Puerto Natales is the gateway to one of the most incredible places on the planet: Torres del Paine National Park. But it’s not all W or O. If you’re planning your first visit, this top 5 will give you a clear (and entertaining) idea of the treks you can’t miss, depending on your time, your energy level, and how many pairs of dry socks you pack.
🥇 1. Trekking Base Torres – The Classic of Classics
📍 Location: Torres del Paine National Park
🕒 Duration: Full Day (~8 hours round trip)
👣 Level: Moderate
📸 Highlights: The three granite towers reflected in a glacial lagoon.
If you can only take one hike in your life, make it this one. The trail takes you to the famous Torres del Paine viewpoint, probably the most shared postcard in all of Patagonia. It’s 20 kilometers (round trip), so be prepared with a good breakfast, comfortable boots, and a camera with a battery.
🥈 2. Rupestrian Trail – Art and nature
📍 Location: 1 hour from Puerto Natales
🕒 Duration: 4 to 5 hours (Half Day)
👣 Level: Easy
🎨 Highlights: Rock art, marine fossils, Tehuelche culture, and endless views.
This trail is a true hidden treasure. It runs through Estancia Helmer, where you’ll walk through ancient geological formations, spot guanacos, and most importantly, see cave paintings that are over 4,000 years old. All of this is accompanied by stories about the indigenous peoples, early pioneers, and the local wildlife.
🥉 3. French Valley – An amphitheater of mountains
📍 Location: Torres del Paine National Park
🕒 Duration: Full day (within the W circuit)
👣 Level: Moderate to demanding
🏔️ Giant granite walls and thunderous avalanches.
This is one of the most impressive sections of the W circuit, and can be done as a day hike if you depart from the Paine Grande refuge. The trail takes you into the heart of the park, surrounded by sharp granite peaks, hanging glaciers, and a silence broken only by the occasional avalanche. It’s a complete mountain experience.
🏅 4. Dorotea Hill – Panoramic Viewpoint over Puerto Natales
📍 Location: Just outside Puerto Natales
🕒 Duration: 2–3 hours round trip
👣 Level: Moderate
🌄 Highlights: Views of the entire city, fjords, pampas, and mountain range.
This trek is perfect if you’ve just arrived in Natales and want to stretch your legs with something short and powerful.Dorotea Hill offers a quick hike, but with one of the best panoramic views in the entire region. You’re not in Torres del Paine yet, but you’ll feel like you’re already in a picture-postcard landscape.
🎖️ 5. Sierra Baguales – Trekking back in time (literally)
📍 Location: 1.5 hours from Puerto Natales
🕒 Duration: Full Day
👣 Level: Moderate
🦴 Highlights: Fossils, ancient rocks, and a landscape that looks like another planet.
This off-the-beaten-track spot is a hidden treasure. In Sierra Baguales, you’ll walk along what was once the seabed millions of years ago. You’ll see fossils, surreal rock formations, and a silent, arid, and powerful landscape. Visitors are almost nonexistent, making this an ultra-special trek.
🌄 Ready to hike through the world's most stunning landscapes?
If there’s a place where nature leaves you speechless and trekking becomes an inner journey, it’s here, in Chilean Patagonia. And it doesn’t matter if you come for a day or a week: there’s a trail waiting for you.
At our agency, we organize everything from full-day trips to multi-day expeditions, with expert guides, transfers, equipment, reservations, and a whole lot of good vibes. We help you choose the ideal trek based on your time, experience, and desire for adventure.
📩 Contact us today and plan your next hike in Puerto Natales. We’ll be waiting for you with boots ready and a hot mate!
