Torres del Paine Circuit Trek

Day 1: Punta Arenas

The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas or Punta Arenas airport in the morning and driven to Torre Central Camp, located in the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park. Alternatively, you can start your trip in Calafate (see our weekly transfer board for pick up & drop off schedule). En route we make a couple of stops - First in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of "Seno de Ultima Esperanza", where we enjoy a hearty local lunch, and second at Cueva de Milodon, a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890’s. The journey is scenic and highly atmospheric, featuring many wild birds and wonderful Patagonian landscapes.

The day ends with our arrival and overnight stay at Torre Central Camp, nestled in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park and with a prime view of the majestic Torres. Sunset is usually around 11pm during the summer months, meaning that there will still be enough daylight for you to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon once you arrive.

Day 2: Camp Torre Central to Camp Dickson

The day will start at EcoCamp with a long trek heading to Dickson Lake. The trek follows North along the eastern bank of the Rio Paine. We stop at a lookout point with a wonderful panoramic view of Lago Paine below, before descending to lakeside level and continuing West across open grasslands along the Rio Paine to Refugio Dickson. Our stunning campsite will be in the Dickson Valley surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks and the pretty waters of Lake Dickson. In the distance we enjoy a spectacular view of Dickson Glacier and part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. We spend the night camping here at Dickson Campground with a replenishing dinner and hot showers.

Day 3: Camp Dickson to Camp Perros

Today we follow a trail which goes alongside Los Perros river, in the wildest and least accessible section of the trek. We pass under the Los Perros Glacier, which falls into a small lake, and cross a virgin beech forest leading the way towards the lovely Laguna Los Perros. Here at Camping Los Perros we set up camp and enjoy the evening.

Day 4: Camp Perros to Camp Grey

Today we reach the highest point of the circuit at 1300metres with an awe-inspiring view of Grey glacier, an enormous fractured mass of ice dominating the valley. The John Gardner pass is one of the most famous points of Torres del Paine and a must-do for any serious trekker. It is a hard but spectacular day. Descending from this highest point, the route continues roughly south along forested slopes with beautiful views of the enormous Grey Glacier. We spend the night camping at Grey Campground on the shores of Lake Grey.

Day 5: Camp Grey to Pehoe Lake

During the morning, we will take some time to rest, replenish and revel in Lake Grey's surroundings before making our way along the eastern side of Lake Grey through clearings of gorgeous Calafate bushes. The view over the lake, with numerous giant icebergs drifting across the waters, is a true wonder to behold. The trail after this point becomes flatter as we descend through a shallow dry valley headed towards the turquoise waters of Lake Pehoe, where we will set-up camp and rest for the night.

Day 6: French Valley

After breakfast, we start the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), along a steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. How deep we go depends on our groups' rhythm. An active walk leads us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif. From this point there is a truly wonderful view. Then we continue up the trail until reaching the upper section of the valley. The entire group of geological formations of the high valley can be admired here. It's time to have a picnic and recover from the walk. An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is available as well. Finally we descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest until we reach camp Cuernos.

Day 7: Los Cuernos

Once we're done with breakfast we start our day's trek heading towards EcoCamp Patagonia through the Cuernos trail located beside the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. Today is a great opportunity to take in the park's charming flora and fauna and learn more about the vast variety of species. As we go through the trail we enjoy magnificent views of the park's central lakes and admire a different view of the Paine's Horns. En route we'll of course stop to enjoy a delicious box lunch and rest our legs. The trek ends at EcoCamp. Upon arrival we enjoy a hearty meal and prepare for tomorrow's big challenge.

Day 8: Base Trek Las Torres

Time for a big breakfast and lots of enthusiasm. Our goal today is to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park! We walk from the camp site towards Hosteria Las Torres and join the uphill path to Ascencio Valley on the Tower's eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. Our big challenge comes as we climb the steep moraine, a mass of boulders leading us to a view of the Towers - three gigantic granite monoliths, the remians of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. After an uphill slog, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us, with the glacial lake visible below. After feasting on the view and our picnic, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner.

Day 9: Punta Arenas

We board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas.

• 8 nights camping, including all equipment except mat and sleeping bag
• English speaking tour guide
• Transfers
• Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park
• Regular bus tickets (Calafate to Puerto Natales) if starting/finishing in Calafate
• Porter service
• Meals as specified

• International and internal airfares
• Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities
• Any items not mentioned as included

Prices are based per person on double lead in rooms. Rates are subject to change and different rates may apply during holiday seasons and special events.

• Prices are based on 4+ confirmed passengers traveling.
• Surcharges will apply if 3 or less passengers have only confirmed for any given departure.
• Final number confirmed passengers on any given tour will be provided 4 weeks prior to the departure.

Supplement rates as follows:

• Single Tented supplement: CLP 200,000
• 2 people group supplement: CLP 327,300
• 3 people group supplement: CLP 217,800
• Christmas surcharges apply