Chile: Torres Del Paine Trek

Travel from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park, encountering guanacos, foxes, and various birds along the way. The primary challenge is the ascent to the Towers Base lookout (900m/2,953 ft.). The trek follows the Ascencio River through rich beech forests, past glaciers, and waterfalls. The final push is up a moraine, rewarding you with the dramatic view of the three granite spires and their green-blue lagoon base. After lunch and photos, we descend to our first campsite and dine at the Torres Base camp mountain hut.

Hike: 8-10 Hour Round-Trip Hike, 21 km / 13 mi
Overnight: Camping Torres
Meals: Box Lunch and Dinner.

Depending on the weather, our early morning start will be lit up by orange-tinged views of the Towers. Our path takes us through a very old forest of beech trees where we may hear woodpeckers or find fresh puma tracks. Today’s 9 km hike (5.6 miles) is the Circuit’s easiest and takes us along a well-marked, slightly sloping trail. Along the way, an exceptional view of Paine Chico Mountain will accompany us. Our destination is Serón Campsite, where we’ll set up camp and enjoy a replenishing dinner.

Hike: 4-5 Hour Hike, 9 km / 5.6 mi
Overnight: Serón Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, and Dinner

Depending on the season, today’s leg shows off the park’s gorgeous floral delights, like orchids, calceolarias, violets and oxalis flower. Circling Paine Lake, several impressive mountain views will appear, such as Cerro Escudo and Cerro Cabeza del Indio (in which the profile of an Indian is seen as if carved into the rocks). At the beginning of the Paine River, we’ll see the curved peak of Cerro Cubo, as well as Lake Dickson (a lake straddling Chile and Argentina).

Hike: 6-7 Hour, 18.5 km / 11.5 mi
Overnight: Dickson Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, and Dinner

Today is a day to please the senses, filled with beautiful sights and textures. Often touted as one of the most beautiful sections of this wilder side of Torres del Paine, we’ll hike through ancient beech forests, wander undulating trails and follow Los Perros River. Mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation will never be far away, as our trail crosses the river via suspension bridge and arrives at the base of our second terminal moraine; this time belonging to Glacier Los Perros, a hanging glacier that feeds the crystalline lagoon at its base. A final half hour hike takes us to today’s destination, Los Perros Campsite. Tonight’s campsite is the only one on the Circuit without hot showers and standard bathroom facilities such as flushing toilets.

Hike: 5 Hours, 9 km / 5.6 mi
Overnight: Los Perros Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, and Dinner

The most strenuous day of the Paine Circuit has arrived, bringing demanding trails and variable weather conditions. Your efforts will be rewarded with some of Torres del Paine’s most heart-stirring landscapes, experienced by very few visitors. We’ll begin along a clear trail through forests, then make our way through swamp-like sections before beginning our ascent to the John Garner Pass. 1,200 meters (3,937 ft.) above sea level, Patagonia’s famous winds are strong and the views across Grey Glacier and of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field are spectacular. The trail winds through forests of fallen trees and beneath the imposing granite walls of Cordon Olguín. As we come closer to Grey Glacier, we may see an ice calving (where chunks of ice break off a glacier’s edge).

Hike: 10-11 Hours, 22 km / 13.6 mi
Overnight: Grey Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, and Dinner

Our morning begins slowly, resting and stretching around camp. Depending on your energy levels, choose from several options this morning. Walk to the Grey Glacier’s lookout point and watch for ice calvings on its massive walls; complete an ice hike with the aid of crampons; or kayak on Grey Lake, paddling around icebergs and in front of the glacier. Later, we’ll have lunch at the refugio and hike to Pehoe Lake. (Ice hike and kayaking expedition at an additional fee, advance booking required.)

Hike: 3.5 Hours, 11 km / 6.8 mi
Overnight: Paine Grande Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, and Dinner

Today, we trek to the spectacular French Valley, a natural basin surrounded by peaks and hanging glaciers. Circle Paine Grande, the highest peak in Torres del Paine, passing through native Patagonian firebush and evergreen beech forests. The magnificent hanging glacier comes into view as we reach the suspension bridge over the French River. Ascend 300m (984 ft.) through a landscape likened to a dreamlike Japanese garden, arriving at the "Plateau" lookout point.

This heart-stirring location provides a bird’s-eye view of massive peaks: the French Glacier and Paine Grande to one side, and the dramatic arch of Los Cuernos to the other. High above, Cerro Catedral and Cerro Fortaleza loom like turrets. Enjoy lunch at the viewpoint, surrounded by these imposing peaks. The return hike follows the same track, concluding with a catamaran ride across Pehoe Lake for the transfer back to Puerto Natales.

Hike: 7-8 hours, 17 km / 10.5 mi
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch