Torres del Paine Hiking Guide

Questions

How many days do you need for the Torres del Paine O circuit?

I walked the O and the W in 5 days in March 2020, about 85 miles on my GPS, with two very long days. Most people take longer: the park suggests 8 to 10 days for the O and the operators about 8 to 9. Your camp bookings decide your days.

Do you need reservations to hike the O or the W?

Yes. On the O and the W every night must be booked before you go in, with Vertice (Dickson, Los Perros, Grey, Paine Grande) or Las Torres (Serón, Francés, Los Cuernos, Central, Chileno). The rangers at Coirón check your O bookings. Day hikes like the Base Torres need only a park ticket, bought online at least 24 hours ahead.

Which direction do you hike the O?

Counterclockwise. The stretch from Serón over the John Gardner Pass to Paso is one-way, and you register at every ranger station and sign out at Los Perros and Paso.

Do you need a guide for Torres del Paine?

Not in summer. On the W and the Base Torres guides stopped being required on September 16, 2026, after the winter rule, though microspikes and trekking poles were still required while snow and ice lasted. The O is closed in winter; on October 1, 2026 it was closed until October 31, pending the park's weather and safety review.

How much does it cost to hike Torres del Paine?

The park ticket for a foreign adult is CLP 48,500 for more than one day (2026). Camps in 2026-27 run from about US$11 a night with your own tent at Vertice's camps to US$50 or more at Las Torres. In 2020 I spent about $300 in pesos on the trek, plus about $1,000 for my flight.

How high is the John Gardner Pass?

My GPS read 1,208 m (3,963 ft) at the pass; 1,200 m is the published figure. It is the one real climb of the circuit, about 2,100 ft up from Los Perros, and the windiest place on the route.