O-Circuit: the ultimate guide to hiking Torres del Paine in 8 days

19 May 2025

The O-Circuit is Chilean Patagonia at its most spectacular, an 8-day loop around Parque Nacional Torres del Paine that combines the famed W-Trek with remote trails, towering glaciers, alpine passes, and a whole lot more solitude. It’s challenging, scenic, wildly rewarding, and easily one of the best long-distance hikes in South America! For those who want more Patagonia than just easy viewpoints and busy routes, this is it.

I’ve hiked both the W-Trek and the O-Circuit multiple times (including a group hiking trip that I hosted!) and spent many weeks exploring this corner of Patagonia over the last decade. In this post, you’ll find everything you need to hike the O-Circuit independently: a detailed 8-day itinerary, campsite booking tips, transport logistics, trail conditions, and planning advice to help you make the most of this incredible adventure.

🏔️ Read my O-Circuit packing list & check out my custom O-Circuit GPS map for route navigation!

What's in this guide

Magical alpenglow on Las Torres at sunrise

About Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Located in the remote southern reaches of Chilean Patagonia, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine is one of the most spectacular national parks on Earth. This vast wilderness of wind-swept tundra, impossibly blue lakes, towering granite spires, and ancient glaciers spans nearly 2,000 square kilometres— and despite being the most-visited destination in Patagonia, it still manages to feel utterly wild.

The namesake towers, Torres del Paine, rise from the landscape like stone sentinels, drawing hikers and climbers from around the world to witness their beauty up close, but countless other peaks, sprawling glaciers, and turquoise lagunas combine to make this park so much more than just a single epic viewpoint.

With a well-developed hut and trail system, Torres del Paine is one of the few places in the world where you can spend a week deep in the backcountry without ever having to carry a tent— OR where you can carry everything on your back and feel completely self-sufficient. However you choose to explore it, prepare to fall madly in love with Torres del Paine (it’s no wonder I keep coming back!).

O-Circuit (green) compared to the W-Trek (Purple)

About the O-Circuit

The O-Circuit is Torres del Paine’s most complete trekking experience, a full 8-day loop that encircles the entire Paine Massif (shown in green above). This longer route includes every major highlight of the iconic 5-day W-Trek (in purple above), but adds more remote valleys, wild glaciers, alpine passes, and a whole lot of solitude, even in Patagonia’s most popular park.

This is the route for hikers who want it all: bucket-list lookouts, backcountry magic, hidden gems, the full Patagonia experience. It’s more physically demanding than The W, with longer distances and bigger elevation gains (especially on the approach to wind-whipped John Garner Pass), but it’s still a non-technical trail, accessible to anyone with good fitness, the right gear, and a spirit of adventure!

Duration: 8 days
Total distance: 120km
Total elevation gain: 5,060m
Difficulty: moderate/difficult (no technical terrain, but long days, heavy packs & wild weather make it a proper challenge)

Like the sound of a shorter 5-day trek in Torres del Paine? Check out my W-Trek Guide for Patagonia’s most iconic multi-day hike!

Autumn colours on the O-Circuit in late March

Planning your O-Circuit adventure

When to hike the O-Circuit

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine is open year-round, but the O-Circuit is only open from 1 November to 31 March (during the Southern Hemisphere summer), when trail conditions are safer, river levels are more manageable, and all campsites and refugios along the loop are operational.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect each month of the official O-Circuit season:

November: the start of the season brings clear views, uncrowded trails, but some lingering snow on high passes like Paso John Garner
December – February: peak season offers long days (up to 17hrs of light) and warmer temperatures, but also the strongest winds and fully booked campsites; conditions are most reliable, but you’ll need to plan FAR in advance
March: early autumn is my favourite time in Patagonia, with golden hues, cooler temps, fewer hikers, more campsite availability!

Pay for your Park entry in advance on the CONAF website!

