Torres del Paine Day Hike: Las Torres from Puerto Natales

One Day Hiking Itinerary for Torres del Paine, Chile

Puerto Natales to Laguna Amarga/Park Entrance (2 hrs)

Prepare and pack everything you need the day before in Puerta Natales, such as snacks, water, and lunch. It's cheaper than buying them last minute at Estancia Cerro Paine.

Wake up early to catch the 7 AM bus leaving from Rodoviario Puerto Natales Bus Station. Bus-Sur's 2026/27 high-season schedule has this service arriving at Laguna Amarga at around 9 AM. Unless you organize a taxi through your hotel, do not rely on grabbing a taxi off the street that early because you may end up running to the terminal at the last minute like me and a few other people with poor planning skills 😅.

Once you get on the bus, it will take approximately 2 hours to reach Laguna Amarga. Do not rely on buying your park ticket after arriving like I did. The park now asks visitors to purchase their entry online at least 24 hours in advance. As of 2026, a foreign adult day pass costs 32,400 CLP. Keep the QR code for your ticket ready for validation when you enter.

Want to explore other places in Patagonia? Check out2 Weeks Itinerary For Patagonia

Park Entrance to Estancia Cerro Paine (10 mins)

Once you are done, take the connecting shuttle from Laguna Amarga to the Welcome Center at Estancia Cerro Paine, the access point for the Base Torres hike. Bus-Sur currently lists this connection at 4,500 CLP one way and around 25 minutes. You can technically walk the road instead, but doing so adds considerable time to an already long day hike.

Once you are at the Welcome Center/Estancia Cerro Paine sector, this is your last convenient chance to sort out anything you need before hitting the trail. From here, follow the signs toward the Base Torres trail and Refugio Chileno. The park currently requires day hikers to begin the Base Torres trail by 9 AM, so taking the first bus from Puerto Natales is important.

Estancia Cerro Paine to Mirador Las Torres/The 3 Towers Viewpoint (3 - 4 hrs)

The trail begins in a flat grassland by Hotel Las Torres, heading west for about 1 km until you start going uphill northward. You will be climbing for about 1 to 1.5 hours until it starts to peak, and then it is an easy stroll to the first refuge camp, Refugio Chileno.

You can rest for a bit here or push on, heading north. From Refugio Chileno, the trail is pretty flat and mostly under the trees, which helps protect you from the strong wind coming from the valley.

You will be walking along the river for about 2 hours, crossing a few bridges, gaining little elevation until the trail starts to go west again.

From here on out, it's an uphill battle to Mirador Las Torres, which will take you around an hour to reach the viewpoint. You will be hiking on a rocky trail, jumping from boulder to boulder, exposed to the Patagonian elements for the entire time, so be sure to prepare for the wind and rain.

For about an hour, you should arrive at the lake with the iconic view of the 3 Towers (Las Torres) towering over you. I have seen all the photos of this place, but it is nothing like being there in person, looking up at the famous peaks with your own eyes.

Spend about an hour up there, resting, eating lunch, and taking photos before heading back the same way. As with most mountains, the afternoon is when the clouds roll in. So, don't underestimate the difficulty of returning as the weather might worsen by the time you descend, which was the case for me.

It should take you around 3-4 hours to get back to the Welcome Center/Estancia Cerro Paine sector. From there, take the connecting shuttle back to Laguna Amarga in time for your bus to Puerto Natales. Bus-Sur's current 2026/27 high-season schedule lists a 20:15 departure from Laguna Amarga, arriving in Puerto Natales at around 21:30. Schedules can change, so confirm both the shuttle connection and return bus before starting the hike.

If you are interested in hiking the full W-Trek in Patagonia, check out: A Complete Guide to the W-Trek in Torres del Paine, Patagonia.

First time in South America? Check out:20 Best Places to Visit in South America

Where to Stay in Puerto Natales?

Always book accommodation in Patagonia at least one week in advance if you are planning to visit during the peak or even shoulder seasons. Everything gets booked annoyingly quickly everywhere in Patagonia!

Budget

The Singing Lamb Backpackers

Dorm | $

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👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Hostal Andes Patagonicos

Double Room | $$

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High-End

Hotel Vendaval

Double Room | $$$

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When to Visit Torres del Paine?

