Your Guide to Exploring Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile

At the southern tip of the South American Andes sits Torres del Paine National Park, an outdoor lovers paradise. Visitors to this stunning part of the world are greeted with dramatic granite peaks, awe-inspiring glaciers, and countless pristine lakes. I recently spent a week exploring the Chilean side of Patagonia with my family and I’m excited to share the things I learned to help you have the best trip possible to Torres del Paine National Park!

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Torres del Paine National Park had been on my bucket list for more than 10 years before this trip. I’d seen so many amazing photos from this part of the world. Glacier Grey, los Cuernos del Paine (the famous Patagonia “horns)”, the impressive Mirador Las Torres (towers), and unique wildlife… there’s no shortage of epic things to see and do there.

I live on the other side of the world to my family and try to take trips with them as a way to spend quality time together. Exploring Patagonia was the perfect bucket list trip to plan with my husband and parents! 

We used a local guiding company called Venture Patagonia to organize our trip. This was the best decision we could have made. The Venture Patagonia team asked us what kind of travel travel experiences we enjoyed, what we wanted out of the trip, and then they put together a custom itinerary with all of that in mind.

This was particularly helpful for planning a trip with my parents because my husband and I can wing it a little bit when it’s just the two of us, but I definitely like to be more prepared and safe when traveling with our parents. The whole process gave me a lot of peace of mind before and during the trip. Everything went so smoothly and their knowledgeable guides ensured we created memories that will last a lifetime. If you have the means, I cannot recommend Venture Patagonia enough!

There are three main ways to get to Torres del Paine National Park. The easiest is to fly into the Chilean port town of Puerto Natales (typically coming from Santiago). Puerto Natales is the closest airport and only an hour’s drive from Torres del Paine National Park. This is also a good kick-off point as there are many hotel, dining, and grocery options if you need to get yourself organized before heading to the park.

You can also fly into Punta Arenas, which is a 4-hour drive from Torres del Paine National Park. I wouldn’t suggest staying in Punta Arenas as a base camp for exploring Torres del Paine, but you could use it as a beginning and end destination if flight options are more affordable or direct than Punta Natalas.

The other way of getting to Torres del Paine National Park is crossing the Chile – Argentina border by car or bus. This is what we did, as we had first been traveling around El Chalten and El Calafate on the Argentinian side of Patagonia. 

We were picked up from El Calafate by one of Venture Patagonia’s trusted drivers, and driven in a comfortable vehicle to the Chilean border. The guide handled our crossing, which was super nice as it can be a little intimidating if you don’t speak Spanish. The driver then passed us onto our main guide for the trip once across the border in Chile, and we were only a short drive from the national park at this point.

Be warned that not many rental car companies don’t allow border crossings so make sure you do your research again of time.

Torres del Paine National Park is rather remote and lodging is limited. As such, it’s important to reserve your accommodation well in advance. Within the park you will find options on the budget side (campsites), and the higher-end lodging… but not much in between. As this was a special family trip that we had waited so long for, Venture Patagonia suggested a stay at the beautiful Hotel Las Torres Patagonia. This meant we were in the heart of the park, with close access to many of the best hiking trails. 

These are my top suggestions for hotel and glamping-style lodging near or inside Torres del Paine National Park:

• Hotel Las Torres Patagonia
• Hotel Lago Grey
• Explora Patagonia Hotel Salto Chico
• Eco Camp Patagonia (glamping)
• Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa
• Río Serrano Hotel + Spa

For the more budget option of camping, there are 9 campgrounds in Torres del Paine National Park. Two different companies run them: Vertice Patagonia (including Grey, Dickson, Los Perros, and Paine Grande campsites), and Las Torres Patagonia (including Chileno, Central, Serón, Francés, and Los Cuernos campsites). 

The in-between of a hotel and campsite is to stay in hostels, more commonly known as refugios. Both Las Torres Patagonia and Vertice Patagonia have refugio / hostel options, including full board packages.

Another option is to base yourself one hour away in Puerto Natales. Puerto Natales has many more lodging options, which is especially great for those on a budget. There are also more dining options in town compared to those available inside the national park.

