Hiking in Torres del Paine
World class hiking and trekking awaits in Torres del Paine National Park. From the iconic W Trek to the park’s most hidden corners, each valley, peak and pass is a treasure.
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Why hike off the beaten track in Torres del Paine?
- While Torres del Paine's main hiking routes are understandably busy, other beautiful quiet trails see half as many hikers in a year as the Base of the Towers do in a single day
- Torres del Paine is packed with an extraordinary array of contrasting landscapes, many of which can only be experienced by escaping the main Paine range
- Day hikes on trails off the beaten track can easily be added to classic multi-day treks
- Many remote trails of a similar challenge to the W Trek and O Circuit, experienced local guides who can share their deep knowledge of the park’s hidden corners
- Hardcore trekkers can handful of far-flung passes and peaks located deep in the backcountry that demand a semi-technical approach, for a truly off-piste experience
Crossing the Oggioni Pass
Hiking Zapata Mountain
Silencio Valley Lakes
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Hiking the Pingo Valley
Baguales Canyon
Hikers in the Zapata Valley
Mirador Ferrier in the Pingo Valley
Where can I trek in Torres del Paine?
Where to get off the beaten track in Torres del Paine
Silencio Valley & Bader Valley
The beautiful Silencio Valley off-limits to self-guided hikers, so receives significantly fewer visitors in comparison to Torres del Paine’s main trails, despite its location close to the main action.
The Silencio Valley is located at the top of the Ascencio Valley, which is commonly hiked by those visiting the Base of the Towers. By breaking from the main trail at the top of the valley, you can continue north to the mighty granite faces of three peaks: Cerro Fortaleza, Cerro Escudo (‘The Shield’) and Cerro Tridente with its famous triple-peak.
The peaks are popular with climbers, who are often the only people you'll find at nearby Japones Camp, a basic campsite with pitches but no facilities.
Bader Valley
Bader Valley is little visited by hikers despite being so close to the classic French Valley hike that forms part of the W Trek, making it an easy way to get off the beaten track in the heart of the national park.
The valley slices into the Paine Massif between the Cuernos and the Torres, passing through forest as you climb, to give an extraordinary close up of the Cuernos as well as revealing a contrasting sight of the south tower. Dramatic views are absolutely everywhere. Along Bader valley is a basic climber's camp where it is possible to stay, as long as you're accompanied by a guide.
Hikign through the Bader Valley
Minerva says
Climbing up the Bader Valley, a toothy ridge of peaks played in and out of the clouds above us. As the wind picked up, the clouds suddenly whipped away to reveal a truly stunning and unexpected mountain vista.
Minerva Ortiz Patagonia Customer Experience Co-ordinator
Oggioni Pass
The Oggioni Pass is a great option for hikers who want to complete the O Circuit but push themselves a little bit harder with a remote challenge.
The Oggioni Pass lies off the Silencio Valley. After remote camping, the trail pushes out of forest to climb over glacial moraines. Experienced guides must lead the way as there is barely any track to follow. The ascent to the pass is semi-technical: it’s one of the most challenging and extreme routes in this part of Patagonia and should not be underestimated.
Those who can meet that challenge are gifted with epic views, before descending to Dickson camp and Los Perros Valley, before rejoining the O Circuit to tackle John Gardner Pass.
Crossing the Oggioni Pass
Pingo Valley
The Pingo Valley is Torres del Paine's very own answer to Jurassic Park. Located in the dense forest in the west of the park,it follows the Pingo River towards the South Patagonian Ice Cap. Palaeontologists have discovered an abundance of ancient marine fossils dating back 250 million years ago in this area of the park. Relatively few hikers visit here or the adjoining Zapata Valley, though the trails are quite gorgeous.
At the head of the valley awaits the peak Cerro Zapata (3053 feet/1077 m) which can be climbed without technical experience, rewarding its conquerors with stunning views of the ice cap, Tyndall Glacier and Lago Grey.
Hiking the Pingo Valley
Swoop says
Many people choose to hike the main trails alone and then meet a guide to trek up to the ridges and peaks that few have the privilege of experiencing. Out here, you'll need to be prepared to camp and handle some demanding terrain.
Sierra Baguales
In Sierra Baguales, rolling hills of arid pampa stretch east of the Paine massif all the way to the Argentinean border. This area boasts an incredible geologic history and wide open spaces where you likely won't encounter another person for the entire time you're there. With a fascinating past of ancient volcanoes and sedimentary rock formations, the Baguales Valley is a popular spot for paleontologists as well as hikers looking for new horizons: fossilized shark teeth found here hint at a deep marine marine past
Old puestos (small, basic shelters) are scattered across the landscape, offering a place to rest for Chilean baqueanos who herd sheep and cattle around the valley.
Hiking in Sierra Baguales
Torres del Paine in winter
Sometime the best way to get off the beaten track is to see it at a time of year when no one else is around. That's the experience on offer for those choosing to hike in Torres del Paine in winter.
While snow closes many of the more remote trails as well as the O Circuit, the W Trek remains open throughout the winter. This is truly about escaping the crowds: you can have the route almost entirely to yourself.
With most refugios shut for winter, hikes begin with transfers to the trailhead from your accommodation: you'll need be be extra fit to to walk comparatively longer distances during the shorter daylight hours (as well as walking in often snowy conditions).
Hiking to the Cuerno in winter
What our customers think of hiking off the beaten track in Torres del Paine
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Torres del Paine off the beaten track: FAQs
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Do I need a guide?
Yes. The Chilean National Park Authority CONAF only allow visitors into these areas of the national park when accompanied by a guide.
In areas outside the national park, you will be hiking on private land so will also require a guide.
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What are the facilities like on the trails?
If you are camping wild at Bader, Japones or Pingo camp, then you won't find any facilities. Your guide will carry a small shovel and you will need to dig a hole for a toilet. Any toilet paper should be bagged and taken with you; all other trash must likewise be carried out.
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Can I get off the beaten track without camping?
Many of the luxury lodges and hotels in Torres del Paine organise incredible day hikes into Sierra Baguales, the Pingo Valley and other locations, allowing shorter tastes of the landscape.
Many accommodation options are also in remote locations, so if you stay at one you're already off the beaten track as soon as you walk out of the door.
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Will I miss out on Torres del Paine's main sights?
No. The highlights of Torres del Paine are the Towers, the French Valley and Grey Glacier. You can see the towers from Cerro Paine instead of from the more popular Towers viewpoint, and look at the Cuernos from the Bader Valley instead of the French Valley. You can also visit remoter (although less massive) glaciers in the Pingo Valley instead of Glacier Grey.
There is a reason the more common viewpoints are popular however, so you may want to combine some days on the main trails with some time getting more remote in the park.
Explore more of Torres del Paine
The W Trek in Torres Del Paine
The W Trek is Torres del Paine most famous hiking route, which can be walked in a variety of ways, from a multi-day trek to a series of day hikes.
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The O Circuit Trek
The O Circuit is a great trek for experienced hikers, spending over a week to explore both Torres del Paine’s most popular sights and its quieter trails.
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Day hikes in Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine offers world class day hikes, offering you the chance to spend your days exploring the trails while sleeping in comfortable accommodation at night.
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