Patagonia outside Torres del Paine - Alterative Tours

Latest News about the Wildfire in Torres del Paine National Park (since Dec. 27, 2011) and Travel Alternatives in Patagonia outside Torres del Paine National Park.

Latest News about the Wildfire in Torres del Paine National Park

Latest News

January 28, 2012

Torres del Paine National Park completely open again after wildfire

Tha hiking trail across John Gardner Pass and also the hiking trails around Paine Grande Lodge (towards Refugio Grey and into Valle del Franćes) are now completely open again.

As a result, our 3 trekking tours in Torres del Paine National Park can now be run again:

Torres del Paine active

Day Hikes to the Highlights of Torres del Paine National Park- 5 days, 4 nights

Torres del Paine - The "W"

Trekking Patagonia's Classic "W" in Torres del Paine National Park - 7 days, 6 nights

Torres del Paine Circuit - The "Q"

Trekking the Big Loop, the "Q", in Torres del Paine National Park - 11 days, 10 nights

January 04, 2012

Partially Reopening of Torres del Paine National Park

Although the wildfire in Torres del Paine National Park has still not been put out yet, Torres del Paine National Park has been partially reopened today, January 04, 2012.

The reopened areas of the national park are:

Sector Lagua Amarga: park entrance Laguna Amarga
Sector Las Torres: Hotel Las Torres, Refugio Torre Central, Refugio Torre Norte, Campground Las Torres, Refugio El Chileno, Campground El Chileno, Campamento Las Torres, Hike to Torres del Paine lookout "Base Las Torres"
Sector Los Cuernos: Refugio Los Cuernos, Cabañas Los Cuernos, Campground Los Cuernos, Hike Las Torres - Los Cuernos
Sector Valle del Francés: Despite what is shown on the map below, Valle del Francés, Campamento Italiano, Campamento Británico remain closed.
Sector Laguna Azul: park entrance Laguna Azul, Hike Laguna Azul - Victorina - Dickson (only with guide)
Sector Dickson: Refugio Dickson, Campground Dickson, Hike Las Torres - Campground Serón - Dickson
Sector Los Perros: Campground Los Perros, Hike Dickson - Los Perros

The following areas remain closed:

Park entrance Lago Sarmiento
Park entrance Río Serrano
Park entrance Laguna Verde
Lago Grey (incl. boat trip on Lago Grey), Lago Pehoé (incl. Pudeto and catamaran), Lago Sarmiento, Laguna Verde
Hotel Explora
Hotel Lago Grey
Hostería Pehoé
Paine Grande Lodge, Campground Paine Grande
Refugio Grey, Campground Grey
Campground Pehoé
Administración (park ranger's administration center)
Campamento Torres ("the upper one", in Valle Ascencio, at the foot of the rock field)
Valle del Francés, Campamento Italiano, Campamento Británico
John Gardner Pass
Valle Pingo
Mirador Ferrier

The reopened areas of the national park on the map:

Note

"ZONA REABIERTA" = "reopened area"

"ZONA CERRADA POR INCENDIO" = "area closed because of the wildfire"

Update: Jan. 04, 2012, 8:32 p.m.

5 of the 6 seats of fire in Torres del Paine National Park are under control.

The area effected by the wildfire has not been growing since yesterday and therefore maintains at 14,504 ha (35,839 acres).

As planned, the national park has partially been reopened and an area of about 100,000 of about 240,000 ha (247,100 of almost 600,000 acres) have been granted accessible to visitors. According to the Government, this supposedly is 80% of the area relevant to touristic activities, although this last number has to be judged with care. According to the local media, over 500 visitors have entered the Park today.

Apart from that, a local guide reported the re-initiation of a fire in the area near Lago Scottsberg (between Paine Grande Lodge and Campamaneto Italiano).

January 02, 2012

Press Release by the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera

January 02, 2012, 11:00 a.m. (Chilean Standard Time)

Until now, more than 12,000 hectares (almost 30,000 acres) have been effected by the fire in Torres del Paine National Park. 1/3 of this being native forest, and 2/3 being grassland and steppe.
There are 753 fire fighters working on the control of the fire.
There are 6 seats of fire, 4 of which are being controlled, although it cannot be excluded that they may expand again, due to the strong wind.
The other 2 seats of fire are not growing, but work still continues to control them.
The Government is preparing and is taking all measurements to partially re-open Torres del Paine National Park from Wednesday, January 04, if the conditions maintain the same as until now or get better.
This re-opening will be initially in the Northern sector of the Park, corresponding to Laguna Azul, Laguna Amarga, Campamento Cuernos, Campamento Serón, Campamento Perros. In the first stage, 100,000 to 150,000 hectares (about 250,000 to 370,000 acres) will be re-opened, which is the area which most tourists visit.
The objective of all of this to maintain the touristic season as normal as possible.
On top of this, the Government will put special emphasis on protecting the existing flora and fauna in Torres del Paine National Park.

Please note that this is my own, lose translation, which might not be 100% correct and therefore cannot reflect President Sebastián Piñera's words.

December 30, 2011

Torres del Paine National Park closed.

A forest fire that started on Dec. 27, 2011 at about 6:30 p.m. already consumed 11,000 hectares (27,200 acres) by today, Dec. 30, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Strong winds of up to 100km/h (about 60 mph) make it almost impossible to control the fire at this point. All hotels, refugios and campsites have been evacuated. People have not been hurt. Large areas of the Park are not effected by the fire itself, but by the smoke instead. Now: let's hope for rain - lots of rain! ... and that the wind calms down!

Map of the effected areas by the wildfire in Torres del Paine National Park on Dec. 30, 2011, about 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres)

Source: www.radiopolar.com