Torres del Paine Day Trip: Salto Grande & Grey Glacier Tour

Walk through lenga forests to icy shores and spot guanacos and condors in Patagonia

A full-day tour departing Puerto Natales that enters Torres del Paine National Park to visit its major lakes, viewpoints and a 30-minute walk to Salto Grande waterfall, then hikes through lenga forest to Grey Glacier's beach to see icebergs calving from the ice field. The tour also stops at Milodon Cave on the return to town. A bilingual guide leads the route. Hotel pickup is included. The park entrance fee varies by option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave

• Depart from Puerto Natales
• Enter Torres del Paine National Park
• View Lake Sarmiento panorama
• See flamingos at Laguna Amarga
• Pass Amarga Lake Gate entrance
• Visit Lake Nordenskjöld and Salto Grande waterfall
• Stop at Lake Pehoé viewpoint
• Hike to Grey Lake beach
• Observe icebergs from Grey Glacier
• Visit Milodon Cave Natural Monument
• Return to Puerto Natales

The experience

The tour leaves Puerto Natales on Route 9 and enters Torres del Paine National Park through the Amarga Lake Gate. Along the way you pass Lake Sarmiento and Laguna Amarga, where flamingos often gather near the Towers. The route then follows the park's main attractions: Nordenskjöld Lake, where Salto Grande waterfall drops with views of the Horns of Paine; Lake Pehoé, one of the region's most photographed viewpoints; and finally Lake Grey, which sits at the edge of the South Ice Field.

At Lake Grey, you leave the vehicle and hike roughly 30 minutes through lenga forest to reach the beach. Here the Grey Glacier meets the water, and icebergs drift in the lake: some calving directly from the glacier face. The hike is the day's main walking section and the closest approach to the ice field. After this, the tour departs the park and heads to Milodon Cave, a natural monument where remains of a prehistoric ground sloth were discovered. The return to Puerto Natales happens around 5 p.m., completing a nine-hour day.

The guide speaks English and Spanish throughout. Hotel or accommodation pickup in Puerto Natales is included, as is all transport. The park entrance fee depends on your ticket option at checkout. Milodon Cave has its own separate entrance fee not included in the tour price.

What’s included

• Hotel or accommodation pickup in Puerto Natales.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• transport throughout the day via vehicle.
• access to all viewpoints and trails within Torres del Paine National Park (entrance fee varies by option).
• the 30-minute hike to Salto Grande and Grey Glacier beach.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 42 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Typ Tour

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to cover Torres del Paine's major viewpoints and lakes in one day departing from Puerto Natales with a group following set timing, rather than planning your own route.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is Salto Grande and how close do you get to it?

Salto Grande is a powerful waterfall on Nordenskjöld Lake with unobstructed views of the Horns of Paine. You walk about 30 minutes from the vehicle to approach and stand near it, taking in the full scale of the falls and the surrounding peaks.

Can you see icebergs at Grey Glacier on this tour?

Yes. After the 30-minute hike through lenga forest to Grey Glacier's beach, you stand at the lake's edge where icebergs drift in the water, some breaking off directly from the glacier face. The glacier is part of the South Ice Field and is the tour's closest approach to active ice.

What animals might you see in Torres del Paine?

Guanacos, condors and ñandú (a large flightless bird) commonly appear in the park. Flamingos often gather at Laguna Amarga. Wildlife sightings depend on the day and season, but the park's open terrain makes spotting these species likely.

Is the Grey Glacier hike difficult or steep?

The walk to Grey Glacier beach is about 30 minutes on a trail through lenga forest and is suitable for all fitness levels. It is the main walking section of the day but not technical or strenuous.

What happens at Milodon Cave and is it included?

Milodon Cave is a natural monument where the remains of a prehistoric ground sloth were found. The tour stops here on the return to Puerto Natales. The cave entrance fee is separate and not covered by the tour price.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You may want to bring food or arrange a meal stop. Confirm timing with your guide when you're picked up.