The Cuernos del Paine — Horns of Paine — are in some ways more dramatically photogenic than the Torres themselves. Three peaks rise to 2,600 metres above Lake Nordenskjöld, their geology on full display: the lower half is pale granite, the upper half is dark metamorphic rock that was baked by the magma intrusion beneath it. The contrast gives the peaks their distinctive two-tone appearance and the jagged profile that catches the eye from every corner of the park.
The best views of the Cuernos are from the trail between the Italiano campsite and the Pehoe refugio — a stretch of the W Trek that many walkers list as their highlight. The lake on a calm day reflects the peaks almost perfectly, and the light changes through the day from blue-white at noon to deep orange in the evening. The peaks are technically challenging to climb and are the preserve of experienced alpinists; for most visitors, seeing them from the trail at lake level is entirely sufficient.