Trekking in Torres del Paine

Explore the wild heart of Torres del Paine National Park and neighbouring Los Glaciares National Park, home to towering granite spires, vast icefields, sweeping valleys, and the fierce Patagonian winds. Iconic routes like the Torres del Paine Circuit (‘O’) and Half Circuit (‘W’) showcase this remote wilderness, making it one of the world’s premier trekking destinations.

Trekking in Torres del Paine, written by guidebook author Rudolf Abraham, is your complete companion for discovering this remarkable part of Patagonia on foot. The guide covers eight walking and trekking routes, including four multi-day treks and four shorter day walks, with clear detail and practical planning advice to help you get the most from each journey.

• Four multi-day Patagonian treks are described: the Torres del Paine Circuit (‘O’) (10–11 days, 141 km), the Half Circuit (‘W’) (5 days, 71 km), a trek in the Cerro Fitz Roy area (4 days, 39 km), and Río Pingo and Mirador Zapata (3 days, 33km)
• Four shorter day walks throughout Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks are included, providing extra options for exploration and memorable scenic outings during your trip
• Detailed information on accommodation, facilities and planning gives you the insight you need for logistics, from refugios and campsites inside the national parks to services in gateway towns such as Puerto Natales and El Calafate
• Practical advice on travel, visas, transport, local weather and equipment preparation ensures that you’re well-prepared for trekking in some of the most dynamic and changeable conditions in South America
• Sketch maps for every walk and trek help you visualise routes on the ground and understand key waypoints and highlights, so you can navigate Patagonia’s varied terrain more confidently

The iconic Torres del Paine Circuit (‘O’) and Half Circuit (‘W’), along with additional treks and excursions, reveal Patagonia at its most dramatic, and Trekking in Torres del Paine is your essential guide to exploring it with confidence.

Seasons

December-April. January-February is high season, when most visitors arrive, so can be a little crowded. Overall, March is best.

Centres

Puerto Natales is the gateway to Torres del Paine, and also the base for short trips to the Balmaceda Glacier and Sierra Baguales. There are multiple bases in the national park itself.

Difficulty

No technical difficulties, but the Torres del Paine Circuit is a long and, at times, remote undertaking from which there is no convenient exit point half way through. Sudden changes in weather, gale force winds and torrential rain can turn it into a far more difficult undertaking.

Must See

The magnificent granite spires of the towers (Torres), and distinctive, banded form of the horns (Cuernos); vast glaciers (Grey, Tyndall and Dickson) spilling out from the largest sheet of ice in the southern hemisphere outside Antarctica; unspoilt southern beech (or lenga) forest; rich and varied animal and birdlife; remote valleys and immense, cloud-streaked skies.

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Torres del Paine National Park

Location of routes

Introduction

Geography and geology

Climate

Wildlife and plants

History and culture

Early exploration and mountaineering

Getting to Chile

Transport within Chile

Agencies and tour operators

Visas and arrival

Accommodation

Language

Food and drink

Money and costs

Keeping in touch

Safety

About this guide

Trekking in Torres del Paine National Park

Refugios, campsites and hotels

Booking ahead

Transport to and around the park

Maps

Equipment

Low-impact trekking

What to do in an emergency

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Walk 1 Torres del Paine circuit (the ‘O’)

Stage 1 Refugio Paine Grande–Campamento Italiano

Stage 2 Campamento Italiano–Valle Francés (return)

Stage 3 Campamento Italiano–Refugio Las Torres

Stage 4 Refugio Las Torres–El Chileno

Stage 5 El Chileno–Mirador Las Torres (return)

Stage 6 El Chileno–Campamento Japonés (return)

Stage 7 El Chileno–Refugio Las Torres

Stage 8 Refugio Las Torres–Campamento Serón

Stage 9 Campamento Serón–Refugio Dickson

Stage 10 Refugio Dickson–Campamento Los Perros

Stage 11 Campamento Los Perros–Campamento Paso

Stage 12 Campamento Paso–Refugio Grey

Stage 13 Refugio Grey–Refugio Paine Grande

Stage 14 Refugio Paine Grande–CONAF Administración (the ‘Q’, optional)

Walk 2 Torres del Paine Half-Circuit (the ‘W’)

Stage 1 Refugio Las Torres–Mirador Las Torres (return)

Stage 2 Refugio Las Torres–Campamento Italiano

Stage 3 Campamento Italiano–Valle Francés (return)

Stage 4 Campamento Italiano–Refugio Grey

Stage 5 Refugio Grey–Refugio Paine Grande

Walk 3 Salto Grande and Mirador Los Cuernos

Walk 4 Puente Weber

Walk 5 Mirador Lago Toro and Laguna Verde

Walk 6 Mirador Cóndor

Walk 7 Río Pingo and Mirador Zapata

Stage 1 Guardería Lago Grey–Campamento Zapata

Stage 2 Campamento Zapata–Mirador Zapata (return)

Stage 3 Campamento Zapata–Guardería Lago Grey

Other walks within the national park

Laguna Amarga–Portería Sarmiento

Laguna Azul and trail to Lago Dickson

Excursions from Puerto Natales

Excursion 1 Cueva del Milodón

Excursion 2 Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers (Bernardo O’Higgins National Park)

Excursion 3 Sierra Baguales

Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina

Excursion from El Calafate

Excursion 4 Perito Moreno glacier

Walk 8 Cerro Fitz Roy (El Chaltén) and Cerro Torre

Stage 1 El Chaltén–Campamento Agostini

Stage 2 Campamento Agostini–Campamento Poincenot

Stage 3 Campamento Poincenot–Laguna de los Tres (return)

Stage 4 Campamento Poincenot–Laguna Piedas Blancas (return)

Stage 5 Campamento Poincenot–El Chaltén

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Gateway towns and cities

Appendix C Accommodation within Torres del Paine National Park

Appendix D Language notes and glossary

Appendix E Contacts and online resources

Appendix F Further reading