After being closed for several years, Torres del Paine once again has a sustainable and durable guided trail, thanks to an alliance between Reserva Las Torres and La Crianza.
The reconstruction of Reserva Las Torres’ guided trail is the result of a combination of efforts in pursuit of sustainability, circular economy, and ecotourism. The 2.2-kilometer route is available once again to locals and visitors for enjoying nature and learning about the ecosystem of Torres del Paine. A perfect balance has been achieved with its rehabilitation between tourism and environmental protection, allowing current and future generations to enjoy the natural beauty of the area without compromising its conservation.
The reconstruction of the guided trail in Reserva Las Torres is the result of an alliance between its NGO, AMA Torres del Paine, and La Crianza. Through its “Sustainable Trails” project, La Crianza contributed nine tons of plastic wood, an innovative building material made from recycled plastics from its own packaging.
The route was designed in accordance with the international standards for sustainable trails and had the participation of experts in this field. The volunteers’ participation to enable this unique project in the region to materialize, was added to these efforts. Volunteers contributed so much energy and work to make this happen.
In turn, professionals from the NGO AMA Torres del Paine prepared all the signage and guided layout to make this trail a space destined to transmit knowledge and a sense of conservation to tourists, locals, and groups of students who usually arrive at Torres del Paine National Park and Las Torres Reserve for environmental education activities.
The result is a totally new trail, with easy access and transit, which is an unbeatable option for getting close to the fauna and flora of Patagonia without a lot of physical exertion. The route is equipped with five stations, lookout points, bridges, walkways, informational panels, and bird watching points that allow you to appreciate and learn about the Patagonian ecosystem in a safe and comfortable way.
“We are grateful for this important partnership that allows us to continue contributing to the conservation of Torres del Paine with innovative and sustainable projects. With the inauguration of this guided trail, we’re sharing wetlands, forests, and lagoons. The trail, with its walkways, bridges and lookout points, shows these places of high biodiversity with appropriate care,” said Josian Yaksic Kusanovic, General Manager of Las Torres Patagonia.
During a tour lasting an hour and a half, visitors of any age and origin can see some of the more than 30 species of birds present; appreciate orchids, pimpernels, native trees such as nire, travel through wetlands, or learn a little more about the geomorphology of the area and the formation of glaciers.
All of this can be accomplished on an infrastructure built with nine tons of recycled plastics, recovered thanks to hundreds of people engaging in recycling throughout Chile. These materials will last for an estimated hundreds of years, so this trail will exist for a long time in Las Torres Patagonia.
“More and more we are looking for a world where the circular economy matters and where things can really be reused. Today, something as simple as a product made for mass production doesn’t end in a dump, but becomes the foundation of a sustainable, guided trail in the middle of the Torres del Paine National Park,” said Mauricio Kusanovic, president of the NGO AMA Torres del Paine.
