Nordenskjold Lake
Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Natales, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica
In the heart of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, Lago Nordenskjold (Nordenskjold Lake) is famed for its unique milky turquoise color and magnificent waterfall, Salto Grande. Walking along the lake’s shore affords spectacular views of Valle Frances (French Valley) and the Paine Massif and the chance to spot wildlife such as condors and guanacos.
The basics
While the national park is renowned for its multi-day hiking circuits, visitors can make a shorter, more leisurely hike to Mirador Nordenskjold, an overlook offering stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The trail, which takes around one hour each way, passes through fields of wildflowers in the spring, and it also brings hikers up close to the Salto Grande waterfall. Most day tours of the park include this hike.
Whether you want to spend multiple days exploring Torres del Paine or just a few hours hiking, you’ll find a range of group and private tour options from Puerto Natales to meet your needs.
Things to know before you go
Admission tickets are required to enter Torres del Paine and must be purchased in advance.
Wear appropriate footwear for rocky, uneven surfaces, and dress in warm layers, even in summer.
If you plan to spend the night, make your lodge or dormitory (refugio) reservations well in advance.
How to get there
Torres del Paine National Park is around a 5-hour drive north of Punta Arenas or around two hours north of Puerto Natales. There are regular buses from Puerto Natales Bus Terminal to Torres Del Paine. Nordenskjold Lake is in the park’s Pehoé sector and easily accessible by vehicle and on foot.
When to get there
The best time to visit Torres del Paine National Park is between October and March, when conditions are most favorable. However, this is the busy season, so you should make reservations well in advance if you plan to visit during the southern summer season—December and January typically draw the biggest crowds.
Torres del Paine National Park
Dotted with glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls and laced with hiking trails of varying lengths, outdoor lovers will find plenty of things to do in Torres del Paine National Park. Popular activities include ice hiking on Glacier Grey, trekking through the French Valley, kayaking in Lake Grey, and puma tracking.
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