The O Circuit in Torres del Paine - 2024/25 season
The O circuit in Torres del Paine National Park is an incredible hiking adventure. The scenery on the route is fantastic: turquoise lakes, waterfalls, bizarre mountains, stunning viewpoints, a massive glacier, and diverse wildlife. The route takes hikers to the highlights and off-the-beaten-track parts of the park. Backpacking in Torres del Paine you get a chance to explore one of the most beautiful places in South America. I could easily say that the O trek is one of our favorite long-distance treks in Patagonia.
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The route overview
- Distance - 120 km/74 miles.
- Required number of days - 7-8 days.
- Starting and finishing point - Central campsite (Laguna Amarga entrance).
- Highest point - John Gardner pass - 1220m/4000ft.
- Permits - no special permits are needed.
- Advanced campsite booking is required for the circuit.
- Accommodation - camping, refugios, hotels.
If you don't have enough time to do the O Circuit you can walk the W trek which takes 4-5 days or do a couple of day hikes in Torres del Paine.
Besides Torres del Paine there are plenty of other incredible National Parks to visit in Patagonia.
Booking the trek with a tour
You can join an organized small group O circuit trek if you don't want to hike independently. The company will plan your route and arrange accommodation, food, and transport.
Patagonia Full Circuit Trek - Torres del Paine National Park
We've created a Patagonia resource page to make your navigation on our site easier and quicker. There you can find all our posts dedicated to the region
What is the O Circuit?
The O trek is a circular hiking route around the Cordillera del Paine in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. The route includes the W trek and a remote route through the backside of the park. The circuit connects the popular areas and the remote parts of the park.
How difficult is the route?
It's a moderately difficult trekking route that goes through some remote areas of Torres del Paine National Park. The most challenging part of the O route is a 900-meter ascent to John Gardner Pass. It's not a high-altitude technical route only for experienced hikers but being in good physical shape and having previous hiking experience is advisable. On average, you walk 6-8 hours a day with a backpack.
How long is the O circuit?
The total distance of the O Circuit in Torres del Paine is 120 km/70 miles. You need between 7 and 9 days to complete the route.
Where does it start?
The O circuit starts at Hotel Las Torres (Central campsite). The nearest park entrance is Laguna Amarga. The circuit can be walked only counterclockwise (from the Central campsite to Serón to Dickson etc.).
Can you hike without a guide?
Yes, you can do the O circuit in Torres del Paine independently without a guide.
How to buy entrance tickets to Torres del Paine?
According to the official website, trekkers have to buy their tickets to Torres del Paine online.
The entrance fee for the O Circuit (more than 3 days in the park) is 44 500 CLP/50$US for adults and children over 12 years old. Children under 12 years old - free.
You can show your ticket on the screen of your mobile phone or print it.
Besides your entrance ticket, they check your accommodation bookings. You must have a spot booked for every night on the trek without it you won't be allowed to do the O circuit.
Torres del Paine Park rules
In the 2024/25 hiking season, the O circuit is open from the 1st of November.
Hikers are allowed to camp only at designated campsites. Wild camping is not allowed in the park.
Campsites on the route must be booked beforehand.
Take a printed/digital booking confirmation, a passport, and a migration card with you on the trek.
Open fires are not allowed in Torres del Paine.
Using a camping stove is only allowed at the campsites.
Drinking water can be found throughout the park (rivers, creeks, streams), and it's said to be of good quality. We didn't use any filters or purification.
If you're looking for adventurous and off-the-beaten-track things to do in Patagonia traveling the Carretera Austral might be just what you need. The southern route through Chilean Patagonia offers many exciting activities in the most beautiful corners of the region.
If you like hiking and wilderness you might enjoy exploring trekking routes in El Chalten, Argentina. There are several day hikes and multi-day routes that can be done independently.
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How to book the campsites on the trek?
The campsites on the O-trek belong to two different companies. Vertice Patagonia paid campsites: Dickson, Los Perros, Grey, and Paine Grande. Las Torres Patagonia paid campsites: Central, Serrón, Francés, Los Cuernos, and Chileno. Vertice Patagonia campsites are significantly cheaper than the Las Torres Patagonia campsites.
There used to be free campsites run by CONAF (the National Forest Corporation) but they were closed down and never reopened. There is no information if they'll be open again. For this reason, our suggested itinerary for the O Circuit includes only paid campsites.
| Vertice Patagonia campsites | Las Torres Patagonia campsites |
| Dickson | Central |
| Los Perros | Serón |
| Grey | Francés |
| Paine Grande | Los Cuernos |
| Chileno |
The campsites in Torres del Paine can be booked online through Vertice Patagonia, and Las Torres Patagonia websites. You have to have your booking confirmation printed or on your mobile to show at the park entrance.
