What excursions are available?
Full-day Excursions
1. Base of the Towers Hike
2. French Valley Hike
3. Grey Trail
4. Paine Lookouts (Vehicle Tour)
Half-day Excursions
5. Aonikenk Hike
6. Toro Lake Hike
7. Sarmiento Lake Hike
8. Condor Viewpoint Hike
9. Ferrier Lookout Hike
10. Cuernos Viewpoint Hike
11. Horseback Riding
Explore by Boat
12. Glacier Grey Boat Trip
13. Serrano Zodiac Excursion
Full-day Excursions
1. Base of the Towers Hike
The Base Towers viewpoint is one of the most impressive, iconic, and demanding excursions with around 4 hours of ascent and 4 hours of descent.
You begin the hike by crossing the Ascencio River in the direction of Chileno Camping, which marks the halfway point of the trail, where you will take a necessary pause to evaluate your physical and weather conditions. From this point, you will continue ascending, surrounded by an amazing lenga forest and glacier streams, until you reach the last flat stretch before the steep and rocky glacier moraine. This final segment requires considerable effort, but it will be compensated by your arrival at one of the most impressive viewpoints of the Cono Sur: the three Paine Towers rising up before you.
It's physically demanding and allows you to experience the variability of Patagonian weather, which will awaken your senses as you capture the beauty of the flora and fauna throughout the day.
12-13 hours | 22km | Hard | Available daily
2. French Valley Hike
Another one of the most iconic postcards within the Paine Massif. It's a trail featuring a variety of landscapes with approximately 4 hours of ascent and 3.5 hours of descent. You will begin the excursion by sailing in a catamaran for 30 minutes across Pehoe Lake until you reach the first point: Paine Grande Refuge. You’ll start the walk by crossing various terrains with flat and rocky sections, with the Horns as your backdrop.
Once at the Italiano camp, which marks 60% of the ascent, you will pause to evaluate your physical and weather conditions due to the steep slope that increases toward the lookout. This demanding stretch will take about an hour as you ascend through a Magellanic forest and glacier moraine. Upon reaching the French Valley viewpoint, you will gaze upon the mountain range of the Paine Massif, the hanging glacier, forests, and various water formations.
The physical demands of this hike are high due to the constant ups and downs along a trail with a steep finish. Nevertheless, the panoramic view of the valley will be unforgettable.
10-12 hours | 21km | Hard | Offered Nov-Mar (4 days per week)
3. Grey Trail
This hike has an average duration of 8 hours: 3.5 hours of descent and 4.5 hours of ascent and lets you appreciate part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
You will start the excursion by sailing on a catamaran across Lake Pehoe to reach the Paine Grande refuge. Your hike will begin through the Grey Valley, traversing along the slope of the imposing Paine Grande, the highest mountain in the Paine Massif. After an hour and a half of hiking, you will reach the De Agostini viewpoint, and then continue to your final destination, the Glacier Grey viewpoint. Here, you’ll enjoy a view of a 3km-wide glacier wall, the Nunatak, and the presence of icebergs on the lake's beach.
10-12 hours | 24km | Hard | Offered Nov-Mar (3days per week)
4. Paine Lookouts (Vehicle Tour)
This tour has a photographic and interpretive character aimed at those who want to explore Torres del Paine National Park without extensive hiking. The Paine Lookouts tour, with an approximate duration of 7 hours by vehicle, allows you to traverse the park from west to east, stopping at various natural and panoramic viewpoints to appreciate the mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, waterfalls, steppes, and historical sites, while also being surprised by the presence of local wildlife in each area.
You will conclude this excursion by sharing a picnic and enjoying the unique landscape beauty that this territory offers.
7-8 hours | Easy/Moderate | Available daily
Felipe says
Once you're ready we can pencil in the excursions you would like to do (making sure it works with the hotel timetable and any other restrictions). Remember the weather can play a part so you may want to have backup choices too!
Felipe Cruzat Patagonia Sales Consultant
Half-day Excursions
5. Aonikenk Hike
The Aonikenk Trail is named in honour of the indigenous tribe that inhabited this territory. It begins at the Sarmiento entrance with a hike that lasts approximately 2.5 hours, crossing a landscape of the Pampa and Patagonian steppe.
Upon reaching the top of the trail, you will encounter a set of rocks that house cave paintings created 7,000 years ago. During your journey, you may spot local fauna, primarily herds of guanacos, which are the most numerous inhabitants of Torres del Paine National Park.
4-5 hours | 6.5km | Moderate | Offered 2 days per week
6. Toro Lake Hike
One of the best views in the region, Toro Lake is the largest waterbody in the region. The first stretch requires considerable effort; however, it provides the opportunity to see the hydrographic network of the Paine River, which crosses the entire National Park before flowing into Toro Lake.
Proceed through stony and steep terrain, gaining altitude among southern Nothofagus, until you are surprised by the opening to the pre-Andean scrubland. Here, you will be rewarded with a wide view of the Paine Mountain Range, appreciating its lake system, inner valleys, and Patagonian steppe.
5 hours | 5km | Moderate/Hard | Offered 3 days per week
7. Sarmiento Lake Hike
You will border Sarmiento Lake and its intensely blue waters on a light hike averaging 3 hours, where you can appreciate the landscapes of the area. This trail will lead you to the beach of the park's largest lake, where you will observe its white rocky walls known as thrombolites—living fossils of calcium carbonate that began forming during the last glaciation.
This excursion is accessible for those who wish to engage in less demanding activities.
4-5 hours | 5km | Easy/Moderate | Offered 2 days per week
8. Condor Viewpoint Hike
With a hiking duration of 2.5 hours and a medium to high difficulty level, the Condor Viewpoint offers you one of the best panoramic views of Pehoe Lake, as well as the entire Paine Massif.
