Group departure · September 2027
Torres del Paine Active
Seven active days from a Puerto Natales hotel: Base Torres, the Cuernos sector, horseback riding, puma tracking and a boat to Grey Glacier.
7 days · Guided · Low–Medium
51°00′S 73°00′WTorres del PaineEst. May 13, 1959
Chilean Patagonia · Magallanes & Aysén
Patagonia travel guide
Where to go, when to go and how to see Torres del Paine, from guides who work there every season.
Patagonia at a glance
Chilean Patagonia is the far south of the country, and Torres del Paine National Park is its heart: granite towers, blue glaciers and open steppe where guanacos and pumas roam. You can visit all year. December to February brings the longest days, autumn paints the forests red, and winter is the quietest and best season for pumas.
Most travelers spend five to eight days here, trekking the W or the full O, or staying in one place and heading out on day hikes, boat trips and horseback rides. The weather changes fast. That is part of the magic, and the reason a local guide makes such a difference.
- Getting there
- Fly to Puerto Natales (seasonal) or Punta Arenas (year-round)
- Time you need
- 5–8 days
- Best for
- Trekking, glaciers, wildlife
- Weather
- Four seasons in one day. Wind is part of the experience
No bad month in Patagonia
Each season shows you a different park. Pick the one that matches what you want to feel out there.
Hours of daylight · 51° S (Torres del Paine)
- Summer · Dec–Feb
- The longest days of the year and every trail open. The busiest months, so book early.
- Autumn · Mar–Apr
- Crowds thin out, the light turns golden and the lenga forests turn red and gold.
- Winter · May–Sep
- Snow on the peaks, trails almost to yourself and the best chances to see pumas on the steppe.
- Spring · Oct–Nov
- Wildflowers and baby guanacos on the steppe as the park wakes up.
Where to go in Patagonia
Base Torres
The glacial lagoon at the foot of the three granite towers. The day hike is about 22 km round trip with around 1,400 m of elevation gain, and we offer it all year.
Day Hike to Base of the Towers
Valle Francés and the Cuernos
The trail along Lago Nordenskjöld runs below the Cuernos del Paine, and Valle Francés climbs to Mirador Francés or, further on, Mirador Británico. Both are days on the W.
W Trek Guided
Grey Glacier
A wall of blue ice at the end of Lago Grey. The Grey III catamaran sails among icebergs to the glacier face, about 2 h 45 min on the water.
Navigation to Grey Glacier
Laguna Amarga, puma country
The eastern sector of the park, around Laguna Amarga, has one of the highest puma densities in the world. Tracking days start before sunrise, when pumas are most active.
Puma Tracking in Patagonia
Puerto Natales
The town where Torres del Paine trips start, about 3 hours by road from Punta Arenas, with seasonal flights of its own (PNT). Our hotel-based programs start and end here every day.
Torres del Paine Classic
Northern Patagonia · Aysén
The Carretera Austral, on a trip designed for you
North of Torres del Paine lies Aysén, one of the wildest corners of Chile. Drive the Carretera Austral, paddle into the Marble Caves of General Carrera Lake and hike the Cerro Castillo trail from Las Horquetas. We plan it as a tailor-made trip, best from November to March.
Plan a Carretera Austral tripOur trips in Patagonia
Join a small group on a set date, or travel privately whenever suits you.
Group departure · October 2027
W Trek Guided
Five days on the W Trek with a Vertic guide: Base Torres, Valle Francés, Grey Glacier by boat, refugio and campsite nights booked for you.
5 days · Guided · Intermediate–Advanced
Group departure · November 2027
O Circuit Guided
The full O Circuit around the Paine massif in 8 guided days: John Gardner Pass, Grey Glacier, Valle Francés and Base Torres, every night booked.
8 days · Guided · Advanced
Also in Patagonia: O Circuit Self-Guided, W Trek Self-Guided, W Express Guided and Torres del Paine Classic.
Short on time? Day Hike to Base of the Towers, Navigation to Grey Glacier, Puma Tracking in Patagonia, Patagonia Horseback Riding, Gaucho Day at a Patagonian Estancia, Magdalena Island Penguin Colony and Whale Watching in Francisco Coloane Marine Park.
Plan your Patagonia trip with us
Tell us your dates and how you like to travel. Our team will reply within one business day.
Patagonia questions
Punta Arenas (PUQ) has flights all year; Puerto Natales (PNT) has seasonal flights. Your pickup and drop-off are arranged at booking for whichever you use.
The O circles the full massif in 8 days (about 138 km), including the north side and John Gardner Pass. The W covers Base Torres, Valle Francés and Grey Glacier in 5 days.
From O Circuit Guided
We run it all year. Winter brings shorter days and can bring snow and ice on the upper trail, which is when the guide requirement and extra winter gear apply. Weather in the park changes quickly in any season.
No, it's included. Passes are sold online only, not at the gate. We buy it and send it to you; carry it on your phone or printed, with your passport.
From W Trek Self-Guided
From April 27 to August 30, park rules require a guide on the Base Torres trail and on the W, and CONAF can extend that period when snow and ice remain on the trail. Outside those dates a guide is optional, but every Vertic hike is guided.
We run puma tracking all year. Pumas are most active at dawn and dusk, so every outing starts before sunrise. Our guides consider April to November the optimal window.
Yes. Departures depend on the weather, especially wind on Lago Grey. Book ahead and leave some flexibility in your plans in case a departure is changed.