Park entry for Torres del Paine

Although there are no “permits” required for the O-Circuit, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee for Torres del Paine National Park online in advance (technically payable at Laguna Amarga too, but the line gets insane and this is NOT a good option if you want to catch the shuttle to the trailhead). As of 2025, park entry costs 46,200CLP ($49USD) for adult foreigners spending more than 3 days in the park.

When you’re paying online, this is the option you want -> EXTRANJERO: MÁS DE 3 DÍAS / ADULTO +18 AÑOS, PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDAD Y ADULTO MAYOR)

Adult foreigner ticket for 3+ days in the park

Supported vs unsupported trekking on the O-Circuit

There are a few different ways to hike the O-Circuit, depending on how much comfort you want, how much weight you’re willing to carry, and what gear you have with you in Patagonia. I’ll describe all the camping and catering options in more detail in the following sections, but here are your main options:

UNSUPPORTED (carrying camping gear + stove/food): the cheapest and most self-sufficient approach, but also the heaviest; you’ll need to carry all your gear and food for 8 days, so a solid backpacking setup and good fitness are essential! ~$300-400 per person.
SEMI-SUPPORTED (fully-equipped tent + carrying stove/food): hike without any camping gear by booking a tent that’s already set up at each campsite, but save a bit of money by still cooking your own food. ~$700-1400 per person.
SUPPORTED (fully-equipped tent/dorm + full board in Refugios): the most expensive and least rugged option, staying inside shared bunk rooms or fully-equipped tents and eating all meals in the huts; you’ll still do all the hiking, but you can just carry a small daypack. ~$1400-2000 per person.

This guide is written specifically for adventurous, self-supported trekkers carrying all their own gear and camping for 8 days, but the tips throughout apply regardless of your chosen style of adventure! I’ve done both the W-Trek and O-Circuit completely unsupported, but on the group hiking trip that I hosted in 2023, we carried all of our own gear and opted for full-board in the huts to keep mealtime simpler for 12 people, so I have experience with both types of trips.

Suspension bridges over Glacier Grey on day 4 of the O-Circuit

Reservations for the O-Circuit

When I first hiked through Torres del Paine in December 2014, I showed up with zero reservations and no advanced planning, but things were very different by the time I returned in 2023 to do the O-Circuit again! Camping and refugios along the route are now managed by two private companies, and you’ll need to make separate reservations through their websites several months in advance to secure accommodation for each night of the trek.

Las Torres Patagonia (formerly Fantástico Sur) manages campsites at:
- Central
- Serón (night 1)
- Francés (alternate option for night 6)
- Cuernos (night 6)
- Chileno (night 7)
Vértice Patagonia manages campsites at:
- Dickson (night 2)
- Los Perros (night 3)
- Grey (night 4)
- Paine Grande (night 5)

Campsites don’t always open for booking at the same time each year (usually sometime between June and September for the following season), so set a calendar reminder and check frequently. The most in-demand camps (Chileno and Cuernos) tend to sell out first, and particularly during the high season (Dec/Jan), you need to be SNAPPY if you want to book your first-choice dates for the entire O-Circuit.

Camping at Serón on night 1 of the O-Circuit

Camping & refugios on the O-Circuit

In terms of accommodation along the route, you can choose to reserve a basic tent platform (using all your own gear), a pre-assembled tent with sleeping bag/sleeping mat rental, or even accommodation inside the refugio (this is not possible at all campsites, so it would actually be a mix of refugio and fully-equipped camping).

I’ve summarised current prices for the 2025-2026 season in the table below to give you an idea of how these options compare in price for this exact 8-day itinerary:

price comparison between camping options on the o-Circuit

$198 per person (average: $28 per night) if you’re sharing a tent
$318 if you’re camping alone (average: $45 per night)
~2.5x higher if you want to rent a tent + sleeping mat (still carrying your own sleeping bag)
~4x higher if you are renting ALL camping gear (a tent + sleeping bag + sleeping mat)

Half/full-board on the O-Circuit

All of the campsites along this route also offering catering options for breakfast, lunch (take-away box), and dinner for an additional cost. These too must be reserved in advance at the time of booking your accommodation. I ate a few meals in the refugios when hosting my group hiking trip in 2023 and can attest that the food is typically delicious, although extremely expensive!

