Off the Beaten Track in Torres del Paine
There is more to trekking in Torres del Paine than the W trek or the Circuit. Going off-the-beaten-track can take you scrambling up peaks for views of the icecap, or searching for …
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Most of the park's most iconic trails can be done as day hikes, and the hotels and luxury lodges dotted around the park all offer daily excursions to trek the famous routes. Experience Torres del Paine's rugged landscape by day, and a comfortable bed, delicious food and even a hot tub under the stars by night.
Spend your evenings mulling over maps with expert guides, deciding the next day's excursion with a glass of wine in hand. Choosing day hiking gives you the flexibility to choose exactly what you want to see in the park. Spend one day hiking a section of the famous W Trek, and the next, heading off-the-beaten-track into the pampa to search for fossils, or deep into the remote forests of the Pingo Valley.
Some programmes are more flexible than others, some have smaller groups of 4-6 people and others groups of 10+. Our specialists can help ensure you find the one that's right for you.
A puma rests in Torres del Paine
Lago Pehoe, Torres del Paine
Guanacos in Torres del Paine
Las Torres, Torres del Paine
Bracing the wind at Mirador Ferrier
The W Trek is Torres del Paine's most famous multi-day trek, but it's a well-kept secret that you can do almost the entire trek as three separate day hikes instead.
The full trek is the shape of a W, and you can do each vertical strand as a day hike. First in the east is the Base of the Towers hike, a steep ascent past twisted metamorphic rock formations until you reach the grand granite towers that give the park it's name. Second is French Valley, notorious for it's hanging glaciers and winding river. And finally, hike to the Grey Peninsula for views of the magnificent Grey Glacier, where adventurous souls can kayak amongst icebergs.
Base of the Towers
These western trails are so remote and quiet that you may only meet a handful of fellow adventurers during your trek. Instead, you can keep your eyes peeled for a rare and endangered Huemul deer, a species which thrives in the more secluded areas of the park.
The Pingo Valley trek winds through open valley and forests, eventually opening up to stunning views of the impressive Southern Ice Cap. If your legs are up for a challenge, nearby is the climb up to Mirador Ferrier, a two-hour steep trail up to a lookout over the Glacier Grey and the Paine Massif.
The main bonus here is that you can enjoy the views in peace; have a leisurely lunch undisturbed at the base of a waterfall, or stop to grab that perfect shot without the risk of anyone stepping into your photo.
The Sierra Baguales mountain range is a window back to when Torres del Paine was covered in water. There are thousands of fossils here dating back 40 million years, including leaves, molluscs and shark teeth.
The whole area is completely individual from anywhere else in the park; red and orange rocky mountains stretch into the distance, and although there are trails, this is an area where you can be completely free to roam and explore into the wild.
Baguales Canyon
For those seeking a bit of altitude, the lakes region in the east is packed with trails leading up to lookouts over the great lakes of the east. It is the colours of the lakes which make them special, each one has a unique tint, from milky blue to deep turquoise. The panoramic views from these lookouts stretch all the way to the Paine Massif, so you can get a whole new perspective on the huge granite monoliths that made the park famous.
These hikes vary in difficulty from the easy ramble of the fauna walk, where the solitude gives you a good chance of spotting an elusive puma, to the challenging Cerro Paine hike, a Swoop favourite for getting a priceless view of the towers without the crowds.
View of Cuernos from Pehoe
Day hikes in Torres del Paine trips scored 4.3/5 from 420 reviews
The W Trek 3 day tour was the perfect tour for us. This tour really showcased all of the best parts of the park. Each day there was plenty of hiking or glacier viewing. We were very torn about going with the 5 day trek however, chose this one based on our limited time that we had. This was the best option for us and there was no time wasted. We were happy to have 3 full days of activities rather than spreading out the activities and having more time at our camp. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Kassandra Kayal - USA
Sunrise and the first sight of the breathtaking mountains! Read the full review
Travelled: July 2022
Dennis McNamara - USA
Trekking is absolutely the only way to really experience Torres Del Paine. Read the full review
Travelled: March 2022
Mollie Adatto - USA
The trail from Paine Grande to Mirador Glaciar Grey was one of the most spectacular ones from every sense. After walking the uphill against the strong wind for a while, we couldn't but wonder at the scene of Cerro Paine Grande on the right side and Lago Grey on the left. It was a marvelous scene, different from any other place in the world. Read the full review
Travelled: March 2022
Jin-Yeong Chung - USA
Amazing scenery that you can't see anywhere else in the world. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2022
Carson Crawford - USA
Review:
Location is key. Accommodation is dotted around the park and some hotels are more than 15 miles apart, so choose carefully depending on whether you want to be close to the popular trails or have quick access to remote routes.
Torres del Paine is vast, so choosing a base that's within easy travel distance to the trails should be an important factor when deciding your accommodation. Some hotels are right by the most popular trails of the W Trek, others will give you quick access to the more remote, off-the-beaten-track hikes.
A little travel time is unavoidable, especially if you want to see all the park has to offer, but our specialists can help ensure the accommodation you choose will give you the maximum time trekking, rather than travelling.
For the ultimate fully inclusive experience. Luxury lodges offer the most diverse range of hiking excursions and exceptional guides, so you really can experience the park to its fullest. Return each night to an on-site spa, delicious locally-sourced food and attentive service.
There are only a handful of hotels in Torres del Paine, but each is well-located for some of the park's most popular day hikes. They also offer quite different experiences; some are perfect for relaxing in a simple, traditional space, while others have a grander, busier feel.
The best option for those who want to be close to nature, without sacrificing a comfortable bed. There are two eco-friendly camps in Torres del Paine; one offers stunning geodesic domes and the other beautifully-finished yurts, but both include day hikes led by expert guides.
The yurts were perfect and the guides' enthusiasm and passion for the park was infectious - Jon & Pene
“ In Torres Del Paine, I wished I just had a Nalgene or similar water bottle - there was no need to carry lots of water, and it would have been easier to fill in streams. ”
Lauren Customer
“ Invest in good layer clothing and test it out beforehand. The wind was quite strong, so it was cold, but when I walked I was too hot with my layers. Whereas the other lady hiking with me had a really good layering system that was lightweight but equally kept her warm without overheating. ”
Amanda Customer
There is more to trekking in Torres del Paine than the W trek or the Circuit. Going off-the-beaten-track can take you scrambling up peaks for views of the icecap, or searching for …
World famous trekking awaits in Torres del Paine National Park. Each valley, peak and pass hides its own treasures, be it hanging glaciers, vast pampas, twisted metamorphic rock or…
The W Trek is Torres del Paine's most famous hiking route, with views of the granite towers that give the park its name. In full, it's a four or five day hike that can be walked …
This 7-9 day route adds a northern section on to the park's famous W Trek. It's undoubtedly a tougher trail, marked by the extra distance and absence of refugios on the northern …
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.
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