In my opinion, the best months to visit Torres del Paine are during the shoulder season, especially October to November and March to April. You will generally be competing with fewer visitors than in the middle of summer while still having relatively long daylight hours. Weather in Patagonia is extremely changeable, though, so do not rely on a specific temperature range even during these months.

Patagonia can get extremely busy during the main summer travel period, especially from December through February. If you want fewer people, I would favor the shoulder months, but always check current trail conditions before going. In winter conditions, Base Torres can require an accredited guide and additional equipment; in 2026, that guide requirement ran through September 15 before being lifted on September 16.

What to Pack for Torres del Paine Hike?

• Rain & Warm Jackets: The weather changes fast in Torres del Paine, and even in the summer, it could be raining all day. Therefore, it is advisable to have a nice warm waterproof jacket with you for the hike. Here is a jacket I recommend for the trip: the beautiful orange Columbia outer-shell jacket.
• Food, Snacks, and Water: The hike takes around 7-8 hours, so you will need to pack your own lunch and enough water for the entire hike. I would recommend buying everything in Puerto Natales supermarket before you start the trail because, trust me, you will not want to know how much food costs at the Patagonia entrance. I always carry my 2-liter hydration pack, which I recommend so you don't have to stop to stay hydrated.
• Good Sturdy Shoes: The trail is pretty easy and straightforward, but the weather can make it quite challenging at times, so good, comfortable, and sturdy shoes are recommended. These Timberland Shoes are my go-to hiking boots in most situations.
• Money: As of 2026, the national park charges foreign adults 32,400 CLP for a one-day pass. Buy the park pass online before your visit. You will also need money for transportation, including the bus between Puerto Natales and the park and the connecting shuttle between Laguna Amarga and the Welcome Center.

How to Get to Puerto Natales?

Puerto Natales is located in the deep south of Chile, which makes it a little difficult to travel to. First, you have to get yourself to Santiago, either via Emirates, KLM, or Air France if you are coming from Asia or Europe. For the US, you can fly via American, Delta, United, or LATAM airlines. Be sure to check out the prices on Skyscanner and Expedia for the best possible deal for your trip.

From Santiago, you can fly south to Punta Arenas and continue to Puerto Natales by bus. Puerto Natales also has its own airport with seasonal flight service, so it is worth comparing flights there as well when schedules line up with your trip.

From Punta Arenas, buses run to Puerto Natales daily from the city and with airport connections. For example, Bus-Sur currently lists the journey at around 3 hours 15 minutes, with fares starting from 11,000 CLP. Several operators serve this route, so compare the schedule that works best with your flight.

Again, to ensure that there will be space available on the bus, please book transportation in advance, especially during the peak season, as everything gets booked quickly.

How to Get to Torres del Paine?

Once you are in the Puerto Natales bus terminal, do not leave just yet. If you have not already booked your park transport, arrange it here or online. Bus-Sur's 2026/27 high-season timetable currently includes a 7:00 AM departure from Puerto Natales that reaches Laguna Amarga at around 9:00 AM, which is the useful service for the Base Torres day hike. The current general fare is 18,000 CLP one way.

I would recommend that you get the earliest one possible. The bus will leave from the terminal where you bought the ticket, and it will take around 2 hours to reach Torres del Paine National Park.

To get back from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales, Bus-Sur's current 2026/27 high-season timetable lists departures from Laguna Amarga at 15:00 and 20:15, with the latter arriving in Puerto Natales at around 21:30. For a Base Torres day hike, the 20:15 service gives you the practical return connection. Be sure to allow enough time to descend and catch the shuttle from the Welcome Center back to Laguna Amarga.

Torres del Paine Entrance Fee

As of May 2026, Torres del Paine uses a new daily/multi-day pricing system. A foreign adult pays 32,400 CLP for a one-day pass. A pass for two or more consecutive days, valid for up to 10 days, costs 48,500 CLP for a foreign adult.

This is much better suited to this itinerary than the old system because you can now buy a dedicated one-day pass for the Base Torres day hike. Purchase your entry through the official park-pass system at least 24 hours before entering.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Chile?

Internet access in Puerto Natales is generally easy to find, with Wi-Fi available at most accommodations and modern 4G/5G mobile service in town depending on your carrier and location. Inside Torres del Paine, however, coverage is patchy to nonexistent in many areas, so download your tickets, maps, and anything else you need before leaving Puerto Natales.

If your phone supports eSIMs, you can set one up before arriving and have mobile data as soon as you land. You can browse through available eSIMs here.

Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.