Day 1: Transport to Torres del Paine National Park (Regular Bus)
Regular – Public transportation from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park (Laguna Amarga Main Entrance), the trip lasts about two and a half hours (112 Km), with a short stop at Cerro Castillo Village.
When you arrive at Laguna Amarga entrance you will have to buy your entrance ticket
and take the shuttles that will be waiting for you to take you to Las Torres sector where the Refugio
is located.
• Please, arrive at the Bus Station at: 2:15 PM
• DEPARTURE FROM PUERTO NATALES: 2:30 PM
Arrival at Laguna Amarga: 4:30 PM
Accommodation: Refugio Torre Central.
Day 2: Trekking to “BASE TORRES” (7 - 8 hours; 13 Km)
Recommended time to start: 9.00 AM.
The first hour and a half walk is steep with fantastic views of lake Nordenskjöld, Almirante Nieto Mn (2,670 m above sea level), and its hanging glacier until you reach Refugio El Chileno to recover energies and leave your luggage. Then carrying just a small back pack, you will continue the trail through a millenary Lenga forest (1 hour) until the base of “the moraine” whose challenging ascent (45 min), will take you to one of the most impressive lookouts in the park: “Base of Torres del Paine” where you will have the view of Torre Sur (2,850 m above sea level), Torre Central (2,800 m above sea level), Torre Norte (2,600 m above sea level) and Cerro Nido de Cóndor.
Accommodation: Refugio El Chileno / If this Refugio is not available, the only alternative is going back to Torre Central (2 more hours trekking).
Level of difficulty: High.
Day 3: Trekking from El Chileno to Los Cuernos Refugio (4 – 5 hours, 11 Km)
Recommended time to start: 9.00 AM.
About 30 minutes after leaving Refugio El Chileno you will notice the sign to take the “shortcut” that leads to Refugio Los Cuernos. The trail goes through the Base of Almirante Nieto Mn. – part of the Paine Massif-, with great views of the Nordenskjöld lake; from December the flora presents different colours specially the “Ciruelillo” or “Fire Bush” which takes its name from the red colour of its flowers. After about 4 – 5 hours you will get to the Base of Los Cuernos where our Refugio is located, considered by many, one of the coziest places in the whole park, a perfect spot to rest and recover energies for the next day challenging trek: “The French Valley”.
Accommodation: Refugio Los Cuernos (we recommend Cabins Los Cuernos, you may check the prices below).
Leve of difficultyl: Medium.
Day 4: Trekking to French Valley (10 - 12 hours, 25.3 Km)
Recommended time to start: 8.00 AM.
The first 2 hours have ascents and descents which are not steep, from where you can view the Nordenskjöld Lake until you reach the “Campamento Italiano”, here we recommend you to contact CONAF staff so you can leave your big backpack with them and start the next part of the trek with a small day backpack. The ascent continues for about 1 hour and a half until the French Glacier lookout, where you’ll be able to observe its hanging glacier and have the opportunity to see small avalanches. After that, the trail continues to the “Campamento Británico” and after about 20 minutes you will reach the lookout point considered by many as one of the most overwhelming spots in the Circuit: the “Mirador Británico”, where you will admire:
“Paine Grande”, “Cerro Hoja”, “Cerro Máscara”, “Cerro Catedral”, “Cerro Aleta de Tiburón”, “Cuerno Norte”, etc.
The return is the same way back to “Campamento Italiano”, and then to Pehoé sector.
Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande.
Level of difficulty: High.
Day 5: Trekking to Grey Glacier (8 - 9 hours, 22 Km)
Recommended time to start: 9.00 AM.
Trek to Grey Glacier lookout (roundtrip). The trail goes through the western side of the Paine Massif with views of the Grey Lake and Mountains.
After 1 hour and a half you will reach the first lookout point, where you may observe the Grey Glacier in the distance, then and after 1 and a half / two hours you will get to the Main lookout, where you will enjoy amazing views. The return is the same way back until Pehoé Lake to take the Catamaran that crosses Pehoe Lake to Pudeto sector, where your bus will be waiting for you to take you back to Puerto Natales.
Level of difficulty: Medium.
Catamaran Itinerary
Departure at 6:30 PM / please, arrive at the pier at 6:00 PM / arrival time to Bus Station in Puerto Natales: around 10:00 PM
If you want to return to El Calafate, you’ll have to add an extra night to be at the pier at 12PM and take the 12.30PM boat. The same applies to the program during October and April
