The experience
Start: Day 1 at 7:00 AM
End: Day 4 at 9:30 PM
The program starts at 7:00 AM at the Puerto Natales Bus Terminal to take the bus to Laguna Amarga Entrance, where you will enter Torres del Paine National Park. Then, you can take another ground transportation to the Welcome Center, where you need to check-in. After leaving your belongings at Refugio Central, you will start the trek with a 4-hour uphill hike through the Ascencio Valley and Paso de los Vientos, reaching one of the most recognized sectors of the national park: the Base Las Torres Viewpoint. After visiting the viewpoint, you will return on the same trail to spend the night at Refugio Central.
Continue the trek from Refugio Central, circling the Paine Massif, and passing along the base of Cerro Almirante Nieto. Along the way, you will be amazed by the local flora, Nordenskjöld Lake, and hanging glaciers. After 4 or 5 hours of hiking, you will reach the next destination, the Cuernos del Paine, where you can take some photographs if the weather allows. At night, you will sleep at Refugio Cuernos.
During this day, you will have to cover 25 km, so the recommendation is to start the excursion at 08:00. The first two hours are a gentle hike, accompanied by a beautiful view of Nordenskjöld Lake. The first stop will be at Campamento Italiano, where you can leave your backpacks and continue the route only with essential items (water, warm clothing, and food). From there, the ascent of 1.5 hours through the French Valley will begin until you reach the Mirador del Glaciar Francés. The journey continues until you reach the Mirador Británico, where you can see the different landscapes that this place within the national park offers: Paine Grande, Cathedral, Shark's Fin, and North Horn. The return is along the same trail to Campamento Italiano, and then you will continue the trail to Paine Grande for your third night of accommodation at Refugio Paine Grande.
During this day, you can visit the Miradores del Glaciar Grey. To reach the first viewpoint, you'll need to hike for 1.5 hours from Paine Grande, where you'll already start to see the final destination. You'll continue the trek for almost 2 hours to reach Refugio Grey, where you can leave your belongings to continue for another 15 minutes to the Main Viewpoint. After the effort, all that's left is to marvel at the magnitude of Glacier Grey, Cordón Olguín, and the icebergs. To return, you'll need to take the same trail to the Paine Grande area. Here, you should arrive before 16:45 to take the catamaran across Lake Pehoé to Pudeto. In this last town, the bus will be waiting to take you back to Puerto Natales. You'll arrive at the Puerto Natales Bus Terminal at 21:00.
*The confirmed refuges for each night of your program will depend on their availability during your travel dates. For the same reason and/or due to the availability of the catamaran, the program may be confirmed with an inverted itinerary (1st night in Paine Grande, 2nd night in Cuernos, and 3rd night in Central).
Optional services
Full board meals (breakfast, box lunch, and dinner, starting with the dinner of the first day and ending with the box lunch of the last day):
Residents in Chile:
Regular: CLP$ 199,000 per person.
Christmas and New Year: CLP$ 224,000 per person.
Non-residents in Chile:
Regular: USD$ 295 per person.
Christmas and New Year: USD$ 335 per person.
What to bring
40-liter backpack to carry all the things you will use during the circuit.
25-liter backpack for day hikes to Base Torres and Valle del Francés (you can leave your large backpack in Central and Italiano and pick it up on the way back).
Waterproof jacket and pants (Gore-Tex or similar).
Fleece-type warm clothing (Polartec or similar).
Thermal clothing (base layer).
Short and long-sleeved shirts.
Trekking shoes.
Sufficient battery (energy is produced sustainably, so there may not always be outlets to charge batteries).
Earplugs.
Beach sandals (for showers and rest).
Towel.
Flashlight.
Padlock.
Hat and gloves for the cold.
Sun hat.
Sunscreen.
Sunglasses.
Ziploc or similar bags (to store your trash).
Trekking poles.
Travel insurance covering accidents and cancellations due to force majeure.
Restrictions
Minimum age of 14 years to participate in the activity.
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Tour info:
Duration
4 D / 3 N
Type
Days
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Mapa
The tour includes
- Transfer
- *Round-trip regular bus transportation from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park.
- *Catamaran navigation from Sector Pehoé to Pudeto.
- *Accommodation in a shelter or dome, in shared rooms with bunk beds:
- 1st night at Central Shelter (includes sleeping bag).
- 2nd night at Cuernos Refuge or French Shelter (includes sleeping bag).
- 3ª noche en refugio Paine Grande (incluye sábanas y cobertor).