Torres del Paine National Park

Chile

Chile’s spectacular Torres del Paine National Park is one of the most famous areas of Patagonia, with those much-photographed eponymous towering granite peaks that glow pink, red and orange with the sunset.

As well as its mountains, Torres contains glaciers, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and abundant flora and fauna, leading it to be considered among the most beautiful places in the world.

Although a vast pristine wilderness area of 598,000 acres, the park has a number of excellent lodges and a sprinkling of luxury eco-hotels as well as camping options for hardy trekkers.

Wildlife roams the unspoilt terrain freely, from the guanaco; delicate cousin of the llama, to flamingos, myriad bird species including the mighty condor, and even the puma.

The distances are large and after the flight to Punta Arenas, it’s a good seven hour car journey via Puerto Natales into the park itself, so an overnight stay is often well worth it in order to break up the travelling.