Excursions from Explora Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve

The Reserve
1. El Pasado 
2. Renacer 
3. Exploradores 
4. Mirador del Obelisco 
5. Huella de las Chinas 
6. Santa Gemita 
7. Into the Wild 
8. Sierra Contreras 
9. Fronteras Horse Ride
10. Cañadón Las Torres Horse Ride
11. Puente Malo Horse Ride
12. Tough Life Horse Ride
13. Florence Horse Ride
14. Río Zamora 
15. Los Bosques
16. La Pampa

Paine Massif
17. French Valley
18. The Cuernos
19. Base of the Towers
20. Silencio Valley
21. Glacier Grey

Cuenca Paine
22. Mirador Masle
23. Laguna Larga
24. Sarmiento
25. El Humedal
26. Nordenskjöld
27. Vega Castillo
28. La Loma 
29. Aonikenk
30. Desembocadura
31. Estepa Patagónica
32. Encuentros con el Puma

Sierra Baguales
33. Bandurria
34. Laguna Rodas 
35. Fósiles
36. El Centinela
37. Cerro Redondo
38. Vuelta a Baguales 
39. Baguales

Following historic routes traced by gauchos and ranchers of the province, you walk while observing the Zamora River from above. In the distance, the Torres del Paine stand out on the horizon from a wide and striking perspective. 

Half-Day | Easy | 3.1 miles (4.9 km)

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Setting out from the lodge, the trail crosses a nothofagus forest to reach the heart of the reserve, where Laguna Jara awaits: an ecosystem that shelters both resident and migratory birds, including the Chilean flamingo. 

Half-Day | Easy | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) 

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A walk that allows you to explore the former grounds of an estancia that today forms part of the Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve. Its vast landscapes offer views of the Torres del Paine and the Sierra Baguales in the distance, along with traces of guanacos, condors, and pumas that have returned to inhabit this area. 

Half-Day | Easy | 4.2 miles (6.8 km) 

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This walk ascends Cerro Obelisco through steppe, shrubland, and lenga beech forest, revealing views of the Paine massif and the Torres. To the north, the sheer walls of the Obelisco rise up, their rocky layers traced by soaring condors. After taking in the landscape, the descent brings you back on foot to the lodge. 

Half-Day | Moderate | 4.5 miles (7.3 km)

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This exploration follows the course of the Las Chinas River, a natural corridor that has guided guanacos, hunters, and explorers for centuries. The trail crosses the Patagonian steppe, traces the riverbank, and reaches the waterfall that precedes its confluence with the Zamora River. From here, the Torres del Paine are also visible on the horizon, part of a landscape steeped in history. 

Half-Day | Moderate | 4.8 miles (7.7 km)

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This exploration leads into one of the former estancias that today form part of the Conservation Reserve. After crossing the Las Chinas River twice, the route advances through wide stretches of steppe to reach the old outpost of Santa Gemita, a shelter tied to Patagonian tradition. At these isolated outposts, it was customary to leave firewood, water, and food for the travellers who would come after. Along the walk, views also open toward Laguna Azul and the Torres del Paine. 

Full-Day | Hard | 8.6 miles (13.8 km)

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This exploration offers a closer look at the conservation and research work carried out within the Reserve. Through trails that cross steppe, wetlands, and meadows, you discover how camera traps are used to study wildlife: from small mammals and birds to guanacos and pumas. A way of reading and understanding the land through science. 

Full-Day | Hard | 10.7 miles (17.2 km)

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A mountain exploration that ascends toward one of the summits marking the boundary of the Reserve in the Sierra Contreras. The sierra formerly belonged to the estancias Santa Gemita and El Mercado, whose traces still form part of the ranching history of the area. The ascent crosses open slopes and ledges frequented by condors. From the summit, panoramic views of the reserve and the national park unfold. 

Full-Day | Challenging | 7.3 miles (11.8 km)

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A horseback exploration, at a walking pace, through the Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve. Accompanied by a guide and a gaucho, you ride toward Laguna Jara, and from the highest point you can take in the vega wetland below, an area that shelters guanacos and a variety of Patagonian birds. 

