Hike Torres del Paine
Trip Overview
This Patagonia adventure tour is a short hike through Torres del Paine National Park, an intensely beautiful region of South America. The region is rugged and beautiful with cliffs, turquoise glaciers, and tangled pine forests.
This spectacular region offers some of the best trekking in the world. This Torres del Paine hiking tour offers the opportunity to disconnect from civilization and reconnect with the wilderness, surrounded by landscapes you could only dream of. An adventure with all the ingredients for an unforgettable experience.
We will be trekking by day and sleeping in a luxurious Eco-Camp by night. Expect hearty meals, long days, and numerous animal sightings.
WOW FACTORS
- Hiking across the mixed grassland and light forest of Chile's Torres del Paine National Park
- Sleeping in tented domes at an eco-camp, offering an unrivalled ambiance of nature and luxury
- Witness the birth of gigantic blue and white icebergs as they calve away from the Grey Glacier
Itinerary & Map
Day 1
Santiago - Punta Arenas - Torres del Paine
Arrival
All travellers must arrive into the Punta Arenas airport by 11:00am. We'll be there to greet you and transfer you to the famous Torres del Paine National Park, 345 km/216 miles away. The drive is approximately 5 hours, but a very scenic one and in the summer months (December to March) the sun sets around 11pm, so we have plenty of light to admire the landscape en route while entering the park. If we’re lucky we’ll see guanacos, rheas and huge rabbits grazing on the plains. We stop for lunch in Puerto Natales, and have some time to explore the town. The craggy snow-peaked mountains become visible as we approach the park and check into our cozy eco-camp at Los Torres. There will be an extensive orientation meeting this evening over dinner where we will answer any questions that you may have about the adventure that lies ahead. Overnight at the EcoCamp.
Accommodation: EcoCamp
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
French Valley
Hiking
Our active adventure begins with a 30-minute catamaran journey crossing Lake Pehoe to Pudeto where we'll start our challenging trek to Valle Frances, along a steep trail that goes into the very heart of the Paine Massif. A vigorous walk brings us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif. We have a wonderful view from this vantage point. We'll then continue up the trail until reaching the upper section of the valley with panoramic views of our dramatic surroundings. We'll rest with a picnic lunch, before heading back on the trail descending through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest until reaching our home for the night - the campground at Refugio Paine Grande - located on the shores of Lake Pehoe. An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is also available during the day's hike.
Hiking Duration: 8 hours
Hiking Distance: 25 km / 15 mi
Ascent: + 686 m (2250 ft)
Accommodation: Camping in Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Pehoe - Grey Glacier
Hiking
After a hearty breakfast we set off on a hike along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern end of the glacial Lake Grey. We'll enjoy a picnic lunch before boarding a boat that sails to the blue face of Glacier Grey. This dramatic glacier is an ancient wall of ice sculpted by time and the elements. It’s common to see and hear pieces calving thunderously into the deep gray lake below. The journey concludes crossing Lago Grey and from here we’ll transfer from Lake Grey’s southern end to the eco-camp for the night. If the weather conditions do not allow us to navigate Grey Lake, we’ll hike about two hours along the Grey Trail until reaching a sightseeing point offering a spectacular view of the Glacier. We then return to Paine Grande and take a catamaran to Pudeto's dock, from where we'll drive back to our camp for the night.
Hiking Duration: 4 hours
Hiking Distance: 14 km / 9 mi
Ascent: + 244m (800ft)
Accommodation: EcoCamp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
Torres del Paine National Park - Valle Ascencio
Hiking
Today is a full day trek to the famous Towers of Paine, a triad of sculpted granite peaks that are the remains of a great cirque that has been sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. For 10 km/6 miles, we trudge along rolling dirt tracks through a pine forest and traverse the mountains with wide-open vistas of the deep valleys below. The last 3 km/2 miles is a scramble on foot over rocks and boulders to the base of this beautiful sculpture. You’ll feel the intensity of the natural world, as you sit beneath the jagged spires. This place is truly magnificent. After feasting on the view and a picnic lunch, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to the EcoCamp. Dinner is a typical Chilean BBQ to celebrate our achievements.