To give you an idea of budget, half-board (breakfast & dinner) = $533 for all 7 nights of the O-Circuit, while full-board = $775 (breakfast, lunch, dinner). In contrast, you can pack your own freeze-dried backpacker food for ~$100 for the entire circuit, which is what I’d recommend for experienced hikers who are able to carry a full pack!

Meal options at Las Torres campsites (Serón, Cuernos, Chileno):
- Full board (breakfast, box lunch, dinner): $130
- Half board (breakfast, dinner): $90
- Breakfast only: $35
- Dinner only: $65
Meal options at Vértice campsites (Dickson, Los Perros, Grey, Paine Grande):
- Full board (breakfast, box lunch, dinner): $95-100
- Half board (breakfast, dinner): $65-68
- Breakfast only: $29-30
- Dinner only: $46-48

Essential resources & maps

The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, especially along the popular W-Trek section between Glacier Grey and Las Torres. Still, a map and a GPS track are super useful to monitor your progress, especially over John Garner Pass and other remote parts of the park!

I built a complete GPS map for the O-Circuit, with precise daily tracks based on this 8-day itinerary and trail notes at all relevant waypoints. Download the JSON or GPX file for offline use on the trail using your smartphone & CalTopo (by far the best GPS app at just $20/yr).
Map of Parque Nacional Torres del Paine: the National Forestry Corporation in Chile (CONAF) publishes a great map of the park, clearly showing the entire O-Circuit and providing distance estimates between locations. Although it’s not super helpful for on-trail navigation, it’s an excellent resource for planning and visualising the route before setting off.

Incredible views over Glacier Grey & the Southern Patagonian Ice Field

Getting to & from the trailhead

Getting to Puerto Natales

To hike the O-Circuit, your first step is getting to Puerto Natales, a charming and well-equipped town in southern Chile that serves as the main hub for Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. Most travellers fly into Santiago and then connect via a domestic flight to Puerto Natales (or alternatively to Punta Arenas, followed by a 3hr bus).

Puerto Natales is perfectly set up for trekkers, with excellent hostels, gear rental shops, supermarkets, breweries, and frequent buses into the park. It’s the ideal place to stock up, plan logistics, or just relax before heading into the wild!

✨ Read my guide to Puerto Natales, Chile

Where to stay in Puerto Natales

I’d recommend spending at least a couple of nights in Puerto Natales before and/or after the O-Circuit. Not only is it a great place to recover from 8 days of hiking, but it’s also a springboard for more adventures in Chilean Patagonia— kayaking through fjords, white-water rafting, scenic drives into Torres del Paine, and rock climbing, just to name a few!

My top pick for accommodation is Wild Hostel. I’ve stayed here on several occasions in a private room and love the cozy vibe, delicious food, and relaxed atmosphere; it’s well located, walking distance to great restaurants and gear shops, and makes an awesome base for both pre/post-hike downtime!

the bus to torres del paine is inexpensive & super easy!

Getting to the trailhead at Central

To get to the park, you’ll need to book a ticket on Bus Sur from Puerto Natales to Laguna Amarga, the main eastern entrance to Torres del Paine, and then catch a shuttle onwards to Central (Hotel Torres), the starting point for the O-Circuit:

Buses depart Puerto Natales at 7am and arrive to Laguna Amarga at 9am; tickets cost 14,000CLP ($15USD) and can be booked in advance through Bus Sur
At Laguna Amarga, you’ll need to show proof of having paid the National Park entry fee, which is currently 46,200CLP ($49USD) for adult foreigners spending more than 3 days in the park
From Laguna Amarga, take the shuttle to Hotel Las Torres (Centro)— this costs 3,000CLP ($3USD) and can be paid in cash upon arrival; departures are tied to bus arrivals from Puerto Natales
Take your first steps on the O-Circuit from Central towards Séron!

