Why go hiking in Torres del Paine

  • Experience Patagonia’s most sublime landscapes hiking solo, on a private trek in a small group of up to eight people
  • Follow the iconic W Trek along Torres del Paine’s most famous highlights, staying in refugios along the way or as a series of day hikes
  • Complete the O Circuit (or Full Circuit), circling the quieter northern edge of the park, where experienced hikers can have stunning views almost to themselves
  • Escape the busiest trails by exploring off the beaten track, deep into the national park's quieter corners.
  • Mix and match day hikes from your accommodation in the park, trying more challenging routes one day and relaxing rambles to scenic viewpoints the next.

Where can I trek in Torres del Paine?

Where can I trek in Torres del Paine?

What's special about hiking in Torres del Paine?

Torres del Paine is Patagonia’s most celebrated and popular hiking destination. 

A host of extraordinary trails thread their way around the imposing granite Paine Massif at the heart of the park. The classic W Trek and O Circuit routes are Torres del Paine’s undoubted highlights, offering wildly towering peaks, sparkling glaciers and lakes, and thick native beech forests. 

There are more opportunities for those wanting to hike further, to the edges of the park where Jurassic Park landscape opens out and you can see puma on the high slopes and ancient fossils in the dry valleys. Torres del Paine is surprisingly diverse, containing as much pampa as peaks – all of which is waiting to be explored on foot. 

Hiker enjoying views over lake to the Paine Massif

Views over the Paine Massif

Types of hiking in Torres del Paine

The W Trek

The W Trek is Torres del Paine's iconic and most popular trek and is named for its W-shaped pattern on the map, visiting three different valleys.

  • The Ascensio Valley offers you the best views of the mile high granite towers (Torres) that give the National Park its name. 
  • The French Valley leads you past hanging glaciers and an amphitheatre of pinnacles and peaks.
  • The Grey Valley, dominated by views of Lago Grey and the Grey Glacier. 

Mountain huts called refugios allow you to complete the trek in four or five days. The W Trek is perfect of those on their first multi-day trek and those who want to see the park's highlights in a limited amount of time or budget.

The O Circuit trek

For more experienced trekkers, walking the O Circuit (also called the Full Circuit) around the Paine range ensures you'll see Torres del Paine's the classic highlights, but also visit the stunning northern part of the park where fewer visitors venture. Typically it's tackled anti-clockwise, allowing you to take in the awe-inspiring view of the Grey Glacier and Southern Patagonian Ice Field reaching out to the horizon.

The 65-80 mile (105-130 km) circuit trek takes between seven and nine days. You will need to camp at least 2 nights, but the sheer beauty of the views from the campsites are enough to win over even the most passionate of indoor sleepers.

Swoop Says background image

Nicolas says

As a guide, always enjoyed hiking the W Trek, but what I really adored about Torres del Paine was its diversity of landscapes to surprise you, with fresh trails always waiting to be discovered and beautiful unexpected views over the next ridge.

Nicolas Sorhaburu Patagonia Sales Consultant

 Off the beaten track trekking

For adventurous souls who want to avoid the crowds and discover some of the hidden treasures of the park, our remote hikes ensure you'll be exploring where few feet fall. While there are many secluded campsites and estancias to base yourself at, getting off-the-beaten-track doesn't mean having to rough it. Many of the luxury lodges include trips into these more remote corners.

Off the beaten track hiking in Torres del Paine

Dramatic but little-visited trails in Torres del Paine

Day hikes

If you want to see all the highlights of the park but not compromise on accommodation, Torres del Paine's luxury lodges, hotels and eco-friendly glamping sites offer some breathtaking spaces to return to after a long day's hiking.

Each day you travel to the trailhead by vehicle with your guide to start the hike – whether you're tackling the W Trek as a series of day hikes or heading deep into to less explored regions. Not only will you be guaranteed a hot shower and an excellent meal at the end of each day, but you can also pick the hikes and excursions the night before, using the experience of your guides to get the most out of every day.

