure to learn something about everyone on the tour and then connected us with each other, as well. He taught us a great deal about the beautiful park, the wildlife and geology. National Geographic magazine was right - definitely one of the most beautiful places on earth! Read more

John was a great tour guide, taking the time to learn everyone's name. He enthusiastically offered to take our picture at every stop and made sure to learn something about everyone on the tour and then connected us with each other, as well. He taught us a great deal about the beautiful park, the wildlife and geology. National Geographic magazine was right - definitely one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Tips for future travelers

Wear layers, and be prepared to layer up for windy stops.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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