Getting from Central back to Puerto Natales

From Centro, catch the return shuttle + bus combo back to Puerto Natales, available each afternoon (buses typically depart Laguna Amarga round 3pm). Just reverse the directions above, it’s super straightforward!

*8-day O-Circuit itinerary

This 8-day, 7-night circuit covers approximately 120km with 5,060m of cumulative elevation gain, looping all the way around the Paine Massif and connecting the most remote corners of the park with its most iconic viewpoints. Here’s exactly how the full O-Circuit unfolds, day by day:

Day 1: Central to Serón (3.5hrs; 14km; +360m)
Day 2: Serón to Dickson (5hrs; 18.5km; +470m)
Day 3: Dickson to Los Perros (4hrs; 11.5km; +510m)
Day 4: Los Perros to Grey (7hrs; 14.5km; +860m)
Day 5: Grey to Paine Grande (3hrs; 13.5km; +460m)
Day 6: Paine Grande to Cuernos via Mirador Británico (9hrs; 23.5km; +1070m)
Day 7: Cuernos to Chileno (5.5hrs; 12.5km; +670m)
Day 8: Chileno to Central via Mirador Las Torres (5hrs; 13km; +660m)

Day 1: Central to Serón

Trail time: 3.5hrs
Distance: 14km
Elevation gain & loss: +360m, -310m

After catching a bus into Parque Nacional Torres del Paine and another shuttle to Central (see info about getting to the trailhead above), the O-Circuit officially begins with an easy day out to Camping Serón!

Signs are a bit scarce to the start of the trail, so walk through the Welcome Centre and then turn right before the river crossing; continue uphill on a gravel road and then left onto a trail just after the cattle guard.

The route begins gradually, undulating for several hours (accumulating just a few hundred metres of elevation gain) before finally levelling off in a golden pampa that represents the lowest point of the entire trek. This is where Camping Serón comes into view, less than 4hrs from the start of the trail.

⛺️ Night 1: Camping Serón

Serón provides fairly basic facilities, serving food in a small dining area at 7pm, housing camp-stove-cookers in an outdoor tent, and offering cubicle showers for those who want a quick (warm) rinse. The snack and drink selection is very limited and wifi is available for $9USD per hour.

approaching Lago Paine on day 2 of the O-Circuit

Day 2: Serón to Dickson

Trail time: 5hrs
Distance: 18.5km
Elevation gain: +470m, -430m

The second day of the O-Circuit skirts around the glacial shores of Lago Paine before ascending to the day’s high point (around 1.5hrs & 4.5km from Serón). The remainder of the morning is a gradual descent to Guardaría Coirón, a ranger station tucked away in the forest that provides a good lunch spot (as well as some actual bathrooms)— expect to reach this spot 2.5-3hrs from Serón, depending on your pace.

Roughly crossing the halfway point at Coirón, the next 2.5hrs & 10km gain almost no elevation as you emerge from the forest and cross a scrubby flat. In clear conditions, views of the snow-capped Paine Massif are simply breathtaking!

⛺️ Night 2: Refugio Dickson

Located at the foot of Lago Dickson and beneath the Campo de Hielo Sur (Southern Icefield), Dickson Camp is more developed than the previous (or following) camps, with an indoor kitchen for camp stoves and a seperate refugio for dinner service. There are 4 indoor showers with hot water and even a market selling (very limited) snacks, drinks, and pizza or burgers— it’s not a bar, as such, but it’s the best you’ll see until joining with the W-Trek at Refugio Grey. Braver hikers can also dip in the freezing Río Paine that cuts right alongside the camp!

lookouts over Los Perros Glacier near camping Los Perros

Day 3: Dickson to Los Perros

Trail time: 4hrs
Distance: 11.5km
Elevation gain: +510m, -160m

One of the easiest days along the circuit, the route from Dickson ascends gently through a lenga forest with intermittent views of the glacial Valle de los Perros. Frequent stream crossings also punctuate the journey, usually in the form of simple wooden bridges.

