Chile · Torres del Paine

Base Torres

A full day from Torre Central to the lagoon under the three granite towers.

The hike The W Trek Patagonia

Torres del Paine

The hike to Mirador Base Torres

The trail starts in the Torre Central sector, on the eastern side of the park. From Hotel Las Torres, EcoCamp or the Welcome Center you walk up the Ascencio Valley, through lenga forest, past Refugio El Chileno, and then up a last stretch of rocky moraine to a glacial lagoon.

The three towers above the water are Torre Central, Torre Monzino and Torre d’Agostini. The round trip is around 21 kilometres / 13 miles, with about 1,023 metres / 3,356 feet of elevation gain. It usually takes eight hours. Some days run closer to ten.

The valley and forest are relatively gentle. The hard stretch is the final moraine. This is not a technical hike, but it is a long one. Weather in Torres del Paine can change quickly, and the distance should not be underestimated.

Field note

Starting from EcoCamp

We slept at EcoCamp, a few minutes from the start of the trail, and left between 08:30 and 09:00. That is the real advantage of staying in Torre Central the night before: you begin walking from the door. No transfer to time.

On the way up we stopped at Refugio El Chileno. At the viewpoint we sat down for lunch beside the lagoon, with the three towers in front of us. If I remember correctly, we were back at the hotel around 16:00–17:00.

A lot of hikers save Base Torres for the last day of the W. We did it first, while our legs were still fresh. On a day this long, that felt like the right decision.

Distance & time

Around 21 km / 13 miles return, with about 1,023 m / 3,356 ft of elevation gain. Plan for eight hours; closer to ten if you are slower or the weather turns.

A useful way to think about it: four to five hours up, three to four hours down. Published figures for the trail often sit somewhere between 19 and 22 km.

Difficulty

This is not a technical hike, but basic to moderate hiking experience is helpful. Proper footwear, suitable clothing and a good level of fitness still matter.

Several sections through the valley and forest are relatively gentle. The most challenging part comes during the final ascent across the rocky moraine leading to the viewpoint.

Where to start

Torre Central sector: Hotel Las Torres, EcoCamp, or the Welcome Center. EcoCamp sits very close to the beginning of the trail, which is why we could start walking without another transfer.

If you can, stay in that area the night before and the night after. Returning to Puerto Natales the same afternoon is possible, but you will feel the clock.

Season & guides

The self-guided season runs roughly October to April, on marked trails. Late spring and March are often a better balance than high summer: long enough days, fewer peak crowds than December–February.

In winter (May–September), a certified guide is required. Check CONAF for current trail status before you go.

Park tickets

Buy the park entrance on the official Pases Parques site.

If you are continuing on the W, overnight stays are split between two operators: Las Torres on the east and Vertice on the west. Book each sector separately. For peak dates, plan six months or more ahead.

This page is the day hike. The Journal article is the W as we actually walked it, from Santiago down to the park and out again, including Base Torres on the first hiking day.

Read Hiking the W Trek in Torres del Paine. For the wider region, start with Patagonia.