Excursions
Tierra Patagonia’s excursions are led by qualified and experienced guides; with them you will be able to experience varied activities such as treks, horse rides, scenic trips and bicycle rides to world famous locations and also to areas less travelled.
Every day you will be able to choose between two half day excursions or one full day excursion.
Half day: offered in the morning and/or afternoon, lunch at the hotel.
Full day: start in the morning and we you provide with a box lunch, returning to the hotel in the afternoon generally after 18.00 hrs.
Half Day Walks
Cornices
Leaving the Hotel we will drive 30 minutes towards the Estancias area. This hike climbs progressively along a prominent rock buttress where we will be rewarded with stunning views of the Torres del Paine, Sierra Contreras, Sierra del Toro and also the Hotel, from a 360° view point. Strong winds are frequent in this area. From here we must find our own way down since there is no defined trail. This hike is ideal for those who want to see different places outside the park boundaries and away from the crowds. At certain times of the year and depending on weather conditions this may also be a good place to spot condors.
Origins of life
This walk is perfect to stretch your legs on arrival at Tierra Patagonia, as it is a gentle walk along part of the eastern border of the National Park. We pass through scrubland from where it is possible to see the mirage of the hotel in the distance, with great panoramic views of Lake Sarmiento as we gradually approach its shore. The most interesting point of this excursion is the thrombolites. These geological formations are millions of years old and were created by some of the most ancient living organisms on earth. They decorate the shore of the lake, creating the ideal habitat for the biggest predator in the park. We conclude the walk at the Portería Sarmiento, (Sarmiento entrance) with views of the Paine Massif in front of us.
Mirador Cuernos
It is an unmissable hike, located in the heart of the park. After a scenic drive, passing by the Sarmiento and Nordenskjöld view points, we arrive at the starting point. The terrain is fairly flat with only one steeper part, and we can always see the “cuernos” or horns of Paine in front of us. We visit the “Salto Grande” or “Big Waterfall” and continue along the shores of Lake Nordenskjöld. On arrival at the viewpoint, you can appreciate the geology that formed the massif. We return along the same path, with the “horns” at our back. There are frequent strong winds in this area.
Hunters Trail
After a 30 minute drive to the Porteria Lago Sarmiento this trek gradually winds its way northwards, with the Paine Massif as a constant companion. Half way through we will visit a rocky area where there are cave paintings from the Aonikenk, hunter-gatherer native Indians that occupied this area some 6,000 years ago. It is also one of the best areas to see wildlife such as guanacos, foxes and condors. The hike ends a few meters away from Portería Laguna Amarga.
Laguna Larga
This hike starts near Laguna Larga, inside the park, where it is possible to spot flamingos and other water fowl at certain times of the year. From here we head towards the east with views of the Cuernos del Paine and hanging glaciers of French Valley and Mount Almirante Nieto. This horse trail is off the beaten path and occasionally you may spot big groups of guanacos in the grassy areas. We will pass several lagoons until we get to Mirador Nordenskjöld, where you can see the Massif from up close and the turquoise waters of this lake.
Full Day Hikes
Pingo Valley and Grey Peninsula
Departing from the hotel by van, we pass through the most beautiful viewpoints of the National Park until we reach the Grey Entrance. From here we walk in the Pingo valley on a gently sloping path which follows the bed of the Pingo River. This is one of the greenest areas of the park where it is also possible to see interesting geographical formations. We pass by an old “puesto” of the gauchos and reach the “Chorillo del Salmón” a small waterfall hidden in a Nothofagus wood. We return via the same path. Following lunch, we visit picturesque Grey Lake where icebergs float on the water from the Grey Glaciar, which can be seen in the distance.
Paso de la Guitarra
This hike is located in a private area at the southern edge of the park. It borders the Lago Maravilla and Lago Porteño, ending at the Puesto Las Dudas at the shore of Lago del Toro. The trail is off the beaten path and very likely you will be the only ones walking in the area. After a drive of almost an hour, heading south east, we start walking through beautiful forests, passing by some open areas where you can feel the wind strength and appreciate the turquoise waters of Lago del Toro, the biggest lake in the region. The vegetation here is varied, with species like Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), Ñirre (Nothofagus antarctica), Coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi), Canelo (Drymis winteri) and Siete camisas (Escallonia rubra). Weather permitting, we will have lunch in one of the beaches of Lago del Toro. Most of the trail is undulating with two sections that are very steep but also short (about 20 minutes each), ending at the western side of the bay. From here one of our vans will take us back to the hotel.
Mirador Glacier Grey
* Available from November 16th through March 15th, except on December 25th and January 1st.
