Sendero a Sector Cuernos

Sendero a Sector Cuernos follows the Hotel Las Torres–Refugio Los Cuernos stretch of the W, then returns along the same north-shore route beside Lago Nordenskjöld. Count 23.2 km (14.4 miles) round trip: 11.6 km each way, with the Cuernos sector below the sharp peaks as your turnaround. It is a long lake walk, not the short Mirador Cuernos stroll from Pudeto.

The park lists the Hotel-to-refuge crossing at 4½ hours one way. The hotel’s guided 23.2 km day outing is listed at 6–8 hours; for a self-paced return, allow closer to nine hours.

The route runs between Mount Almirante Nieto and the lake. Expect a rocky path rather than a smooth promenade, with streams fed by hanging glaciers cutting across the trail. A hanging bridge over the Arriero River is one of the route’s clearest landmarks. The same shoreline and crossings are waiting on the way back, so this works best when you want a full day of walking rather than a quick viewpoint stop.

Inge Lagoon is a named stop on the route, known for its deep blue water. It makes a good pause between the Hotel Las Torres start and the Cuernos sector; take a moment to look back across the lake before you turn around.

The route reaches the Cuernos sector beneath three jagged peaks. Their pale granite contrasts with darker rock and the deep green treeline. The three peaks rise to about 2,600, 2,400 and 2,200 metres, and a broad granite band cuts across their middle. This is the payoff for the long approach; include the lake and trees in your view to show how the peaks sit above the shore.

Lago Nordenskjöld is named for Otto Nordenskjöld, the Swedish-Finnish explorer (1869–1928) whose work took him through Chile, Antarctica, Greenland and Peru. The route keeps the lake in view for much of the day, with Mount Almirante Nieto and its hanging glaciers on the other side of the trail.

The park lists this Hotel Las Torres–Los Cuernos connection as part of the W and notes that it crosses private estancia land. The separate guided day outing is listed for Hotel Las Torres guests only, and independent access for a standalone out-and-back is not confirmed. Check current access and booking rules with the park before planning it outside a booked W itinerary. Snow is a listed hazard from May through September, and pets are prohibited in the park.