Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Patagonia: Peaks, Penguins & Pumas

8 km / 5 mi
3 hrs total
Easy

This gorgeous tour is excellent for beginner riders and those with no horseback riding experience. You’ll walk the Reserve’s private trails and feel the energy that radiates in these silent places with few, or no, others. As you ride along the deep blue shores of Lake Nordenskjöld, our expert baqueanos will help you learn how to ride. With the wind in your hair, the sounds of the lake, and the rhythm of the horse’s strong, sturdy movements, you’ll get a feel of Patagonia and its beginnings. Creating a genuine connection with nature, you’ll feel the powerfully pure joy of the moment.

Mount Almirante Nieto and its hanging glacier will hover in the skyline and you’ll appreciate numerous viewpoints and Patagonian flora as you cross pristine rivers and dense forests on horseback. Guided by our baqueanos, you’ll love getting a glimpse into their culture.

This famous lake is situated at the base of the Paine Massif and is named after Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928), a Swedish-Finnish explorer who dedicated himself to the study of Chile, Antarctica, Peru, and Greenland.

7 km / 4.3 mi
3 hrs total
Easy

Ride towards the valley on the little known trails that the colonists and baqueanos used in Patagonia’s early days. You’ll look up at imposing rock walls and a spectacular view of the Las Torres Mountains, while feeling truly connected to the horse and the environment around you. Skirting the slopes of Mount Paine, we’ll make a stop to enjoy the landscape, where you’ll note a unique microclimate and distinct vegetation. After the valley, you’ll have glorious views of Mount Almirante Nieto and feel the serenity of Lake Nordenskjöld. If you’re lucky, you’ll see traces of puma as you pass by the “Puma Cave” on the way back to the stables. Guided by our baqueanos, riders of all levels will love getting a glimpse into the culture and heart of Patagonia.

4 km / 2.5 mi
3 hrs catamaran
7-10 hrs
Easy

Full Paine excursion + lake grey boat ride (navigation). The boat ride is an external service not provided by Hotel Las Torres. Guests are required to confirm their inclusion in the tour.

This tour gives you a beautiful taste of all Torres del Paine National Park has to offer. Travel comfortably in a van that stops at all the main sights, letting you get out and take short hikes to outstanding lookouts. In one day, you’ll get to see almost all the Park’s must-sees and you’ll have a terrific view of the entire Paine Massif.

Stops along the way include Black Bridge, Nordenskjöld Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and the Salto Grande Waterfall. You’ll enjoy lunch with a view and then choose between hiking along the southern shore of Lake Grey, and gazing at the floating icebergs, or taking a luxurious trip in catamaran across the lake to the face of the Grey Glacier.

Note:

Generally, you´ll have lunch during the sailing trip (departing at 1pm). In exceptional cases, you take a later sailing trip and have lunch before. All guests who take the sailing trip must walk to the beach (departing area) and will see icebergs. If you don´t go on the sailing trip, you can take an easy walk to the Peninsula for approximately 1.5 hrs instead.

Las Torres Base Viewpoint Full Day Tour
18.8 km / 11.7 mi
8 hrs total
High

Walk along the foothills of Mount Almirante Nieto, where the combination of the breeze and the view will make your soul feel alive. Granite peaks stand in the distance as you follow the trail along the steep slopes of the Ascencio Valley. Lush trees and vegetation line the river below and your sight extends to the end of the valley, giving you a full view of the hike ahead. You’ll enter a native lenga forest and eventually hit a rocky area, which represents the final, yet hardest, section of the trail. This climb will literally keep you on your toes, and you’ll need to pay attention as you step from one rock to the next. But like all hard work, you’ll get your reward. At the top you’ll get to relax and ponder the beauty of the world in front of the Las Torres Mountains.

Francés Valley Full Day Tour
1:30 hrs van transit
20 km / 12.4 mi hiking
1 hr navigation
12 hrs total
Difficulty Level: High

This tour ventures into the famous Francés Valley, in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park and the famous W Circuit. Start by sailing across the sparkling blue Lake Pehoé to Paine Grande, where you’ll follow the north side of Lake Skottsberg until you reach the bottom of Francés Valley. Heading up a steep trail and deeper into the valley, you’ll fully live the present moment as you feel the powerful energy flowing through the native lenga tree forest. When you get out of the treeline, a new landscape is in store – an awesome view of the multi-colored Los Cuernos Mountains and the Francés Glacier that hangs from Mount Paine Grande. This active glacier gives you the opportunity to hear and see its movements, with frequent cracks and calvings.

Before leaving, don’t forget to look behind you! The lakes below, surrounded by mountains, seal the deal on this panoramic view. Here, you will witness an awe-inspiring 360 degrees of the Nordenskjöld, Pehoé and Toro Lakes, and the Paine Grande, Hoja, Máscara, Espada, Fortaleza and Aleta de Tiburón Mountains.

