Explora Patagonia Lodge

Walk to Lake Grey Peninsula

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van toward the Grey Ranger Station (45 minutes). We cross the Pingo River hanging bridge by foot and continue for 15 minutes through a forest of lenga trees (nothofagus pumilio), until we reach Lake Grey beach from where we can see icebergs. We ascend a moderately steep slope to reach a point where we get impressive views of the Grey Glacier. Finally, we return down a moderately steep slope to the lake shore and back to the Grey Ranger Station where the van will be waiting.

Duration: 3.5 to 4 hours, 2 to 2.5 hours trekking.
Distance on foot: 5 km (3.1 miles).
Level: Easy.

Walk to the Toro vista point

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van (15 min.) toward the Weber Bridge. Climb 100 m (300 ft) until reaching the Toro vista point. Observe birds, regional fauna, and characteristics of the local aquatic flora. Views of Lake Toro and the Serrano River flanked by grand Andean peaks such as the Ferrier and Donoso mountains, among others. Return by van to hotel (15 min.).

Duration: 2 hours, walking 1.5 hours.
Distance on foot: 3.5 km (2.2 mi).
Level: Easy.

Walk to Pingo River

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van (40 min.) toward the Grey Ranger Station. Follow a relatively flat trail that follows the turbulent, glacier-fed Pingo River through open prairie in order to arrive at the Salmon River Cascade; great variety of birds and exuberant vegetation. Return to the Grey Ranger Station and back to hotel by van (40 min.).

Duration: 4 to 5 hours, walking 2.5 to 3 hours.
Distance on foot: 8 km (5 mi).
Level: Easy.

Walk along the Aonikenk trail

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van
(30 min.) toward the Lake Sarmiento Ranger Station. Walk along a moderate trail north
of the park limit, with moderate ascent (150 m/ 500 ft). The exploration provides an open landscape with panoramic views. On several rock walls it is possible to see Aonikenk Indian paintings, primitive inhabitants of the region. There is an abundance of guanacos here. Gradual descent to the Laguna Amarga Ranger Station. Return by van (35 min.).

Duration: 3 to 4 hours, walking 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
Distance on foot: 7.5 km (4.6 mi).
Level: Easy.

Photo Safari to observe flora, fauna and birds

Itinerary: This exploration has an emphasis on photography and learning the flora and fauna of the park. During the journey it is very likely that we
will observe guanacos, rheas, condors, foxes, skunks, ducks, geese, and other varieties of birds, especially during the spring. Views of the Horns and the Towers, the Almirante Peak and the Paine River Cascade.

Duration: 3 to 4 hours, by van.
Level: Easy.

Walk to Rivera Serrano

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van toward the Serrano River (20 minutes). We trek along the river bank until we reach the Serrano park entrance. From here there are splendid views
of the Paine Massif, the Toro Heights and the Serrano Prairie. This riverside trail follows the river basin of the Torres del Paine National Park. We return to the lodge by van (20 minutes).

Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours, 1.5 hours trekking.
Distance on foot: 3 km (1.8 miles).
Level: Easy.

Walk to Laguna Azul

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van (1 hour) toward the Laguna Azul campground. We begin with a 30 minute trek along the border of Laguna Azul, which provides excellent views of the Torres del Paine, forests and prairies. We return by the same path (30 minutes) as far as the Laguna Azul Ranger Station to observe varied bird species that live in the wetlands next to the lake. This trek can also start from the barbecue area.

Duration: 2.5 hours, 1 hour trekking.
Distance on foot: 1.5 km (0.6 miles).
Level: Easy.

Walk to New Nordenskjöld

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van (25 minutes) toward the viewpoint of Lake Nordenskjöld. This trail crosses gently sloping grass-covered hills and enjoys spectacular views of the Paine Massif and the hanging glaciers of Mount Almirante Nieto. We continue along the shores of Lake Larga (Long Lake) with its curious, but beautiful calcium formations. We may sight guanacos and diverse birds. We return to the lodge by van (25 minutes).

Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours, 1.5 hours trekking.
Distance on foot: 3.5 km (2.2 miles).
Level: Easy.

