The Hike to Hosteria Las Torres

Day five on the W was a much needed easy day.  As forecast, the weather was cloudy when we woke up making us glad that we had day hiked the previous evening to the towers.

We took a more leisurely than normal breakfast as we knew that we would only be on the trail for a couple of hours. The trail to Hosteria Las Torres is steadily downhill, just a walk in the park compared to the previous four days.  As we made our way down, I realized just how many visitors take day trips to the park, ostensibly just to make the hike to the towers.  Families with young children that they were forced to begin carrying less than an hour into the hike. Hikers older than me with only a slim chance of reaching the towers in my estimation.  Not a group of wilderness hikers by any means.  Circuit hikers would certainly see less of this crowd.

We arrived at the hosteria late in the morning, joining many other hikers we had met over previous days. Sprawling over the hotel grounds and waiting the 2:00 pm hotel shuttle to park entrance, a cold beer from a small kiosk in the parking lot was the order of the day. They also sold pretty ordinary sandwiches. I went inside the hotel restaurant instead - another good choice. Hard to beat a pair of very fine pork churrasco sandwiches at the end of a hike, maybe $12 with a soft drink.

The shuttle was timed to ensure your arrival at the park entrance for the return buses to Puerto Natales. Once on the bus for Puerto Natales, everyone sleeps.

On arrival at the bus station in Puerto Natales, some hikers on a tight schedule opted for a second bus ride to El Calafate in Los Glaciares NP in Argentina or back to Punta Arenas if their journey was complete. I wanted to rest and chose another night at Hostal Yemel.

My reflections.  The trip to Torres Del Paine is every bit as great as advertised.  The scenery is as spectacular as any I have ever witnessed and I traveled widely over my lifetime.  Hiking the "W" during high season will guarantee crowded conditions, especially at refugios along the trail.  The prohibition on wild camping makes this unavoidable.  If I made a return trip, I would definitely add in a rest day along the trail, probably at Los Cuernos.