Patagón Half Day Tour
9,5km / 5,9mi
4hrs total
Low-Mid

The day starts leaving the hotel at 7:45 a.m., where you will take a van that will take you to the Sarmiento gate of the National Park. Afterwards you will walk 9.5km on a mostly flat terrain, crossing the pampas, where you will understand ancient geological processes that have shaped this world biosphere reserve, finding records of the first inhabitants of these lands. It is a protected territory that you can only enter with certified guides where you can find Aonikenk rock paintings as well as a great wildlife activity, mainly guanacos, as well as a high presence of birds of prey, scavengers and pumas.

Lakes Trail Full Day Tour
2:30 hrs van
15 km / 9.3 mi
7-8 hrs total
Mid

Get a different take on the Torres del Paine flora and fauna — and a dramatically different view of the mountain. As soon as your eyes hit the first lake, you’ll want to get out and take photos immediately. You’ll see a lot of wildlife as we drive alongside the intense blue of Lake Sarmiento, one of the largest in the Park, and as we move away from the Paine Massif, you’ll get an incredible panoramic perspective of its immensity. Making a stop at the nearby agricultural Estancia Lazo Ranch, you’ll see Verde Lagoon and start hiking the Lakes Trail. First, you’ll wander through big, thick forests of native lenga trees, which open up for breaks along the beautiful shores of the Verde and Honda Lagoons. Be on the lookout for owls, woodpeckers, guanaco and other wildlife, and don’t miss out on the tiny details like orchids and other wildflowers that decorate the forest floor. We’ll temporarily change water for mountains and climb to a summit with a 360° view of the Paine Massif to the north and Lake Toro and endless Patagonian pampas to the southwest.

Cuernos Sector Full Day Tour
23.2 km / 14.4 mi
6-8 hrs total
Mid-High

Take a breathtaking hike between the ominous Mount Almirante Nieto and the ice blue north shore of Lake Nordenskjöld. As you walk along the lake, pristine streams fed by hanging glaciers slash across the rocky trail leading you to the Cuernos sector. You’ll cross a hanging bridge over the Arriero River, make a stop to see the deep blue Inge Lagoon, and see moon-like rock and land formations. Located just below a cluster of jagged peaks called Los Cuernos, this area offers incredible, contrasting views of the Lake Nordenskjöld, towering granite peaks, and a thick, deep green treeline. You´ll likely see the renowned winds that look like little tornadoes buzzing from one part of the lake to another.

Native Lenga Forest Half Day Tour
8 km / 5 mi
3-4 hrs total
Low-Mid

Hike part of the O Circuit trail around the eastern edge of the massif, into a magical old-growth lenga forest. One of Patagonia’s iconic trees, the Nothofagus pumilio thrives in areas with low temperatures and heavy snow. Lenga woodland provides a habitat for many animals and if you keep your eyes peeled, you have a good chance at spotting Magellanic woodpeckers, Austral parakeets, Chilean flickers and other forest birds. While it is unlikely to see them during the day, be on the lookout for our “Andean Lion”, as pumas are known for roaming this forest. You’ll walk along the foothills of Cerro Paine, crossing little streams and arrive at a gorgeous valley that is filled with daisies during spring. Finishing with a walk along the turquoise Paine River, you’ll enjoy the deep visual contrast of forest and pampas. The trail also features great views of Azul Lagoon, Guido Mountain, and the Sierra Baguales Range on the eastern side of the Massif.

Los Cuernos Viewpoint Half Day Tour
1:30 hrs van transit
6 km / 3.7 mi
4 hrs total
Low

Start with a drive to Pudeto and fall in love with the magic of nature as you see trees sprouting new life. The big picture of the Paine Massif hovering over Lake Nordenskjöld is a powerful perspective. You’ll visit the Salto Grande Waterfall, a raging cascade that channels water between the Nordenskjöld and Pehoé Lakes. With renewed energy, you’ll continue along a path to one of the most humbling views in Torres del Paine National Park, a panorama that features the Los Cuernos Mountains, Mount Paine Grande, and the Francés Valley and its glacier rising straight up from the other side of Lake Nordenskjöld. It is hands down a breathtaking spectacle.

Azul Lagoon Half Day Tour
1 km / .6 mi
4 hrs total
Easy

Head to the quiet shores of Azul Lagoon in the comforts of a van, where you can then take an easy 30 minute walk amidst remarkable views of the Las Torres Mountains. The views here offer a unique perspective of the granite peaks, one that is very different from other sectors of the Park. Wildlife is abundant and the whole scene creates a very peaceful ambiance that naturally leads you to ponder life, nature, and the magic in the present moment.

Azul Lagoon has special significance as it is where Lady Florence Dixie, the intrepid British traveler and writer from the Victorian era, saw the Torres del Paine for the first time. Considered the Park’s first tourist, she wrote about the experience in her 1880 book “Across Patagonia” and referred to the Las Torres Mountains as “Cleopatra’s Needles” due to their resemblance to the obelisks of ancient Egypt. Visit the Paine Waterfall before closing this scenery, wildlife and history rich tour.