Half-Day | Moderate | 4.0 miles (6.4 km) 

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A wide open valley that draws the eye toward the Torres, setting the direction of the journey. Ancient grazing grounds are slowly giving way to the regeneration of native forest, a quiet process that reveals itself with every stretch of the trail. At an unhurried pace, you move through meadows, small lagoons, and natural viewpoints. The Torres appear and disappear among the hills. 

Half-Day | Moderate | 6.6 miles (10.7 km) 

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A ride at trot and gallop through the heart of the Reserve, circling a wetland known as La Vega. This area concentrates much of the reserve's wildlife thanks to the permanent presence of water. During the ride it is possible to spot local wildlife and cross the remains of an old bridge, which gives this exploration its name. 

Half-Day | Moderate | 4.4 miles (7.1 km)

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A horseback exploration at trot and gallop. Alongside the guide and the gaucho, you ride through the Conservation Reserve, crossing the grounds of the former estancias 2 de Enero and El Mercado. Along the way, you discover traces of the gaucho life that left its mark on these lands. 

Half-Day | Moderate | 7.7 miles (12.4 km) 

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A horseback exploration at trot and gallop. Alongside the guide and the gaucho, you ride through the three former estancias that gave rise to the current Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve. You cross rivers, open pampa, hills, and patches of forest. After fording the Las Chinas River, a steep ascent is followed by an equally demanding descent. 

Full-Day | Hard | 14.8 miles (23.8 km) 

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You follow ancient tracks that cross the reserve and allow you to delve into the history of the territory. From the heights, the Zamora River runs along the valley floor, while the Sierra Contreras stretches across the horizon, vast and distant. 

Half-Day | Easy | 6.0 miles (9.6 km)

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You traverse the former grounds of an estancia, today part of the Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve. In the distance the Torres del Paine rise; closer at hand, the tracks of guanacos, condors, and pumas that have returned to inhabit this territory. 

Half-Day | Easy | 6.1 miles (9.8 km)

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You set out from the lodge toward the heart of the reserve, reaching Laguna Jara, a natural refuge for resident and migratory birds, including the Chilean flamingo. A route that allows you to immerse yourself in the wildlife of the territory and observe how water, steppe, and fauna converge within a single landscape. 

Half-Day | Easy | 7.6 miles (12.2 km) 

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Approach the iconic granite massif from an entirely different starting point. This zone covers the northwestern sector of Torres del Paine National Park, where the massif rises from the landscape to form some of Patagonia’s most emblematic landmarks: the Torres del Paine, the Cuernos del Paine, and Glacier Grey. Climb to the base of the Towers, follow the legendary French Valley, and take in the towering walls of the Cuernos. Access combines overland routes with navigation across Lake Pehoé, revealing the massif from angles that classic circuits rarely show. These are the park’s most iconic experiences, guided at Explora’s pace: with reflection, without haste, and with room for what the land itself wants to reveal.

A walk into the beautiful heart of the Torres del Paine National Park, tracing the valley that divides the imposing Cuernos and Paine Grande. Along the way, you take in close-up views of granite walls and glaciers, while crossing extensive areas of shrubland and forest. 

Full-Day | Hard | 11.5 miles (18.5 km)

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This exploration traces the landscape between Lake Nordenskjöld and the imposing Cuernos del Paine, drawing close to the base of one of the most iconic mountains on the planet. At the foot of the massif, the trail reveals up close the immense scale of its granite walls and distinctive dark summits: a combination of sweeping views and direct proximity to the mountain. 

Full-Day | Hard | 12.7 miles (20.4 km) 

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Mountainous terrain and forest, with a continuous ascent alongside the Ascencio River to a glacial moraine of approximately 300 metres of elevation gain. Crossing that combination of landscapes, you reach the renowned viewpoint beside the lagoon, where a privileged view of the imposing Torres del Paine unfolds. 

