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Southern Patagonia

Torres del Paine in winter

Torres del Paine in low season – worth the trip

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Is it worth visiting the Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean autumn and winter? We say yes and tell you some of the advantages at this time of year.

Autumn in the southern hemisphere starts in March and winter is from June to September. It is of course colder in Patagonia than in the summer time, but it also offers many benefits to the visitor to travel to Torres del Paine National Park in low season.

Torres del Paine reflection

More stable weather and stunning landscapes

There are fewer weather fluctuations as the wind is much lower than during the other months. There is also less rainfall in the park between June and October.

Due to the decrease in wind, the sky is much clearer in the winter time and the visitor has an incredible view of the natural landscape and the snow-capped mountains reflected in the now calmer waters of the lakes. Winter is simply the perfect time to take the most beautiful pictures in Torres del Paine National Park.

The chance of seeing wildlife is greater in the autumn and winter months

Wildlife watching enthusiasts will prefer to visit the park during this time of the year, as there are fewer visitors in the park and animals such as pumas and possibly even huemules can be better observed this way.

Guanaco in winter

Fewer visitors and cheaper prices

The lower number of visitors to the park is a great advantage if you decide to visit Torres del Paine at this time of year. This allows you to enjoy the tranquillity of nature to the full and, for example, to immerse yourself completely in these unique landscapes during a hike.
In addition, the prices for domestic flights and accommodation are significantly cheaper in the low season.

Turavion recommends the hotel Lago Grey during low season. The hotel will be open from May 1st to September 30th offering All Inclusive and Bed and Breakfast accommodations. Guests have the availability of the Grey III Catamaran with confirmed departures twice a week for sailing circuits around the Grey Glacier. Tours to Los Pingüinos Natural Monument on Magdalena Island are available between April 1st and October 30th on board the catamaran Fiordos del Sur.

Travelling Patagonia is stunning in autumn and winter. During autumn, colorful foliage paints the landscape. As winter sets in, snow blankets the park, creating a serene atmosphere. Activities like hiking, horseback riding, and ice climbing offer unique experiences. Whether you prefer vibrant autumn hues or snowy winter landscapes, Torres del Paine promises unforgettable memories in every season.

For more information contact your Travel Consultant or incoming@turavion.com

Pehoe lake
Guanaco baby on a natural winter background
Sunset Torres del Paine
Las Torres in winter
Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve

Chile voted as the world’s leading green destination

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For the 4th time since 2019, Chile was voted “World’s Leading Green Destination 2023” at the World Travel Awards.
This prestigious award, also known as the “Oscar of Tourism,” recognizes Chile’s commitment to eco-friendly travel. Chile stood out among the other nominated countries such as Peru, Ecuador and Norway for its its green tourism initiatives.
The award recognizes the richness and promotion of nature attractions, together with the planning, development and promotion of environmentally responsible tourism activities.

5 green destinations that made Chile the winner in this category at the World Travel Awards 2023 are:
  • The Huilo Huilo nature reserve: a 100,000-hectare forest with spectacular waterfalls, native trees and Darwin’s frogs! This species is threatened with extinction as it is one of Chile’s protected animals.
  • Cape Horn: located in the extreme south of Chile, it is home to protected areas with Patagonian lichen forests and several ecotourism initiatives.
  • Futaleufú: located in Chilean Patagonia, this area is characterised by the conservation of the Futaleufú river basin and the care of its aquatic life.
  • Cochamó: in recent years, progress has been made in the conservation of the region’s biodiversity through the Tagua Tagua Park, which, in addition to tourism, aims to protect native species and promote scientific research.
  • Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine: This national park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1979. The area involves local communities in its tourism offer and emphasises the value of indigenous peoples and traditions as well as the protection and conservation of nature.
Guanacos

The award for “World’s Leading Green Destination” joins two other prizes awarded to Chile in 2023. These are South America’s “Most Romantic Destination” (Atacama Desert) and “Leading Adventure Tourism Destination“.