These are my top suggested lodging in Puerto Natales:

• Simple Patagonia (we loved our stay here!)
• The Singular Patagonia
• Remota Patagonia Lodge
• Hotel Borde Glaciar
• Hotel Altiplanico Sur
• Hostal Rufus 
• Hostal America

There is so much to do in Torres del Paine National Park that it can be a little overwhelming. Below I have suggested some of the top things to do during your visit!

Our favorite activity in Torres del Paine National Park was hiking to the famous Mirador Las Torres (“Towers Viewpoint”). While not for the faint of heart, this hike will take you to one of the most breathtaking views you will ever see in your life. The trail is 12.5 miles and 3,325 feet out-and-back according to All Trails, though our Apple Watches clocked the elevation gain to be a little higher than that.

Our Venture Patagonia guide recommended that we start the hike early in the morning, and that’s also a big reason why we stayed at Hotel Las Torres, as it’s located right at the beginning of this hike. We walked right from our hotel and started just before sunrise. Doing so meant that we avoided the worst of the crowds both on the trail and at the lake, and we also avoided hiking the first mile (a steep uphill section) in the hot sun.

Depending on how long you take to hike the trail, you may also catch lunch at Refugio Chileno on your way back. This makes for a great way to break up the trip. You can also fill up water at the refugio or at streams along the hike (I always recommend using a water filter in the backcountry). 

There are multiple larger hiking circuits in Torres del Paine National Park, with the most famous being the W Trek / W Circuit. The W Trek offers adventurous hikers access to 46 miles / 74 km of incredible scenery within the park. People travel from all over the world to do this hike.

If you are lucky enough to secure reservations, you can end every day with a hot meal and a comfortable bed at one of the half-dozen refugios that are dotted along the trail. This means you don’t have to carry heavy gear like tents and food that you would normally have to take on multi-day backpacking trips. Otherwise, cheaper tent options are available at the designated campgrounds. A longer alternative to the W Trek is the O Circuit, coming in at 73.7 miles / 119 km. We didn’t hike the W or O Circuit during this visit but it’s on my bucket list to return to Patagonia and make that happen! 

Another activity on our guided itinerary was a morning of puma sighting. We woke up before sunrise, jumped in a cool vintage-looking van, and headed out to try and find the elusive puma. We were lucky enough to spot 3 of them, all sitting around a guanaco carcass they had captured the evening before. We watched for a while, before going for a scenic drive through the surrounding hills with some amazing views of Paine Grande and the rest of the Paine massif in the distance. Highly recommend!

Grey Glacier is one of the biggest draws for visitors to Torres del Paine National Park. Fed by one of the world’s largest icefields, this glacier is stunningly beautiful and surrounded by natural beauty that your eyes will struggle to comprehend. There are a few ways to see the glacier, but the most common for visitors is by boat. This boat leaves 4 times each day, which are currently at 9 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, and 6 pm. The tour lasts around 3 hours and will get you up close and personal with the glacier. Tickets run around $100 USD for adults, and $50 USD for children, and can be purchased here. I recommend booking in advance to secure your spot, especially during the busy season (December-February).

The other main way people visit Grey Glacier is while doing the W Trek. The trail offers jaw-dropping views of the glacier, and it’s considered one of the best views of the entire hike. You can stay at Refugio Grey or the nearby campground to rest up before continuing on your hike. Reservations are required.

One of the activities on our itinerary was a kayaking trip on the stunning Grey Lake. This lake is fed by the gigantic Grey Glacier and often has beautiful icebergs floating around it. Unfortunately, the day we were supposed to kayak on Grey Lake was incredibly windy, so the kayaks were moved to the nearby Rio Grey (Grey River). This was still so much fun, and my parents had a blast learning new kayaking skills with the instructors. They were so invested in making sure we had a great time, and excellent at guiding us through the little tricky sections along the river. It was capped off with a delicious picnic lunch at the end, filled with fresh fruits, dips, crackers, and redfreshing drinks.

