Andean Trails Travel Review: Torres del Paine, Chile
What better Andean Trails’ review than one direct from our happy travellers.
We helped design an incredible two-week Patagonia research and hiking tour for two teachers and 12 teenage students from Dollar Academy, Scotland.
Fortune accompanied the Clackmannanshire school team, with stunning weather—and adventure—all the way. Read their review of travelling with Andean Trails across the vast and beautiful Patagonian expanses.
Why Travel With Andean Trails?
Dollar Academy’s exploratory trip combined exploration with research on topics ranging from ice fields and indigenous populations to mountaineering, all in and around Chile’s iconic Torres del Paine National Park.
Expertise was required across Chile to create the trip: logistics, geology, guides, and more, which is where Andean Trails stepped in.
Dollar Academy teacher and organiser Catherine Munro said: “Andean Trails appealed for being a local (Scottish) company with whom we could work closely.
“It was really helpful that Kathy came to visit us for information evenings. Also, the fact that Andean Trails is headed up by a woman was really important to us. A few parents also commented on how much they enjoyed this type of adventure being led by strong women!”
Experts at Tailor-Made Tours in South America
After sorting the flights and Santiago arrival logistics, Andean Trails decided to kick off the tour with three off-the-beaten-track hikes. Each walk was designed to give students a deep insight into Patagonia’s geology, history, flora, and fauna.
- Cerro Castillo: Fascinating geology alongside beautiful views of Torres del Paine National Park’s entirety.
- Mirador del Condor & Sarmiento: An isolated walk that offers the best chance to see the park’s native pumas.
- Sarmiento Lake: Ancient cave paintings, pumas, and rugged geography.
In good form and spirits, the group’s next challenge was the 63km/40-mile Paine W trek, which showcases the national park’s highlights: The Towers of Paine, Horns of Paine, French Valley, Grey Glacier, and Lago Nordenskjold.
Entering the park was also a poignant moment for the fellowship. Before the trip, the students raised money for the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund, which promotes tourism as a positive force in the park.
Highlights of Travel With Andean Trails
Dollar Academy’s motto, Juventutis Veho Fortunas, translates to ‘I carry the fortunes of youth,’ something they carried into their Paine W adventure.
Catherine continued: “There were a huge number of highlights! These included:
- The drive into the national park and the first sight of the Torres.
- A spectacular sunset on the first night of camping at Pehoé.
- The day in the French Valley when we heard some rumbles and saw the (very) mini avalanches.
- Our final evening at the hostel, where a huge meal was put on for us, and live music was enjoyed.
- Guides Koen and Chris for sharing their genuine passion for geology, flora and fauna. And for the kindness they showed each and every one of us, through colds, sore knees and the lot.
- A lovely visit from the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund on our final evening at the hostel.
Finding the Best Guides in Paine
Head guides Koen Jongerling and Chris Theobald were supported by assistant guides Mauro Padilla and Hugo Colivoro during the nine-day trek, along with local porters.
Catherine said: “The guides and porters probably deserve their own email. They are such special people, and you must have chosen them so carefully for us. Koen and Chris were, in our eyes, a perfect pair. They were able to bring the group together and inspire such freedom, trust, and kindness within our group.
“We were really glad to have had the company (of Chilean porters), and they were great fun. That became really important to us, as we were so aware of the privilege of trekking in such phenomenal places.”
An Army Moves on Its Stomach
Feeding 14 high-calorie-burning hikers plus the entire support team required Andean Trails’ expertise and local contacts. Catherine said: “The food was a highlight for the children, and this is no mean feat when it comes to 12 hungry teenagers.
“They loved their involvement in the food prep. The meals at the hostel in Puerto Natales and the hotel in Santiago were generous and just what we needed. The packed lunches also just added such ease to the busy travelling days.”
Andean Trails Travel Review: Torres del Paine, Chile
The Dollar Academy group won’t forget their Torres del Paine wilderness trek, according to Catherine, who sent us everyone’s “heartfelt thanks.”
“We had a Burns’ supper at school with the year group that came with us, and many Patagonian stories were shared in the speeches,” she said.
“A very many heartfelt thanks to you and all at Andean Trails for all that you did to make the trip such a success. It really was phenomenal.
“I feel as though I’ve needed time to reflect and consider everything, as it honestly felt like a dream. We were just so lucky with the weather, the group and the dynamic. I don’t think the experience could have been bettered.”
Been inspired? Contact us and start planning your own Patagonia adventure with Andean Trails.