Since 2015, Chile has already received a total of 30 awards at the World Travel Awards.

For more information on sustainable tourism in Chile contact your Travel Consultant or incoming@turavion.com

Torres del Paine NP_Route of Parks

Route of parks of Patagonia

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The south of Chile is a paradise for nature lovers and offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities.

The route of parks of Patagonia takes you to the most beautiful areas of the country. This project initiated by Rewilding Chile (formerly Tompkins Conservation) protects 11.8 million hectares, preserving ecosystems for future generations and supporting more than 60 surrounding communities.

Chile is home to over 100 protected areas, divided into national parks and nature reserves. The scenic “Route of parks of Patagonia” runs over 2,800 kilometres between Puerto Montt and Cape Horn and connects 17 national parks.

NATIONAL PARKS IN THE CHILEAN LAKE DISTRICT

Here you will find the Pumalín Douglas Tompkins, Alerce Andino, Hornopirén and Corcovado national park.

Alerces lake district CL

3,000-year-old alerce trees, beautiful lagoons and evergreen forests dominate the landscape. Numerous hiking trails invite you to explore the surroundings with its rich biodiversity.

Pumalin NP

NATIONAL PARKS IN THE AYSÉN REGION

On this part of the route are the Melimoyu, Queulat, Isla Magdalena, Cerro Castillo, Patagonia and Laguna San Rafael national park, which is the largest in this region.

Queulat NP

Wide valleys, evergreen forests and Patagonian Andeans, waterfalls, rivers, fjords and glaciers offer breathtaking panoramas. A highlight of this region is the famous hanging glacier “Ventisquero Colgante” in Queulat national park.

Torres del Paine

NATIONAL PARKS IN THE MAGALLANES REGION

In this region in the extreme south of Chile, there are 7 national parks: Pali Aike, Kawésqar, Alberto de Agostini, Yendegaia, Cabo de Hornos, Torres del Paine and Bernardo O’Higgins, the largest national park in Chile and one of the largest in the world.

Guanacos

Impressive pampas and valleys, untouched glaciers, turquoise lakes, forests, mountains, caves and fjords form a unique landscape. Torres del Paine national park, declared the eighth wonder of the world, is home to the famous granite peaks, a diverse fauna and is the perfect destination for trekking tours.

PLEASE NOTE: Some of the parks are only open during the high season from October to April. For more information on opening times and required online ticket purchase, see aspticket.cl

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
There is the possibility to get a passport to travel this route and to receive a stamp as a souvenir every time you visit a park. When you apply for your “Ruta de los Parques” passport, you accept the zero footprint commitment as a responsible tourist and assume your role as guardian of the route of the parks of Patagonia.

trekking Chile

Insider tips for little known trekking tours in Chile

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Chile is welcoming more and more international visitors to practice trekking. A long and narrow strip of land filled with mountain ranges, volcanoes, valleys, lakes, rivers and glaciers make Chile a perfect place to explore its thousands of hiking trails.

There are several trekking routes throughout the country with different levels of difficulty, aimed at experienced hikers but also families.

Navarino

THE SOUTHERNMOST TREKKING ROUTES IN THE WORLD

In the extreme south of Chile there are two routes that are not so well known and therefore not so crowded: Dientes de Navarino and Cruz de los Mares. They are aimed at more experienced hikers.

Dientes de Navarino: this multi-day trail is approximately 40-50 kilometres long and is located on the island of Navarino which is part of Tierra del Fuego. The trail is named after a small mountain range that resembles a tooth.

Cruz de los Mares: this trekking route starts in Puerto Bulnes, south of Punta Arenas and has a high degree of difficulty, since rivers must also be crossed.

TREKKING ROUTES FOR THE DAY IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

The Lake District covers two of Chile’s regions: the 9th region, more evocatively known as La Araucanía, and the 10th region, Los Lagos.

