Torres del Paine - Full Circuit Trek
11 days
from Puerto Natales to Puerto Natales
From
$ 3017
Duration11 days
Gazing upon the towering, steeple-like peaks of Patagonia’s Cordillera del Paine for the first time, you’d swear they were lifted straight from The Lord of the Rings movie. But these massive rock formations are very real. Built for physically-active travellers, not hardcore mountaineers, this trip brings you to remote, lesser-visited sections of the Torres del Paine National Park and the truly unimaginable scenery to be found here. With top-notch mountain guides at your side, you’ll be able to concentrate on spotting condors in flight instead of staring blankly at a map.
This tour is operated by
-
Duration: 11 daysService level: Camping
-
Starts in: Puerto NatalesPhysical Grading: Challenging
-
Ends in: Puerto NatalesAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Puerto Natales
Start place: Puerto Natales
Arrive at any time. If arriving into Punta Arenas in Chile, it is recommended to arrive prior to 14:00 to allow enough time to transfer to Puerto Natales for the welcome meeting. If arriving to El Calafate in Argentina, you will need to get there a day before and then take the bus to Puerto Natales today.
Please note the airport in Puerto Natales is small with limited flight connections. Most flights will be through Punta Arenas in Chile or El Calafate in Argentina, both of which would involve taking a public bus or transfer. You will have your welcome meeting at 6pm and then you will be able to rent equipment if you want to. Please note rental shops normally close by 8 or 9pm, so you would need to be there by that time to guarantee being able to rent what you need.
End place: Puerto Natales
Day 2: Puerto Natales/Torres del Paine
Start place: Puerto Natales
Transfer by van to Torres del Paine NP. This two-hour journey through ranch country includes a stop in Cerro Castillo, the principal site of wool and meat exportation to Europe during the 1960s.
Trek to the base of the Torres themselves, a spectacular hike to view the three pink granite towers that make the park famous. Torre (Tower) Sur rises 2900m (9512 ft) above sea level, Torre Central is 2850m (9348 ft) high and Torre Norte measures 2600m (8528 ft). The Cuernos (Horns) del Paine, massive blocks of various rock layers visible from great distances, are as spectacular as the towers themselves.
Spend the next few days hiking and camping in this spectacular park, visiting the Towers, Grey Glacier and French Valley, before making your way back to Puerto Natales.
Trek to the base of the Torres themselves, a spectacular hike to view the three pink granite towers that make the park famous. Torre (Tower) Sur rises 2900m (9512 ft) above sea level, Torre Central is 2850m (9348 ft) high and Torre Norte measures 2600m (8528 ft). The Cuernos (Horns) del Paine, massive blocks of various rock layers visible from great distances, are as spectacular as the towers themselves.
Spend the next few days hiking and camping in this spectacular park, visiting the Towers, Grey Glacier and French Valley, before making your way back to Puerto Natales.
Embark on a 9-day excursion within Torres del Paine NP, hiking the full Torres del Paine circuit known as the O circuit. Start the 130km (80.7 mi) route by trekking to the base of Las Torres to see the dramatic three towers and turquoise lagoon below.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Torres del Paine/Camp Séron
In the morning, meet our porters, load up the gear and head out across ancient glacial moraines around the Paine Massif toward Camp Séron. The trail takes us through Lenga forests where we often see Austral parakeets, several species of geese, and the occasional guanaco and fox.
HIke on relatively flat terrain through towering mountains following the river to Camp Séron. Enjoy the surrounding grassy plains and keep an eye out for wildlife before arriving at camp in the mid afternoon.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Camp Séron/Lake Dickson Camp
Eat breakfast early, then hike to Lago Dickson, a glacial lake on the edge of the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap. Walk past bright red blooms of Notro bushes and cross a stream along the lake. Today's trek is an epic eleven-hour traverse. At the campsite, take a hot shower and buy a cold beer!
