Excursions from Hotel Rio Serrano

Another one of the most iconic postcards within the Paine Massif is the French Valley, a trail featuring a variety of landscapes and a duration of approximately 7.5 hours: 4 hours of ascent and 3.5 hours of descent.

You will begin the excursion by sailing in a catamaran for 30 minutes across Pehoe Lake until you reach the first point: Paine Grande refuge. You’ll start the walk by crossing various terrains with flat and rocky sections, with the imposing Paine Horns as your backdrop throughout this first stretch.

Once at the Italiano camp, which marks 60% of the ascent, you will take a pause to evaluate your physical and weather conditions due to the steep slope that increases toward the French lookout. This demanding stretch will take about an hour as you ascend through a Magellanic forest and glacier moraine. Upon reaching the French Valley viewpoint, you will be delighted by the stunning mountain range of the Paine Massif, the hanging glacier, forests, and various water formations.

The physical demands of this hike are high due to the constant ups and downs along a trail with a steep finish. Nevertheless, the panoramic view of the valley will be unforgettable.

10-12 hours | 21km | High

The Grey Trail will allow you to appreciate part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This hike has an average duration of 8 hours: 3.5 hours of descent and 4.5 hours of ascent.

You will start the excursion by sailing on a catamaran for 30 minutes across Pehoe Lake to reach the first point: the Paine Grande refuge. Your hike will begin through the Grey Valley, traversing along the slope of the imposing Paine Grande, the highest mountain in the entire Paine Massif.

After an hour and a half of hiking, you will reach the De Agostini viewpoint, and then continue to your final destination, the Grey Glacier viewpoint. Here, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of a 3 km wide glacier wall, the Nunatak, and the presence of icebergs on the lake's beach.

10-12 hours | 24km | High

This tour has a photographic and interpretive character aimed at those who want to explore Torres del Paine National Park without engaging in extensive hikes. The Paine Lookouts tour, with an approximate duration of 7 hours by vehicle, allows you to traverse the park from west to east, stopping at various natural and panoramic viewpoints to appreciate the mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, waterfalls, steppes, and historical sites, while also being surprised by the presence of local wildlife in each area.

You will conclude this excursion by sharing a picnic and enjoying the unique landscape beauty that this territory offers.

7-8 hours | Easy/Moderate

The Aonikenk Trail is named in honour of the indigenous tribe that inhabited this territory. It begins at the Sarmiento entrance with a hike that lasts approximately 2.5 hours, crossing a landscape of the Pampa and Patagonian steppe.

Upon reaching the top of the trail, you will encounter a set of rocks that house cave paintings created 7,000 years ago. During your journey, you may spot local fauna, primarily herds of guanacos, which are the most numerous inhabitants of Torres del Paine National Park.

4-5 hours | 6.5km | Moderate

One of the best views, the Toro Lake viewpoint stands out as the largest waterbody in the region. This walk has a duration of 4 hours, with a medium to high level of difficulty.

The first stretch requires considerable effort; however, it provides you with the opportunity to contemplate the hydrographic network of the Paine River, which crosses the entire National Park before flowing into the imposing Toro Lake.

You will proceed through stony and steep terrain, gaining altitude among southern Nothofagus, until you are surprised by the opening to the pre-Andean scrubland. Here, you will be rewarded with a wide view of the unique Paine Mountain Range, appreciating its lake system, inner valleys, and Patagonian steppe.

5 hours | 5km | Moderate/High

You will border Sarmiento Lake and its intensely blue waters on a light hike averaging 3 hours, where you can appreciate the flora and fauna of the area. This trail will lead you to the beach of the park's largest lake, where you will observe its white rocky walls known as thrombolites—living fossils of calcium carbonate that began forming during the last glaciation.

This excursion is accessible for those who wish to engage in less demanding activities.

4-5 hours | 5km | Easy/Moderate

With a hiking duration of 2.5 hours and a medium to high difficulty level, the Condor Viewpoint offers you one of the best panoramic views of Pehoe Lake, as well as the entire Paine Massif.

You will navigate a challenging slope along a rocky trail, traversing a short but complicated ascent in a rocky area with strong winds typical of Patagonia, making this expedition a true adventure. This viewpoint owes its name to the presence of condor nesting sites on its upper slopes, where you may spot these magnificent birds.

4 hours | 5km | Moderate/High

The Ferrier Viewpoint excursion, with a duration of 4 hours of walking, features a steep slope that positions it as the most difficult and demanding half-day trek.

This trail, located in the western sector of the park, crosses a majestic forest of coigüe trees, which is home to endemic birds and the Huemul. Additionally, it offers a unique panoramic view, allowing you to observe the lakes of the National Park as well as the Grey, Zapata, and Pingo glaciers belonging to the Southern Ice Fields.

5 hours | 5km | High

The Cuernos Viewpoint trail has an average duration of 3 hours, allowing you to observe up close and head-on one of the iconic views of Torres del Paine National Park: the imposing Cuernos.

At your first stop, the Salto Grande viewpoint, you will be able to see its powerful 14-meter-high waterfall that emerges from Nordenskjöld Lake, giving life to Pehoe Lake with its beautiful turquoise color. You will continue along the trail toward the Cuernos Viewpoint, where you can contemplate the fusion of sedimentary basaltic and granitic rock, making this view one of the most impressive.

Being one of the shortest and easiest hikes, it is recommended for all types of people. Strong winds will be present in this area, making this activity an intense and unforgettable experience.

4-5 hours | 7km | Moderate

This excursion starts at the stables, where safety equipment will be provided along with the necessary instructions for proper horse handling.

From there, your adventure through Serrano Village will begin, heading toward the foot of the Chacabuco mountain range to immerse yourself in an iconic Magellanic forest, where you can appreciate the flora and fauna. You will continue the journey until you reach the Nutria River area, and then follow the Serrano River to approach the confluence with the Grey River, where you will observe its different colours.

The type of saddle used for your horseback rides is a touring saddle. All horses available are native to the region, known as "criollos." They are reliable and in good physical condition, as they are maintained and supervised daily by our “baqueanos.”

2 hours | 7km riding | Moderate | Ask for the minimum height + max weight and age (65 years old)

To begin this glacier visit, the first step is to check in for the navigation. From there, you will have an hour to reach the catamaran before it sets sail. You will start with a short but demanding walk from the Pingo guard station parking area, covering 2 km toward the dock located at the end of Grey Beach.

Once on the boat, you will sail 17 km across Grey Lake, characterized by its greyish colour due to the number of glacial sediments and the intense blue icebergs that you will see floating along the way. You will traverse the glacier from east to west, with a width of 1.2 km and heights of up to 40 meters.

At the end of the tour, you will return to Grey Beach, where you will retrace your steps back to the Pingo guard station parking area.

Moderate | Subject to weather and Hotel Lago Grey requirements

To start this activity, you must walk approximately 15 minutes from the hotel to the dock located at Hotel del Paine.

You will begin by navigating the Serrano River by boat, and after a 30-minute journey, you will arrive at the impressive Serrano River Falls, where you will disembark to cross a beautiful native forest and board a zodiac. Your next stop is the Ultima Esperanza Fjord, where, upon arriving at Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, you will walk its walkways while admiring the majestic Serrano Glacier Lagoon located at the foot of the imposing Balmaceda Mountain.

On the way back, you will have the opportunity to watch the impressive Southern Ice Fields from the Tyndall Lookout—an experience that will leave you speechless. Finally, you will return to the dock located at Serrano Village to end your adventure.

Moderate | Subject to weather and Solo Glaciares Company requirements