Vertice Patagonia
All Vertice Patagonia campsites are open for online booking. Important! On the O Circuit, you can't book only Dickson, Perros, or Grey. These three campsites have to be booked together. In the 2024/25 hiking season
- Dickson campsite is open from 2nd November
- Los Perros - from 3rd November
- Grey - from 4th November
- Paine Grande - from 1st October
The circuit is open from the 1st of November but on the first night, you stay at the Seron campsite (Las Torres Patagonia).
Las Torres Patagonia
As of 27th of August Las Torres Patagonia campsites are open for online booking. According to their website in 2024
- Central campsite is open from 15th September
- Seron - from 1st November (the same day as the O Circuit)
- Frances - from 15th September
- Cuernos - from 1st November
- Chileno - from 1st October
The booking service (Booking Patagonia) doesn't seem to be working for the O route. In 2023 the official CONAF website recommended it for booking campsites but it is not there this year.
For more information check our post on the campsites in Torres del Paine. There you'll find updated information (2024/25 hiking season) on each campsite, a map of the campsites, booking tips, and more.
The map of the circuit
The O circuit in Torres del Paine - a 7-day itinerary
Day 1. Central Campsite - Serón campsite, 13 km/8 mi
Bus Puerto Natales - Laguna Amarga; bus Laguna Amarga - Central campsite (Hotel Las Torres), 3 hours. Central campsite - Serón campsite, 13 km/8 miles, 3 hours
Cost: bus Puerto Natales - Laguna Amarga - CLP 14 000/US$15, entrance fee - US$50, bus Laguna Amarga - Hotel Las Torres - CLP 5000/US$6 (one way), camping at Serón - US$80 (double occupancy), single occupancy - US$65.
Highlights
- Beautiful Patagonian scenery; mountains, forest, Paine River, guanacos, and many birds.
Challenges
- It would be an easy walk if it wasn't for heavy backpacks loaded with gear and food for 7 days.
7.00-7.30 - catch a bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park.
9.30-9.45 - get off at the first stop Laguna Amarga; register, and pay the entrance fee, get a map. Tip! Try to be among the first people at the office otherwise, you'll wait in a queue for a while.
10.00 - catch a bus to Hotel Las Torres. Confirm departure time at the office.
10.15 - get off the bus at Hotel Las Torres, the starting point of the O trek, and begin the walk towards the Serón campsite. Stop for lunch/snack at Las Torres or on the way.
13.30-14.00 - arrive at Serón campsite, pitch your tent, walk around, and chill.
Day 2. Serón campsite - Dickson campsite, 18 km/11 mi
Serón - Guarderia Coiron - Dickson campsite, 18km/11 miles, 6 hours
Cost: camping at Dickson - 8500 CLP/US$10 per person.
Highlights
- Our friends saw a puma in the morning just a few hundred meters from the campsite.
- Paine Lake
- Dickson Lake
Challenges
- Walking through an open windy area between Serón and Coirón.
7.00 - get up, make breakfast, and pack.
8.00 - start walking towards Dickson.
10.30 - arrive at Guardería Coirón - 8,5km. Here you show your permit (booking) and register in the park book. You can have lunch here - there are tables and benches.
11.00 - continue the walk to Dickson - 9,5km.
14.00 - arrive at Dickson campsite.
Day 3. Dickson campsite - Los Perros campsite, 12 km/7,4 mi
Dickson campsite - Los Perros campsite*, 12 km/7,4 miles, 4h30min.
*As I already explained in the paragraph about the campsite in Torres del Paine it's possible to book only 2 campsites together (Dickson and Los Perros). You can't book only Dickson or only Los Perros.
For the 2023/24 season, there is no information is the free Paso campsite will be open.
Cost: camping at Los Perros - 8500 CLP/US$10 per person.
Highlights
- Los Perros lake and glacier
Challenges
- An ascent from the Dickson campsite.
8.00 - Today you can take it easy it's a short walking day. You can get up later and enjoy breakfast, slowly pack, and start walking.
9.00-9.30 - start walking towards Los Perros campsite - 12km/7,4 miles, 4,5 hours. The ascent starts from Dickson and continues to Los Perros. It's not as steep and challenging as the next day's ascent over the John Garner Pass.
13.30-14.00 - arrive at Los Perros campsite. You have plenty of time to pitch your tent, make food, enjoy the scenery, and rest.
