Torres del Paine National Park has an incomparable amount of natural treasures waiting to be discovered. And while many travelers choose to experience demanding treks such as the W Trek or the Torres del Paine Circuit (also known as "O Trek"), there are many places renowned for their extraordinary beauty that are not included in these iconic trails.
EcoCamp Patagonia designed a program for nature lovers to enjoy the best places in Torres del Paine: the Wildlife Safari. It includes outdoor activities that follow parts of the W Trek route, as well as other trails that are perfect for observing local wildlife or simply relaxing. It offers you the flexibility to create your ideal nature vacation in 4 to 7 days.
These are the highlights and particularities of this torres del paine tour, a unique wildlife Patagonia experience for travelers.
SUMMARY
1. What is the Wildlife Safari?
2. What does the Wildlife Safari include?
3. What is not included in the Wildlife Safari?
4. What are the activities of the Wildlife Safari?
5. Who is the Wildlife Safari recommended for?
6. What is the best time to do the Wildlife Safari?
7. What should I bring with me?
The name might make you think that you will head into the park every day with a ranger and a jeep in search of wildlife, but that's not what it is. If you choose this program, you'll stay at EcoCamp Patagonia. Every morning, you'll enjoy a breakfast buffet before heading out on an excursion.
Every day, you can choose between three different excursions, ranging from easy and light to more physically demanding, and from hikes to a boat trip, wildlife observation, or a visit to a Patagonian farm (estancia). During your excursion, you'll eat a box lunch that you can put together yourself at breakfast that morning.
Once you're back at EcoCamp, you can enjoy an appetizer and three-course dinner, while learning more about the excursions planned for the following day. You'll have dinner together with the other travelers you went out with that day.
Afterward, you can enjoy a drink and relax in our bar.
Would you like to stretch a little before or after your excursion? You can join our morning yoga class before heading out on your excursion or attend the session of the evening. Then, you can enjoy a good night's sleep in your cozy dome.
The Wildlife Safari program includes guided excursions through Torres del Paine National Park. Depending on the number of other travelers in the group, there will be one or more guides. They speak English and Spanish and will give you more context about the park, its ecosystem, history and culture, ecotourism, and wildlife conservation. They also make sure that you feel comfortable and safe throughout the experience. They are trained and certified to handle different situations, such as strong winds or physical discomfort.
During the excursions, you'll travel on foot, in our vans, or by boat. All transportation is included, including boat tickets and drivers, so you can simply sit back and enjoy the journey.
The program also includes transportation on your first and last day from Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, and El Calafate in Argentina. These are the closest places where you can catch a flight. You can use our Transfer Schedule to plan your arrival and departure days accordingly.
Your park entrance ticket for the duration of your stay is also included, as are all meals. On excursion days, this includes breakfast, a box lunch, and dinner. On your arrival and departure days, meals depend on your specific travel itinerary. Usually, this means dinner at EcoCamp on your arrival day and breakfast before departure, and sometimes lunch or box lunch on both days.
At EcoCamp, we count on high-standard gastronomy, local organic ingredients, and a passionate kitchen team. Chilean wine and juice are included with your meals.
You'll enjoy a cozy stay in our domes while discovering the particularities that make it a sustainable hotel. There are four types of domes: Standard, Superior, Suite, and Suite Loft.
Finally, we also have a Yoga Dome with daily yoga sessions, so you can stretch and relax before and after the activities.
Flights are not included in your trip.
Travel insurance is also not included, but it is important to have coverage in case you experience unexpected issues during your trip, such as lost luggage or a twisted ankle during a hike.
It's also a good idea to bring some extra money to purchase additional drinks, snacks, and souvenirs, or to tip your guides and our staff. Tipping is entirely voluntary.
At EcoCamp, you can also book a massage, which is not included in the cost of your program.
