Chilean Patagonia Exploration: Hiking in Torres del Paine National Park - 7 Days

Highlights

• Follow the Los Cuernos Trail alongside Lake Nordenskjold
• Explore the Valle Frances Trail into the Paine Massif Valley
• Access the best views of Grey Glacier on a 45-minute hike
• Trek to Las Torres and the imposing Torres Towers
• Encounter and marvel at the Eastern lakes and lagoons

Brief Itinerary

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Punta Arenas to EcoCamp Patagonia

The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas (or Punta Arenas airport) in the morning and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia, located in Torres del Paine National Park. Alternatively, you can start your trip in Calafate.

Today is all about enjoying the beauty of Patagonia. You'll drive through the flats and fjords and after 3 hours will arrive in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town where we enjoy a hearty local lunch and meet our trekking guide. After lunch, we will head to Torres del Paine National Park. You'll have stunning views once we get closer to EcoCamp, our lodge for tonight. 

If you're traveling during summer, sunset is usually around 11 pm, there will still be enough daylight for you to admire the Patagonian landscapes.

Start: Punta Arenas
Finish: EcoCamp Patagonia
Overnight: EcoCamp Patagonia

Day 2: Los Cuernos Trail to Torres del Paine

You'll begin your Patagonian adventure with a pleasant walk through the meandering Cuernos Trail which leads alongside beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. Strong winds, all kind of surface trails, rocks, dirt, uphill, down hill all the way to Refugio Los Cuernos, a mountain refuge located by the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. The evening is free for relaxing and enjoying dinner.

Start: EcoCamp Patagonia       
Finish: Refugio Cuernos
Walking time: 4.5 hrs                       
Distance: 7.5 miles (12 km)
Max. Altitude: 244m – 800ft
Overnight: Refugio Cuernos or Domo El Francés

Day 3: Valle Frances Trail to Torres del Paine

After breakfast at Refugio Los Cuernos, you'll begin the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), traveling along a steep trail that leads to the very heart of the Paine Massif. Continuing to ascend towards the upper section of the valley where you'll be able to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley's geological formations. After your ascent, you'll stop for a picnic and relax a while.

This day's trek will end as you descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest which will take us to Refugio Paine Grande.

Start: Refugio Cuernos            
Finish: Refugio Paine Grande
Walking time: 10 hours                         
Distance: 16 miles (26 km)
Max. Altitude: 686m – 2,250ft
Overnight: Refugio Cuernos or Domo El Francés

Day 4: Grey Glacier Trail to Torres del Paine

Today, you'll hike from Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern side of the glacially beautiful Lake Grey. You'll have a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails right to the facade of Glacier Grey, where you'll have plenty of time to marvel at the calving glacier. From the southern end of Glacier Grey, you'll transfer to EcoCamp.

*Optional Kayaking around Glacier Grey: This excursion starts at 1 pm and lasts 2.5 hours where you will discover the amazing glacier and kayak around huge floating icebergs, towards the east side of the glacier to get closer to the giant ice wall (Min. age: 15 ; Max age: 65) (Note: Kayaking option is only available until March 19th)

Start: Refugio Paine Grande   
Finish: Grey Viewpoint
Walking time: 4 hrs                           
Distance: 7 miles (11 km)
Max. Altitude: 244m – 800ft
Overnight: EcoCamp Patagonia

Day 5: Las Torres Trail to Torres del Paine

The aim of the day is to finish the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park. You'll trek from the campsite towards Las Torres before scaling up to Ascencio Valley on the Tower's eastern face.

Beautiful natural scenery lines this route towards the valley. The biggest test comes from the steep slope in front, a monstruous of boulders that will lead you to the famous & iconic view of the towers — three imposing granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the brute force of glacial ice.

After a tough climb, the towers eventually come into range, with the glacial lake visible below. This is a great place to have lunch. Backtracking along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and returning to EcoCamp, you'll arrive for a well-deserved dinner.

Start: EcoCamp Patagonia       
Finish: EcoCamp Patagonia
Walking time: 9 hrs                           
Distance: 14 miles (22 km)
Max. Altitude: 914m – 3,000ft
Overnight: EcoCamp Patagonia

Day 6: Eastern Lakes to Torres del Paine

Today will consist of a less demanding trail, to counter the tiring efforts of the day before. After breakfast, you'll take a leisurely car journey toward Laguna Azul, passing Cañadón Macho, home to many wild guanacos and ñandúes, en route.

At Laguna Azul, you'll hike to the lookout point where an incredible view of both the lagoon and granite towers awaits.

After lunch, you will drive to the northern shore of Sarmiento Lake. This is where the Fauna Trail starts. As you hike northbound, you will spot an impressive range of Patagonian fauna on the vast plains, including guanacos, ostrich-like ñandús and possibly puma prints!

You'll pass the charming Goic lagoon and after approximately 5 km. of easy paced walking, the Laguna Amarga ranger station will emerge. Here you'll be picked up and driven back to Ecocamp to celebrate over your farewell dinner.

Start: EcoCamp Patagonia       
Finish: EcoCamp Patagonia
Walking time: 3 hours
Distance: 4 miles (6.4 km)
Max. Altitude: 180m – 590ft
Overnight: EcoCamp Patagonia

Day 7: Leave Torres del Paine to Punta Arenas

You'll board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight to Santiago. Or you can board an early morning vehicle to the border to continue your journey to El Calafate.

Overnighting at EcoCamp Patagonia (Nights 1, 4, 5, 6)

Ecocamp Patagonia, positioned in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, with magnificent vistas of the famous granite towers. The area’s first sustainable lodge south of the Amazon Basin and the first of its kind in Patagonia, EcoCamp provides upscale camping in domes inspired by the ancient nomadic inhabitants of the Region.