Trekking the Mighty Torres
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Puerto Natales
When you arrive, a transfer will be waiting to take you to your locally run hotel, near the centre of town. Your room is clean, cosy and has a heater. In the lounge, you can relax next to the open fire or head out and explore the small town where you’ll find a pizzeria, a few bars, and benches where you can enjoy the sunset. We recommend stocking up on some snacks and water for the next few days.
Day 2 – W-trekking Torres del Paine
You’ll have an early start today as you head to the bus station to catch the bus to the entrance of the park, which takes around 2.5 hours. At the entrance, you’ll receive your national park map, pay the entrance fee, and register. From the entrance, a smaller bus will take you to your first refugio(mountain hut), where you’ll stay in one of the dormitories with bunk beds and shared facilities. You can leave any items you don’t want to take hiking here and begin your first climb.
Your first hike, to the peaks of the Torres, is quite a challenging one as it takes around eight hours in total, so it’s best to ask reception what time the sun sets. Along the first part of the route, you can enjoy a view of lakes, glaciers and mountains whilst walking through the forest, and you can fill your water bottle up along the way. The second part is the most strenuous, but you’ll be rewarded with the view of the famous ‘pinnacles’ and other peaks. You will walk the same way back to the refugio, where you can enjoy your first meal with other hiking enthusiasts in the evening.
It’s important to note that meals are not included. We recommend that you request meals upon arrival at the refuges, to make sure they can cater for you, and it’s also possible for us to pre-book these for you in advance, but you’ll pay a little more for this.
Day 3 – Torres del Paine – trekking
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll take your gear and head off to the next refugio. It’s about 7 miles and should take around 4-5 hours, less difficult than yesterday. Take time along the way to enjoy your trek and stop to sit down, enjoy the views and breathe in the fresh mountain air. You’ll see several glaciers and the Nordenskjold lake, which owes its name to a Swedish explorer who discovered it in the early 20th century. The lake is fed by a waterfall and has a bizarre, almost surreal blue colour. In December and January, you’ll have a good chance of seeing the bright red flowers native to this region. Depending on your pace, you’ll arrive early or late afternoon at the refugio. Rest your legs and reflect on today’s adventures with other travellers.
Day 4 – Torres del Paine – trekking
Today is going to be a long day if you’re choosing the most scenic route. You’ll walk about 11 miles and so it’s best to start off early. After about two hours, you’ll have a choice of two trails, either straight to the refugio, or the longer, more scenic route. With clear views, you’ll see a multitude of rock formations with strange names such as “the mask” and “the shark”. A part of the way back goes along the same path and then on to Pehoe, where the next refugio is situated.
Days 5-6 – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales
Today is a special day as you’ll not only travel on foot but also by boat. You’ll start early and head towards Refugio Grey, which takes around 3.5 hours. After the first hour of hiking along cliffs and ridgelines, you’ll be rewarded with showstopping views of the Grey Glacier. Then, continue hiking for another hour along the western shore of the lake, which gives the glacier its name, where large chunks of blue ice drift across the water. When you arrive at Regugio Grey, you can enjoy a delicious packed lunch from a picnic table with an epic view. The ferry ride across the lake departs from here and takes about an hour, a relaxing way to end your active days on the trail.
After the boat docks, you’ll travel back to Puerto Natales by bus and transfer. Here you’ll stay another night in Puerto Natales in the same hotel you stayed in before the trek.
Day 6 – Departure from Puerto Natales
After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to your host and make your own way to the bus stop, ready for the journey to your next destination. There’s no airport in Puerto Natales, so you’ll have to travel onwards overland. Take the bus to Punta Arenas to spot penguins, or fly straight to Temuco to visit volcano country.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Trekking Torres - Camping
Swap a night in the refugio for a night under the stars, sleeping in a tent with a mattress and warm sleeping bag. You will enjoy a tasty dinner inside the refugio, and after dinner, when the lights go out, you’ll walk back to your tent for the night surrounded by nature. You can use all the refugio’s facilities, including hot showers and toilets.