Although most of the day is pleasantly shaded and lacking in some of the more dramatic Patagonian views, the final ascent to tonight’s primitive camp delivers one of the best views of the circuit— the Los Perros Glacier hanging over an icy blue lagoon. The wind is ferocious at the upper lookout, so stop for a few photos and then descend to the lower lookout (signed just a few minutes before Camping Los Perros) for a slightly more relaxed vantage point.

⛺️ Night 3: Camping Los Perros

This is the only campsite along the O that doesn’t have hot showers and one of the only where wifi isn’t available for purchase. Enjoy a more rustic camping experience along the shores of Laguna Los Perros, with all the same basic facilities— an indoor cooking area, covered porch, very scant market (fuel and cookies, not much else), and charging access.

Day 4: Los Perros to Grey

Trail time: 7hrs
Distance: 14.5km
Elevation gain: +860m, -1360m

Day 4 of the O-Circuit begins with a 600m ascent (2-3hrs) to the high point of the entire loop, wind-whipped and ruggedly alpine John Garner Pass at nearly 1,200m above sea level. In good weather, this is the most spectacular day on the trail, but also represents the hardest segment— it’s not an overly challenging day relative to other treks, but is the longest and most demanding on the O by a fair margin, and therefore tends to take less experienced hikers by surprise. Early and late season, expect snow and/or ice around the top!

From the pass, the remainder of the day is a knee-crushing 1200m descent to Rifugio Grey. Paso Ranger Station represents the 2/3rds-mark in terms of elevation; allow about 2hrs to descend to this point. As you get closer to Grey, cross a series of 3 scenic suspension bridges that are 30-40min apart, before finally arriving at the Rifugio 2.5-3hrs later.

Starting from Rifugio Grey up until the 8th and finally day of the circuit, the O now overlaps the popular W-Trek, so you can expect to see a dramatic increase in the number of people on the trail, as well as increased activity at all of the campsites and refugios. This brings with it additional ammenities, like cold beer and nicer showers, but you’ll have to work harder to achieve that wilderness feel (and at times it will be impossible).

⛺️ Night 4: Rifugio Grey

Rifugio Grey is located right along Glacier Grey, the largest glacier in the park and one of the most spectacular icefields in the entire world. One notable benefit of these popular refugios along the W is the presence of dedicated bars, which serve draught beer, basic cocktails, and even good hot food a la carte; even if you’re still cooking, they can be a fun place to socialise and grab a cold drink after a long day on the trail! There’s also an indoor cooking area for backpackers and a whole room of showers.

condor over paine grande on the trail near Lago Grey

Day 5: Grey to Paine Grande

Trail time: 3hrs
Distance: 13.5km
Elevation gain: +460m, -490m

Now sharing a trail with the popular 5-day W-Trek through the park (as well as day trippers from Pudeto), the route from Rifugio Grey to Paine Grande is busier than all of the previous days along the O-Circuit combined, and second-only to the final day (Base of the Towers) in terms of two-way foot traffic.

As the shortest day on the circuit, there’s ample time to visit the miradores (viewpoints) that overlook Glacier Grey, about 10min from camp— they may not compete with yesterday’s aerial view of the glacier, but it’s still worth seeing the blue ice bergs floating in a glacier lagoon!

Glacier Grey Miradores, amazing viewpoints near camp grey

Once on the trail, look back at receding views of Glacier Grey as you ascend gradually alongside the dramatic silhouette of Paine Grande. The day is split fairly evenly between ascent and descent, so under 2hrs from Rifugio Grey, the trail begins dropping all the way to Paine Grande. Expect to arrive quite early, but this is definitely the best refugio along the trail to kick back and relax, enjoy a cold beer, and mingle with other hikers (including those just doing the W)!

