Torres del Paine

Rudolf Abraham was born in London and began travelling at an early age in the UK, France and Spain, eventually settling in New Zealand for 10 years. Since graduating in 1995 he has travelled extensively in eastern Turkey, the south Caucasus, Iran and the Central Asian republics, the history, culture and languages of which remain his primary interest. He lived in Croatia from 1999 to 2001, working as an English teacher in Zagreb, and has made numerous trips into the mountains of Croatia and Slovenia. He has contributed introductions to books on Central Asia, Armenia and Afghanistan.

Map key

Overview map

Torres del Paine national park

Location of routes

Introduction

Geography and geology

Climate

Wildlife and plants

History and culture

Early exploration and mountaineering

Getting to Chile

Transport within Chile

Agencies and tour operators

Visas and arrival

Accommodation

Language

Food and drink

Money and costs

Keeping in touch

Safety

About this guide

Trekking in Torres del Paine national park

Refugios, campsites and hotels

Transport to and around the park

Maps

Equipment

Low-impact trekking

What to do in an emergency

Torres del Paine national park, Chile

Walk 1 Torres del Paine circuit (the ‘O')

Stage 1 CONAF Administración - Refugio Paine Grande

Stage 2 Refugio Paine Grande - Campamento Italiano

Stage 3 Campamento Italiano - Valle Franc&##xe9;s (return)

Stage 4 Campamento Italiano - Refugio Las Torres

Stage 5 Refugio Las Torres - Campamento Torres

Stage 6 Campamento Torres - Mirador Las Torres (return)

Stage 7 Campamento Torres - Campamento Japon&##xe9;s (return)

Stage 8 Campamento Torres - Refugio Las Torres

Stage 9 Refugio Las Torres - Campamento Serón

Stage 10 Campamento Serón - Refugio Dickson

Stage 11 Refugio Dickson - Campamento Los Perros

Stage 12 Campamento Los Perros - Campamento Paso

Stage 13 Campamento Paso - Refugio Grey

Stage 14 Refugio Grey - Refugio Paine Grande

Walk 2 Torres del Paine half-circuit (the ‘W')

Stage 1 Refugio Las Torres - Mirador Las Torres (return)

Stage 2 Refugio Las Torres - Campamento Italiano

Stage 3 Campamento Italiano - Valle Franc&##xe9;s (return)

Stage 4 Campamento Italiano - Refugio Grey

Stage 5 Refugio Grey - Refugio Paine Grande

Walk 3 Salto Grande and Mirador Los Cuernos

Walk 4 Puente Weber

Walk 5 Mirador Lago Toro and Laguna Verde

Walk 6 Mirador Cóndor

Walk 7 Río Pingo and Mirador Zapata

Stage 1 Guardería Lago Grey - Campamento Zapata

Stage 2 Campamento Zapata - Mirador Zapata (return)

Stage 3 Campamento Zapata - Guardería Lago Grey



Other walks within the national park

Laguna Amarga - Portería Sarmiento

Laguna Azul and trail to Lago Dickson



Excursions from Puerto Natales

Excursion 1 Cueva del Milodón

Excursion 2 Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers

(Bernard O'Higgins national park)

Excursion 3 Sierra Baguales

Los Glaciares national park, Argentina

Excursion from El Calafate

Excursion 4 Perito Moreno glacier

Walk 8 Cerro Fitzroy (El Chalt&##xe9;n) and Cerro Torre

Stage 1 El Chalt&##xe9;n - Campamento Agostini

Stage 2 Campamento Agostini - Campamento Poincenot

Stage 3 Campamento Poincenot - Laguna de los Tres (return)

Stage 4 Campamento Poincenot - Laguna Piedas Blancas (return)

Stage 5 Campamento Poincenot - El Chalt&##xe9;n



Appendix A Gateway towns and cities

Appendix B Accommodation within Torres del Paine national park

Appendix C Language notes and glossary

Appendix D Contacts and online resources



Appendix E Further reading