Full-Day | Challenging | 13.7 miles (22 km)

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This exploration ventures into a less-travelled valley of the Paine massif, following the route towards Campamento Japonés and the Valle del Silencio. The route offers views of the Torres from a perspective reserved almost exclusively for climbers, in a remote and silent setting. From here, other imposing mountains also come into view, such as Fortaleza, whose enormous walls often go unnoticed in the shadow of the Torres. 

Full-Day | Challenging | 18.3 miles (29.4 km) 

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The exploration combines an overland journey with a boat trip towards one of the most iconic glacial landscapes in Torres del Paine. From Playa Grey, a short walk through forest and lakeshore leads to the catamaran that ventures into the waters of Lake Grey, surrounded by icebergs calved from the glacier. 

Full-Day | Easy 

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Discover the southeastern sector of Torres del Paine National Park, an open territory of Patagonian steppe and interconnected lakes, where wildlife, wetlands, and sweeping views of the massif define the landscape. Explore on foot or by vehicle through sectors such as Laguna Azul, Lake Sarmiento, and Laguna Amarga, alongside wetlands like Vega Castillo. Follow wildlife corridors where guanacos graze freely, spot an extraordinary variety of birds, and cross landscapes where the granite towers appear on the horizon as a distant, watchful presence.

Ascending through the slopes above the steppe, the exploration gains elevation to reveal one of the most iconic views of Torres del Paine: Laguna Azul in the foreground and, in the distance, the towers rising above the massif. From this vantage point, you take in the same perspective that captivated the first travellers who documented Patagonia in the late 19th century. 

Half-Day | Easy | 2.2 miles (3.5 km)

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This excursion offers one of the widest panoramic views of Torres del Paine. From here it is possible to identify the three great mountain groups (Paine Grande, the Cuernos, and Almirante Nieto) along with valleys such as the Francés and the Bader. The route combines open landscapes, Patagonian wildlife, lagoons, and geological features of interest. 

Half-Day | Easy | 3.0 miles (4.8 km)

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Thrombolites are white rocky formations found along the shores of Lake Sarmiento: evidence of some of the oldest organisms in the history of the planet, dating back more than 3.5 billion years. With the Paine mountains, the park's largest lake, and the Patagonian steppe as a backdrop, this exploration offers a glimpse into the origins of life on Earth. 

Half-Day | Easy | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) 

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The walk circles an expansive wetland formed by ancient lagoons and flooded areas that today shelter a rich diversity of Patagonian birds, drawn by the constant presence of water and vegetation. The combination of wetlands and sweeping views across the Paine landscape makes this exploration a quiet experience, ideal for wildlife observation and nature photography. 

Half-Day | Easy | 3.9 miles (6.3 km) 

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A trail with gentle ascents and descents leading to views of Lake Nordenskjöld, whose intensely coloured glacial waters stretch out before the imposing Cuernos del Paine, the French Valley, and Paine Grande. 

Half-Day | Easy | 3.9 miles (6.3 km)

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One of the most diverse wetlands in the southern sector of Torres del Paine, formed by remnant lagoons from the Last Glacial Maximum. These waters became trapped between ancient moraines, giving rise to a landscape where totora reeds, forest, steppe, and lagoons of varying depths interweave. 

Half-Day | Easy | 4.8 miles (7.8 km)  

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This exploration crosses an open stretch of steppe at the edge of the park, used in winter by guanacos as a breeding ground. The trail ascends slopes marked by ancient fires, revealing tracks and traces of the wildlife that has historically inhabited this area. From the ridge, a new perspective of the Paine massif opens up. The descent leads to Vega de los Nandúes, a wetland rich in Patagonian birdlife. 

Half-Day | Moderate | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) 

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The Aonikenk were the indigenous people who inhabited Patagonia before the arrival of the estancieros: hunter-gatherers who moved across the land following the guanacos, leaving traces of their passage throughout this territory. During the walk, it is also possible to discover fresh signs of pumas, condors, and guanacos. 