* Area affected by the fire.
This classic trek begins with a 30 minute boat ride across Pehoe Lake. From here the trail winds up to the west, through Lenga forests and over rocky outcrops. The culmination of this excursion is an impressive viewpoint from which you can see the Southern Patagonian Ice field, Grey Lake and the icebergs that bob and float on the lake’s surface. We return along the same path.
French Valley
* Available from November 16th through March 15th, except on December 25th and January 1st.
* Area affected by the fire.
This excursion starts with a 30 minute boat ride across Pehoé Lake. We walk along a winding trail that passes the slopes of Paine Grande and the shores of Lago Skottsberg. There are great views of the Cuernos del Paine on the way. Upon reaching the Italian Camp, we will cross a bridge over the French river and head up the French valley to the view point that sits below the world famous French Glacier. We will return along the same trail and take the boat for the last 30 minutes to the point where the van will take us back to the hotel.
Cerro Obelisco
This is an intense hike, gaining altitude constantly and with excellent chances of seeing wildlife. We will enter the area of Cordillera Baguales, one of the least explored parts of this area. We will hike nearly 650 mts of altitude in 3 hours. At the top there some interestingly formed sedimentary rocks which have been eroded into whimsical shapes. From the top there are great views of the Torres del Paine and surrounding valleys if the weather is clear. On the way back, we walk along the edge of a beautiful and ancient Lenga forest, close to Las Chinas river.
Base of the Torres
This world famous hike demands stamina, but the rewards are the impressive views of the three granite towers. This hike ascends strongly for one hour bordering the Rio Ascensio until reaching the Paso de los Vientos. From here it takes 30 minutes to reach Campamento Chileno where we can have a little rest. The walk continues to ascend through the forest for 1,5 hours, gaining altitude very quickly and with amazing views of the geological formations in the area such as folds, fractures and granite intrusions. The last hour is the most challenging and difficult, where the trail winds up thorough a moraine section of loose pebbles, there is exposure to the wind and where the weather is unpredictable. Arriving at the lookout we will have the classic view of the Torres del Paine and if the weather allows, we can have lunch with this fantastic landscape in front of us. We will descend along the same trail and it takes about four hours to reach the starting point, so it definitely requires good knees and you need to be in good shape. Make sure you dress properly, rain pants and waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, fleece or any warm jacket, synthetic and breathable top, light hiking pants, hiking boots. Avoid wearing cotton, jeans and new shoes. This excursion is hard and strenuous if you are not used to long distance hikes.
Mirador Ferrier and Grey Peninsula
This is a great option to see most of the national park combined in two hikes. First we will hike the challenging trail to the Ferrier Viewpoint. The terrain is very steep and we gain altitude very quickly (550 meters ascent). We will pass through a beautiful Lenga forest before reaching the windy lookout. At this point we will have spectacular views of Grey Glacier, Paine Massif, Paine river, Lago del Toro, among others. The descent is the same way, very steep!. After lunch we will visit the picturesque Lago Grey, where you can see icebergs near the shore and the Grey Glacier can be seen in the distance.
Cerro Guido
The hike starts at Estancia Cerro Guido. The first section climbs steadily as we proceed, passing first through forests and then opening up to wetlands where it is possible to spot guanacos. Little by little and as we gain altitude the landscape turns rocky and dry, as it is exposed to the wind, until we reach the summit. From here we will have panoramic views of Paine Massif and Cordillera Baguales. We will be able to enter the ancient world of the Aonikenk, as the rugged Cerro Guido summit is crowned by a native Indian burial mound. Ideal for those who already did other long hikes in the park or for those interested in archeology. We recommend you to organize it with anticipation.
Horse Rides
***ALL HORSE RIDES ARE SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS ***
Estancia Cerro Guido
Horseback riding in Patagonia is an unforgettable experience, and there are rides available for all levels, from beginners to experts.
The locations vary from Estancia Cerro Guido which extends for 100.000 hectares, Estancia Lazo , which is surrounded by lenga forests. Local gauchos (cowboys) will take us to know the heart of their world, allowing us to live and feel a real Patagonian experience. Chaps and helmets are supplied at the estancias.
The length of the rides can be between 2 to 3 hours. Please ask our guides for availability since they must be scheduled with a minimum of 24 hours.
***If you are interested in full day horse rides, please mention it to our reservations department.
Horse Ride Estancia Cerro Guido
After a 30 minute drive we arrive in Estancia Cerro Guido. Depending on weather conditions the local Gauchos will take us to different areas of the estancia. We will enjoy a ride on the pampas, with wide open views of the surroundings. If it is a clear day we will see the Torres del Paine.
