TRAVEL AND TOURS

Two typical comments: "Perfect, now I can return to society with a sense of success." - "This is without a doubt the most stunning place of its kind in Chile." Just a few words that synthesize the magic of Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia, a group of strange-looking natural skyscrapers which to impress even the most experienced traveler.
And travellers will wonder with skepticism, "How were these towers built?" The same query nagged those scientists who became "detectives" and set out to discover when had these marvellous topographic features originated.
They found the answer to be 12 million years ago, at a time when the Earth spewed forth its inner fury. Vegetation did its part by covering up empty spaces, and animals, following their instincts, took over the area, up to the day when the first men arrived on the scene to gaze the amazing sight.
This reaction is a very common one now, and since future generations must be allowed the same feeling, the park was declared a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1978, to preserve nature in this incredible part of the planet which offers unforgettably exciting adventures.
There are a lot of things to see and discover: lonely spots on the pampas, misty Magellan forests, enchanting lakes, splendid iceberg-filled lakes and glaciers that make a perfect combination with the striking presence of the rocky towers and the Paine caves.

All these excursions start at Puerto Natales, the doorway to Torres del Paine and its huge range of flora and fauna. The city is 247 kms away from Punta Arenas - it was founded in 1911, the first inhabitants being British and German settlers who turned Patagonia into a cattle farming area of world importance.
When Puerto Natales - from the Latin natalles meaning "birth"- is left behind as a memory and the traveler feels like testing the limits of the contemplation of nature, he may, if he is daring enough, be tempted to use a kayak or a bicycle, or follow a rough trekking trail.
Whatever you do, there is no doubt that you will return home eager to emotionally describe the marvelous "natural skyscrapers" that keep company with the clouds in Chilean Patagonia.