Torres del Paine Viewpoints Treks

Pick up in Puerto Natales

Your adventure begins early in the morning, when your guide picks you up at your accommodation in Puerto Natales between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. From there, you'll head north along Route 9 toward Torres del Paine National Park, enjoying a scenic two-hour drive as the dramatic landscapes of Patagonia unfold before your eyes.

You’ll enter the park through the Laguna Amarga Gate, then continue to Sarmiento Gate, where your first hike of the day begins. This trail takes you through breathtaking scenery that once inspired legendary explorers like Lady Florence Dixie, who wrote about the beauty of these wild lands more than 140 years ago.

Sarmiento Lake Portería (gate)

After entering Torres del Paine National Park through the Laguna Amarga Gate and completing the registration process, you’ll continue to the Sarmiento Gate area, where your first hike of the day begins: the Aonikenk Trail.

This easy-level trek takes about 2 hours and leads you through the open Patagonian steppe, offering sweeping views of the Paine Massif and its surrounding lakes. As you walk, you’ll be immersed in the vastness and silence of Patagonia, a perfect start to your day of exploration.

• 📍 Sarmiento Lake Porteria to Laguna Amarga Porteria Trekking
• 👣 Distance: 4.13 miles (6.64 km)
• 🔺 Positive difference in altitude: 1152 ft (351 m)
• 🕗 Time: 2 hours

Cave paintings - Nordensköld viewpoint

The route offers a rich variety of wildlife that you and your guide will have the chance to admire and learn about. Along the way, you’ll visit ancient cave paintings, dating back over 10,000 years, created by the first inhabitants of this stunning region. Your journey will then take you to the Laguna Amarga Gateway, marking the next exciting stop in your adventure.

Laguna Amarga Porteria - Salto Grande Waterfall

At the end of the trek, the minibus will be waiting for you at the Laguna Amarga Gate to continue towards the Pudeto area, where you’ll visit the impressive Salto Grande Waterfall, a 12-meter drop that connects Lake Nordenskjöld with Lake Pehoé.

From this point on, the guide will tailor the tour to the needs and preferences of each group, also considering the weather conditions of the day and the time of year in which the tour takes place.

Trekking to Mirador los Cuernos

From Salto Grande, you’ll begin an easy-level trek that lasts about 2 hours round-trip, taking you through a typical Patagonian steppe landscape. Along the trail, you’ll walk alongside lagoons that are home to a wide variety of birdlife, until you reach the Cuernos Viewpoint, located on the shores of Lake Nordenskjöld. Here, you’ll enjoy one of the most spectacular views in the park, with the iconic Cuernos del Paine taking center stage.

You’ll then return along the same path to the starting point, where the minibus will be waiting for you once again.

• 📍 Trekking Salto Grande to Mirador Cuernos (round trip)
• 👣 Distance: 4.14 miles (6.66 km)
• 🔺 Positive difference in altitude: 873 ft (266 m)
• 🕗 Time: 2:30 hours

Lunch - Camping Pehoe

Next, you’ll travel to Camping Pehoé, where you’ll enjoy a well-deserved break and have the opportunity to eat while taking in the stunning views of this glacial lake. Please note that the tour does not include food, but you can purchase meals at the campground (subject to availability) or bring your own packed lunch from Puerto Natales.

Condor Viewpoint

To end the day, you’ll embark on a final 2-hour round-trip trek to the stunning Condor Viewpoint, located near the Pehoé area.

The ascent is moderate, reaching an altitude of 350 meters (1,148 feet), where you’ll be rewarded with one of the most iconic views of the park: Paine Grande, the French Valley, and the Cuernos del Paine, with Lake Pehoé stretching out at its feet. Along the way, you’ll encounter the typical flora of the Patagonian steppe, spot native birds, and, if you're lucky, catch a glimpse of the majestic Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) soaring through the sky. This is the perfect place to capture stunning photographs and finish your Torres del Paine day with an unforgettable view.

• 📍 Trekking Condor viewpoint (round trip)
• 👣 Distance: 1,49 miles (2,4 km)
• 🔺 Positive difference in altitude: 1148ft (350 m)
• 🕗 Time: 2:30 hours

Return to Puerto Natales

You will get back on the mini bus in the company of your guide, and head back to the city of Puerto Natales on a road trip of about two hours. You will arrive at your accommodation between 18:00 and 19:00.