Horse Ride Estancia Lazo
From the hotel we head south towards Estancia Lazo. The drive is very scenic and you will enjoy great views of Sarmiento Lake. The ride starts at Hosteria Lazo, passing through an ancient lenga forest. After one hour we will get to a lookout with panoramic views of the Massif. We head back into the woods, and return to the Hostería, where we can enjoy a hot drink before we return to the hotel.
Scenic Tours
A scenic trip is the perfect balance between a van ride and a short walk. Ideal for birdwatchers and photographers.
Laguna Azul
From the hotel we head northwards to get to Laguna Azul area, which offers a spectacular view of the South, Central and North towers whenever the weather allows it. We will be able to walk along the northern shore of the lake, where during spring and summer it is possible to spot many birds in the middle of the lenga forest. We will stop at the Cascada Paine and Laguna Amarga, both iconic lookouts of the area.
Scenic Salto Grande
We will visit some of the most classic places in Torres del Paine National Park; MIrador Sarmiento from where you will appreciate the biggest lake inside the park; Laguna Amarga whose waters are four times saltier than the ocean and Mirador Nordenskjöld just in front of the Massif. We finish with a gentle 10 minute walk that will take us to the Salto Grande. We will return by van on the same road.
Valle La Porfiada
The La Porfiada valley is located north of Laguna Azul. We will pass beautiful lenga forests as we gain altitude driving up the road, with great views of gullies and rivers. If we are lucky we will have the company of condors that frequently fly around the area. We will finally reach the plains where a Puesto (temporary home of a Gaucho) is located, with views of the Argentinean summits. The possibility to explore this area is exclusive to our guests.
Estancia Las Chinas
We will enter the Las Chinas valley, an almost unexplored area near Cordillera Baguales. We can walk here and there are good probabilities of seeing fauna such as guanaco, ñandú, condors, cara-cara, long tailed meadowlarks and austral negritos. In spring we can find abundant flora such as oxalis, ladies slipper, alstroemeria, quinchamalium, leucheria and neneo.
Full Day Scenic Adventures
Macizo Paine
This full day scenic trip focuses on the western side of Torres del Paine National Park. It is the best alternative to see the most of the park in just one day, stopping at different places of photographic interest. We will enjoy one of the most scenic drives in the world, which ends at the Lago Grey area. There we will find glaciers and nothofagus forests. If we are lucky we might spot the Huemul, a chilean native deer in danger of extinction. Here we can do a 30 minute walk along the southern shore of Lago Grey where it is common to find icebergs that have travelled from the face of the glacier. The return drive takes place on a road south of Lago del Toro.
Patagonian Life
***VISITS TO ESTANCIAS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, THERE ARE NO ACTIVITIES ON SUNDAYS ***
Nestling below the Sierra Contreras Mountain Range, the Estancia (working ranch) Cerro Guido is the hub from which 100,000 hectares of land, 50,000 head of sheep and 2,000 head of cattle are administered. Steeped in close to 100 years of history this working Patagonian ranch shows our guests a world that is very rarely seen. A lifestyle that is at times romantic and at times unforgiving is brought to life as workers from the ranch walk us through the lives and lifestyle of the Patagonian Baqueano (Cowboy).
Esquila Pre-parto: September - October
In Patagonia, the "esquila" (shearing) is the process of removing the sheep's wool at specific times throughout the year. The esquila pre-parto is when they remove a limited portion of wool from the bellies of the sheep a few months before the full shearing takes place. The esquila pre-parto at Estancia Cerro Guido normally happens between September and October each year; however, exact dates depend on the weather.
Esquila: December - January
At Cerro Guido, the full shearing takes place between December and January, usually lasting about a full two weeks. Before the actual shearing takes place, there is the chance to see how Chilean cowboys or "baqueanos" herd the flocks with their specially trained dogs, gathering thousands of sheep at a time to prepare for the shearing.
La Señalada: January - Feburary
During the summer months, usually January and February, Cerro Guido brands their sheep in a process called la señalada. This makes their sheep easily identifiable among the animals of other estancias in the area. La señalada is performed by making a quick incision in a particular shape on the ears of all Cerro Guido sheep.
Esquila De Ojo: April
The third type of shearing that takes place during the year at Cerro Guido is the esquila de ojo where only wool from around the sheep's eyes and face is removed to allow for better sight during the winter months. Similarly to the other esquilas, there is the opportunity to witness the massive sheep herding as the baqueanos bring them to the main area of the estancia for shearing.