Paso Desolación: journey that runs through the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park from the north of the Osorno volcano to the southeast, to the Petrohué sector, following a path that was originally a cattle trail along which animals were moved between Todos los Santos lake and Llanquihue lake. The route, doable in a day, allows to go through dramatic changes in the landscape: from volcanic slag heaps to dense nothofagus forests, all of which is nuanced by excellent views of the Tronador and Osorno volcanoes.

Caldera de Sollipulli

Caldera de Sollipulli: In the south of the Conguillío National Park in Araucania, there is a very special trail where you climb up to a huge caldera and admire the largest crater in South America. Its summit hosts a huge glacier with a diameter of about 24 km2, offering beautiful landscapes and breathtaking views.

HIKING IN THE NORTH OF CHILE

Las Lomitas: Trail in the north of Chile, in the Pan de Azúcar National Park. It is a relaxed hike over small hills in the middle of the desert with breathtaking panoramic views in combination with a perfect opportunity to discover the flora and fauna until you reach a large coastal cliff at 820 m above sea level.

El Túnel: It was part of the old road connecting Calama with San Pedro de Atacama. This route takes you over the Cordillera de la Sal with majestic views of the valleys Valle de la Muerte and Catarpe with desert landscapes and stunning contrasts of colours..

Pan de azúcar

For more information about trekking tours in Chile contact your Travel Consultant or incoming@turavion.com

hotel Parque Quilquico

6 sustainable hotels to discover in Chile

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Many tourists arriving in Chile are motivated by activities linked to nature and the outdoors. For this reason, a large segment of the tourism offer has specialised in providing services of the highest quality, while promoting respect for the environment and the communities that surround them.

Discover six hotels in different destinations in Chile that operate sustainably.

Tierra Chiloé
Located on the shores of the Rilán Peninsula, 18 km from the town of Castro in Chiloé. The hotel’s sustainable architecture reflects the traditional local houses built on stilts in the water. The all-inclusive programme means you can enjoy farm-fresh food, meet local artisans, discover remote islands by private boat and explore historic wooden churches, which are World Heritage Sites.

Hotel Tierra Chiloé
Hotel Nayara Alto Atacama

Nayara Alto Atacama
It is the only lodge in the San Pedro region that is totally enveloped by a natural environment. It is located in the lush Catarpe Valley of the Cordillera de la Sal. Its design was influenced by local village architecture and conceived to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, which include panoramic views, tranquillity and silence. Environmental sustainability and a strong connection to local culture have put Alto Atacama in a high category of sustainabilty.

Parque Quilquico
It provides a sustainable experience in the areas of environmental, economic and socio-cultural protection. Its ecological and low environmental impact project integrates the inhabitants of the area in its various phases, generating quality jobs and assuming a commitment to the community. In its location on the Rilán Peninsula, the architectural project values the heritage of Chiloé, where the beautiful hills of different heights and native trees, including Luma, Coigue, Olivillo, Arrayan, Canelo, Avellano and Tepu, have been integrated and maintained. From here you can enjoy an almost untouched view of the Dalcahue Channel.

Parque Quilquico Hotel
Cumbres Puerto Varas

Cumbres Puerto Varas
The hotel Cumbres Puerto Varas is an elegant lodge located in front of the Llanquihue Lake with a panoramic view of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. In addition to excellent service, it is a place highly connected to nature and local products. It has a shop offering quality products from the region, made by local artisans. In addition, the gastronomy of the hotel combines the most delicate essences of the authentic cuisine and culture of the south of Chile.

Tierra Patagonia
Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa is located on a cliff where the South American pampas meet Lake Sarmiento. The building is immersed in the landscape and emerges from the hillside. The award-winning architecture complements the flow of the geology in this privileged location and showcases the magnificent views of Torres del Paine National Park, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978.