Hiking in Torres del Paine

In front of Los Cuernos

Swoop Says background image

Swoop says

The famous viewpoints at the base of the Towers and Glacier Grey are deservedly popular, but try to make time to see some of Torres del Paine's less famous attractions: it's a park that looks stunning from every angle. 

Multi-activity adventures in Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine is about more than just hiking. On top of hitting the trail, there are plenty of other ways to explore the park. 

If you've enjoyed the views of Glacier Grey on the W Trek or O Circuit, why not paddle on its iceberg strewn lake in a kayak? Or get close to pumas tracking them with a naturalist guide? You can mountain bike on remote trails or saddle up your horse and get a taste of gaucho culture riding between estancias on the wide open pampa.

From fly-fishing for salmon to fossil hunting for ancient sharks, the possibilities are almost boundless – and are easily combined into the perfect multi-activity trip. 

Kayaking at Serrano Glacier

Kayaking at Serrano Glacier

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What our travellers think of hiking in Torres del Paine

Hiking in Torres del Paine trips scored 4.3/5 from 214 reviews

Cata and Hector were incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of the trek, park, region and continent. Everything from flora, fauna, geology and history. Most importantly they shared openly their experiences and interests. Absolutely felt like true friends. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2024

Gregory Rhodes - USA

Torres del Paine is beautiful. I was really glad that I did the O Trek because the more remote side of the park was beautiful and not at all crowded. The Dickson camp was our favorite site, sitting on a peninsula on the glacial Lake Dickson surrounded by peaks with crazy clouds covering them. As mentioned above, crossing the pass and coming down looking over the huge Gray glacier was the most spectacular part of the trip. The Frances valley was also beautiful with the classic Paine Grande peaks on one side and the spires on the other. And our last day climbing up to the namesake towers was also memorable. The trek was not easy, especially because we started the first day with the 20 miles hike to Dickson. Other days were shorter although some were more difficult due to elevation gains. The W trek side was much more crowded. Read the full review

Travelled: January 2024

Molly Eaton - USA

What was your most memorable moment? Seeing the Towers of Torres del Paine when I finally made it to the top of the hike. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Lori Bello - USA

What was your most memorable moment? I don’t think I can pick just one! We had an awesome guide. The scenery was beautiful and everyone in my group had an amazing time. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2023

Jenna Leblanc - Canada

Lived up to expectations. Great views. Challenging hiking, but worth it throughout. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2022

Josh Wallis - USA

You must be a strong hiker to trek the W Circuit and an even stronger one to do the O Circuit. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2022

Rozini Mohd Amin - Malaysia

The park is beautiful. We went in mid-October and it was not too crowded. The weather was as expected, but we did have some hours of hiking in cold and snow. Read the full review

Travelled: October 2022

Anne France - USA

Hiking in Patagonia... looking up at the base towers with my sons. I knew we had another amazing memory! Great guide... Amazing views! Read the full review

Travelled: July 2022

Linda Rouyer - USA

Just another opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful landscape in the world. Read the full review

Travelled: July 2022

Linda Rouyer - USA

Trekking is absolutely the only way to really experience Torres Del Paine. Read the full review

Travelled: March 2022

Mollie Adatto - USA

I saw many trekkers doing the same route unguided but having a guide and an organized trip took a lot of the pressure and stress away, leaving behind a truly enjoyable experience. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2022

Eva McCarthy - USA

All I can say is O.M.G! If you ever thought hiking was redundant, do this trek! Every day brought something completely different from hiking up to peaks, through the forest, following the valley, along watersides, you name it - it was on this circuit. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2022

Amy Hoffmann - USA

While the W Trek can be accomplished unguided, we felt like we got great value with our guide. He was very familiar with the trail, the geology, and the flora and fauna. For example, on our windy and rainy day (can't have the true Patagonia experience without one of those) he had us stop for a break before cresting a hill because he said "we would be very exposed there and it is better to break now." Indeed, winds were crazy strong over the hill. He also had friends in every refugio, so knew the inside track on the fun stuff. For example: at Lago Grey, we had whisky on the rocks using glacier ice. How cool is that?! Read the full review