Day 4. Los Perros campsite - Grey campsite, 15 km/9,3 mi
Los Perros campsite - John Garner Pass - Paso campsite - Grey Campsite, 15 km/9,3 miles, 8-9 hours
Cost: camping at Grey campsite - 8500 CLP/US$10 per person.
Highlights
- Views of the Grey Glacier from John Garner Pass
- Grey Glacier
- Grey lake
- Suspension bridges
Challenges
- John Gardner pass - a steep and long ascent, about 900m
- A steep descent from Paso to Grey campsite
7.00 - get up, have breakfast, and pack. It's better to start early to arrive at the Paso checkpoint before 3 pm. Prepare gloves and beany - it's very windy on the top of the pass.
8.00 - start the ascent from Los Perros to John Garner pass - 900 m up.
10.30 - arrive at the top of John Garner Pass. Spend some time enjoying the view over the Grey Glacier.
11.00 - start descending to the Paso campsite.
13.00 - arrive at the Paso campsite. Rest, have snacks, and enjoy the views.
13.30 - continue walking towards the Grey campsite - 7 km/4,3 miles, 4 hours, a steep descent.
17.30 - arrive at the Grey campsite.
Day 5. Grey campsite - Francés campsite, 18,5 km/11,4 mi
Grey campsite - Paine Grande* - Italiano campsite - Frances campsite, 18,5 km/11,4 miles, 6,5 hours
*You can extend the suggested itinerary by one day and stay at Paine Grande. This way you'll split one day in two; Grey - Paine Grande (11 km/6,8 mi) and Paine Grande - Francés (7,5 km/4,6 mi). It might seem unnecessary but if you want to walk to the Mirador Britanico it's a better option. To walk to the Britanico viewpoint and back to the Francés campsite takes between 5 and 6 hours, 13 km with a very steep ascent.
Cost: camping at Francés campsite - US$80 (double occupancy), single occupancy - US$65.
Highlights
- Pehoé Lake
- Skotsberg lake
- French Valley
Challenges
- Several ascents and descents on the way from Grey to the Paine Grande campsite
7.00 - get up, make breakfast, and pack.
8.00 - start walking to the Paine Grande campsite - 11 km-6,8 mi, 3,5 hours.
11.30 - arrive at the Paine Grande campsite. Rest, have lunch/snack.
12.00 - continue walking toward the Italiano campsite, 5,5 km/3,4 mi, 2,5 hours.
14.30 - arrive at the Italiano campsite. Rest, continue walking towards the Francés campsite, 2 km/1,1 mi, 30 min.
15.00 - arrive at the Francés campsite.
Day 6. Francés campsite - Chileno campsite, 18,5 km/11,4 mi
Frances campsite - Los Cuernos - Chileno campsite*, 18,5 km/11,4 miles, 6 hours
The Chileno campsite is often fully booked months ahead. If it is not available for your dates you can camp at the Central campsite, it's about 14,5 km from the Francés.
Optional. In the morning before continuing to the Chileno campsite you can go up to Mirador Francés and maybe to Mirador Britanico. Leave your backpacks at the campsite and take only valuables. It's quite a walk, about 12 km return all the way but you can turn around at Mirador Francés which is about 6 km return. It's a steep ascent to the viewpoint.
Cost: camping at Chileno - US$80 (double occupancy), single occupancy - US$65.
Highlights
- Nordenskjold lake
Challenges
- Several ascents and descents on the way to the Chileno campsite
7.00 - get up, have breakfast, pack
8.00 - start walking to Los Cuernos - 5km, 2 hours.
10.00 - arrive at Los Cuernos, there is a shop and restaurant here, and you can stop for snacks and rest.
10.30 - start walking to Chileno campsite - 15km, 5,5 hours.
15.30 - arrive at Chileno, pitch a tent, walk around, and rest. If you want to see the sunrise at Mirador Las Torres better go to bed very early you'll have to get up at 4.00-5.00 to walk up in time.
Important!!! In the 2024/245 hiking season due to the high risk of forest fires, you're not allowed to use camping stoves at the Chileno campsite. You can buy ready-made food at the campsite restaurant, bring something that doesn't require cooking, or pre-cook your meals in advance at the previous campsite. Some people reported that they have a special area inside where they allow using camping stoves.