Pehoe Lake is an incredibly vibrant, turquoise lake with incredible views of the Cuernos del Paine and beyond. It’s worth making a stop at the boat dock at Refugio Pudeto, and taking a short walk to Salto Grande Waterfall. This trail is only about 1 mile (1.6 km) roundtrip and takes you to a beautiful waterfall that joins Pehoe Lake with the larger Lake Nordenskjold. If you are feeling adventurous, you can continue past the waterfall and up to the “Cuernos Lookout”. This extra section will add on an additional 3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip, but it’s worth it if you have the time!

There is just one main road runs through Torres del Paine National Park, so you can’t really miss anything or get too lost. Along this road are many scenic lookouts that are worth pulling into to soak in the views. Some of the most famous photos from the park are taken along this very road, so make sure to have your camera ready at all times! Just be sure to use the pull-offs and not stop on the road as it’s narrow and windy at times.

Probably my favorite viewpoint was from a pull off below the Explora Patagonia Hotel Salto Chico. There is a short trail that goes up to a scenic boardwalk and it offers beautiful views of the Cuernos del Paine mountains. It’s also a great photo stop on your drive through the park. Unfortunately, the boardwalk has suffered a lot of weather damage over the years, and it was looking a little worse for wear. Be careful when walking as there are missing wood slats and even small collapsed sections. You can walk up on the side of the boardwalk to the top where the best photos are which is a bit safer.

The French Valley is one of the most popular day hikes in Torres del Paine National Park. This 12-mile (20km) round-trip hike with 1900 feet (600 meters) of gain will take you into one of the most stunning valleys surrounded by towering mountain peaks. It’s well worth the effort!

To hike the French Valley trail, you will first need to drive to the boat dock at Pudeto. From here, you will take a 30-minute scenic boat ferry across beautiful Pehoe Lake to the trailhead for French Valley, which is located at Paine Grande Refugio. You will get your ticket on board, and it will currently cost you $50 USD round-trip. You will want to take the 9 am ferry to ensure you make it back to the trailhead by the last ferry at 6:30 pm. Do note that ferry schedules do change throughout the seasons, and these times are not 100% guaranteed. Please give them a call or email before your trip to ensure you have the correct times for your dates.

If you haven’t fully packed your schedule with activities in the park by this point, there’s still SO much to explore in the areas surrounding Torres del Paine National Park. Below are some more of my favorite destinations just a short trip from the national park:

The Baguales Mountains are located just a short distance north-east of Torres del Paine National Park. We spent an incredible night here on our guided tour with Venture Patagonia. They have exclusive access to family-owned land inside the Baguales. We had a blast combing for fossils, petting the horses, spotting condors, and soaking in the views while enjoying a home-cooked meal at their cute guest house. I highly recommend contacting Venture Patagonia to explore this area. You can go horse riding, fossil hunting, hiking, and more. In the winter, you can also do heli-skiing and cat skiing!

La Peninsula is located a 30-minute boat ride from Puerto Natales. Our guided tour took us to Estancia La Peninsula for a day of home-cooked meals, horseback riding, local farming knowledge, and of course more epic scenery. The highlight for us was the horse ride, which took us through the beautiful forests of this land, and up to an amazing viewpoint of the surrounding mountains.

La Peninsula is a family-run estancia and Venture Patagonia has exclusive access for booking multi-day trips – so I highly recommend you reach out to them if you intend to visit. They will help to organize the best and most fitting tour for your group.

Punta Arenas, located 4 hours from Torres del Paine, is a busy port town and base for many adventures in the southern Patagonia area. From Punta Arenas you can do activities such as hiking, cruises to see Magellanic penguins, and even fly to Antarctica!

Only a 3 or 4-hour drive from Torres del Paine National Park is Los Glaciares National Park, the Argentinian Patagonia counterpart to Torres del Paine National Park. Here you will find El Chalten, the perfect base for more exploring. This region is home to some of the most famous mountains on earth. Ever seen a Patagonia jacket? Well, their logo is based on the silhouette of this very mountain range. The hiking here is just as good as Torres del Paine, and if you are a big hiker, you MUST visit El Chalten while you are in this part of the world.