Travelled: February 2022

Scott Nutter - USA

After walking to the campamento Británico in the snowstorm with no visibility at all, we decided to wait a while and have our lunch. At that moment the view opened up and we could see the whole cirque, Paine grande and los Cuernos. Stunning! Read the full review

Travelled: February 2022

Erwin Vroenhoven - Netherlands

It surpassed most of my expectations! It’s just one of those magical places on the planet. Read the full review

Travelled: January 2022

Matthew Orozco - USA

Hiking into the French Valley all alone surrounded by mountain peaks. But every day was the most memorable moment because every day was fantastic. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2021

Jeff Lambert - USA

There were so many highlights but I found the hike on Day 3, through the French Valley to be out of this world. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2021

Sean Johnston - USA

What was really impressive was what our guides could carry including the tents and so many treats for us like pesto sauce, real coffee and chocolate. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2021

Sean Johnston - USA

The whole park was a memorable moment! So many to choose from, but I think the tent set up on the platforms in the trees at Refugio Chileno was my favorite memory. Sleeping out there was pretty awesome! Read the full review

Travelled: March 2020

Rebecca Alegria - United States Of America

Amazing! It's a land of immense beauty, I've seen nothing like this. We saw Fitz Roy in the best weather possible and it takes your breath away. Grueling hike to the base of the towers in Torres del Paine brings a magical moment of first seeing them in the clearing in the clouds and staying in full view. Read the full review

Travelled: January 2019

Elen Ace - Canada

Every 5 minutes we had a completely different view. There could be gale force winds hitting a mountain top from one side, but clear blue skies on the other. Read the full review

Travelled: January 2019

Rory Dormer - United Kingdom

The impressive glaciers, stunning mountains, wildlife and birds, also as it was spring colourful flowers. People were very friendly and helpful. It was all magical especially in the quiet, first thing in the morning. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2018

Alex Campbell - United Kingdom

Some of the biggest highlights were the Towers, Mirador Britannico in the French Valley, Perito Moreno glacier, and the hike to Laguno de los Tres in Los Glaciares. Oh, and how could I forget the Zodiac boat ride and "glamping" at the Serrano campsite. We had some fantastic guides, and the landscapes were grander than I thought. More glaciers than I could have imagined! Read the full review

Travelled: November 2018

CJ Newendorp - United States Of America

Magical moment – again at Dickson campsite, by the lake, there was this small bank on the lake with perfectly still water and I caught a photo with the mountain and glacier in the back with PERFECT reflection. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2018

Christian Barrera - United States Of America

Bring layers, the weather changes very quickly by KM and hour. You can leave extra gear or things you no longer want with the trekking company, they can find various ways to reuse gear you might consider "worn-out". Read the full review

Travelled: September 2018

Tracie Wingo - United States Of America

Our trip was amazing! The Torres Del Paine National Park is absolutely stunning. The rockfaces, glaciers, blue green lakes, waterfalls and whitecapped mountains everywhere you look is just picture perfect, even with the rain and hail in early March. Our guide really made it a great experience for all of us! Read the full review

Travelled: March 2018

Terri Ellis - Canada

Torres del Paine is incredible. It is one of the most spectacular places on the planet, without a doubt. Breathtaking mountain vistas, serene glacial lakeside hikes, it is a dreamlike setting. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2017

Craig Hobin - Brazil

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I'm not sure I could have booked all this without you guys; it was a wonderful trip – challenging, adventurous and fun! Each of my three treks was quite different, but all with interesting and well informed guides and outstanding landscapes.

Travelled: February 2016

Louise -

What a wonderful, mind-blowing, refreshing experience. There are simply not enough positive adjectives to describe our time in Torres del Paine. Thank you for helping me plan one of the best experiences I've had!

Travelled: January 2016

Lydia -

Review:

Explore more hikes in Torres del Paine

The O Circuit Trek

The O Circuit Trek

The O Circuit is a great trek for experienced hikers, spending over a week to explore both Torres del Paine’s most popular sights and its quieter trails.

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