Day 7. Chileno campsite - Mirador Las Torres -Central campsite, 14 km/8,6 mi
Chileno campsite - Mirador Las Torres - Chileno campsite - Central campsite, 14 km/8,6 miles, 5h30min. Bus/ walk Central campsite - Laguna Amarga, 7 km, 2 hours. Bus Laguna Amarga - Puerto Natales, 2,5 hours
Cost: bus Hotel Las Torres - Laguna Amarga - CLP 5000/US$6, bus Laguna Amarga - Puerto Natales - CLP 14 000/US$15.
Highlights
- Sunrise at Las Torres - is one of the main highlights of the trek.
Challenges
- Very early get up
- A long and steep ascent to Mirador Las Torres
- A long and steep descent to the Central campsite
4.00-5.00 (depending on the sunrise time) - get up, and start going up to the Mirador - 4km, 2h15min. Leave your stuff at the campsite, and take only valuables and a camera.
6.15-7.15 - arrive at the Mirador. Enjoy the sunrise, walk around, take photos, and snack.
8.00 - start descending back to Chileno - 4km, 1h30min.
9.30 - arrive at Chileno, pack your stuff, and start going down to the Central campsite (Hotel Las Torres) - 5,5km, 1h30min.
11.00 - arrive at Hotel Las Torres, catch a bus to Laguna Amarga (confirm the departure time at the hotel), or walk - 7km, 2 hours.
14.00-14.30 - get on a bus from Laguna Amarga to Puerto Natales. Check the bus timetable at the park office.
16.30-17.00 - arrive in Puerto Natales.
The cost of the O trek
Transport. Bus Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine - CLP 28 000/US$30, return. Bus Hotel Las Torres - Laguna Amarga, return - CLP 10 000/US$12, return.
Entrance fee. US$50
Accommodation
Camping with your gear - US$153 (6 nights) per person (double occupancy). 3 nights at Vertice Patagonia campsites (3xUS$11); 3 nights at Las Torres campsites (3xUS$40). For single occupancy add US$75 extra, a single occupancy supplement in Las Torres campsites is US$25 per night.
If you stay in fully-equipped tents or refugios you'll pay between US$90 and US$120 per person per night. Full-board (3 meals) stay is even more expensive.
Food
Cooking - between US$8-10 per day per person. You can book a full board meal plan (breakfast, box lunch, and dinner) for US$110 pp. at Las Torres campsites and for 88 000 CLP/US$95 pp. at the Vetrice campsites. You can buy separate meals or sandwiches and snacks at most campsites. Meals at Las Torres campsites are more expensive than at Vertice Patagonia campsites.
Gear rental (optional)
To rent camping gear in Puerto Natales costs
- a 2-men tent - 10 000 CLP/US$11 per day
- a sleeping bag - 7 000 CLP/US$8 per day
- a camping mat - 5000 CLP/US$5 per day
To rent camping gear in Torres del Paine
- a 2-men tent - US$44 (Vertice) and US$55 (Las Torres) per night
- a sleeping bag - US$28 (Vertice) and US$35 (Las Torres) per night
- a camping mat - US$12 (Vertice and Las Torres) per night
A good thing about renting camping gear at the campsites is that you don't carry it with you from place to place, which makes your backpack much lighter.
Total: the most budget hiking option for the O Circuit (camping with your gear, cooking for yourself) - US$315 (+US$40 for extras) per person for a 7-day trek.
How to get to the O trek?
The O circuit starts at Hotel Las Torres (Laguna Amarga entrance), to get there from Puerto Natales;
Step 1. Take a bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine (Laguna Amarga). It takes about 2 hours. Price CLP 14 000/US$15 one way.
| Bus Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine | Bus 1 | Bus 2 |
| Leaves Puerto Natales bus station | 7 am | 12 pm |
| Arrives at Laguna Amarga | 9 am | 2 pm |
- Buses are operated by Bus Sur.
Step 2. Get off at the Laguna Amarga entrance.
Step 3. Take another bus from Laguna Amarga to Hotel Las Torres (the starting point of the O), the departure time is linked to buses from Puerto Natales. Price CLP 5000/US$6, one way, takes 10 min. As an option, you can walk this stretch, about 7km, 2 hours.
Getting back from Torres del Paine (Hotel Las Torres) to Puerto Natales
Step 1. Take a shuttle bus from Hotel Las Torres to Laguna Amarga - CLP 5000/US$6 or walk this stretch. Check for departure time at the hotel reception.
Step 2. Take a bus from Laguna Amarga to Puerto Natales - CLP 14 000/US$15
| Bus Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales | Bus 1 | Bus 2 |
| Leaves Laguna Amarga | 3.00 pm | 8.15 pm |
| Arrives in Puerto Natales | 5.00 pm | 9.30 pm |
- Buses are operated by Bus Sur
You can find more information on transportation to the park in our post on how to get to Torres del Paine.
