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 stay in a refugio in Torres del Paine?
- Hiking from hut to hut is the classic way to hike routes like the W Trek and O Circuit
- Refugios are one of the most cost efficient ways to experience the wilderness of Torres del Paine
- Refugios include all meals (including packed lunches for the trail), bedding and hot showers
- Accommodation is in small dorms with bunkbeds sleeping six or eight people
- The communal dining areas are highly sociable and a great way to meet fellow hikers
- Refugios are open to both self-guided hikers and those hiking with guides
Guide to refugios
What is a refugio?
Refugio is the Spanish word for shelter, and in essence they are simple mountain huts that operate as hostels for hikers. In Torres del Paine, they can be found along the main hiking trails, including the W Trek and O Circuit, with hikers walking from refugio to refugio.
Accommodation is simple but comfortable, with meals included. In hiking terms, they are a big step up from the simple shelters of the Appalachian Trail, but less cosy than the teahouses popular on Nepalese treks. The closest counterparts are probably the mountain huts along the hiking trails of the European Alps.
Refugio Los Cuernos
What to expect at a refugio
Refugios offer rustic hostel-meets-hotel accommodation for hikers. They have warm dorm-style rooms with comfy beds where you can relax and unwind after a long day on the trail.
There are shared toilets and bathrooms with hot showers. Most refugios offer WiFi but the connections are often slow. Communal areas have plugs for charging devices, but not all rooms do.
Refugios are full board, including packed lunches for when you’re hiking. Each refugio has a small shop selling snacks and basic camping supplies. Many refugios also have a bar to relax in.
Most refugios also have campsites with separate facilities if you would prefer to camp out of the main building.
Refugio Grey
Swoop says
I love the social atmosphere you get at refugios. There's nothing like sitting with a drink after a good long day of hiking, looking out over the mountains and swapping stories with new friends from all over the world.
Isidora Cruz Customer Operations Specialist
Food at refugios
Refugios provide all meals. They're basic but filling, providing calories for hiking rather than delighting palates. Typical offerings:
Breakfast Cereal, toast and jam, plus fruit and yoghurt.
Lunch Box lunch to eat on the trail, including sandwiches, fruit, trail mix and chocolate.
Dinner Pasta-based dishes, stews, chicken with rice and other dishes, soup and a dessert.
Vegetarian and vegan options are available but minimally catered for: it’s essential to advise of dietary requirements when booking. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that meals will not contain any traces of allergens (for more, see our FAQs below).
Some refugios have bars; at others you can often buy cans of beer. On-site shops sell snacks and basic camping supplies.
Meal in a refugio
Swoop says
Many travellers find the food at refugios something of an anticlimax, so I always recommend bringing extra supplies and snacks to boost your diet. Even a travel-sized bottle of hot sauce can seriously enliven your dining experience!
Nicolas Araya Customer Operations Specialist
Refugios in Torres del Paine
There are a variety of refugios in Torres del Paine, located along key points of the W Trek and O Circuit trails. All offer similar facilities, though each has its own particular character.
Refugio Torre Central
Torre Central is a large refugio situated near to the trailhead of the Base of the Towers trek. It’s a popular starting place for those hiking the W Trek from east to west, so it tends to book out very quickly in high season.
This refugio sleeps 60 hikers in ten mixed dormitory rooms. It features a large and friendly communal area, male and female showers, a dining room, a bar and a shop. Central heating makes it a cosy overnight stop. There’s a large campsite among the bushes a short distance from the refugio.
As it’s at the eastern end of the trek, access to the refugio is via the Laguna Amarga entrance to the national park.
Refugio Torre Central
Refugio Chileno
Refugio Chileno is the closest refugio to the base of the Towers, located approximately an hour and a half's hike away in the Ascencio Valley.
This is a compact refugio, sleeping just 32 people in four dormitories, plus a campsite with permanent tents set on raised platforms amid the trees. There are shared bathrooms, a restaurant and a shop.
Chileno is the perfect place to stay for those wanting to catch the sunrise over the Towers – which also means that it's one of the refugios that tends to book up farthest in advance.
Refugio Chileno
Los Cuernos & Cuernos Cabins
Set at the heart of the W Trek near the entrance to French Valley, this refugio has wonderful views of the Cuernos and Nordenskjold Lake.
Los Cuernos is a cosy 36 bed refugio divided into four dormitories, with a restaurant, shop, wood heating and shared bathrooms. Its location at the midpoint of the trail means that it's always busy with hikers walking in both directions.
For those preferring a little more solitude, there are eight private twin cabins tucked into the trees. These have shared bathrooms and a hot tub, exclusively used by cabin guests.
