Cueva del Puma and Tucúquere area, ancient rocks and climbing destinations discovered in 1962 in Torres del Paine, have been set up today with new 100%-safe anchors, opening a total eight climbing routes of different difficulties, for tourists and athletes from age 6.
Cerro Paine Reserve also launched a bike route, this time setting up a special circuit for the physically disabled, with guides support and a special chair provided by Wheel the World.
Located in the eastern access of Torres del Paine National Park, Cerro Paine Reserve this summer launches climbing routes for children, beginners and experts in the vicinities of Cueva del Puma and Tucúquere areas, ancient rocks discovered in 1962 by the first climbers of Torres del Paine. In April, both rock routes were reequipped and made available for climbing with different difficulty levels and considering the wind speed and extreme temperatures.
Cerro Paine Reserve receives over 100,000 visitors each year, local and foreigners coming mainly from the United States, Europe, Australia and the United Kingdom. The new climbing routes have become one more attraction for athletes, amateurs and children initiating in this sport. “This year we took the challenge of setting up this well-known climbing routes and installing new anchors and thus implement five new safe climbing routes, completing a total of 8, to expand tourism choices in Torres del Paine”, says María José Marchant, Manager of the Cerro Paine Reserve Trip Center.
The Cueva del Puma climb has three routes mainly aimed at experts, because of the slope against the cave, with a great potential to continue implementing new access routes. The Tucúqure climb, on the other hand, named after a typical Magellan owl, has routes with evolving difficulty, ideal for the school format. Climbing takes 3.5 hours and it is recommended for groups of 1 to 4 people, from age 6.
All alternatives include guided assistance from Las Torres Hotel to both rocks, and recognition of routes “Cochambre”, “La de Pepe”, “Ni dry ni wet”, and “Escuelita”, with an average 5 to 6 meters height. It includes first aids and technical mountaineering equipment. Suggested requirements include: good physical shape, small backpack, sun protection, sun glasses, light warm clothes and trekking shoes.
Along with inclusion, Cerro Paine Reserve has already had some inclusive tourism experiences for people with visual, cognitive, hearing and physical disabilities. In the latter, it joined the Australian Paralympic athlete, Chris Alp, paraplegic since age 12, in an all-terrain adapted wheelchair journey, provided by Wheel the World, which is now available for a bike circuit within the Reserve.
About the Cerro Paine Reserve
It is a natural and cultural reserve located in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile’s most southern region. Its mission is to inspire visitors with the Patagonian nature and culture, aiming at a sustainable world-class vision. There you can find the Las Torres Patagonia and Fantástico Sur Hotel, which manages 5 areas for camping/shelter, located at the entrance of the National Park, reason why it is part of most of the area’s circuits, such as W or Paine Grande, and O. The region’s fauna includes pumas, South Andean deers, guanacos, condors, Andean armadillos, South American skunks, foxes, among other species. Its flora includes the generous presence of lenga trees, coigues, ñirres, Andean thatch, calafate, among others.