⛺️ Night 5: Refugio Paine Grande

Paine Grande is by far the largest refugio on the entire circuit, housing several hundred tents and providing extensive indoor lodging for hikers and over-nighters. Dinner is served buffet-style across multiple seatings to accommodate all the guests, but it still manages to be a hectic affair (thankfully, the food is VERY good). There are heaps of showers with hot water, a large indoor cooking area, and the most spacious bar on the trek (upstairs from the main dining), which serves draught beer, basic cocktails, pizza, and burgers. There’s a bit of a party vibe here, so come prepared for noise and lots of backpackers!

Hiking under los Cuernos towards camp Cuernos

Day 6: Paine Grande to Cuernos via Mirador Británico

Trail time: 9hrs
Distance: 23.5km
Elevation gain: +1070, -1030m

Possibly the most varied day on the entire trek, I loved watching the scenery transition from the misty shores of Lago Pehoé, to the dramatic glaciers of Valle Francés, to the rocky beach of Lago Nordenskjöld, and finally the beautiful lenga forests beneath Los Cuernos!

Take your first steps along the classic W-Trek this morning with a very gradual ascent along Lago Skottsberg (gaining just 250m over 7.5km) from Paine Grande to Guardería Italiano, a ranger station and now-defunct campsite at the base of Valle Francés. Detours into this scenic valley form the centre of the “W”, and it’s absolutely worth heading up to at least one of the two miradores!

The best view is from Mirador Británico (~5km, +700m from the junction), offering incredible views of the rocky cirque and its many glaciers.
For those short on time or energy, Mirador Francés is an easier option (2km, +300m from the junction), still with great views back over the valley and hanging glaciers.

view of the hanging glaciers at Mirador Valle Francés

French valley mountain views from Mirador Británico

After returning to Italiano, continue east along the shores of Lago Nordenskjöld, passing Camping Francés after 2km. This section of the hike features spectacular views of the shale-capped granite peaks of Los Cuernos, among the most iconic sites in all of Patagonia (‘The Horns’ in Spanish). Detour to the rocky beach below and dip your toes in the water before the final, tiny burst to Refugio Cuernos!

⛺️ Night 6: Refugio Cuernos

The best night on the circuit, this is a small but well-appointed campsite with fantastic views of Los Cuernos. The vibe is relaxed, the food is spectacular (they often serve salmon!), and the tent views are unbeatable. Wifi is available for purchase, plus hot food a la carte and bar drinks.

⛺️ ALTERNATIVE CAMPSITE FOR NIGHT 6: FRANCÉS

Cuernos is a spectacular campsite (when I brought a group of trekkers here in 2023, it was easily everyone’s favourite night of the hike!), but if you want to space out day 6/day 7 a bit better OR if all campsites are booked at Cuernos, you can easily swap for a night at Francés.

This shifts about 3.5km and less than 100m of elevation change from day 6 to day 7. Other than that, it has very little impact on the overall itinerary— both campsites are operated by Las Torres, both offer camping and dormitory accommodation inside the refugio, and overall ammenities are similar.

following the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld

Day 7: Cuernos to Chileno

Trail time: 5.5hrs
Distance: 12.5km
Elevation gain: +670m, -350m

The penultimate day of the O-Circuit begins gradually along the milky-blue shores of Lago Nordenskjöld, following a scenic and undulating path through windblown grasslands and lenga forest. With fewer crowds and wide-open views, this stretch is surprisingly peaceful considering its proximity to the park’s most famous site.

After ~7km, you’ll reach the turn-off to Central/Hotel Las Torres, where you’ll end the trek tomorrow. From here, begin the steady climb into the Valle Ascencio, gaining a majority of the day’s (very modest) elevation en route to the final campsite at Chileno, perched above the roaring Río Ascencio and surrounded by dramatic canyon walls and groves of twisted trees.

hiking up the Valle Ascencio towards Chileno

📸 MIRADOR LAS TORRES

Depending on timing, eager photographers can ascend to the viewpoint at the Base of Las Torres this afternoon AND tomorrow for sunrise— this is what I did the first time I hiked The W and it was incredible to see the Towers in 2 very different lighting conditions! Note that the trail to Las Torres closes at 4pm, so if you want to experience this viewpoint in the afternoon, you’ll need to make an EARLY start from Cuernos this morning. From Chileno, it takes 1.5-2hrs to ascend to the viewpoint and 1-1.5hrs to return to camp.

