[Latest update 27th Jan: Patricio Salinas, Regional President of CONAF announced on Twitter on 27th Jan: @Pato_Salinas ‘Catamaran’s working, refugio Paine Grande open but not at full capacity, Refugio Grey open, Valley Frances and the rest of the park is normal’]
[Update as of 25th Jan – Torres del Paine reopens fully: https://chile.travel/en/news/parque-nacional-torres-del-paine-reabre-todas-sus-zonas-tura-sticas.html]
[Latest update as of 13th January: Sernatur released information about open routes at 9th January (in Spanish) https://www.sernatur.cl/noticias/rutas-turisticas-disponibles-en-parque-nacional-torres-del-paine
We also have a map of the affected areas in the park as of 7th January:
[interim update at 6th January: the majority of the park has re-opened as anticipated, but the French Valley is currently closed to tourists. Further updates to follow.]
[latest information from the Chilean Tourist Board: https://www.sernatur.cl/torres-del-paine-update/situacion-en-torres-del-paine]
Following on from our original announcement about the fire in Torres del Paine, there’s now further clarity and some positive news:
The President has announced that the northern part of the park that has not been affected by the fire (including the majority of the ‘W Circuit’) wil reopen on Wednesday.
source: https://www.elpatagonico.cl/?p=27871
This map shows clearly the area affected by the fire. You’ll note that the main trekking area is to the north of Lago Nordenskjold.
Source: https://especiales.latercera.cl/INFOGRAFIAS/2012/incendio.html
What has happened to the Eastern shore of Lago Grey (the western strand of the W Circuit), and the southern part of the park is a terrible tragedy. However, it’s a blessing that the two other strands of the W Circuit (French Valley and Ascensio Valley) are unaffected.
Latest estimates are that 13,000 hectares of the park have been affected. In total the park covers over 240,000 hectares. So whilst the news is devasting it’s good to know that visitors will still be able to enjoy the majority of what this incredible destination has to offer.
More updates will follow.