The Wildlife Safari program includes three daily activity options. There is always an easy and demanding option. The excursions are also divided into different categories:
Excursions featuring highlights of the W Trek
Culture and history excursions
Wildlife and nature excursions
In total, there are 12 different excursions. This means that some excursions are offered more than once per week.
When you book your Wildlife Safari, you'll be asked to indicate your preferred excursions for the different days you'll be staying at EcoCamp. This allows us to estimate the number of travelers interested in each excursion and organize the logistics, like the boat tickets, accordingly.
The variety of activities is one of the highlights of this program. Whether you're looking for iconic Patagonia Chile highlights, opportunities to observe wildlife, or a deeper connection with the region's culture and nature, the Wildlife Safari offers a flexible way to experience Torres del Paine without committing to a multi-day trek.
Keep reading for the full list of activities!
Laguna Azul Country Day
Day: Sunday
Type: Culture & History
Difficulty : 1/5
Schedule: 9 AM - 4 PM
Hiking: 4 km / 2.5 mi - 1.5 hours - 100 m / 328 ft elevation gain
Horseback riding: 7 km / 4.3 mi - 2 hours
Highest point: 241 m / 790 ft above sea level
The day begins with a one-hour drive during which, if you're lucky, you may spot guanacos and enjoy views of the Towers (Torres del Paine) and Sierra Contreras.
Once you arrive, you'll get ready for your horseback riding adventure. On horseback, you'll cross the Patagonian steppe and rivers, ride through a forest, and see the Las Chinas waterfall. Once you return to the estancia, you'll enjoy a traditional Patagonian barbecue.
If you'd rather not go horseback riding, you can relax in the barbecue area or take a short walk.
Drive & Walk Western Lakes: Glacier Grey Boat Ride
Days: Tuesday and Friday
Type: W Trek Highlight
Difficulty : 1/5
Schedule: 9 AM - 6:30 PM
Hiking distance: 2.5 km / 1.5 mi
Walking time: 1.5 hours
Highest point: 200 m / 660 ft above sea level
Elevation gain: 60 m / 197 ft
Grey Glacier is one of the highlights of Torres del Paine National Park. The best way to experience this glacier is by sailing across Grey Lake.
To get there from EcoCamp, you'll take a two-hour van ride. The stunning beauty of the Paine Massif will keep you captivated along the way. Once you reach the Grey Lake parking area, you'll take an easy walk of roughly 45 minutes to reach the catamaran. As a matter of fact, "easy" is a relative term, as the strong winds in this area can turn this walk into a short odyssey. Don't be afraid, though: the trail is very accessible, and hundreds of people walk through the area during the day.
However, keep in mind that the weather here can be a game changer. The daily navigation may sometimes be canceled depending on weather conditions or during the low season, when the required minimum of 15 passengers to sail is not met. If this is the case, the alternative excursion will be Salto Grande and Condor Lookouts.
Once you're on the catamaran, you just have to relax and enjoy the views. The sailing allows you to get very close to the ice walls, and you can see the famous Paine Massif, Mount Ferrier, and the icebergs floating in the lake.
Traditional Estancia Day
Day: Wednesday
Type: Culture & History
Difficulty: 1/5
Schedule: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Hiking: 3.5 km / 2.2 mi - 150 m elevation gain
Horseback riding: 8 km / 5 mi - 1.5 hrs
During this excursion, you'll leave EcoCamp by van for a one-hour drive to a typical Patagonian ranch (estancia). There, you'll follow in the footsteps of the local cowboys, known as gauchos, during this cultural experience.
Here, you'll get a glimpse into the lives of local inhabitants and see their sheep and horses. You can go on a relaxing horseback ride, no previous experience is required.
Or, if you'd rather skip the horseback ride, you can take a short walk along the Las Chinas River. Afterwards, you'll enjoy a typical Magellanic lunch and learn about activities on the ranch, such as sheep shearing and herding. This activity is a great option for families!
