Local authorities praised the work done by Las Torres Patagonia in creating a sustainable trail that improves connections in the national park.
Torres del Paine, 13 of February 2024.- Mayor Anahí Cárdenas of Torres del Paine, along with members of the municipal council, visited the trail being developed by Las Torres Patagonia with the goal of gaining insights into the project’s progress. The construction of this new trail will link to the Base Torres viewpoint, renowned as one of the most captivating tourist destinations in the country.
The mayor was accompanied by Josian Yaksic, General Manager of Las Torres Patagonia, and John Ojeda, responsible for conservation, sustainability, and safety, and witnessed firsthand the outcomes of the collaboration between the tourist complex and several national and international organizations. These include ConservationVIP, AMA Torres del Paine, and the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF).
During the visit, the foremost representative of the Torres del Paine district actively engaged in the reconstruction efforts. Together with the municipal council, they participated in tasks such as grass removal and path leveling, observing and acknowledging the dedication of the numerous professionals and volunteers involved in these activities.
After the activity, the Mayor stated that “as a municipality, we are interested in awareness of everything that happens in our territory. Here, I would like to highlight the great work and commitment of the private sector in order to improve trails, to improve circuits and to make them safe.” She also stressed the importance of extending these efforts to improve trails with sustainable techniques in the final stretch of Torres del Paine National Park in the short term, with the objective of providing a beautiful and safe experience for visitors, and in so guaranteeing the preservation of the natural environment. “We leave very satisfied and hope to continue working as we have done in this public-private effort.”
Regarding her first impressions of the new trail and its design, she added that it is “quite accessible, not as steep as the current one; I feel that they have seen to all the aspects that make it a much easier trail to walk.”
During this noteworthy day, councilmen Edmundo Bilbao and Juan Carlos Almonacid, accompanied by councilwoman Alejandra Toro, were present at the trail, highlighting the public-private work and the visibility of this to the entire community. Later, councilwoman Silvia Silva and Ercilia Concha joined them. Councilwoman Alejandra Toro commended the work of the Kusanovic family, expressing “I am very happy that Josian Yakisc and his family are always supporting the development of the community in general. I thank them from the bottom of my heart, and I wish them all the best.”
Yaksic, thanking the mayor for her words, said that it is “vital to manage the trails and their creation considering the environment and the tourist experience”, adding that it is important “to have a public-private collaboration, because the challenges of this destination are gigantic.”
Regarding the features of the new trail, the representative from the tourist center remarked, “It is engineered to avoid steep inclines and to allow water to flow naturally without channeling, thus preventing erosion of the path. Additionally, it traverses more appealing locations, catering to tourists, and is built to endure over the long term.”
Concerning the project’s timeline, Yaksic anticipates that by the upcoming season, spanning from November of this year to April 2025, trail construction to Refugio Chileno will be finished, linking the final resting spot before the last stretch to Base Torres.