End of the World Route: From Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine

Day 1 of the Patagonia Wildlife Safari program at EcoCamp begins with a transfer to Torres del Paine. In my case, my starting point was Punta Arenas, so there was a long road ahead to get to my destination, over 5 hours drive on the End of the World Route.

I was not expecting much of a scenic route, however I found myself experiencing the best of introductions to the Chilean Patagonia, large plains of ocher and beige tones, extensive pampas and imposing hills, with the constant crossing of groups of guanacos from the area. Guanacos are wild relatives to llamas, one of the four camelids native from South America, that can reach up to 1 meters height, light brown with black face.

Some of my favorite stops on route were Puerto Natales and El Ovejero coffee shop.
Puerto Natales is a picturesque town serving as a gateway to some of Patagonia's most stunning natural attractions. I loved the painting on the walls, the moody water front and the local shops with natural wool products handmade and hand colored.

In Cerro Lo Castillo, just 30 minutes drive from Torres del Paine National Park entrance, you find this charming and cozy coffee shop, El Ovejero Patagónico. In addition to the cafeteria, you can find souvenirs, books, clothing, gear and a last chance to stock up on food or drinks before heading to the national park.

Our last stop, and the most impressive of all, was the lookout by Sarmiento Lake, just a few minutes from the entrance to the Torres del Paine National Park, where you get just a glimpse of the majestic mountains of the Paine Massif.