Hiking in Torres del Paine
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…
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Why stay in a refugio in Torres del Paine?
- Hiking from refugio to refugio is the classic way to hike routes like the W Trek and O Circuit
- Refugios are one of the most budget friendly ways to experience the wilderness of Torres del Paine
- The dormitories and communal dining areas are highly sociable and a great way to meet fellow hikers
- Refugios are all-inclusive, offering breakfast, packed lunches and dinner – plus hot showers
- With transfers available to refugios at the trailheads, all you need to start hiking is to carry is your backpack
Socialising with other hikers at Refugio Los Cuernos
The bar at refugio Torre Central, Torres del Paine
Hang out area in one of Torres del Paine's refugios
Typical evening meal at the refugio
Typical boxed lunch
Refugio Los Cuernos, Torres del Paine
Guide to refugios
What is a refugio?
Refugios take their name from the Spanish word for shelter, and in essence 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 all-inclusive meals. They’re a big step up from the simple huts of the Appalachian Trail and are perhaps better compared with the teahouses popular with treks in Nepal, though refugios offer shared accommodation in dorms rather than private rooms.
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. Most 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.
Isidora 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 Experience Coordinator
Food at refugios
Refugios provide all meals for guests. Meals are pretty basic but filling – they’re about more about providing hikers with calories for walking rather than delighting gourmet palates.
Breakfasts usually consist of cereal, toast and jam, plus fruit and yoghurt. Packed lunches to eat on the trail include sandwiches, fruit, trail mix and chocolate. For dinner, you’ll tend to be offered pasta-based dishes, stews, chicken with rice and similar meals, plus soup and a dessert.
Vegetarian and vegan options are available but minimally catered for: it’s important to advise of dietary requirements when booking.
Some refugios have bars; at others you can often buy cans of beer. Onsite ships sell snacks and basic camping supplies.
Swoop says
Many of our travellers find the food at refugios something of an anticlimax. We strongly recommend bringing extra supplies and snacks to boost your diet. Even a travel-sized bottle of hot sauce can seriously enliven your dining experience.
Refugios in Torres del Paine
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 Torre Norte
Torre Norte is the smaller sister of Torre Central, and is located just a couple of minutes walk away.
The refugio is very simple and rustic, sleeping 60 in dorm rooms. There is hot water for showers and a communal area with a log burner. Torre Norte does not have its own restaurant – meals are taken at Torre Central. Take your electrical gear with you when you eat, as the refugio lacks electrical sockets for charging.
Refugio Torre Norte
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.
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 all year.
Refugio Cuernos
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.
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 away deep on the farthest point of the O Circuit trail, this is one of the oldest in Torres del Paine, but also one with some of the best views, looking 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.
Torres del Paine refugios: FAQs
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How for in advance to refugios need to be booked?
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 far in advance as possible.
Availability in 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 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's the food at refugios really like?
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.
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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 draught. At the other refguios 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.
What our customers think of Refugios in Torres del Paine
Refugios in Torres del Paine trips scored 4.4/5 from 700 reviews
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