Hiking Duration: 10 hours
Hiking Distance: 21 km / 13 mi
Ascent: +914m (3,000ft)
Accommodation: EcoCamp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
Torres del Paine
Departure
Early in the morning we board the vehicle back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the flight back to Santiago. Please make sure you book a flight that leaves Punta Arenas after 3:00pm.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
NOTE about Ascent/Descent numbers:
The ascent/descent numbers are usually generated using Ride with GPS. The numbers are TOTAL ascent/descent for the day and these numbers do not suggest altitude. There are usually multiple small ascents and descents added up throughout the day to reach this total ascent/descent for the day. (While our numbers are generally consistent with Ride with GPS, depending on the mapping technology used, numbers may vary).
What's Included
TRIP INCLUSIONS:
Meals as indicated, all accommodation (twin shared and 1 night camping in tents), all internal transportation (excluding domestic flights), airport transfers and English-speaking guides.
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE:
International and domestic flights, airport departure taxes, gratuities, meals not indicated and items of a personal nature.
MEALS:
4 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 4 Dinners
ACCOMMODATION:
Eco-Camp: 3 Nights
Tent: 1 Night
Trip Facts
Weather in Chile & Patagonia
Santiago
October to March: Summer. Dry. Average temperature is 29°C (85°F).
April to September: Winter. Average temperature is 15 to 20°C (59 to 69°F). Evenings are cool.
Patagonia
The weather in Patagonia, though extremely variable, can often be wet, cold and windy. Throughout the country, the proximity of the Pacific and the Andes creates numerous pockets of localized weather patterns known as microclimates. The average temperature during the day is 11°C (51°F). At night, the temperature drops to 3°C (38°F).
October to April: Cool, cloudy and dry.
May to September: Cold. Although there are no snowfalls, the influence of the ocean reduces the severity of winter.
Travel Documents
A valid passport is required for Canadian and American citizens to travel into Chile. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your date of arrival into Chile. Citizens of other nations should contact the embassy or consulate for entry requirements.
Food and Water
Some of the must tries in Chile are empanadas de pino (pastry-style turnovers stuffed with olives, meat, raisins and onions), parilla (a mixed grill of assorted meats cooked over charcoal) and pastal de choclo (traditional dish of beef, vegetables and chicken baked in a casserole). Exercise caution when eating food from street stalls. Tap water is treated in Buenos Aires & Santiago, although to be on the safe side it is advisable to drink only bottled water, which is available widely. Fruit drinks, soft drinks, coffee and tea are all widely available and safe to drink.
FAQ
Our adventures are built for small groups, with a maximum of 14 travellers on each guided tour. Each group is diverse, comprised of men and women of many different nationalities and ages. By travelling in small groups we leave minimal ecological impact, cause less disruption to the native life and are able to gain a better appreciation for our surroundings.
We understand that people come in many fitness levels, so we've graded our trips accordingly. There are four difficulty levels on our trips: Easy, Moderate, Challenging, and Strenuous.
This is a “challenging” trip.
Although the hikes themselves are not particularly strenuous, their length and challenging terrain will be more taxing than expected. Days are full, average 6-9 hours per day. The terrain is along trails of rolling hills, through forests, along coastlines and partly scrambling over rocks and boulders (sometimes in the snow). The winds can be extremely strong and the temperatures change from one moment to the next. For the most part, you are only expected to carry your daypack on the trail while hiking. The rest of your gear will be carried by the included porter service. Your daypack should be large enough to include your lunch, water, camera, sunscreen and any layer clothing you may need to adapt to the changing weather on the trail.
