Salto Grande Waterfall, Torres del Paine

There might be no more famous national park in all of Chile than Torres del Paine. This protected area, located on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in Patagonia, is renowned for its breathtaking scenery. It's on display on the many nature hikes within the park that cut through fertile valleys, around glacial lakes, and up to the peaks of granite mountaintops like the famous Paine Massif. This park is also home to Salto Grande, the most spectacular waterfall in the area.

A day's excursion to Salto Grande involves a drive to the Pudeto sector of Torres del Paine, which is located in the heart of the park's lake district. From there it’s a short and easy two km walk along well-marked paths to this raging aquamarine cascade on the Paine River that funnels water between lakes Nordenskjöld and Pehoé. Glaciers feed these lakes, which is why the rushing water at the falls has a milky sky blue color that's almost dreamlike in its appearance. You can hike right up to the edge and look out as great torrents of water thunder through the bottleneck and crash dozens of meters into the river below. Also, while you marvel at the fury and beauty of Salto Grande, be sure to keep on the lookout for local wildlife like guanacos (a relative of the llama), because they are common here.