You will navigate a challenging slope along a rocky trail, traversing a short but complicated ascent in a rocky area with strong winds typical of Patagonia, making this expedition a true adventure.
This viewpoint owes its name to the presence of condor nesting sites on its upper slopes, where you may spot these magnificent birds.
4 hours | 5km | Moderate/Hard | Offered 2 days per week
9. Ferrier Lookout Hike
The Ferrier Viewpoint excursion, with a duration of 4 hours of walking, features a steep slope that positions it as the most difficult and demanding half-day trek.
This trail, located in the western sector of the park, crosses a majestic forest of coigüe trees, which is home to endemic birds and the Huemul.
Additionally, it offers a unique panoramic view, allowing you to observe the lakes of the National Park as well as the Grey, Zapata, and Pingo glaciers belonging to the Southern Ice Fields.
5 hours | 5km | Hard | Offered 2 days per week
10. Cuernos Viewpoint Hike
This trail has an average duration of 3 hours, allowing you to observe up close and head-on one of the iconic views of Torres del Paine National Park: the imposing Cuernos. At your first stop, the Salto Grande viewpoint, you will be able to see its powerful 14-meter-high waterfall that emerges from Nordenskjöld Lake, giving life to Pehoe Lake with its beautiful turquoise colour. Continue along the trail toward the Cuernos Viewpoint, to see the fusion of sedimentary basaltic and granitic rock.
Being one of the shortest and easiest hikes, it is recommended for all abilities but strong winds in this area, make this activity an intense (and unforgettable) experience.
4-5 hours | 7km | Easy/Moderate | Offered 3 days per week
11. Horseback Riding
This excursion starts at the stables, where safety equipment and instructions will be given. From there, you'll journey toward the foot of the Chacabuco mountain range and through Magellanic forest, where you can appreciate the flora and fauna. Continue the journey until you reach the Nutria River area, and then follow the Serrano River to approach the confluence with the Grey River, observing its amazing colours. All horses available are native to the region, known as "criollos." They are reliable and in good physical condition, as they are maintained and supervised daily by “baqueanos.”
2 hours | 7km riding | Moderate | Available daily (am or pm) | Height, weight and age restrictions may apply
Clo says
I think the half-day hikes here are ideal. It means you can return to the hotel for lunch and have the afternoon to relax in their lovely spa or communal areas.
Clo Mazille Patagonia Specialist
Explore by Boat
12. Glacier Grey Boat Trip
Start your glacier adventure with an invigorating walk through the rugged beauty of Grey Beach, where sweeping views set the stage for what's to come. Board the catamaran and glide across the stunning expanse of Grey Lake, with its unique glacial hues and mesmerising blue icebergs drifting by.
As you approach the massive glacier, towering up to 40 meters, you'll be immersed in the sheer power and majesty of this icy giant before heading back to shore, where the wild beauty of the park awaits your return.
Half-day | Moderate | Available daily (am or pm) | Subject to weather and Hotel Lago Grey requirements
13. Serrano Zodiac Excursion
If staying over the festive period you can enjoy this incredible excursion...
To start you'll walk approximately 15 minutes from the hotel to the dock located at Hotel del Paine. You will then navigatir the Serrano River by boat, and after a 30-minute journey, you will arrive at the impressive Serrano River Falls, where you will disembark to cross a beautiful native forest and board a zodiac.
Your next stop is the Ultima Esperanza Fjord, where, upon arriving at Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, you will walk its walkways while admiring the Serrano Glacier Lagoon located at the foot of the Balmaceda Mountain.
On the way back, you will have the opportunity to observe the Southern Ice Fields from the Tyndall Lookout—an experience that may leave you speechless. Finally, you will return to the dock located at Serrano Village to end your adventure.
Full-day | Moderate | Offered daily from Dec 23 to Jan 3 only | Subject to weather, availability and extra cost
Swoop says
All excursions at Hotel Rio Serrano will be in small groups and run according to the pre-scheduled itinerary. Excursions are generally confirmed with guests the night before but we always recommend booking in advance at least 10 days before your check-in date. Some changes may occur due to weather conditions. Your expert guide team will always try to curate the best possible experience for you and your group.
Excursion FAQs
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Can you explain the difficulty scale in more detail?
Due to the sheer range of excursions available in Patagonia and this region, it is hard to have an exact scale so we recommend speaking to your Sales or CX Representative in the first instance.
However, the following is a general guide for the levels of activity which you will see referenced on the individual excursions:
Easy - Vehicle/boat-based tours and a wide range of activities that at their max involve 1-2 hours of walking or gentle exercise.
Moderate - Involves 2-5 hours of hiking or more physical activities such as kayaking, horse riding, rafting etc.
Hard - You need to be able to be active for a full day and previous experience or carrying a day pack may be required.
Advanced - Challenging full days of activity, experience is necessary and trekkers will need to carry an 18kg pack.
Extreme - Must be highly experienced at this activity and prepared for extreme weather, heavy loads and Type 2 fun.
Most of the excursions advertised will fall into the Easy and Moderate categories. Some will straddle between two categories and will be marked if so.
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What if the weather intervenes?
There is of course a good chance the weather may play a part in any Patagonian excursion but we will work with our local partners to assess things and communicate other options if required.
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Are there any age or other restrictions that would stop me particpating?
With some excursions, there will be a minimum and maximum age for participation. There can be limits based on weight/BMI. You may also be ineligible if pregnant or have a pre-existing medical condition or injury. We will aim to notify you where this is the case but please do ask for more details about individual excursions.