Discover the O Circuit in an 8-day journey full of unforgettable landscapes. Go for the ultimate adventure, in the heart of Patagonia, with its wonderful fauna and its impressive lakes and glaciers. The O Circuit in Torres del Paine Park is the perfect experience for lovers of adventure and trekking.
Surely, it is one of the most challenging, safe and beautiful trekking circuits in the world. You will discover natural environments preferred by tourists who seek to immerse themselves in the depths of nature. You will live an extreme adventure with the comfort and security of the preferred destination of adventurers.
Also, with the O Circuit program, you won’t have to worry about bringing a tent and a sleeping bag. Our circuit already includes the tent set up at the campsite, along with a sleeping bag and mat.
On the first day of O Circuit, you will take the bus from the city of Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine Park. On this day, you will do one of the simplest walks in the program. The trail to Serón offers many amazing landscapes on the untamed side of Torres del Paine Park.
On the third day, you will enter the most remote area of the park, in the middle of lush and green vegetation. You will border the Los Perros river, where you will be breathless when you see the wonderful Los Perros Glacier and its greenish-blue lagoon.
You will also get to know the spectacular landscapes of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and the icebergs of Lake Grey. You will undertake an ascent hike through a mountainous forest until you reach the sometimes very windy Grey Glacier viewpoint.
On the last day of the O Circuit, you will do the best-known trekking in the area. The Towers Base Trekking is a trail of approximately 20 km and of medium-high level of difficulty. However, even with the difficulty of a path with climbs, when you reach the viewpoint you will feel that your effort was rewarded.
After breakfast at the hotel in Puerto Natales, you must leave for the Torres del Paine National Park, at 07:00 a.m., by regular bus (show up at least 10 minutes before, at the bus terminal).
The journey takes place in the middle of the Patagonian pampas, to reach Amarga Lagoon, the main entrance to the park and the place where the entrance must be registered with Conaf (park ranger). Transfer is made at “Transporte Las Torres” to get to the Welcome Center, where the registration of passengers takes place, in the Cerro Paine Reserve. Then the walk to Serón Camping begins.
Although it is considered one of the days when the walk is one of the easiest in the Circuit, the trail to Serón offers many amazing landscapes of the untamed side of Torres del Paine Park.
You walk through a vibrant green carpet of trees to continue along a pleasant slope that descends towards an endless pasture, in the Patagonian plain.
Continuing the path, relatively flat, towards the Serón campsite, crystal clear streams will be appreciated. After having settled in the campsite, there will be a little time to enjoy the immense size of the land before dinner, which will be served in the small but cozy dining room of Serón.
Distance: 9 km
Time: 4-5 hrs
Level of difficulty: medium
Accommodation: Camping Serón
Meals: box lunch and dinner
A long walk begins through undulating hills and wet meadows inside the park. Snow-capped mountains, pastel blue lakes and vast expanses of grassland will provide the backdrop as you explore the north side of the park. In addition to the amazing and imposing views of the Dickson Glacier, Cubo Hill and other rugged peaks that mark the border between Chile and Argentina. Once you arrive at the Dickson area, you check in and during the afternoon you can take a walk along the rocky shore of Lake Dickson, all this before dinner at the Refuge.
Distance: 18.5 km
Time: 6-7 hrs
Difficulty level: demanding
Accommodation: Dickson Refuge
Meals: breakfast, box lunch and dinner
Today the walk will take place in the most remote area of the park, in the midst of lush green vegetation. You will be able to feel the wind blowing through the bushes and listen to the pleasant sound of the Magellanic woodpeckers. Bordering the Los Perros river, you climb a large moraine where you will be breathless as you see another picturesque mountain as a backdrop, the wonderful Los Perros Glacier and its greenish-blue lagoon. You continue along a rocky path before reaching the Los Perros campsite, where you will be staying. It is recommended to rest, the next day will be long.
Distance: 9 km
Time: 5 hrs
Difficulty level: demanding
Accommodation: Camping Los Perros
Meals: food not included
There is a store where it is possible to buy prepared dishes and snacks.
Take a breath and prepare for the most demanding day of the Paine Circuit, but at the same time, very rewarding. After an early morning breakfast at the campsite, you will begin to make your way through gnarled tree roots and large mud puddles, under the green canopy of the trees. You leave the forest and begin to climb through worn and loose rocks (sometimes snow) until you reach the highest point in the Paine Circuit, the famous John Garner Pass (1,200 m.a.s.l.) Wrapped by the strong Patagonian winds while you will be impressed with the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and its marvelous resplendent carpet. The descent is made by the side of a giant wall of ice and the trail continues through El Paso Camping, crossing the exciting suspension bridges before arriving at the Grey Refuge for dinner and a well-deserved rest.
Distance: 22 km
Time: 10-12 hrs
Difficulty level: very demanding
Accommodation: Refugio Grey
Meals: breakfast, box lunch and dinner
Enjoy breakfast at the Grey Refuge, before beginning to marvel at more spectacular landscapes of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and the icebergs of Lake Grey. An ascent hike through a mountainous forest to reach the sometimes (very) windy viewpoint of the Grey Glacier. The walk continues until you reach the De los Patos Lagoon where you begin the descent through a narrow and windy valley that takes you directly to the Paine Grande Refuge.
