Torres del Paine
Lago Pehoé
Declared National Park in 1959 and World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, Torres del Paine is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful wilderness of Chile. The diversity of its landscapes – 227’000 ha of steppes, forests, mountains, lakes, waterfalls and glaciers – its rich fauna and flora, made internationally known among hikers and large spaces lovers. The park annually receives over 150’000 visitors, attracted by the iconic Torres, which give the impression of being cut with scissors and seems to threaten the sky with their sharp peaks – when they are not, as often, swallowed up by the clouds. On the Lago Grey you can spot large icebergs and an infinite varieties of shades of blue and green. Stunning ! It’s here that, step by step, you will discover Patagonia in all its splendor, its isolation, its mystery; Here you will feel also its hostility (winds, storms, cold nights). Live mother nature !
Photography in Torres del Paine
As I mentioned in my post of Puerto Natales, the wind gusts are strong here. You will quickly find your sensor covered with dust if you happen to change lenses often. I recommend to bring a sensor cleaning set or at least your air blower.
Stay at least one night in the park ! I learned my lesson well. I visited the park on a one day trip from Puerto Natales with a tour bus. It’s nice but needless to say that it was insufficient time. The bus stops in the main view points but as a photographer you need to stop anytime, anywhere and as long as you want. Hence I highly recommend to rent a car but make sure you know how to read a map. My experience was not very comfortable as I had literally 3 to 5 minutes to takes pictures which is really not enough time, for me at least. The honk of the bus calling back the visitors irritated me to the highest point. But if you are going to take one of those 1 day trip just make things clear with the tour operator : You are a photographer and you need that extra time. Nobody will be worried to arrive 1 hour and a half late back to Puerto Natales… who really cares ?
In the other hand we were very lucky with the weather that day and I was able to take maybe 2 ok/good pictures. So all in all not too bad.
The best way to explore Torres del Paine is hiking and I will do that in the future for sure if I ever return to the park. The W trail is the most popular multi-day hike as you come to see most of the highlights of the park and you get plenty of time to make pictures.
For the day in the park I used a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm. I would have loved to have my 100-400mm with me for the fauna. Don’t forget to look up in the sky if you can spot a condor 🙂 I did but was unable to take a good shot as I was… in the bus.