ATTRACTIONS

Unbounded nature and landscapes that compel infinite admiration, changing scenes ranging from pampas to forests and from plains to heights make Torres del Paine probably the most beautiful place in Chilean Patagonia, charming its visitors and generating ever-lasting memories in them.

Among these glorious skyward-reaching rock formations, the most attractive ones are:

-Puerto Natales.
This is the main access point to Torres del Paine and Its name has its origin in the Latin "natallis", meaning birth. The city, with more than 19 thousand inhabitants, was founded in 1911 by English and German colonists, who worked mainly as cattle farmers. Puerto Natales offers a diverse number of tourist options, which go from skiing sessions in Rio Turbio (in winter), to sailing visaits to the glaciers of Balmaceda and Serrano mountains or the Seven Glaciers, in the De las Montañas channel.

-Torres del Paine National Park.
This is an area subjugated by nature, impressive pampas, native species forests, peaceful lakes such as Nordenskjold, Pehoe de Grey, Paine and Dickson, lagoons with ice floes and magnificent glaciers. The park, which covers around 242,242 hectares, is inhabited by guanacos, rheas, condors, pumas, grey and "culpeo" foxes and a wide variety of birds which flutter around over the waters.

The natural park, which was created in 1959, has three entries points: Porteria Sarmiento, Amarga lagoon and Azul lagoon. It also has paths appropriate for trekking and an efficient tourist infrastructure, which makes of it one of the best equipped resorts in Chile. Because of its landscapes and ecological importance, it was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1978. Torres del Paine is in the Province of Ultima Esperanza, 145 kms north of Puerto Natales. It ranges between 200 and 3050 mts above sea level.

-Paine Cordillera.
These splendid granite towers amaze everyone who sees them. The enormous massif is crowned with glaciers and surrounded by lakes of the most improbable colours: lapis lazuli, aquamarine, emerald, turquoise and sapphire. The allowed paths for tourists are flanked by "bearded" trees and gigantic mountains. Such landscapes make these mountains a real paradise for trekking lovers.

-Bernardo O´Higgins National Park.
Covering 3,525,901 hectares, this is Chile's largest park,. One of its major attractions is the Pio XI glacier, from which enormous blocks of ice fall, and which can be observed from tourist boats. The sight is truly moving, since the falling of these ice "walls" (they can measure up to 75 mts) makes a thunderous, titanic crashing noise.

-"Milodon" Cave.
This is a natural monument with three caverns (the biggest cave is located at a height of 150 metres) and a rocky conglomerate named "Silla del Diablo" (Devil's Chair). The name has its origin in the discovery in 1896 of the bones and skin of a "milodon" (Mylodon darwini), a huge herbivore which became extinct by the end of the Pleistocene Era. Research shows that these huge animals lived here with other extinct species, such as the "dwarf horse", the "saber-toothed tiger" and the "great guanaco", until five thousand years ago. Inside the cave, there is a life-size reproduction of the "milodon". The cavern is located 24 kms north of Puerto Natales and 3 kms from the waters of the Eberhard fjord.

- "Alberto de Agostini" Salesian Museum.
Has an attractive exhibit of local flora and fauna. It is managed by the Salesian priests. Address: Padre Rossa 1456, Puerto Natales.

MUSEUM IN PUERTO NATALES

- Historical Museum of Puerto Natales, It has 5 rooms that exhibit the history of the first men that came to live in the area (kaweshkar and aonikenk) It also exhibits objects and utensils belonging to the German and British colonists who started to arrive at the end of the 18th century. Visitors can also observe an interesting collection of pictures from the thirties. The museum building, located at the city center, combines elements of rural English architecture with those of modern type building, as a result of its remodeling in 1997.