Hiking Adventure in Patagonia's Torres del Paine National Park - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Puerto Natales & Get Oriented

Welcome to Chile! You'll arrive in the small port city of Puerto Natales, formerly a fishing port and now the main base for excursions into Torres del Paine National Park. The town is set on the Seno Última Esperanza (Last Hope Sound), offering scenic views across the water to the mountains beyond. Facing north from here, you'll see the peaks of Cerro Benitez and Cerro Toro, and the sight is especially phenomenal at sunset.

Depending on your arrival time, you might take a stroll around town and stop for a drink at one of the town's many bars and cafés. Try a traditional seafood stew in a family-run restaurant before you get some rest at your hotel. Adventures in Patagonia's landscapes await you tomorrow.

Day 2: Enter Torres del Paine & Begin Trek

Transfer from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park this morning. The drive takes about two hours, and you'll get your first glimpses of Torres del Paine's massive peaks as you approach the park. You'll arrive at the Laguna Amarga main entrance and register with the park office, then take a quick shuttle ride to the Las Torres sector. Begin your trek along the O Circuit by hiking up Mount Almirante Nieto to an incredible view of Lago Nordenskjöld and Silence Valley.

Continue for one hour through a dense forest, continuing past Campamento Las Torres. Your final destination today is Campamento Japones, the original camping area where climbing pioneers took shelter from the weather and prepared for the climb to the top of Las Torres. You'll have dinner and begin to prep for tomorrow's big day.

Day 3: Cross the Oggioni Pass

Following an early breakfast, you'll pack up and begin today's hike. The Oggioni Pass is off the beaten path: very few visitors to the park embark on this hike! The trail is marked by small stone towers left behind by previous hikers. You'll begin by following the path toward a waterfall. Cross a natural stone bridge, then hike over two glacier moraines.

Next, you'll start climbing uphill. You may be able to see Oggioni Mountain as you continue over the pass and continue through a forest. From a distance, spot Refugio & Camping Dickson, your destination for the evening. Have dinner and relax at the camp before getting some rest.

Today is built in for rest—or in case inclement weather makes it impossible to complete the Oggioni Pass trek on day three. If you successfully completed the previous day's hike, you can take it easy today or explore near Refugio & Camping Dickson. Your guide can suggest some excursions in the area. Walk around Lago Dickson and check out the wide variety of vegetation in the region. Or relax and enjoy the views of Dickson Glacier before tomorrow's hike. 

Day 5: Hike from Dickson to Perros 

After breakfast at camp, you'll begin hiking again. Today's trek is approximately four hours long and will take you through one of the oldest forests in the park, where you'll be able to see a number of unique mosses and lichens. Enjoy your time on the trail until you reach a moraine at the foot of Glacier Los Perros. Set up camp and prepare dinner with your guide before the trek continues tomorrow.

Day 6: Hike Across the John Gardner Pass

Today, you'll have the privilege of waking up and having breakfast surrounded by a beautiful forest. Then it's time to begin a slow but steady climb up a hill for approximately 650 feet (200 m). After more than an hour of hiking, you'll reach the end of the forest and begin trekking up rockslides toward the John Gardner Pass. You'll then be amid smaller patches of trees while gaining a bit of elevation. You can see Glacier Amistad, Cerro Blanco Sur, and Punta Puma from this part of the trail.

You'll continue climbing until you reach 3,937 feet (1,200 m). This is where an astonishing view of Grey Glacier and Patagonia's Southern Ice Field awaits. After enjoying this breathtaking vista, it's time to begin hiking downhill for about two hours until you reach Campamento Paso for a short rest. Continue along an undulating trail with views of the glacier, Lago Grey, and Ferrier Hill. Cross several of the park's famous suspension bridges before reaching Campamento Grey to spend the evening. 

Day 7: Continue to Lago Pehoe 

Today you'll hike along Torres del Paine's W Trek. Walk for about four hours along Lago Grey and then through a small forest. Most days, this section of the park is very windy due to the open landscapes around Lago Grey, Grey Glacier, and the Southern Ice Field. In the afternoon, you'll arrive at Refugio Paine Grande on the shore of the beautiful Lago Pehoe. Have dinner and relax.

Day 8: Explore the French Valley

Shortly after breakfast, start hiking toward Campamento Italiano, about 2.5 hours away. Once you arrive at the camp, leave your large pack and continue into the French Valley with a small daypack. You'll hike across a moraine and through a forest until you come to a clearing, where you'll be blown away by both the wind and the spectacular views of three lakes: Nordenskjöld, Skottsberg, and Pehoe. You'll see the hanging French Glacier just ahead of you, plus several other peaks. After leaving the lookout, return to gather your larger backpack and continue another 2.5 hours to Camp Cuernos to spend the night.

Day 9: Hike Along Lago Nordenskjöld & Return to Puerto Natales 

Have breakfast and leave Cuernos, walking along the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld and admiring its stunning colors. You'll walk for about four hours before reaching Refugio & Camping Central, where you'll catch a transfer and then a bus back to Puerto Natales. Spend the evening enjoying Chilean cuisine and cocktails in the town's restaurants and bars before the trip concludes.