Introduction: Torres del Paine hiking
Torres del Paine is a National Park in Chilean Patagonia. It is known for its soaring mountains, blue icebergs and glaciers and golden pampas (grasslands) that shelter wildlife such Guanacos (Similar to llama).
Some of its most iconic sites are the 3 granite peaks from which the park takes its name.
Table of Contents
Mapping the Torres del Paine
The official stages in Torres del Paine
First, the W-Trek can be done clockwise and anticlockwise, the O-Trek can only be done anticlockwise. There are as well two starting point which are Paine Grande or Central station.
The following stage are the mostly use (anticlockwise from Paine Grande)
- Stage 1: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances
- Stage 2: Frances– Chileno
- Stage 3: Chileno – Las Torres – Central
- Stage 4: Central – Seron
- Stage 5: Seron – Dickson
- Stage 6: Dickson – Los Perros
- Stage 7: Los Perros – Paso
- Stage 8: Paso – Grey
- Stage 9: Grey – Paine grande
If you want to know more alternative, this article may interest you
Getting to Torres del Paine
In order to reach TDP, you will need to take a bus from Puerto Natales bus station. Depending the direction, you decide to hike, you will have to take another bus. From there its either a shuttle bus or a ferry.
For more details, read our guides on how to reach Puerto Natales and our day 1 in TDP.
Best time to Hike Torres del Paine
The best time to hike is between November to early march, during summertime.
In addition, the park is only open from October 1st to April 30th.
How difficult is TDP
Globally Torres des Paine is not a difficult park to hike. The ascent and descent are not that much, and the distance are reasonable. The difficulties would be if you plan on camping and carry your food. You are looking at a lot of food in the backpack, especially for the O-Trek. Â
Food and Water in Torres del Paine
It is possible to buy meal at every shelter/refuge. Only one part of the O-trek does not have one. After it is also possible to bring your own food and cook by yourselves.
Most of refuge are selling food or snacks to buy, but everything is expensive.
Regarding water, all the shelter will provide you with some but you can also drink water from any source or river along the trail. Be sure to walk a bit further from the trail route.
Read our complete food guide to see what we brought on the W-Trek.
The money stuffs
Shelter/refuge mostly accepts credit card, but entrance fee of the park and ferry must be paid in cash.
Mobile network
Non-existent. The complete park has no coverage at all. If you need to get online, some refuge offers Wi-Fi for a small fee.
Wild Camping & accommodations in Torres del Paine
Completely forbidden due to wild animal (Puma, Guanaco, Fox…) and nature protection. It is possible to camp near most of the shelter, but you will need to book in advance (up to 3 months). Last minute organisation (as we did) will mostly be refuge or organised camping.
Torres del Paine W-Trek
Introduction
The W-Trek is the mostly hike trail of TDP. It is usually done in 3 to 5 days and can be done self-guided.
- Day 1: Paine Grande – Grey: 11km
- Day 2: Grey – Paine Grande: 15km
- Day 3: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances: 22km
- Day 4: Frances – Los Cuernos – Chileno: 15km
- Day 5: Chileno– Las Torres – Central: 14km
Day 1: Puerto Natales – Paine Grande – Grey
To begin with, take the 6:40am bus from Puerto Natales to TDP. Along the way buy your entrance ticket to the national park and once at the Pudeto station take the ferry for Paine Grande.
From there, follow the trail to the Grey glacier and Grey shelter/camping, where you will be staying overnight.
For more detail, read our complete Day 1 Article or our Organisation Guide  or our Grey Shelter/Camping article
Statistics of the day:
- 11km approx.
- Highest point: 820m
- Lowest 143m
Variant 1: Grey glacier lookout
Drop your bags at the refuge and hike a bit further until the lookout toward the Grey Glacier. Then trail down to the ranger station to enjoy a moment of peace far from everything.
Â
Variant 2: Suspended Bridges
Keep on, and start hiking the end of the O-Trek. There is a total of 3 suspended bridges. We would recommend hiking at least until the 2nd before going back to Grey shelter/refuge.
Day 2: Grey – Glacier Lookout – Suspended Bridge – Grey – Paine Grande
Drop your bags at the refuge and hike a bit further until the lookout toward the Grey Glacier. Then trail down to the ranger station to enjoy a moment of peace far from everything.
Keep on, and start hiking the end of the O-Trek. There is a total of 3 suspended bridges. We would recommend hiking at least until the 2nd before going back to Grey shelter/refuge.
From there, follow the trail back to Paine Grande and Paine Grande shelter/camping, where you will be staying overnight.
For more detail, read our complete Day 2 Article or our Paine Grande Shelter/Camping article
Statistics of the day:
- 22km approx.
- Highest point: 411m
- Lowest 40m
Day 3: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances
First, leave early from Paine Grande and follow the trail to Chileno Camp. Once there drop your heavy pack and take a daily backpack.
Second, Hike though Valley de Frances, pass Britanico and end with a 360° view in the Lookout.
Third, trail back to Italiano, get back your belonging and head to Frances Domos and Camping where you will be staying overnight.
For more detail, read our complete Day 3 Article or our Frances Domos/Camping article
Statistics of the day:
- 15km approx.
- Highest point: 765m
- Lowest 40m
Day 4: Frances - Los Cuernos – Chileno
Begin by following the trail to Los Cuernos, another refuge, camping and hut area. Continue along the lake until the intersection to Central/Chileno.
Go toward Chileno where you will be staying at Chileno Camping and Shelter for the night.
For more detail, read our complete Day 4 Article or our Chileno camping and shelter article
Statistics of the day:
- 15km approx.
- Highest point: 450m
- Lowest 70m
Day 5: Chileno– Las Torres – Central
Start by hiking up toward Los Torres. Then go all the way up to the lookout of Las Torres where you can see the famous peak that gave its name to the national park.
Later on, hike all the back to Chileno and ultimately to central and the welcome center.
Take the shuttle to Laguna Armaga and then a bus back to Puerto Natales.
For more detail, read our complete Day 5 Article Â
Statistics of the day:
- 14km approx.
- Highest point: 865m
- Lowest 140m
Someday, somewhere — anywhere, unfailingly, you’ll find yourself, and that, and only that, can be the happiest or bitterest hour of your life. – Pablo Neruda
Looking where to Stay before and after?
Unique Stay near the Park
- Lodge: Cabañas Lago Tyndall
- Tiny House:Â Torres del Paine
- Lodge: Konkashken Lodge
Or in Puerto Natales:
- Budget: Puma House
- Mid-Range: Toore Patagonia
- High-Range: Hostal Boutique Factoria Patagonia
1 thought on “The Genuine 5-day Torres del Paine hiking guide (TDP)”
Pingback: An Amazing 3 Weeks Itinerary Chile | The Daily Packers