Refugio Los Cuernos is open from October to March.
Los Cuernos refugio
Paine Grande
Refugio Paine Grande sits next to the catamaran dock on the northern shore of Lake Pehoé, one of the key points for either starting or finishing the W Trek.
This is Torres del Paine’s largest (and arguably most comfortable) refugio, sleeping up to 100 hikers in dormitories of four or six people. All rooms have views of the Cuernos. There is a mini-market, bar and a large canteen-style restaurant.
Paine Grande always feels bustling, thanks to the day hikers dropping in on their way to Lake Grey and the French Valley, plus campers at its large campsite.
The refugio is open all year.
Refugio Paine Grande
French Domes
Small but perfectly formed, the French Domes (Domes el Francés) are a unique stop near the entrance to French Valley on the W Trek.
Rather than huts, accommodation here is made up of three domes with bunk beds to sleep eight, plus their own private bathroom and central heating.
The location at Camping Francés offers amazing views of Nordenskjold Lake, the Cuernos and Paine Grande. The French Domes are approximately an hour's trek west of Refugio Los Cuernos.
French Domes
Refugio Grey
Refugio Grey is located at the western end of the W Trek, nestled among the trees on the shores of Lake Grey, and a short walk from the Glacier Grey lookout point.
It is a modern refugio, sleeping up to 60 hikers in dormitory rooms of eight beds each. The accommodation is simple, but the communal areas, from the terraces with views to the lounges with sofas, do a great job in providing a warm and friendly sanctuary to relax in after a day of hiking.
Refugio Grey is open all year.
Refugio Grey
Refugio Dickson
Hidden deep on the farthest point of the O Circuit, this is the most basic refugio in Torres del Paine, but also the one with some of the best views. It looks out from the shadow of forest slopes and snow-capped mountains across calm waters of Lake Dickson.
There are just 27 bunk beds at Refugio Dickson, a bathroom block and an inviting chalet-style main hut that serves as a dining room, bar and communal area. The main site is surrounded by trees and has plenty of space for tents.
Refugio Dickson
What our customers think of Refugios in Torres del Paine
Refugios in Torres del Paine trips scored 4.4/5 from 1179 reviews
Torres del Paine refugios: FAQs
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How far in advance do I need to book my refugio?
Torres del Paine's refugios—particularly those along the W Trek—are in very high demand. Availability tends to be limited, especially in high season, when they can fill up many months in advance. We strongly advise booking as soon as you know that you will be travelling.
Away from high season, the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn tend to have better availability.
Please bear in mind that even if you book ahead, places cannot always be guaranteed at some refugios. If there is no availability in the refugio, you will be provided with a tent and bedding in the campsite next door, with all equipment set up and ready for you when you arrive.
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What is the food like at refugios?
Meals at refugios are very basic. You can expect lots of carbohydrates to give you plenty of energy for the hiking trail. Vegetarians and vegans are just about catered for, provided you book in advance.
Hikers are strongly advised to bring extra snacks to supplement your food intake while staying at refugios.
If you have an food allergy, please see our specific advice below.
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What meals do refugios offer if I have a food allergy?
Refugios cater for large numbers of travellers in remote locations, and unfortunately we cannot 100% guarantee that meals will not contain any traces of allergens.
Some hikers with severe allergies may prefer to bring their own food to refugios. In these instances, Swoop will work with our local partners in Puerto Natales so that your shopping list sets you up to be well-fed with everything you need for the trail.
Hikers with allergies should let Swoop know before travelling so that we can advise our partners in advance, and ensure they bring all necessary medication and/or prophylactics with them from home.
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Do refugios have electricity and WIFI?
Refugios have plugs in the communal areas, but not necessarily in all rooms. There is usually WIFI, though you may need to pay to get online and the signal may be weak or intermittent at best.
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Are there hot showers at refugios?
Yes. The showers are hot and the toilets are cleaned regularly. It's wisest to shower after dinner to ensure there is enough hot water, and bring your own towel as these aren't provided.
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Can I buy alcohol or snacks at refugios?
At some of the refugios there are bars that serve wines, spirits and beer on draft. At the other refugios you can buy cans of local beer.
There are snack shops at all of the refugios where you can buy basic foods and camping gear such spare pegs and gas.
Explore more of Torres del Paine
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Horse Riding in Torres del Paine
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Multi-activity adventures in Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine Torres del Paine offers enormous scope for a host of outdoor adventure activities, which can be combined to make the perfect trip for you.
Discover MoreReady to plan your Patagonia adventure?
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Do you want to hike the iconic treks in both Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Park?
Look no further than our Fitz Roy and Paine Hiking Tour...