Torres Del Paine Circuit Trek
The region is busy and permits need to applied for 6+ months in advance. The circuit only allow permits to 40 people in groups, plus 80 individuals per day, so book early. Our Torres Del Paine Patagonia trek will not disappoint, mountains towering almost vertically more than 2,000m/ 6,561 feet above where you are standing, the granite pillars of Torres Del Paine dominate the landscape but the park holds such immense beauty on all days of the trek.
Most people visit the park for its one greatest hit but, once here, realize that there are other attractions with equal wow power. We’re talking about azure lakes, trails that meander through emerald forests, roaring rivers you’ll cross on rickety bridges and one big, radiant blue glacier as you come over the John Gardner pass. Variety spans from the vast openness to rugged mountain terrain topped by looming peaks 3 kilometers above your head.
Daily Distances
Day 1
Today you will arrive into Punta Arenas airport in Chile. Upon arrival you can either have a private bus or take a bus from the airport to our team hotel. This can be planned out prior to the trip. The night will be spent in Puerto Natales you can go out and visit this unique setting at the bottom of the world. There will be a team meeting in Puerto Natales at 6pm
Day 2
After breakfast your private transportation will arrive and transfer you to Torres del Paine National Park. On the way we stop at the spectacular Milodon Cave. This spectacular location is the site of 7 caves which is where the remains of the very large Patagonian land sloth was found. The museum on location shows how the caves were formed and much more. We then then transfer to the south end of the Park, near the Administration Center. This is where the adventure begins. The park stretches in front of you like a dream. This part of the trek is not quite as impressive if you do it on the way out, because the views lay behind you. We enjoy every step of this hike. We camp this first night at camping Las Carretas, near Rio Grey. Our first camp dinner offers amazing view if the Paine Massif.
Day 3
Today we push on another two hours to Campamento Italiano. Italiano is a magnificent camp area and sits at the mouth of spectacular Valle Frances. We camp next to a beautiful river, protected nicely by a forest of old Lenga trees. We have some free time on this day, so weather permitting, we head up into the valley for a sneak-peek.
Day 4
This morning, we leave everything behind and we only pack up our backpacks with some food, rain gear, camera, and just a few basics, and head up into Valle Frances light. It’s a steep hike, so going light is nice. The valley offers natural lookouts; ice falls, avalanches, condors… impressive. A true highlight of Torres del Paine National Park. And after a day exploring Valle Frances, we head down again and pack up our camp and progress another 1.5 hours to Camping Frances. A great camp site, located directly under the Cuernos and a stone’s throw from the beach. We retire to our tents that night for a well deserved night’s sleep.
Day 5
Today, after a big breakfast we take on our longest day yet. Our trek takes us around the base of Mount Almirante Nieto (2500m), up into Valle Asencio, to our camp at Campamento Las Torres. This is a long day and we take many breaks for viewpoints and photo stops. Here again we make camp in a thick Lenga forest which protects us from harsh winds.
Day 6
On this morning we get up and ready before dawn. This is our big chance to see the three famous Towers of Paine (2800m) get hit by the first morning rays of sun, which can turn the towers bright red. We again leave our camp behind and only bring our packs loaded with our warm layers. We head up the steep trail for 1 hour to the Towers viewpoint, and some of the moast amazing photos ever. We get warm, have some hot drinks at the base of the Towers and do this morning right! We pack up and head downhill to our next campsite next to Refugio Las Torres. It’s been a long day. We close the book on the first half of our trek, and take a long afternoon to repack and call it a day.
Day 7
Today, we start the backside of the circuit, early and refreshed. And it’s a good thing because we have an 5 hour trek to Camping Seron. The terrain is milder then the ‘W’ and you cover a lot of ground fast. This is a much different experience than the front side of the W trek.
Day 8
This is the day we trek to Refugio Dickson. The view and wind on Paso del Viento is unforgettable and literally breathtaking. From this high mountain pass we descend into the wetlands, passing near Rio Paine until we arrive at Refugio Dickson, which is one of the most remote refugios in Torres del Paine National Park. We camp this night at camping Dickson, next to the beautiful Lago Dickson.
Day 9
Today we have a shorter 4 hour trek to camping Los Perros. This is a beautiful trek and a very remote area of the National park. Here we have good meal and plan out nexts days trek over The John Garner Pass.
Day 10
This is the day of the famous John Garner Pass. The hardest thing about the Paso John Gardner is the wind. The terrain is manageable, and the view from the top of the pass is breathtaking. The view below of Glacier Grey (and the Patagonian Ice Field on a clear day) is one of the most amazing moments you’ll experience in Patagonia, hands down. We push on and make camp at the Campamento Paso campsite.
Day 11
After a good breakfast we trek 4 hours to Refugio Grey. A beautiful stretch of trail with views of Lago Grey and the icebergs that break from the glacier and float slowly to the southern beach where they come to the end of their journey. In the afternoon we board our ship, the Grey III, which takes us across Glacier Grey, alongside the massive cliffs of Glacier Grey for an up close and personal look at the ice. This is a great climax to your long trek. On the Southern end of the lake we disembark and catch our private transfer back to Puerto Natales. This is the official end of the program. Groups return to Puerto Natales at 9pm on the final day of the program.
Day 12
Today is either a day of rest or you will be making your way back to the airport for your flight home. You will either be flying out of Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales. There are lots of other day excursions you could do in the region so consider staying on for more adventures in this majestic part of the world.
What people said about our Torres Del Paine Patagonia Circuit trek
James M. Dwyer
Torres del Paine Patagonia Trek 2015
While trekking to Everest base camp in 2012 with Ian Taylor, I met some cool people and we all decided that Patagonia was the next adventure. We flew in to Santiago first before flying south into the Patagonia wilderness. The no altitude trek was great, scenery is truly magical. Ian’s guides, equipment and set up was just as good at the Everest region. A well run, professional operation is what you get with Ian Taylor Trekking. An amazing, great and another great group experience. Kilimanjaro up next.
Laurel Stein
Torres del Paine Patagonia Trek 2015
We are just back from our Torres del Paine Patagonia trek, we had the journey of a lifetime. I wish I had of visited this region years ago. A magical well run, as always trek into this amazing part of the world. The trekking was easier can the Everest trek and the scenery was as spectacular. The tents, equipment, food, guides and service was top notch. I highly recommend the services of Ian Taylor Trekking.
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