One of the world’s finest hikes is Torres Del Paine. It can be done in a 10-day circuit by experienced hikers or explored by daytrips split up by stays in luxurious lodges for those who do not want to be one with nature. The most popular route is a 5 day circuit.
How to Get to Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile
The jumping off-point to the park is through a city called Puerto Natales in Chile. The city is well-stocked with any sort of camping gear that a backpacker would want to rent or buy. There is a large grocery store and several small stores where hikers can stock up on food for their trip.
It is about a two hour bus ride to the park from Puerto Natales. There are several buses each day to the park and they are never fully booked so everyone can get there. A reservation should be made one day in advance so that the bus company can pick hikers up from their hotels.
Hiking the 10-Day Circuit in Torres Del Paine
This is the route for anyone who likes to hike off the tourist track in Chile. Though it is a very popular hike, campers are likely to only run into a few people on the back side of the circuit compared to the heavily trafficked front side.
Lodges are few and far between on the back side of the route so campers must have their own tent and cooking gear. This should not be attempted by inexperienced hikers.
Hiking the 5-Day Circuit in Torres Del Paine
This route is the most popular of the routes and can be shortened to three days if necessary. It gives hikers a taste of all the most popular sites in Torres.
Backpackers can camp at free campgrounds with their own gear or stay in lodges called refugios. The refugios also rent tents and sleeping bags if hikers prefer to camp but do not want to carry all their own gear. Refugios also serve meals, but these must be reserved ahead of time. Hotels in Puerto Natales can do this for campers.
This route is the most crowded which can be good for an inexperienced hiker. They are never far away from help. It is relatively easy without much elevation gain so it is a great starter-route.
Day Trips in Torres Del Paine
Another option hikers have is to stay in one of the refugios and to take day trips around Torres. They can reach most of the highlights with day hikes. A catamaran takes passengers across the lake, so one option is for hikers to stay at Grey’s Glacier for a night an hike up to see it and then to take the catamaran back and stay on the Torres side for a better view of the towers the next day.
Torres del Paine is touristy for a reason. It is quite simply breathtaking. And even though the park receives a constant flow of visitors during the summertime, it is big enough that hikers never feel too claustrophobic. It is one of Chile’s attractions that should not be missed.
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