Welcome to the Park of the Week Newsletter for June 6, 2024. This week we’re featuring one of the largest and most popular national parks in Patagonia.
Torres del Paine National Park
Location
Patagonia, Southern Chile
Claim to fame
Torres del Paine National Park is one of the most popular and beautiful parks in the Patagonia region of southern Chile and Argentina. More than half the park’s visitors are international, as the park is renowned the world over for its stunning scenery and wildlife. In 1978 the park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
Reason to visit
A visit to the granite peaks known as the Torres del Paine is the main attraction here, but the park has plenty of other scenic wonders across its nearly 450,000 acres (181,000 ha), like its many glaciers and turquoise lakes. Hiking is a prime activity here, as the park features many popular day hikes and multi-day treks. All the parks of the Patagonia region can be challenging to reach due to their remoteness though, and some trips will require guide services.
Wild Fact
The Torres del Paine draws bird-lovers from around the world. The park contains 15 different birds of prey, including the Andean condor, generally considered to be the largest bird of prey in the world, with a wingspan over 10 feet (3.3 m). Other notable birds include the Chilean flamingo, Magellanic woodpecker, coscoroba swan, and the austral pygmy-owl.
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