⛺️ Night 7: Rifugio Chileno

Since the closure of the free Campamento Torres (where I stayed the first time I completed the W, but which now functions as a ranger station), Chileno is the closest campsite to the iconic mirador at the base of Las Torres (just 1.5-2hrs, depending on pace). This is my second favourite campsite of the circuit— largely thanks to the steaming hot showers (you can’t beat this water pressure!), the great food, and the palpable energy. The indoor area is small but lively, packed with overnighting photographers and hikers at the final stage of their adventure, all excited to see Patagonia’s most coveted view.

Torres del Paine on fire at 7.30am (in March)

Day 8: Chileno to Central via Las Torres

Trail time: 5hrs
Distance: 13km
Elevation gain: +660m, -960m

The final day of the O-Circuit is all about the Torres del Paine (The Towers)— most hikers aim to reach the famous viewpoint at the base of Las Torres for sunrise, when soft alpenglow paints the granite spires an electric shade of orange. If skies are clear, it’s easily one of the most jaw-dropping views in the entire world and VERY worth the early wake-up.

To time it right, plan to leave Chileno between 4–5.30am depending on your pace and sunrise time, typically 6:30–7am in Patagonia’s summer months and closer to 7.30am in the shoulder season. The trail to Las Torres climbs steadily in the dark for 1.5–2hrs, so bring a headlamp and plenty of warm layers, but leave your big pack at the campsite below!

After about 1hr on a dirt trail (2.8km, +200m from Chileno), you’ll reach Guardaría Torres, a former campsite that currently serves as a ranger station. From here, the route steepens significantly and gains 300m in little over 1km, eventually transitioning to a boulder field and loose scree as you cover the remaining distance to the edge of Lago Torres.

It’s no wonder this is one of the most famous views in the world— seeing the early morning light hit the top of Las Torres is quite literally mind-blowing and easily one of my all-time favourite hiking moments. Heaps of day-hikers make the trip up to the Base of the Towers, but there’s really no feeling like seeing them at the end of 8 days on the trail. Soak it up!!

sunrise at Torres del Paine can be brutally cold– but so worth it!

the iconic towers illuminated at sunrise

📸 TIPS FOR HIKING TO LAS TORRES

– the hike from Chileno to Las Torres takes 1.5-2hrs (4km, +500m)
– the best lighting is right around sunrise, so get an early start— leave Chileno between 4–5.30am, depending on your pace and time of year
– it can be FREEZING at the mirador (especially if there’s wind), so bring all of your warm layers— a down jacket is 100% essential
– this is one of the most popular viewpoints in Patagonia, but it’s not just a single viewing platform— spread out in the boulder field (safely!) to get photos without other hikers & experiment with creative angles

When you’re ready, retrace your steps to Chileno, pack up camp, and hike 4km downhill to Central/Hotel Las Torres to catch the shuttle and bus back to Puerto Natales. The O-Circuit ends with a final look back at the massif you’ve just spent 8 days circling— dirty, tired, and wildly fulfilled!

What to expect on the trail

Campsites on the O-Circuit

Camping in Torres del Paine has changed a LOT since I first did this hike in 2014… all campsites on the O-Circuit now offer basic but decent amenities, including flush toilets, showers (though water pressure and temperature can vary), and a designated cooking shelter or indoor area for stove use, which is very clutch when cooking in that infamous Patagonia wind!

Most of these campsites are also attached to refugios where indoor accommodation is offered and hot meals are served (at a shocking premium). Several sites even offer wifi for purchase, usually by the hour, as well as some limited charging stations for electronics. In many ways, these upgrades have removed the wilderness element from the O-Circuit, but they’ve also made the trek more accessible for those without backcountry experience, so *shrug* this is where we are now.

