Patagonia: Torres del Paine on Foot

The granite towers of Torres del Paine rise straight out of the Patagonian steppe in southern Chile. Walk to the lake at their base, follow guanacos across open grassland, and return each evening to a lodge where the only sound is the weather.

Beyond the park lie glaciers breaking into milky lakes, estancias where lunch is lamb roasted over an open fire and, across the border in Argentina, the Perito Moreno glacier.

When to go

October to April is the Patagonian summer. December to February brings the longest days and the most visitors; October, November, March and April are quieter, with autumn colour at the end of the season. Wind is part of Patagonia in every month.

How we would plan it

We choose a lodge inside or beside the park, so you are walking before the day visitors arrive. Guides here read the wind as much as the map, and the best walks are saved for the calmest days.

For the famous W Trek, we arrange lodges and refuges so you carry no more than a day pack. Patagonia pairs naturally with Chile's wine valleys, or with a voyage to Antarctica from Punta Arenas.

Good to know

How fit do we need to be for Torres del Paine?

Walks range from gentle lakeside paths to full days on the W Trek. Good lodges offer several options each day, so everyone can choose.

How do we reach Torres del Paine?

Fly to Santiago, then on to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, and drive into the park.

Can we combine Chilean and Argentine Patagonia?

Yes. El Calafate and the Perito Moreno glacier are a long day's drive from Torres del Paine, with a border crossing we arrange in advance.

Can Patagonia be combined with Antarctica?

Yes. Fly-cruise voyages to Antarctica leave from Punta Arenas, so the two fit together naturally.

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