
Join us for a day trip to Chile's iconic Torres del Paine National Park! 😍 Head to to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Our first stop of the day was the Mylodon’s Cave, which is a natural monument located about 30 minutes northwest of Puerto Natales. This site is comprised of several caves, the largest of which is 30 meters high and 200 metres deep. This is where the prehistoric mylodon's remains were found.
A bit of trivia: apparently, the mylodon’s state of conservation was so good that at first the remains were believed to be that of a living species. This launched a small wave of early 20th century expeditions in search of a living, breathing mylodon. Well, that search didn’t yield much. The samples were eventually dated back about 10,000 years...they were just in great condition because of the extreme cold and stable conditions the cave had to offer.
From there, we continued on our tour to Torres del Paine National Park, which is located 60 kilometres north of Puerto Natales. As you can imagine, it was a pretty scenic drive; the best surprise was spotting a group of condors circling just above us. This is the largest bird of prey in the world, so we were pretty excited to see several of them so close by!
Once we arrived in Torres del Paine National Park, we visited numerous attractions like the Paine River Waterfall, Laguna Amarga, Lago Nordenskjöld and Lago Pehoé. We also drove past estancias, experienced winds that nearly blew us over, and of course, we were greeted with incredible landscapes at every turn. Just driving through the park’s dirt roads was an adventure in and of itself!
In the afternoon we had lunch at the Río Pingo restaurant which is located inside the national park on the southern tip of Lago Gray. Then, we enjoyed a beautiful walk on the Gray Trail that goes down to a beach where you can see icebergs up close. It was an incredible experience!
We really enjoyed this 1-day excursion to Torres del Paine. If you are in Puerto Natales but are short on time and can't spend a week trekking in the park, this is a great option that allows you to enjoy a few of the highlights!
Day Trip to Chile's TORRES DEL PAINE National Park + The Most BEAUTIFUL PLACE in Chilean Patagonia?
🏞️ Torres del Paine Day Trip from Puerto Natales: Wildlife, Icebergs & Patagonian Wonders | Chile Travel Guide
🏔️ First Lookouts: Mirador Lago Sarmiento & Bitter Lagoon
Reaching the first viewpoint, Mirador Lago Sarmiento, we were treated to our very first panoramic views of the iconic Torres del Paine range. The weather held, offering spectacular mountain and turquoise water vistas—perfect for photos. Along the way, we stopped at Bitter Lagoon, where the high pH level creates unique conditions, and, in summer, even attracts flamingos. Every new stop brought us closer to the heart of the park and built anticipation for the main attractions.
🌊 Lago Pehoé & The Famous Cuernos
Our next major stop was the dazzling Lake Pehoé, known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and the breathtaking backdrop of the Cuernos del Paine (the Horns). Despite some fierce Patagonian weather, we got lucky with fleeting sunshine and managed to catch clear views of these world-famous peaks—a must-see for anyone visiting the region.
🚶♂️ Mini Hike & Iceberg Encounters at Lake Grey
With renewed energy, we set out on a short post-lunch hike, crossing a dramatic hanging bridge to reach Lake Grey’s famous icebergs. Walking the sandy shoreline, we marveled at the floating blue and white ice, framed by Patagonian mountains and ever-shifting weather. In typical Patagonia fashion, we experienced all four seasons in a single hour—from rain to blue skies.
🌟 Wildlife, Gauchos & Patagonian Culture
Throughout the day, we spotted even more wildlife: guanacos, condors, foxes, and ñandús. We also saw local gauchos on horseback, sometimes herding cows with the help of energetic sheepdogs—a real window into rural Patagonian life.
BLOGS