Tierra Patagonia
Ocio Territorial

Ocio Territorial
It is located on the Rilan Peninsula, in the middle of the island of Chiloé: a unique place in the world for its cultural heritage, its local identity, its people, its architecture and its geographical beauty. The owners of the hotel have always had a sustainable vision of not intervening with nature and not competing with it, therefore, this place is characterised by a sustainable development, by the protection of the culture and its people and by the contact with nature.

couple in Atacama desert

5 reasons to put Chile on your travel bucket list

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1. A large majority of climates in one country

Chile is one of the countries with the most extraordinary landscapes in the world, surrounded by high rising Andes and volcanoes. A journey from north to south can take you to enjoy landscapes like from another planet in the Atacama Desert, small fishing villages in Chiloé or untouched wilderness inside the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, which is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful nature destinations in South America.

Did you know that Chile makes part of three continents? Indeed, not only does the Chilean territory extends down South America, but also in Oceania (Easter Island), and Antarctica.

Therefore, almost all climates that exist on earth can be found here. In the north is the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world, in the lake district there are ancient forests and in the south glaciers and huge areas of ice. The large number of national parks in the country invite you to go trekking, and there are many opportunities for interesting adventure trips.

2. Open nature & vast landscapes

Chile has been relatively isolated from the rest of the world due to its remote location. Therefore, the number of tourists is not as overwhelming as in many other places, and there are areas in the country where you can be the only visitor. It’s also easy to get around by air or car: adventurers can rent a car and explore the famous  and breathtaking Carretera Austral. 

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3. Perfect destination for wildlife watching

The flora and fauna are especially influenced by the varied climate in Chile. Since almost all climates of the earth are present here, vegetation and existing animal species are depending on the climate of the region. Therefore, you can see a wide variety of wildlife in Chile from flamingos in the north in the Atacama Desert, to penguins, sea lions, whales, guanacos and the rare endemic huemul (South Andean deer) in Patagonia.

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Also called the “guardian of the Andes”, the puma can be found throughout Chile, from the region of Arica and Parinacota, to Patagonia. With its mysterious charisma it is revered by native cultures all over America. In Mapudungun (Mapuche language) the puma is known as “pangui” or “trapial”, being one of the most sacred animals of the Mapuche along with the condor and the eagle.

The Andean Condor can also be found throughout Chile. Due to its geographical and climatic diversity and its almost 500 different species of birds, Chile is one of the ideal destinations for bird watching enthusiasts.

4. Wine country

Chile is a perfect destination for wine lovers. From the Atacama region in the north of the country to the beautiful valleys Casablanca, Maipo and Colchagua in central Chile near Santiago and the Bío Bío region in the south, Chile produces world-class wines.

The numerous vineyards along the wine routes can be visited and the wine cellars and production can be discovered. Of course, a wine tasting is not to be missed. Many of the wineries are specialized in tourism and offer various tourist attractions such as guided tours, gastronomic programs or even carriage rides and visits to museums.

Try one of the first-class red wines Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Carménère, which is exclusively produced in Chile. Or refresh yourself with a cool Sauvignon Blanc white wine

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5. Clearest starry sky in the world

It is well known that the Atacama Desert has the clearest and most beautiful skies in the world. And it’s true. Enjoying a night here is an unforgettable experience.

Chile enjoys more than 300 clear days per year and with little or no light pollution in the north, conditions are ideal for stargazing under open skies. For a truly close encounter with the planets, visit one of the many astronomical observatories open to visitors.

Observe constellations, planets, shooting stars, and all kinds of celestial bodies in the spectacular Chilean skies – the clearest in the entire southern hemisphere.

Karukinka NP

Karukinka Park on Tierra del Fuego

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Karukinka Park is like a paradise on earth and ideal for ecotourism at the end of the world.

300,000 hectares of sub-Antarctic forests, wetlands, steppes, coastal landscapes, snow-capped mountains, lakes and rivers full of life make up this park in the Chilean province of Tierra del Fuego in Patagonia.