Vega Castillo Wetland Safari
Day: Monday
Type: Wildlife & Nature
Difficulty: 2/5
Schedule: 7 AM - 3 PM
Hiking distance: 9 km / 5.6 mi
Walking time: 1-2 hours
Highest point: 102 m / 334 ft above sea level
Elevation gain: 100 m
This activity is ideal for bird lovers, families who want to search for and observe animals ranging from birds and foxes to armadillos and more, or anyone who wants to relax in nature at this reserve without doing an intense hike.
After a 1.5-hour drive, you'll reach the Vega Castillo wetland reserve. There are different wetlands where you can walk around in search of birds such as the kingfisher (martin pescador), enjoy the views, and learn about local conservation efforts.
Ancient Shores: Lago Sarmiento
Day: Saturday
Type: Wildlife & Nature
Difficulty: 2/5
Schedule: 9 AM - 4 PM
Hiking distance : 7.5 km / 4.6 mi
Walking time: 1-2 hours
Highest point: 240 m / 787 ft above sea level
Elevation gain: 150 m / 492 ft
This activity consists of two hikes. These gentle, mostly flat hikes along the shores of Laguna Larga and Lago Sarmiento are ideal for nature lovers and geology enthusiasts alike.
The hikes offer great views of the plains of Torres del Paine, and you'll be able to observe interesting rock formations. Here, it may be just you and perhaps a few guanacos.
Laguna Inge Half-Day Hike
Day: Tuesday
Type: W Trek Highlight
Difficulty: 2/5
Schedule: 9 AM - 2 PM
Hiking distance: 8 km / 4.9 mi
Walking time: 5 hours
Highest point: 265 m / 868 ft above sea level
Elevation gain: 100 m / 328 ft
Maybe the least-known part of the W Trek is the Cuernos trail. On this excursion, you'll hike part of this trail. You'll start hiking directly from EcoCamp. You'll cross steppe landscapes and walk a little uphill and downhill, with views of the Paine Horns before reaching the foot of the snowcapped Almirante Nieto mountain.
Then, you'll hike along Laguna Inge, a beautiful viewpoint where you'll also be able to see the blue waters of Nordenskjöld Lake. Around 2 PM, you’ll be back at EcoCamp.
If you want to have a relaxed afternoon at the hotel, this is the ideal choice.
Aonikenk Trail Half-Day Hike
Day: Thursday
Type: Culture & History
Difficulty: 2/5
Schedule: 9 AM - 2 PM
Hiking distance: 7.8 km / 4.8 mi
Walking time: 3.5 hours
Highest point: 294 m / 965 ft above sea level
Elevation gain: 200 m / 656 ft
After roughly a one-hour drive, you'll start hiking through the Patagonian steppe from the Sarmiento area. You can enjoy views of Lake Sarmiento, native vegetation, rock formations, and the surrounding mountains.
During the hike, you'll reach a beautiful cave, an interesting spot for geology lovers as well as for those interested in the fascinating history of Patagonia. Here, you'll see cave paintings dating back to around 7,000 years before Christ, created by the Aonikenk, Indigenous people who once lived in the pampa.
You'll have the afternoon to relax at the hotel.
Water & Granite: Lookouts of Paine
Day: Sunday
Type: Wildlife & Nature
Difficulty: 2/5
Schedule: 9 AM - 4 PM
Hiking distance: 7 km / 4.3 mi
Walking time: 3.5 hours
Highest point: 206 m / 820 ft above sea level
This contemplative trail takes you through some of the most spectacular viewpoints in Torres del Paine, including views of Nordenskjöld and Pehoé lakes.
After breakfast, there's no better way to digest your meal than by walking to Salto Grande, about 15 minutes away. This iconic waterfall is a fantastic place to feel the power of nature and the wind. You'll continue walking to a viewpoint where you can admire Nordenskjöld Lake and the Paine Massif. The walk there and back takes about two hours in total.
