Torres del Paine National Park

In 1978 Torres del Paine was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Today the land is a Chilean National Park visited by thousands of tourists every year. The park contains 597,999 acres (242,242 hectors) and is administrated by The National Forest Corporation (CONAF). Torres del Paine allows for days of backpacking through amazing landscapes carved by years of glacier y tectonic plate movements. The principal attractions are Glacier Grey, the Horns (Cuernos), and the Towers (Torres) of Paine.

Puerto Natales and Surroundings

Puerto Natales is the capital of the Last Hope Province in Region 12 of Magellan and Antarctica Chile. Chileans from Chiloe founded Puerto Natales in 1911. The original settlers were cattle ranchers, and exported to German and British colonies. These ranchers made Patagonia one of the principal producers and cattle exporters in the world until the 1970s. The city has grown and today many people live outside the city proper in estancias or smaller farm style houses. Currently, tourism, cattle ranches, and artesian fishing are the principal economic activities.

Bernardo O’Higgins National Park

Bernardo O’Higgins National Park is the largest national park in Chile. The park covers parts of both Region XI and Region XII of Chile and totals 8,712,691 acres (3,525,901 hectors). The park is mainly accessible by water, to see the park a cruise or boat ride is needed. The main attraction of Bernard O’Higgins is Glacier Pio XI. It is approximately 75 meters in height and connected to the Southern Ice Field. Other glaciers located in the park are Glacier Balmaceda and Glacier Serrano they are located along Rio Serrano that leads to Torres del Paine National Park.