Return to the booking section above for details about camping/refugio reservations

Navigation on the O-Circuit

A majority of the O-Circuit is very well-marked— you’ll find clear signage at trail junctions, often with distance markers, and enough regular foot traffic that it’s difficult to get off-route. The remote backside of the loop between Serón and Grey, however, CAN be more difficult, especially if there’s snow on the route to Paso John Garner.

I built a complete GPS map for the O-Circuit, with precise daily tracks based on this 8-day itinerary and trail notes at all relevant waypoints. Download the JSON or GPX file for offline use on the trail to ensure you’re always on-route!

trail markers at the start of the O-Circuit

Terrain on the O-Circuit

The terrain on the O-Circuit is diverse, endlessly scenic, but typically pretty mellow: you’ll cross everything from open pampa to dense lenga forest, alpine boulder fields, beachy lakeshores, and even a high mountain pass, but rarely will you leave a maintained trail.

There are no technical sections and few times you’re even on what I’d consider “terrain”— the route over Paso John Garner (especially if you get some weather), the boulder field leading to Las Torres (not more than 30min), and the miradores around Glacier Grey (side-trip without your full pack) are really the only areas that stand out as more challenging. Sturdy boots and trekking poles are a must, but you’ll spend most of your time hiking on lightly rocky or well-graded dirt trails!

the most challenging terrain of the O-Circuit is on Paso John Garner

pleasant terrain between Grey & Paine Grande, typical of the route

Wild weather in Patagonia

Far more than the physical trail stats or the terrain along the O-Circuit, it’s the wild, unpredictable Patagonia weather that makes this hike challenging. You can easily experience sun, rain, snow, and 100km/hr winds all in the same day, and even in the middle of summer, conditions can turn brutal without warning (especially at higher elevations or exposed sections of trail like Paso John Garner).

Pack for every season: a full waterproof shell, warm base layers, a down jacket, and gloves/beanie are essential. And even if you’ve never used trekking poles in your life, THIS is the time to start— sometimes poles are the only thing keeping you upright when the wind starts gusting and it can be downright dangerous to do the O-Circuit without them!

🏔️ Check out the full packing list: Complete W-Trek & O-Circuit packing list: what to pack for Patagonia’s best multi-day trek

Food & water access

Water is incredibly easy to access on the O-Circuit— you’ll cross fresh streams and glacier-fed rivers every few hours, and nearly all of it is clean enough to drink without filtering. This is one of the few long treks where water is never really a concern!

As for food, every campsite offers hot meals, usually booked in advance, and some have à la carte options like pizza, burgers, or pasta (especially at Paine Grande and Grey). You’ll also find mini-markets at several sites where you can buy beer, wine, snacks, and even fuel, though prices vary.

Vértice camps are considerably cheaper than those run by Las Torres Patagonia— you can score a pack of Oreos for 2,000CLP ($2), a stack of tortillas for 4,000CLP ($4), and a fuel canister for 5,000CLP ($5). I wouldn’t rely on these shops for your meals, but they can be a great way to supplement if you’re feeling munchy!

O-Circuit packing list

Check out my complete O-Circuit packing list for detailed descriptions of each item and more information about what I recommend packing!

Whether you’re here for the challenge, the solitude, or the sheer scale of Patagonia’s landscapes, the O-Circuit delivers in every possible way. I hope this guide helps you plan an epic adventure into the heart of Torres del Paine!

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TAGS:patagonia trail guides

brooke beyond

Hey, I'm Brooke and I'm obsessed with getting off the beaten path, exploring backcountry gems & travelling beyond the ordinary! I left Australia 5 years ago after finishing a PhD in Biomechanics & have been travelling the world full-time ever since (joined by my life/climbing partner, James). Whether it’s road-tripping through Mexico, climbing alpine peaks in the Andes, scuba diving in the Red Sea, or tackling epic via ferrata in the Dolomites, I hope this blog will inspire your future adventures & help you find wonder in every corner of the globe. xx bb