Depending on the energy of the group, you can take a second, one-and-a-half-hour walk to the Condor Lookout. You'll need to hike uphill, but this short ascent offers a fantastic reward: the magical view of Pehoé Lake from above.
Trail of Water: Lazo to Weber Bridge
Days: Tuesday and Friday
Type: Wildlife & Nature
Difficulty: 3/5
Schedule: 9 AM - 6:30 PM
Hiking distance: 15 km / 9.3 mi
Walking time: 5 hours
Highest point: 436 m / 1430 ft above sea level
Elevation gain: 315 m / 1033 ft
Lazo–Weber is one of the off-the-beaten-path jewels of Torres del Paine National Park, with an unforgettable walk through a lenga forest and spectacular viewpoints of the Paine mountain range.
After breakfast, you'll head out in a van toward Estancia Lazo, a one-and-a-half-hour drive away. Along the way, you'll see beautiful Lake Sarmiento and thrombolite formations.
You'll start hiking along the shore of Laguna Verde and then continue through the woods. You'll pass a viewpoint and Laguna Honda before reaching the spectacular Toro Lake viewpoint. Here, you'll enjoy a 360-degree view of the park, with a panoramic vista of the Paine Massif stretching from Grey Glacier to Almirante Nieto Mountain, as well as the rivers and lakes.
Then comes the hardest part, with a steep but short downhill section that takes about 45 minutes. For this reason, you should avoid this excursion if you have knee problems. If you're in good shape, this is one of the best hikes in Torres del Paine.
Pehoé Lake Boat Ride & French Valley Hike
Days: Monday, Thursday and Saturday
Type: W Trek Highlight
Difficulty: 3/5
Schedule: 6:30 AM - 8:40 PM (Times vary depending on navigation schedules.)
Hiking distance: 19 km / 11.8 mi
Walking time: 7 hours
Highest point: 527 m/ 1279 ft above sea level
Elevation gain: 400 m / 1312 ft
In September, April, and May, when catamaran service is reduced or suspended, the excursion is replaced by “Water & Granite: Lookouts of Paine” (Monday & Thursday) or “Laguna Inge Half-Day Hike” (Saturday).
The French Valley is a valley between Mt. Paine Grande—the highest peak in the park—and Los Cuernos. This valley offers views of Pehoé Lake, the French Glacier, Los Cuernos, and many other incredible peaks. It also offers a unique opportunity to understand the park from a geological and glaciological perspective.
To start this activity, you'll take a van for about an hour to Pudeto dock, where you'll board a catamaran to cross Pehoé Lake. The sailing takes about 40 minutes and will bring you to the Paine Grande Refuge.
From the refuge, you'll hike gently uphill until you reach the Italian Campsite. Here, you'll enjoy beautiful views of Skottsberg Lake, Los Cuernos, and the French Glacier. We'll pause here for our picnic before descending and taking the boat and van back.
Towers’ Base Trek
Days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
Type: W Trek Highlight
Difficulty: 4/5
Schedule: 7 AM - 6 PM
Hiking distance: 22 km / 14 mi
Walking time: 8 - 10 hours
Highest point: 897 m / 2942 ft above sea level
Elevation gain: 800 m / 2625 ft
This is the most popular hike in the park and the highlight of the area. If the weather is good, it offers the most famous postcard view of the three granite towers, with a beautiful lake at their base.
To get there, you'll have to wake up early and hike from EcoCamp to the Ascencio Valley. After crossing a landscape of pampa (steppe), you'll start seeing the forests of the Ascencio Valley, with a nice view of the main glacier on Mt. Almirante Nieto.
After walking through the forest, you'll face a steep uphill section through a moraine that takes about an hour to reach the famous lake. This unique place can get crowded during the high season, from November to March. Eating your lunch while staring at the granite spires is a true classic!
It takes around four hours to reach the lake, and about the same amount of time to return. The descent will be intense on your knees, but you'll be rewarded with a delicious meal at EcoCamp.