Do note that while it is only a 4-hour drive by distance, you will want to allow an extra 2-3 hours for time at the border just in case you get stuck in long lines.

Southern Patagonia is the main base to kick off an Antarctica adventure. Cruises leave from both Punta Arenas, as well as Ushuaia, and will take you down to the great white continent for the adventure of a lifetime. My husband and I recently took a 3-week cruise down to the Antarctic region – blog post coming soon!

During our time in Torres del Paine National Park, we learned quite a few things that will help others be prepared for their travels there. Below are some of my top tips.

Torres del Paine and the greater Patagonia area is a fantastic destination to travel with family members. There are so many things to do for all ages, and I had an amazing time exploring the park with my husband and parents. There were a couple of times that my husband and I wanted to do more adventurous things than my parents were capable of. In that situation, our Venture Patagonia guide was able to accommodate and ensure we were all safe and put on the right path. We didn’t see a lot of very young children in Torres del Paine National Park and I think that’s because of the longer hiking distances not being as child-friendly.

Although you’ll need to consider the weather on any vacation, the weather in Patagonia can be particularly wild. Extreme winds are very common here, especially during the peak visitation months of December through February. It is not uncommon for some trails to be closed during particularly windy conditions. You will need to always be cautious of the direction in which you are opening your car doors, and make sure to check the weather before your daily activities. We were told by our guide that the best and most accurate forecasting for this area is Wind Guru.

When deciding how much of Patagonia to explore, you will first need to decide how much time you have for your travels. If you have one week or less, I’d stick with just visiting Torres del Paine National Park and the surrounding areas mentioned above. If you have two weeks, I’d make the trip up to El Chalten and explore that area as well.

The park is quite large, and there are many activities and world-class hiking trails to explore. If you are a big hiker, I recommend at least five days in the park. This way you won’t feel like you have missed any of the highlights during your time here. You will want an extra couple of days if you plan to do the W Trek, so you have time to explore off the trail beforehand, or once you finish the hike. 

If you are less of a hiker and just want to stick to the roads and short walking paths, I’d still suggest at least three days. This way you can do things like the boat cruise, kayaking, wildlife watching, etc, and not feel rushed.

There is an entrance fee required to enter Torres del Paine National Park. You will pay this at the park entrance when you first visit. Foreigners pay a higher rate than locals. I will be sharing the prices as a foreigner in USD. With the current conversion, prices are $32 USD for adults, for up to 3 days in the park, and around $17 for children aged 13-17. Children up to 12 are free. For more than 3 days in the park, adults and children aged 13-17 will cost $45 per person. Children up to the age of 12 are free.

The local currency in Torres del Paine National Park is the Chilean Pesos. Though most hotels and restaurants will accept credit cards, some still only accept cash. As there are no ATMs in the park, I recommend getting cash in Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales before heading to the park.

Internet access is pretty much non-existent inside Torres del Paine National Park. Some hotels provide Wi-Fi, but you won’t have any service when out exploring. Make sure to download offline maps from Google or other apps to ensure you can find your way around the park without the internet to assist. Alternatively, pick up local trail maps and road maps Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas before heading to the park.

We had a private guide and driver organized through Venture Patagonia for this trip. It was SO nice to show up at the hotel reception at the time on the itinerary, and then let the guide drive us to our destinations for the day. We didn’t need to deal with maps, gas, or worry about anything but having a good time.

If you don’t want to book a driver, you can rent a vehicle from Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas and drive yourself around the park. There are no gas stations within the park, so you will need to be mindful of gas as the nearest fill-up station is 1-2 hours away in Puerto Natales. You will also want to be mindful that the main park road is not paved, and can be quite bumpy. You will be traveling quite slow throughout the park, so allow longer than you think you’ll need to get between locations. 

Make sure to purchase adequate car rental insurance. Extreme winds can blow rocks and other debris at the vehicle, so you’ll want to make sure you are covered for windshield and paint damage.