View the ancient ice up close and listen to the sounds of it breaking apart during a boat trip to Grey Glacier, undoubtedly one of the top excursions inside Torres del Paine National Park. Or, take a strenuous day hike from Paine Grande to a lookout where you can see huge icebergs floating on the surface of Grey Lake in front of the glacier. Ice-hiking tours are another option.
In Torres del Paine National Park, Grey Glacier is one of only a few you can trek across, making it a must for outdoor adventurers.
Most adventure tours provide you with necessary equipment like crampons and an ice ax; however, warm and waterproof clothing is your responsibility.
Wear plenty of sunscreen. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can reflect off the ice and cause sunburn.
Torres del Paine National Park is about a 2-hour drive from the closest town, Puerto Natales. The roads are mountainous, requiring lots of driving experience. Buses also run regularly during the high season.
For weather ideal for discovering the natural wonders of Torres del Paine National Park, visit Chilean Patagonia between November and early March, when the park’s colors are at their brightest.
With its abundance of stunning scenery, Torres del Paine National Park is one of Chile’s most-visited attractions, despite its remote location. Besides Grey Glacier, highlights include the vividly blue Lake Pehoe, encircled by mountains; the glacier park of Cordillera del Paine; and Salto Grande, a waterfall plunging into the river below.