Cerro Ferrier Lookout
Day: Friday
Type: Wildlife & Nature
Difficulty: 4/5
Schedule: 9 AM - 6:30 PM
Hiking distance: 6.3 km / 3.9 mi
Walking time: 3.5 hours
Max. altitude point: 650 m / 2.106 ft
Elevation gain: 630 m / 2067 ft
Mount Ferrier is a beautiful mountain whose summit reaches 1,599 meters above sea level. It is highly exposed to the wind because of its proximity to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
To get there, you'll need to drive about two hours from EcoCamp to reach the Grey Lake parking area. Then, you'll hike uphill for roughly an hour and a half to reach the viewpoint, which offers incredible views of Grey Lake and the Grey and Zapata glaciers. It's a short ascent in terms of distance but intense in terms of steepness, with an elevation gain of around 600 meters in less than two hours. We'll return the same way.
The hike is well known for its fairy-tale-like forest. Here, you'll be able to admire the diversity of southern tree species, including the classic lenga, ñirre, and coigüe.
The Wildlife Safari program is recommended for travelers seeking a mix of comfort and adventure. Wildlife lovers, nature lovers, and hikers looking for anything from easy to demanding activities will all find something to enjoy on the Wildlife Safari. It's an amazing option for reaching spectacular places while observing animals or burning calories on the trails.
If you're interested in the W Trek but don't want to stay in refugios (mountain huts) or campsites, this is a good alternative, as it allows you to explore the main trails of the W.
Furthermore, it's a great option for those looking for some flexibility, as it offers different daily options that allow you to make decisions based on how you're feeling.
It's also a good option for solo travelers, couples, and families. Just keep in mind that EcoCamp focuses on sharing experiences and connecting with others. This means you'll spend a lot of your time in a group of travelers, sharing excursions and having dinner together.
If you're traveling with your family, it's important to know that a parent must accompany children on excursions. Kids ages 6 to 9 can only join the easier excursions. Those ages 10 to 12 can participate in the more challenging ones, but only if you have a signed document confirming that the child is physically capable of completing intense treks of more than eight hours, and you hire an extra guide. We can arrange the extra guide, but it's essential to mention this in advance.
Children over 12 are considered adults. Children under 6 cannot stay at EcoCamp, but in that case, we can plan another tailor-made trip for you.
When is the best time to travel to Torres del Paine? This is the million-dollar question for travelers eager to plan a trip to Patagonia. However, there is no exact answer, as the weather in Torres del Paine can change in the blink of an eye.
But there are trends. For instance, the high season (late spring and summer, from November to March) is known for higher temperatures and more daylight, with up to 17 hours of daylight in December. However, there is also more wind and more crowds.
During the low season (September, October, April, and May), there are fewer people in the park, less wind, and usually more opportunities for wildlife sightings, although it is colder and the days are shorter.
Check out this article for temperature information and more details about the weather.
Always keep in mind that you can experience different seasons in a single day in Patagonia, from sunshine to rain and wind, and even snow. That's why you should be well prepared when it comes to clothing.
As you can experience different types of weather during your trip, we recommend dressing in layers and bringing protection from the sun and rain. Here's a summary:
Hiking boots
Comfortable shoes for the evenings
Trekking poles (not allowed in carry-on luggage on flights)
Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
Beanie, buff, and gloves
Layered clothing: T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, fleeces or sweaters, (thermal) underwear, hiking socks, a rain jacket or insulated jacket, and pyjamas
Camera
Binoculars
Refillable water bottle
Daypack
Cash and credit card
Toiletries and medications
You can also watch this video to learn more about what to bring.
Ready to experience a Wildlife Safari?
You can find more details on this page. If you’re ready to book, you can contact us at reservations@cascada.travel, through one of the buttons on our website, or via the chat below.
We hope to welcome you to EcoCamp Patagonia soon!