Distance: 11 km
Time: 4 hrs
Difficulty level: medium
Accommodation: Paine Grande Refuge
Meals: breakfast, box lunch and dinner
It starts early in the morning to have a whole day of walking towards the heart of Torres del Paine Park. After breakfast, request the box lunch and get ready for a day of landscapes of the Patagonian mountains. You walk through arid landscapes and along the shore of the wonderful blue waters of Lake Skottsberg. After approximately 2.5 hours of walking, you will arrive at the El Italiano campsite where the ascent towards the Valley begins.
You climb through the immense rocky terrain and follow the edge of the treetops until you reach the French lookout, here you will be rewarded with impressive landscapes of Los Cuernos, turquoise glacial lagoons and wonderful hanging glaciers that fall in the form of waterfalls by the east face of Paine Grande (3,050 meters). If you are lucky you will hear the thunder of water and ice falling, it is a point where avalanches can be observed commonly. Ideal time to take some pictures and enjoy the box lunch, all this before descending to the Italian camp.
We return along the same path to the Italian campsite and then continue towards the French Refuge or the Los Cuernos Refuge. Relax in the afternoon and enjoy a delicious meal at the Refuge
Distance: 17 km – Refugio Los Cuernos and 13 km – Refugio/Domos Francés
Time: 6-7 hrs – Refugio Los Cuernos
Difficulty level: demanding
Accommodation: Refugio Los Cuernos or Refugio Francés (depending on availability)
Meals: breakfast, box lunch and dinner
Regardless of where you start the walk, from Los Cuernos Refuge or Francés Refuge, you will make your way through pristine streams, admiring the hanging glaciers of Mount Almirante Nieto (2,670 meters) you will be able to look for condors while skirting the captivating blue-green waters of Lake Nordenskjöld. You will continue along the well-signposted path until you reach the Torre Central Refuge, where you will relax during the afternoon.
Distance: 12 km – from Refugio Los Cuernos and 14.5 km – from Refugio Francés
Time: 4-6 hrs (depending on the starting point)
Difficulty level: medium
Accommodation: Refugio Torre Central
Meals: breakfast, box lunch and dinner
Today is the walk through the Ascencio Valley that meanders through windswept hills and huge forests. During the final ascent you will cross an immense rocky terrain until you reach one of the most emblematic landscapes in the world, the Base of the Towers. At a height of 900 m.a.s.l. You’ll marvel at the sheer granite walls of the towers (north, central south) and the brilliant turquoise glacial lagoon. Ideal time to take pictures and eat a box lunch before continuing along the same trail downhill to the Torre Central Refuge and the Welcome Center. At 7:00 pm. You will take the “Las Torres” transfer that goes to Amarga Lagoon to connect with the Regular bus to Puerto Natales.
Distance: 22 km
Time: 8-10 hrs
Level of difficulty: very demanding
Meals: breakfast and box lunch
| Included |
|---|
| Transfers: – Round trip transportation by regular bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park – Connecting bus transportation from Laguna Amarga Gate to the Welcome Center Accommodation in refuge Food: – Breakfast (coffee, tea, milk, bread, eggs, jam, juice and fruits) – Box lunch (cold sandwich, cereal bar, chocolate bar, nuts and fruits) – Dinner (daily menu, with starter, main course, dessert and water) Entrance ticket to Torres del Paine National Park |
| Not included |
|---|
| Flights to/from Puerto Natales Tips Accommodation in Puerto Natales Medical insurance Medical assistance in case of accident Assistance in evacuation due to weather conditions Travel insurance covering accidents and cancellations due to force majeure |
This circuit has a high demand and there are dates on which quotas are sold out months in advance.
Therefore, we recommend that you book as far in advance as possible as places are limited.
In the guided circuit you will go with a professional guide, who will accompany you throughout the walk, in addition to giving you information about the places you will visit during the circuit.
On the other hand, doing it autonomously is possible because the park’s trails are duly marked. In addition to receiving an explanatory talk at the beginning of the circuit, where you will be given a map with all the details.
The minimum age is 16 years old, it must be considered that it is a trek of several days, with medium-high physical demand, which is not advisable for minors.
It is not necessary to carry water since there are drinking water sources available along the way, either in the refuges and camps or natural water sources, during the walks.
Yes, there is WiFi service in the refuges but it is not included in the price, it is paid directly in each refuge. The price may vary depending on the time and speed.
You can use the power outlets available in the common areas of the refuges. However, we recommend that you carry charged external batteries.
If you can leave your large backpack in the Chilean and Italian camps, and pick it up on the way back.
The companies Bus-Sur, Buses Pacheco and Buses Fernández offer the regular bus transportation service from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales, while the companies Bus-Sur, Turismo Zaahj and Cootra provide the regular bus transportation service from El Calafate to Puerto Natales. To know prices, availability and frequency of these services you should review the information published on the websites of the indicated companies.
Click here to consult the terms and conditions of the O Circuit program (refuge – self-guided).
Check the Terms and Conditions of our website.
from
$2.420 – $2.596
Start of the activity: Day 1 at 06:45 a.m. in Terminal Rodoviario de Puerto Natales.
End of the activity: Day 8 at 10:00 p.m. in Terminal Rodoviario de Puerto Natales.
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