Half-Day | Moderate | 4.8 miles (7.7 km)

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This exploration crosses the open landscapes between Estancia Vega Castillo and the confluence of the Las Chinas River with Lake Toro. At this meeting point, extensive wetlands and small lagoons form, concentrating a rich diversity of birds and wildlife. The route traverses a particularly varied landscape, where steppe, wetlands, totora reeds, and forest interweave. 

Full-Day | Hard | 8.3 miles (13.3 km)

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In this excursion, you travel by vehicle through the most open areas of the park. Vast lakes such as Nordenskjöld and Sarmiento, dozens of lagoons that are home to diverse birds, waterfalls, and iconic mountains all form part of the landscape. Throughout the journey, distant views of the Torres del Paine unfold and, with luck, sightings of local wildlife. 

Half-Day | Easy 

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An excursion that invites you to observe, in a responsible manner, pumas in their natural habitat. Accompanied by expert guides, you explore the sweeping landscapes of Patagonia with the possibility of encountering this emblematic feline. Conducted in partnership with specialised external services, subject to availability. 

Full-Day | Easy

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Located northeast of the Conservation Reserve, near the border between Chile and Argentina, Sierra Baguales is a landscape of ancient geological formations, vast open valleys, and fossils that predate the Andes themselves. Explore interior valleys, climb to natural viewpoints, and cross the region overland to reach lagoons, peaks, and panoramic horizons that reveal the territory’s deep geological history. Wildlife roams freely across these plains, and the sense of remoteness is almost absolute.

This exploration traverses one of the most remote and striking landscapes of the Sierra Baguales. The trail follows the Bandurrias River valley, crossing hills shaped by ancient seas that covered this territory millions of years ago. Along the walk, a series of paddocks reveals the estancia history of the area. 

Half-Day | Easy | 3.7 miles (5.9 km)

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The route begins deep in the Sierra Baguales, advancing towards the lagoon before descending along the course of the Baguales River towards Estancia Las Cumbres. Along the way, the landscape reveals wide pampas, watercourses, and mountains shaped by ancient glaciers, in a setting marked by the wind and a constant sense of remoteness. 

Half-Day | Easy | 4.6 miles (7.4 km) 

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This exploration crosses one of the most fascinating paleontological areas of the Sierra Baguales. As you advance along the trail, you delve into the geological history of the territory, discovering how this landscape changed profoundly over time. In its rocks, it is possible to observe marine and plant fossils: evidence of ancient environments that once existed in this part of Patagonia. 

Full-Day | Hard | 8.1 miles (13 km)

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This exploration leads to one of the most open natural viewpoints in the Sierra Baguales, with sweeping views across the Baguales valley. The route ventures into remote landscapes dominated by high pampas, meadows, and mountains shaped by ancient glaciers and the Patagonian wind. 

Full-Day | Hard | 5.0 miles (8.1 km)

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A mountain exploration in the Sierra Baguales that crosses landscapes dominated by ancient basaltic lavas, evidence of volcanic eruptions that transformed this region millions of years ago. As you gain elevation, the terrain becomes increasingly remote, with sweeping views across the Patagonian pampas and the mountains that mark the border with Argentina. 

Full-Day | Challenging | 11.5 miles (18.5 km) 

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Following the trails of Estancia Las Cumbres, the exploration ascends towards the upper reaches of this Patagonian mountain range. The route crosses the valleys of Cerro Redondo to circle around Cerro Torreón, passing near ancient high-mountain passes historically used as a link between Chile and Argentina. One of the most remote and immersive explorations in the territory. 

Full-Day | Challenging | 9.8 miles (15.8 km) 

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An overland journey into the Sierra Baguales through some of the most remote landscapes in Patagonia. Along the route, mountains and ravines reveal different layers of the area's history, until reaching Estancia Las Cumbres. From there, you walk through the surrounding terrain to grasp the scale and remoteness of this territory. 

Half-Day | Easy | 1.9 miles (3 km)

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