Full day
Torres del Paine

 

 

Day 1

We start our trip with an 1.5 hour transport towards the entrance of the National Park Torres del Paine. At the entrance we will do the necessary paperwork for the off trail hiking coming up in the next days. After this short stop we hop back in the same bus that takes us to the second transportation, a 25 minutes boat trip over lake Pehoé that arrives at Refugio Paine Grande.  Here we start our hike to Camping Francés, where we will setup our camp for the next 2 nights. This is a 3 hours hike over rolling hills with hanging glaciers, lakes and the stunning Cuernos as the main view. After passing by Campsite Italiano we only have a short hike left to camping Francés.

 

Day 2

On our second day we hike into the beautiful French Valley. We will pass by amazing lookouts while walking up into the valley. This day includes views of the highest mountain of the National Park, with hangin glaciers coming down everywhere and steep granite walls in all different sizes and shapes. It will take us half the day till the end of the valley, reaching the Británico lookout. with the spectacular 360° view. It will take us another 4 hours to get back to camp. Because we will stay in the same camp we only have to bring a few items in our day pack.  This will give us the possibility to feel free and have all our energy to enjoy the day.

 

Day 3

In Day 3 we will cross pebble beach´s and steep hills with views looking over Lago Nördenskjold with around every corner a different perspective of the Patagonian shrublands.  And on the other side impressive walls of the Cuernos and Cerro Almirante Nieto. After a few hours of hiking we get to the ¨shortcut¨. A trail that will bring us up to the Ascencio valley where we will find Refugio Chileno, our campsite for the night. Here we will eat a well deserved dinner inside the Refugio.

 

Day 4

This day we will make an early start. We will pack everything up and start our hike to Camping Torres. In this campsite we will drop our backpacks and walk up the steep boulder trail towards the Torres lookout where we will have the three towers standing in front of the glacial carved lake. After enjoying our time at the lookout we will make our way down back to camp Torres. Here we will set up our tents and prepare ourselves for the hike into the Silence valley. The Silence valley is found behind the towers. A trail that is not very much used but climbers that make their way up to the steep granite walls. This we will do with a lightweight daypack which will be nice while climbing the steep boulder trails up into the valley. We will be able to explore a bit of the trail that we will hike the next day to the Oggioni pass.

 

Day 5

The big day. We will have an 11 hour day of climbing and bushwhacking awaiting for us. This day is an amazing adventure which can bring you very close to the Patagonian mountains. A four hour steep approach to summit the Oggioni pass. From where we will be able to see the whole backside of the National Park of Torres del Paine from up high. And as far into the Southern Patagonian icefield as the weather allows us that day. The steep, almost moonwalk like trail down will get us very quick to the edge of the forest. Here we will have to enter the forest and bushwhack our way through the old Beech forest. This will take a lot of energy and a large part of the day. The guide will show the best way through the thick forest until getting to the trail that runs through the backside of the park. Here we will walk another hour down to Campamento Dickson where we will set up camp and prepare a well-deserved dinner.

 

Day 6

This day we use as an recuperation day. It will be a short 4 hour day of hiking through a similar forest as the day before but with a trail. This day will bring us up to Campamento Los Perros. A camping ground in front of the John Gardner pass. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and glaciers, it is a great camp to hang out and enjoy the wild nature of the Nacional Park.

 

Day 7

Another amazing day that brings up to an mountain pass with unbelievable views. An early start will give us a good amount of time to hike the 9/10 hour day and take time to enjoy the views that await us. It will be around a 3 hour ascend to the John Gardner pass. From there we will start seeing the Glacier grey from up high. A wide river of ice flowing through the valley. It is a steep way down through the forest that leads to Campamento Paso. From there we make our way to Refugio Grey. An interesting hike with some going up and a lot of going down. Crossing  bridges that hang over canyons carved by rivers with views over the Glacier Grey. Arriving at Refugio Grey we will set up camp and celebrate our second successful mountain pass crossing.

 

Day 8

Our last day in the park. We will walk about 3.5 hours over the last part of the W we haven’t seen yet. A trail that follows the Grey lake walking over an interesting geological area that has seen many changes. This trail will bring us back to Paine grande where our journey began. Here we will take the same Catamaran out that brought us in, to get to the transportation that will bring us back to Puerto Natales.