We strongly recommend that you begin a regular fitness program - that is if you are not already doing so. Four times a week, 60 minutes per session should be a minimum to prepare you for this adventure. The optimal workout would include weight training and cardiovascular activities such as walking, cycling and aerobics.
BikeHike Adventures has been operating since 1994.
The logistics of organizing tours to remote corners of the world can be very complex. Our trip development department spends long hours researching destinations, routes, ground operations and equipment. All itineraries are screened without clients before they are added to our growing repertoire of adventures. Nothing is untested.
Our travellers share a common love for outdoor adventure. Most are looking for a physical adventure in an unfamiliar destination. This trip attracts one of our most diverse groups. A typical trip is comprised of men and women in good physical condition, who exercise regularly and are invigorated by a personal challenge.
The age range on this trip is typically from 30-55, although we occasionally get younger and older travellers as well.
We have prepared a packing list that you can download by clicking the link to the right on this page.
Punta Arenas, Chile. You need to arrive into Punta Arenas no later than 11:00am on day 1 of the trip. On day 5 of the trip, please make sure you book a flight from Punta Arenas that departs after 3:00pm.
Can I take this trip if...
This trip is quite popular with singles. Unlike many adventure travel companies, we don't charge single supplement fees to solo travellers. Instead, we pair you with another traveller of the same gender. If we can't find you a roommate, you get your own room at no additional charge. A single private room supplement fee is only required if you specifically request a confirmed private room for the duration of the trip. Learn more about solo travel with BikeHike.
We will do our best to accommodate special dietary requests (e.g. vegetarian, gluten free, etc.), but ask that you please discuss your request with us when signing up for a trip.
This trip is generally not a family focused trip for young children. However, this trip could be suitable for strong and active older teenagers.
We do offer many other Family Focused trips, some of which are able to accommodate children as young as six. .
More about this trip...
During this trip, there is no wifi connection.
The season for this trip runs from October to April. In Patagonia the weather is always unpredictable, and it’s possible to experience all four seasons in one day, even in the summer months of December to March. Patagonia is also renowned for its intense winds. It is best to come prepared for all types of weather from cold and snowy to hot and sunny. The summer’s average temperature is 11’C / 52’F.
Accommodation
Most of our trips include comfortable mid-range accommodations. This includes accommodation that provides a clean and comfortable experience in characterful surroundings that reflect the destination. To build stronger connections with the communities and support the local economies, we avoid using large international chain brands on BikeHike trips.
This trip includes the following types of accommodation:
ECOCAMP
At the ecocamp, you will be staying in a permanent dome style structure that has proper beds. There is no heat but cozy fleece blankets and duvets are provided. You'll have access to a dining room and kitchen (cooks prepare all the meals), as well as shared washrooms with flush toilets, hot showers and sinks.
CAMPING IN TENTS
For one night, accommodation will be provided in tents. All the camping equipment is provided including the sleeping bags. The campsite provides satisfactory bathroom facilities and the meals will be served inside the mountain hut.
Click HERE for more information about accommodation styles.
Trip At A Glance
Day | Destination | Activity |
Duration
|
Distance | Ascent / Descent | Lodging | Meals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Santiago - Punta Arenas - Torres del Paine
|
Arrival
|
— | — | — / — |
EcoCamp
|
l,
d
|
2 |
French Valley
|
Hiking
|
8 hours
|
25 km
15 mi
|
+ 686 m (2250 ft)
|
Tent
|
b,
l,
d
|
3 |
Pehoe - Grey Glacier
|
Hiking
|
4 hours
|
14 km
9 mi
|
+ 244 m (800 ft)
|
EcoCamp
|
b,
l,
d
|
4 |
Torres del Paine National Park - Valle Ascencio
|
Hiking
|
10 hours
|
21 km
13 mi
|
+ 914 m (3000 ft)
|
EcoCamp
|
b,
l,
d
|
5 |
Torres del Paine
|
Departure
|
— | — | — / — | — |
b,
l
|