Torres del Paine Introduction
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
The distance
- Paine Grande to Grey: 11km
- Grey to Paso: 7km
- Grey to Paine Grande: 11km
- Paine Grande to Italiano: 7,5km
- Italiano to Britanico: 5,4km
- Italiano to Frances: 0,5km
- Frances to Los Cuernos: 2km
- Los Cuernos to Chileno: 13km
- Los Cuernos to Central: 12km
- Chileno to Las Torres: 4,4km
- Central to Chileno: 5km
W-Trek
East to West: From Pudeto to Laguna Armaga
On this option, the trek will be as follow:
- Day 1: Paine Grande – Grey: 11km
- Day 2: Grey – Paine Grande: 11 to 15km
- Day 3: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances/Los Cuernos: 22 to 24km
- Day 4: Frances/Los Cuernos – Chileno/Central: 12 to 15km
- Day 5: Chileno/Central – Las Torres – Central: 14 to 19km
West to East: From Laguna Armaga to Pudeto
On this option, the trek will be as follow:
- Day 1: Central – Las Torres – Chileno/Central: 14 to 19km
- Day 2: Chileno/Central – Los Cuernos/Frances: 12 to 15km
- Day 3: Los Cuernos/Frances – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Paine Grande: 22to 24km
- Day 4: Paine Grande – Grey: 11 to 15km
- Day 5: Grey – Paine Grande: 11km
Our ways
What made us chose the direction was the price of the accommodation we could get, and we did the option 1 from East to West:
- Day 1: Paine Grande – Grey: 11km
- Day 2: Grey – Paine Grande (Morning hike the bridges of the O-Trek): 15km
- Day 3: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances/Los Cuernos: 22km
- Day 4: Frances– Chileno: 15km
- Day 5: Chileno – Las Torres – Central: 14km
Other options:
We opted to do it in 5 days 4 nights, and it was quite fine this way, but you could make it longer by staying longer in one place or shorter.
Idea for 4 days version:
- Day 1: Paine Grande – Grey – Paine Grande
- Day 2: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances
- Day 3: Frances– Chileno
- Day 4: Chileno – Las Torres – Central
Idea for 3 days version:
- Day 1: Paine Grande – Grey – Paine Grande
- Day 2: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances – Los Cuernos
- Day 3: Los Cuernos – Chileno – Las Torres – Central
But those would be really demanding. If you prefer to take it easy, you could also skip a part of it.
O-Trek
There is only one direction for the O-trek but two options for the departure point. We will just here make one example as we didn’t do this trek.
Paine Grande
In this option, the trek should be as follow:
- Day 1: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances
- Day 2: Frances– Chileno
- Day 3: Chileno – Las Torres – Central
- Day 4: Central – Seron
- Day 5: Seron – Dickson
- Day 6: Dickson – Los Perros
- Day 7: Los Perros – Paso
- Day 8: Paso – Grey
- Day 9: Grey – Paine grande
Or
- Day 1: Paine Grande – Italiano – Britanico – Italiano – Frances
- Day 2: Frances– Chileno
- Day 3: Chileno – Las Torres – Central
- Day 4: Central – Seron
- Day 5: Seron – Dickson
- Day 6: Dickson – Paso
- Day 7: Paso – Paine grande
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous
Looking where to Stay before and after?
Unique Stay near the Park
- Lodge: Cabañas Lago Tyndall
- Tiny House: Torres del Paine
- Lodge: Konkashken Lodge
Or in Puerto Natales:
- Budget: Puma House
- Mid-Range: Toore Patagonia
- High-Range: Hostal Boutique Factoria Patagonia