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Spending some days in this southern destination means to connect yourself with the most powerful and splendorous nature, not to go against it but to feel renewed.
This destination is represented by a wide diversity of tourist attractions, in an environment of a magnificent beauty, overlooked by stockbreeding farms, mountain chains, fjords, channels and glaciers. It is the main gate to striking sceneries such as the world known Torres del Paine National Park, Bernardo O’Higgins National Park and the Mylodon Cave natural monument (Cueva del Mylodón). The city of Puerto Natales, owing to its privileged setting, is a departure point for one of the most treasured experiences: sailing fjords and Patagonian channels, hiking mountains, lakes and glaciers coming from Southern Ice Field, for example the vastly known Pio XI Glacier.
It is believed that the term "Patagon" had its origin in the Spanish navigators whom, at San Julian, thought the native hunters they saw had big feet (which is not true).
Gradually it has been prevailing the logical interpretation that the term comes from the giant PATAGON, a character from "Primaleon", a cavalry novel to which captain general Fernando (Hernando) de Magallanes was very keen.
When he met the first aborigine at San Julian, he saw him as frightening as the novel character and called him "Patagon", and the Land of Patagons or just Patagonia.
Main attractions in the park
LAGO PEHOE
This beautiful lake stands as the best standpoint to watch the Cuernos del Paine with its stunning-looking surroundings and its green waters. Sometimes, the reflection of the mountains can be seen on the water, creating an unbelievable marvelous sight. Sailing time is at about 20 minutes and it sprawls across Refugio Pudeto and Refugio Lodge Paine Grande (shelters for hikers). Moreover, you will have the opportunity to get to the viewpoints of the amazing water falls (the big and the little one “grande y chico”)
LAGO GREY
This lake extends over the south wing of Southern Ice Fields and it possess spectacular rocky formations which stand as its main distinguishing feature since they enhance the grayish color of the water, due to the large amounts of suspended slit containing on it.
It is worth mentioning that according to the last echo sounder measuring, it has 500mt depth. From here, many marvelous and gigantic icebergs can be seen, falling from the very base of the glacier, providing an excellent scenery for those who want to watch it and giving the opportunity to watch several different angles of Paine Massif, where tourists will be able to stroll for an hour through the lake’s borders until they reach a viewpoint where they will have a privileged view of Grey Glacier.
LAGO TYNDALL
This stunning glacier is part of the Southern Ice Field. Río Serrano is where the sailing adventure begins on zodiac or kayak boats going down until we get close to Tyndall Lake, passing along the lake’s floating icebergs and being able to watch the glacier from the boat. Then, the trip continues to Puerto Toro (Bernardo O’Higgins National Park) where a connection is taken to continue the journey to the city of Puerto Natales. The visit to Tyndall Glacier can also be done outwards; this is, starting from Puerto Natales.
LAGO TORO
It is located 80 kilometers away from Puerto Natales, with a small part of the lake that belongs to Torres del Paine National Park. The entrance is through a well-kept pebbled road. This lake is good for practicing sport fishing, where we found brown tout and rainbow trout.
LAGO SARMIENTO
Located 90 kilometers away from Puerto Natales, at Torres del Paine National Park, the access is through a well-kept pebbled road. This lake is good for practicing sport fishing, where we found brown tout and rainbow trout.
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