More About Torres del Paine Treks
Why Hike Torres del Paine?
Torres del Paine is Chile’s most famous national park, and is arguably the Patagonia region’s most well known destination. There is also Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, which is phenomenal as well. Both Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine are very worth visiting, but we explain here why we chose Torres del Paine to be our main Patagonia destination.
The major advantage of Torres del Paine is it is better suited for multi-day treks, which is not only the Wildland specialty, but also we believe the best way to enjoy Patagonia. With backcountry refugios and campgrounds, it is wonderfully situated for a hut-to-hut trek across the landscapes of Patagonia. Torres del Paine also offers all that Patagonia offers: glaciers, icebergs, lakes, rivers, creeks, waterfalls, wildflowers, wildlife and more.
When to Go
Patagonia is – for inhabitants of the northern hemisphere – a winter destination. It’s trails and hikes are accessible from October through April, but the peak season is December through February. If you’d prefer to see fewer people and don’t mind potentially harsher weather, then we recommend looking at October/November or March/April. If you’d prefer better weather and don’t mind seeing more people, then December-February is a great choice. Either way, you’re in for an incredible adventure!
Choosing the right trip
Choosing the right trip is of course a key ingredient in the “Enjoying Torres del Paine” cocktail. Here is a quick description of each trip and what interests and abilities each tour is best suited for:
- W Trek: This is the most famous hike in Patagonia. It is a wonderful all-around experience of the park in a relatively short amount of time. It is Level 4 difficulty and the trek itself is 5 days of hiking. Our route forms a “W” shape on the South side of the Paine Massif. We utilize the park’s backcountry huts (refugios) and guests will either stay inside the huts or sleep in tents just outside of the refugios.
- O Circuit: The O Circuit is longer, harder and more remote than the W Trek. It also takes us up and over a pass to Grey Lake, which is a phenomenal part of the trip. This route circumnavigates the Paine Massif and also includes the W Trek route. This trek is Level 4 difficulty and the trek itself is 9 days of hiking. On the O Circuit, we also utilize the park’s backcountry huts (refugios) and guests will either stay inside the huts or sleep in tents just outside of the refugios.
- Patagonia Lodge-based Tour: This is a fantastic choice for those wanting to experience the beauty, wild, and adventure of Patagonia but with more comforts. We stay at a special, remote, lodge just outside the national park and with the most fantastic views of the Paine Massif. It’s a Level 3 difficulty trip and includes many of the W Trek hikes.