Lake Nordenskjöld Horseback Riding Full Day Tour
13 km / 8.1 mi
6 hrs total
Intermediate

This fantastic horseback tour is excellent for beginner riders looking to face a new challenge. You’ll walk the Reserve’s private trails and feel the inspiring energy that radiates in these silent places where your best company is nature herself. As you ride along the deep blue shores of Lake Nordenskjöld, our expert baqueanos will help you learn how to ride. With the wind in your hair, the sounds of the lake, and the rhythm of the horse’s strong, sturdy movements, you’ll get a feel of Patagonia and its beginnings. Creating a genuine connection with nature, you’ll feel the powerfully pure joy of the moment.

Mount Almirante Nieto and its hanging glacier will hover in the skyline and you’ll appreciate numerous viewpoints and Patagonian flora as you cross pristine rivers and dense forests on horseback. We will venture into the Asencio Valley and cross the Asencio River, where you’ll be able to appreciate an ecotone – the intersection of two distinct ecosystems. The forest and the pampas transition into one another, uniquely blending together in the middle.

This famous lake is situated at the base of the Paine Massif and is named after Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928), a Swedish-Finnish explorer who dedicated himself to the study of Chile, Antarctica, Peru, and Greenland.

Regenerative Biointensive Garden Half Day Tour
2-3 hrs
Low
Free Activity

They say necessity is the mother of all inventions. When the Kusanovic Family took over the property, they immediately began cultivating their own herbs, fruits and vegetables. Today, our garden has developed immensely since its origin in the early 1950s and is now one of the region’s largest regenerative gardens.

Within about a half hectare, one of the world’s southernmost regenerative gardens produces seasonal fruits and vegetables using bio-intensive, sustainable methods. We aim to strike a balance between conserving heirloom varieties and meeting production goals. Many of the ingredients found in our restaurant dishes and bar cocktails come directly from the garden!

We have nine types of fruits and more than twenty-five types of vegetables, along with an ever-growing number of culinary and medicinal herbs.

Our garden is part of our long-term strategy to leave the smallest possible footprint within the National Park and just one example of the Las Torres Reserve’s commitment to sustainable tourism.

Baqueano Cultural Experience Half Day Tour
3 hrs total
Low

Spend a morning with the baqueanos and get a glimpse of the traditional Patagonian lifestyle. During your time with these Patagonian cowboys and girls — descendants of horsemen who came to work ranches in this remote region more than a century ago — you will learn about their special clothing, saddles and other horse tack. They can show you how to properly saddle a horse, nail a horseshoe and, of course, how to ride!

In Patagonia, they live up to the Spanish saying “Happy Belly, Happy Heart.” The baqueanos will be happy to take a break, share a mate, and proudly tell you about their culture. Mate, an herbal tea made from yerba mate leaves, is heavily woven into Patagonia’s lifestyle and sharing this hot beverage is a beloved tradition with high significance. Let yourself have a savory treat of sopaipillas with pebre, a classic Chilean combination of pumpkin bread and fresh salsa. By the end of this cowboy journey, you will have a much better understanding of what it was like to live and work in this remote corner of South American before the arrival of tourism.

Base Torres Full Day Tour
9.2 km / 5.7 mi horseback riding
9.6 km / 6 mi hiking
6-8 hrs total
High

This tour combines the Park’s “must see” with a special twist. Horseback riding in Torres del Paine offers a unique and exhilarating experience. Start the day in the stables, learning about the horses, and then start your ride across typical Patagonian lands of low vegetation and wide open spaces. You can let the horse walk freely and instinctively, and lose yourself in the impressive, mesmerizing views of the Ascencio Valley. When you reach the Chileno Mountain Hostel, you’ll leave the horses behind and they’ll patiently wait for you to climb up to the Las Torres Base Viewpoint. After crossing a dense forest, you’ll hit a rocky trail that eventually leads you through a moraine of huge rocks and reveals the highly anticipated granite towers. Here we’ll take time to process the magnificent sight, eat lunch, and take the iconic photo of the three peaks soaring over the ice blue lagoon.

Valle Encantado (Enchanted Valley) Full Day Tour
24 km / 14.9 mi
6-8 hrs total
High

If you have prior horseback riding experience, then this tour is for you! Feel the Patagonian wind in your face and the adrenaline race through your body as you gallop across the pampas. You’ll follow the original trail that was used by the baqueanos, and spend a full day immersing yourself in their horse culture. Next to a windy river and under soaring peaks, we guarantee you’ll fall in love with the nature around you.

On this equestrian adventure across the Las Torres Reserve, you’ll also meander through a native forest of lenga trees, which is home to many birds, including Magellanic woodpeckers, Austral Parakeets and Chilean Flickers. The trip follows the O Circuit around the eastern edge of the Paine Massif and into the valley of the Paine River. It offers great views of Azul Lagoon and Mount Cerro Paine before reaching the Serón Campsite in the Enchanted Valley.