Shanghai – Seoul – New York – Santiago – Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine National Park, a journey spanning over 20,000 kilometers. In the deep autumn of Torres del Paine, the desolate and cold beauty serves as a breathtaking backdrop. The stunning scenery along the way made every kilometer of the 20,000-kilometer journey worthwhile (though no photograph can truly capture the magnificent splendor of Torres del Paine)!
To me, Torres del Paine stands alongside Yellowstone, Alaska, Iceland, and Tibet’s Ngari as one of the world’s most awe-inspiring landscapes! Snow-capped mountains, glaciers, dense forests, pristine lakes, cascading waterfalls, vast meadows, and diverse wildlife—Torres del Paine is a national park that can fulfill almost every nature lover’s dream!
On the first day, we explored the main attractions of Torres del Paine. On the second day, we drove from the town back to Torres del Paine National Park, planning to hike a classic route suitable for all ages. Before setting off, we noticed that there was still more than half a tank of fuel, which we estimated would be sufficient for the round trip.
As we entered the park, our vehicle navigated bumpy gravel roads, with construction trucks ahead kicking up clouds of dust that nearly obscured our view!
When we reached the starting point of the hiking trail, the fuel gauge indicated only 50 kilometers left. For the next two hours, we frantically searched for fuel within Torres del Paine National Park. It was then that we realized there wasn’t a single gas station within a 100-kilometer radius of the entire park.
In this scenic area teeming with international tourists, finding staff who could speak English was almost impossible. Using translation apps and various gestures, we were often misled to different locations, coming up empty-handed each time. We had to backtrack 50 kilometers to the park entrance, with the fuel tank nearly on empty.
In a moment of despair, we finally found a restaurant selling gasoline at a premium price. After refueling and returning to the hiking point, it was already close to 4 PM. The sky was darkening, and the wind was howling. Most hikers were turning back, but we couldn’t resist the allure of the scenery and pressed on.
Two hours later, we completed the hike.
On the way back, we rushed all the way. When we returned to Puerto Natales at 8 PM, the town was already twinkling with lights, a warm and welcoming sight after our adventurous day.
