Torres del Paine

Patagonia. This vast, awe-inspiring national park stretches over 150 kilometers. We left Puerto Natales, just a couple of hours drive away and entered the park through Laguna Amarga.

The first sight to greet us was Lake Toro, a breathtaking expanse of water shimmering with an almost unreal shade of turquoise.

There are no paved roads here, only rough gravel tracks that rattle your nerves as much as your car. With each passing vehicle, you're half-expecting a stray stone to crack your windshield or puncture a tire.

But the mountains more than make up for the discomfort. They are otherworldly in their beauty, layered like ancient tapestries. Paine Grande, in particular, looked like a mirage at first, its forms shaped by light and shadow. But no, it truly is that unique: dark sedimentary rock carved by glaciers forms its base, while pale granite crowns the summit. It’s both strange and stunning.

These dramatic peaks are encircled by a patchwork of countless lakes, each one different and dazzling in its own way.

On the drive back, llamas darted out onto the road without warning. We found ourselves constantly bracing, fearful of a sudden collision. But even their wild unpredictability seemed to belong to the magic of the place.