Head out along the north side of the national park, leading closer to the mountains. Follow the river to Lake Dickson. In the evening, relax and walk along the pebble beach, admiring the crystal clear glacier water.
End place: Lago Dickson
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Lake Dickson Camp/Los Perros Camp
Start place: Lago Dickson
Pack up and head out through pristine, old growth beech forest. Look and listen for the red-headed Magellanic woodpecker. Just before we arrive to camp, trek past the Perros glacier and enjoy fantastic close-up views of the ice and the lake. Spend the night camping at the base of Paso John Garner at Los Perros.
Continue along the north side of the park to an incredible lookout point of Lake Dickson and the surrounding valley. Follow the trail through the tall forest to reach another lookout for Perros Glacier, well worth the climb.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Los Perros Camp/Grey Glacier Camp
This is the biggest day yet as we climb over Paso John Garner and hike down through thick forest directly above the massive Grey Glacier. Once on the pass, look out over rugged, glaciated peaks and the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap – a view not to be missed! The glacier stretches out below like a giant white highway.
Today is the toughest day of the O trek, start with an uphill climb for 2-3 hours, passing over the highest point. Take in the first view of Grey Glacier and gaze into the distance to take in its 270km² (104 mi²) spread. Climb vertical ladders and pass a suspension bridge en route to Grey Camp.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Grey Glacier Camp
After breakfast, begin the five-hour hike descending towards Grey Lake through lenga (southern beech) forest. Every so often, stop at a terrace to look out over the Grey Glacier and the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap. Relax in the afternoon and enjoy these peaceful surroundings.
Enjoy the day exploring Grey Lake and Grey Glacier. The spectacular scenery is a highlight of the trek with the back drop of snow-capped mountains and floating pieces of piercing blue glacier.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Grey Glacier Camp/Paine Grande Camp
Cross a high plateau overlooking Grey Lake and see icebergs and views across Grey Glacier on the way to Lake Pehoé. Pehoé means "hidden lake" in the Tehuelche language. The afternoon is free to relax at Lodge Paine Grande and enjoy the area. At night, enjoy a pisco sour cocktail in the bar overlooking Paine Grande & Los Cuernos mountains.
Hike along Lake Grey to appreciate different view points of the glacier. Hike to join the famous W Trek and end at Lake Pehoé. Relax at Paine Grande Camp and share trekking stories with the other hikers.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Paine Grande Camp/Cuernos Camp
Continue the trek to the French Valley. Surrounded by hanging glaciers and an amphitheater of granite walls and spires, this is the most beautiful valley in the park and one of the most unique in the world. After, trek out of the valley to the extraordinary turquoise Lake Nordenskjold. After six to eight hours, end the day at Cuernos Camp for dinner and sleep.
Hike to the French Valley lookout to see the mountain range spread across the national park, take in the contrasting greens and greys of the landscape.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Lake Nordenskjöld/Puerto Natales
Trek along Lake Nordenskjöld and below the hanging glaciers of Mount Almirante Nieto, to the reach Hosteria Las Torres, where our van awaits us. Transfer to Puerto Natales.
The concluding day of the O circuit continues along Lake Nordenskjöld. Take in the final views of Torres del Paine, reflect on the last nine days and relish in the sense of accomplishment before heading back to Puerto Natales.
End place: Puerto Natales
Meals: B, L
Day 11: Puerto Natales
Start place: Puerto Natales
Depart at any time.
The airport in Puerto Natales is small with limited flight connections. Most onward flight connections will be through Punta Arenas in Chile or El Calafate in Argentina which would involve taking a public bus or transfer of 3-4 hours, if you are flying out of one of these airports we recommend flying out in the afternoon to allow time to get to these airports.
End place: Puerto Natales
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
- Camping and hiking excursion of the full circuit through Torres del Paine National Park with porters (9 days)
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
-
Transport
Van, Boat, Hiking -
Accommodation
Hotels (2 nts), Camping (8 nts)