1. Torres del Paine, Chile
There is an iconic picture of Patagonia’s ice-slicked, granite towers reflected in a glossy blue lake that you’re likely familiar with – even if you’ve never heard of Torres del Paine. The distinctive Cordillera del Paine, worn down into steep shards by glacial erosion, is the park’s centrepiece, and it’s a vision that hikers from all over the world flock to see. Surrounding the massif are ice fields, lenga forests and pampas with grazing guanacos – all of which have helped make Torres del Paine a legendary wilderness destination.
Best time to visit: October to April for the summer trekking season
Most famous attraction: The W Circuit – a four- to five-day, 80-kilometre hiking trail around the massif
Don’t miss: Splurging on a geodesic dome room at Ecocamp Patagonia.