Torres del Paine is located in Southern Patagonia and is one of the numerous spectacular national parks in Chile. It was created in 1959 and UNESCO has listed the location as a Biosphere Reserve since 1978. This place is a wonderland for nature enthusiasts from all over the world.
Waterfalls and rivers, Magellanic sub-polar forests, pampas, mountains covered with permanent ice, granite peaks, meadows and glacier fed lakes await the outdoor adventurers to discover the wild and unique nature of Patagonia. The world wide known Towers, or else called Torres, are three incredible granite spikes.
Among those, the highest of all stands at 9514ft/2900m high, being part of the Cordillera del Paine. In order to approach the Towers, there are minibuses at Laguna Amarga, that will take you to Estancia Paine from where you can start your hike. The trail will take you to the base of Torres del Paine East face. Climbing the highest central tower is a once in a lifetime experience. There is a number of routes to follow, from all sides of the granite wall.
The East face has eleven routes-one of them called “riders on the storm”. The West face has three, the North face has one, being the first one that has been ever climbed while the South face has two routes. There are endless cracks in some sections of this vertical rock and many more routes yet to be discovered. Once you reach the top, the view of the nature around you is overwhelming with outstanding ecosystems, different landscapes and rare flora and fauna, found nowhere else on the planet.
In every step you take, the views of this dramatic land take your breath away. You can climb this route all year round, but the best time to visit Torres del Paine is between November and February. Be very well prepared in regards with gear, food and clothing because the weather is changeable and unpredictable with high winds, rain showers, long hot days during summer, snow and everything else you may think of. Wind proof layers are the key.