The park offers many recreational opportunities where you can hike, kayak, fish or cycle and at the same time enjoy being surrounded by pure nature.

Karukinka is the largest protected area on Tierra del Fuego and has been managed since 2004 by WCS Chile, an international scientific organisation with almost 125 years of experience in conserving the most valuable wildlife and ecosystems on earth. The park was named Karukinka by its founders, meaning “our land”, the name given by the ancient settlers of Tierra del Fuego to their present home.

The park contains the largest sub-Antarctic forests and wetlands in the south of the world and is home to the largest populations of guanacos, condors and fueguino foxes in Chile. A visit to the park is therefore ideal for those who like to observe animals in the wild and explore the diverse landscapes on a trekking tour. There are hiking trails with different levels of difficulty, but they have one thing in common: pure wilderness.

Valle Chacabuco

Patagonia National Park – one of the 100 best sites of 2021

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The renowned US magazine Time published its third annual list of the 100 best places in the world in 2021 to explore, where Chile figures with the Patagonia National Park.

Time highlighted its fauna of condors, guanacos, pumas and deer, but also the fact that since September the energy used by the park is 100% renewable.

https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2021/6079294/patagonia-national-park-chile/


The Patagonia National Park is a nature reserve and includes the area of the former national reserves Lago Jeinimeni and Lago Cochrane. The Chacabuco Valley is also part of this national park, an area donated to the Chilean state by the Tompkins Foundation, which used to care for the conservation of native flora and fauna.

The Chacabuco Valley is also the heart of the park, an ideal place for hiking and observing Patagonian wildlife such as guanacos and condors. The park has an infrastructure of hiking trails and campsites. In the middle of the valley is a lodge surrounded by pure wilderness.

For more details on visiting this park or other national parks, please email incoming@turavion.com.

Valle Chacabuco
Valle Chacabuco 2
Valle Chacabuco 3
Puma Torres del Paine

What you should know about the Chilean Puma

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Also called the “guardian of the Andes”, the puma can be found throughout Chile, from the region of Arica and Parinacota, to Patagonia. With its mysterious charisma it is revered by native cultures all over America.

In Mapudungun (Mapuche language) the puma is known as “pangui” or “trapial”, being one of the most sacred animals of the Mapuche along with the condor and the Eagle.

Visitors to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia are often very interested in seeing a puma in its natural habitat. Experienced guides know where and when you are most likely to be lucky enough to see pumas.

There are some interesting facts about the Chilean Puma we would like to share with you:

  1. The puma is the fourth largest cat in the world, after the lion, tiger and jaguar. Although it is the largest in Chile, on a global level it is considered a small sized cat. Male pumas can weigh anywhere from 68 up to 100 kilos, while females tend to weigh over 45 kilos. Length-wise, they can measure between 1.5 to 2.7 meters long, from the head to the end of the tail.
  2. The puma is one of the most extensive species on the continent, inhabiting mostly mountainous zones, from Canada all the way down to Magallanes. This type of geography, such as is found in the Torres del Paine National Park, is perfect for pumas as it provides them shelter between rocks and boulders to hide behind while hunting.
  3. Unlike other felines, such as the lion or the tiger, the puma does not roar, but purrs similarly to a normal domestic cat.
  4. The puma’s fur has a reddish-grey tone with lighter areas on the lower body and a black tip on the tail. This appearance works to its advantage when stalking its prey stealthily. The puma’s camouflage colour allows it to blend in with the rocks and shrubs in the Patagonian pampas.
  5. Unlike other big cats, the puma has a slim body, similar to a domestic cat, but on a much larger scale. In fact, in colloquial terms, the Patagonians refer to pumas as gatos (cats in Spanish).

Interested in wildlife watching and tours in Torres del Paine National Park? Please contact your Turavion Travel Consultant.

 

Puma in Torres del Paine
Puma Torres del Paine
Puma
Puma