Torres del Paine Facts: History of a Natural Wonder

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Last Updated on 28 May, 2026 by Daniel Silvente

Torres del Paine National Park has become Chile’s most famous natural park in recent decades . In fact, one of the most interesting Torres del Paine Facts is that, in 2013, it was recognized by millions of travelers as the Eighth Wonder of the World, consolidating its status as one of Patagonia’s great icons.

Today, we want to share the history of Torres del Paine: how this spectacular national park was born and how it evolved into one of the most famous trekking destinations in the world.

Torres del Paine Facts: Early Years of the Park

Where Is Torres del Paine Located?

Torres del Paine National Park is located at the southern end of the Andes, in the heart of Chilean Patagonia. If you’ve ever wondered where Torres del Paine is, the answer is simple: in one of the wildest and most spectacular corners of South America.

More than 100 years ago, many Croatian families arrived in this area, escaping the disease and instability that affected Europe in the early 20th century. This is one of the most useful Torres del Paine facts to know before planning your trip, as the park is located in a remote area of southern Chile.

Antonio Kusanovic and the Origins of Torres del Paine

One of the lesser-known Torres del Paine facts is that the development of tourism in the area is closely linked to the Kusanovic family. Among those immigrants was Antonio Kusanovic, considered one of the most important figures in Torres del Paine history. He played a key role in the development of Cerro Paine Ranch, a place that would become the starting point for some famous treks.

It wasn’t until 1979 that Antonio Kusanovic bought Cerro Paine Ranch from Juan Radic Dobronic, who had owned the land between 1964 and 1979. Until then, the land had belonged to the Chilean government.

That same year, the Chilean government officially expanded the boundaries of Torres del Paine National Park. As a result, Cerro Paine Ranch became completely surrounded by protected land.

CONAF Torres del Paine and the Protection of the Park

With the expansion of the national park, the management and conservation of the area became the responsibility of CONAF. CONAF is the organization in charge of protecting this natural space and regulating tourism within the park.

Over the years, different challenges and tensions also arose between CONAF and local tourism companies.

Even so, much of the tourism growth of Torres del Paine, and its current recognition as a natural wonder of the world, is thanks to the work of the Kusanovic family. They were pioneers in promoting trekking and adventure tourism at a time when very few international travelers knew about this remote corner of Patagonia.

Arrival of the first travelers

The Birth of Tourism in Torres del Paine

In the first years after purchasing the land, the Kusanovic family’s main activity was livestock farming. Tourism was not yet part of their plans.

However, little by little, travelers began arriving in the area, eager to discover Torres del Paine and explore its mountains, lakes, and glaciers. That was when the family started to realize the enormous tourism potential of this place, which today is considered by many to be a true wonder of the world.

With the arrival of the first groups of travelers during the warmest season of the year, Antonio Kusanovic understood that those lands had a unique appeal for nature and trekking lovers.

The Creation of the First Lodges

In the early 1990s, after a major family effort, the first Hostería Las Torres was built. It was 1992, and the accommodation had only 9 rooms and a small restaurant.

As tourism in Torres del Paine continued to grow, the family kept expanding the park’s infrastructure. In 1995, Refugio Central was built, and one year later, lodges such as Chileno and Francés began to take shape.

With them, the famous W Trek started to become what it is today: one of the most popular hiking routes in the world and one of the must-do experiences for anyone visiting Torres del Paine. Today, thousands of travelers hike these trails every year to discover for themselves why Torres del Paine is considered one of the planet’s great natural wonders.

Torres del Paine Circuits: Some of the Best Treks in the World

Today, the W Trek and the O Circuit in Torres del Paine are considered some of the best treks in the world and a must-do experience for mountain and adventure lovers. Every year, thousands of hikers travel to Chilean Patagonia to discover this natural wonder of the world by walking its trails, glaciers, and mountains.

Torres del Paine and Its International Recognition

The popularity of Torres del Paine has grown enormously in recent years. A great example of this was when the prestigious travel guide publisher Lonely Planet chose Chile as the best country to visit in 2018, highlighting Torres del Paine as one of the must-see places in the country.

This international recognition helped consolidate Torres del Paine as one of the most important destinations in the world for trekking and nature tourism.

In 2019, the last year before the pandemic, more than 300,000 visitors arrived at the national park to hike routes such as the W Trek and the O Circuit. Our teammate Javier, one of those travelers, shares in his Torres del Paine experience that it was one of the best trips of his life.

Sustainable Tourism and Conservation in Torres del Paine

Today, Torres del Paine is also a global example of sustainable tourism and nature conservation. Organizations such as Ama Torres del Paine work alongside CONAF Torres del Paine to protect the park and reduce the environmental impact of tourism.

In recent years, different reforestation and waste reduction projects have also been promoted inside the national park. Thanks to these initiatives, the amount of waste generated by travelers visiting this natural wonder of Chile has been significantly reduced in just a few years.

Discover Patagonia’s Wonder of the World

Now that you know more about the history of Torres del Paine, you can probably understand why this national park has become one of the most spectacular destinations on the planet.

So, have you ever thought about hiking in Torres del Paine and discovering this wonder of the world for yourself?