Walk to La Vega Roja

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van toward the Laguna Azul Ranch (1 hour). We trek from the La Estrella Ranch through prairies and forests. There is a steep descent following a river until we reach the trail back to the barbecue area, where the van will be waiting for us to return to the lodge (1 hour).

Duration: 4 hours, 2 hours trekking.
Distance on foot: 7 km (4.3 miles).
Level: Easy.

Walk to Laguna Negra

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van (15 minutes) toward explora’s stables. The trail follows a gentle ascent through green hills and wetlands. There is beautiful vegetation along the trail, and views of the Paine Massif. We will also gain panoramic views of the Serrano prairie and Laguna Negra with its varied bird colonies. At the end of the trek, you can drink maté tea with the gauchos in the area of the stables. We return to the lodge by van (15 minutes)

Duration: 3 hours, 2.5 hours trekking.
Distance on foot: 3.6 km (1.8 miles).
Level: Easy.

Walk along the Cornices

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico on foot. Ascend 250 m (820 ft) to the cornice of the ridge behind the hotel, offering views of the Paine Massif, the Condor vista point, and lakes Pehoé and Nordenskjöld. The road continues along the cornice, passing tiny lakes and forest, with views of the Paine River, Prat Mountain, Serrano Prairie, and Lake Toro in the distance. Descend through the La Feria Ravine.

Duration: 3 to 3.5 hours, walking 3 to 3.5 hours.
Distance on foot: 6.5 km (4 mi).
Level: Moderate. Note: Frequent strong winds.

Walk to the Condor vista point

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico on foot. This walk offers sweeping views of
the park and observation of diverse flora and species of birds. Includes a 250 m (820 ft) ascent to the Condor vista point. Return down by a different trail to reach the van. Return to hotel (5 min.).

Duration: 2 hours walking.
Distance on foot: 4 km (2.5 mi).
Level: Moderate. Note: Frequent strong winds.

Walk along La Loma

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van toward explora’s Quincho (barbecue area) (1 hour). From the barbecue area, the van takes us to our start point (20 minutes), then we start our trek by ascending a gentle hill for 45 minutes. From the summit, there are excellent views of the Torres del Paine. The descent, which takes about 30 minutes, takes us through fields of “coirón” grass, where we may see guanacos.

Duration: 3 to 4 hours, 2 hours trekking.
Distance on foot: 5 km (3.1 miles).
Level: Moderate

Walk to Linda Lake

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van (20 minutes) toward explora’s stables. From here the trail crosses gently sloping, grass-covered hills
before starting a moderate ascent (1 hour),
with spectacular views of the mountains in
the southern sector of the park such as the Balmaceda and the Ferrier Mountains. On the way to the Linda Lake viewpoint, there is a view of the Geike Glacier. We can enjoy a spectacular view of the Paine Massif and also many species of birds, shrubs and forests of Antarctic beech (Nothofagus antarctica). We descend past Laguna Negra, where we may see birds.

Duration: 3 to 3.15 hours, 2.5 hours trekking.
Distance on foot: 6 km (3.7 miles).
Level: Moderate.

Walk to Ferrier vista point

Itinerary: Leave Hotel Salto Chico by van (40 min.) toward the Grey Ranger Station. Steep climb (550 m/ 1,800 ft) to Ferrier vista point. Lovely vegetation along the trail and the possibility of viewing huemules, a local deer. Ancient forest of deciduous beech and a spectacular panorama of the Paine Massif from the eastern flank of the Pingo Valley.
View of lakes Grey, Pehoé, Nordenskjöld, and Sarmiento. Return by van (40 min.).

Duration: 4 hours, walking 3 hours.
Distance on foot: 7 km (4.4 mi).
Level: Difficult. Note: Frequent strong winds at the summit.

Bird watching

There are over 100 species of birds that make up the avian population in Torres del Paine National park, many of them endemic to the area. Based on the time of year and the interest of the group, we organize an exploration to look for and view some of these inhabitants in the park.

*We require a minimum of 4 people to join this exploration between November and April.

Duration: 3 to 4 hours by van.

Trekking Full Day