On the southernmost tip of the Andes - at the extreme south of Patagonian Chile - three great stone towers stand like solemn granite sentinels watching over a ruggedly beautiful landscape. The area is brimming with teal-coloured lagoons, blue glaciers, snowcapped mountains and lakes that mirror the big wide skies. The Torres de Paine National Park has long been considered the 8th Natural Wonder of the World. Its the ideal location for a hiking holiday or a peaceful rural retreat, a get-away-from-it-all destination to rekindle your love of Mother Nature. Our collection of the best places to stay in Torres del Paine range from designer eco resorts to luxury yurts and traditional lodges.
Torres del Paine was named after the great granite spires that loom out of the Paine Massif, the name itself translating as the "Towers of Paine". The National Park covers nearly 200,000 hectares of dark green forest, raging rivers, bright blue glaciers and mirror lakes; the landscape teems with guanaco - a species related to the llama - and pumas, while the sky soars with Andean condors. Most days, you can see the baqueanos - Chilean cowboys - ride their beloved horses through the rugged terrain.
Made into a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978, there is an unspoilt purity to the region, even in spite of the sheer number of visitors that come each year. Hiking trails abound, like the W-Trek and the Paine Circuit, all of which provide breathtaking views. On the way, you will encounter a spellbinding variety of things to see, such as the Grey Glacier, which ironically shines a pallid blue in the sunlight, or the Mirador Torres - a gorgeous blue lake that provides unbelievable views of the three towers.
Torres del Paine is not for the faint-hearted. The weather, even in summer, is windy and changeable and the activities available are all based in the great outdoors. Take a guided or local ranger and try and spot pumas, which inhabit the land and prey on baby guanaco, kayak on a lake and row past ancient glaciers, or go horseback riding with local baqueanos.
Torres del Paine is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful regions on the planet. To start planning your trip browse through our collection of the best places to stay in Torres del Paine.