The best time for hiking Torres del Paine
In the 2024/25 season, the O circuit is open from 1st November to 31st March. You have a 5-month period to decide when is the best time to visit Torres del Paine.
Patagonian summer from December to February is the warmest time with maximum day temperatures averaging 20°C and night temperatures between 9°C and 12°C. November, December, and January get quite a lot of wind - the biggest problem for hiking and camping in Patagonia. February is the least windy summer month. It's the same with rain out of all summer months February gets the least rainfall.
From the weather point of view, February is one of the best months for trekking in Torres del Paine. The main drawback of hiking in February - the parks are crowded, it's one of the busiest months for the park with most visitors coming here. It means you must book campsites long in advance to make sure you get a spot on planned dates. If the campsites on the route are fully booked you can do one of the alternative multi-day treks in Patagonia e.g. Cerro Castillo Circuit or hike to O'Higgins Glacier if you want to explore a more off-the-beaten-path route.
Where to buy dehydrated meals for the O circuit?
If you like taking dehydrated meals on your multi-day hikes you can buy them in Puerto Natales. There is a gear rental shop called Rental Natales. They sell dehydrated meals of the Back Country Cuisine brand. The price is US$16 per meal (two servings). They have quite a variety of meals.
You might find dried fruit and nuts in Unimarc and Super Mix supermarkets.
Where to stay before the trek?
Puerto Natales is probably the best place to be based before and after the trek. It's the closest town to the park, tourist infrastructure here is quite good - many hotels and hostels, a couple of gear shops, rental places, restaurants, tour companies, and one or two supermarkets. You can get there by bus or hitchhiking from different places in Patagonia.
In Puerto Natales, you can find hotels, hostels, campsites, restaurants, supermarkets, gear rental places, pharmacies, ATMs, and an information office.
- Budget | Hostel 53 Sur | Xalpen B&B |
- Middle price | Hostal Treehouse Patagonia | Wild Hostel |
- Luxury | Toore Patagonia | Weskar Lodge |
We have a detailed post on hiking and camping gear for Patagonia where you can find more information.
Recommended books and guidebooks
In the last couple of years regulations in Torres del Paine changed a lot if you buy a trekking guide make sure it's an updated edition.
If you prefer reading e-books don't hesitate to join Amazon Kindle Unlimited to get access to thousands of e-books and audiobooks. Even if you don't have a Kindle device you can read or listen to books on your phone or tablet using a free app. The first 30 days are free.
- Lonely Planet Chile & Easter Island (Travel Guide). Kindle and paperback.
- Classic Hikes of the World; 23 Breathtaking treks by Peter Potterfield. To get some inspiration for future adventures. Hardcover.
- Patagonia on a budget by Matthew Morgante. How to travel Patagonia on US$30 a day. Kindle.
- Chile: Carretera Austral: A guide to one of the world's most scenic road trips (Bradt Travel Guides). Paperback & Kindle.
- Walking Patagonia by Caspian Ray. Don't expect a hiking guide, it's a fiction story about a young guy who went to Patagonia in search of adventure and love.
- To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins. Paperback, Kindle & Audiobook.
Questions or Comments?
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
Hi Alya and Campbell,
thanks for all the information about the O circuit. I was wondering, we would like to camp and bring our own food, but if weather is bad I know it will just be a bit too much of cold and wind especially for my wife. I suppose the "quinchos" where you can cook your own food aren't very warm either? Will they let you stay at the restaurant to warm up if you eat your own food? To know that would be quite helpful for us to decide if the O circuit is for us or not.
Thanks,
Christian
Hello Christian. Thank you for the comment. I don't think you'll be allowed to sit in a restaurant at one of the campsites eating your own food. Maybe at some that are pretty big where it's difficult to spot who is a customer and who is not like at Paine Grande. The restaurants at the campsites in the northern part of the O Circuit e.g. Dickson or Serron are pretty small I don't think there will be space for you just to sit as they are usually full with people eating. You can always buy a cup of coffee or a cool drink I'm sure nobody will mind you sitting inside then. It depends as well on the time if it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner time there will be probably no space but outside of these times, you can get a spot. It will depend on the month as well if you do the O trek in the peak season (December to February) it might be more difficult outside these months it might be more flexible.
Good luck
Great blog post. We are thinking on going in November this year. We wondered whether there is anywhere to stop on the O trek for a rest day - either in a hotel (there may be one on the W side?) or somewhere with an activities like kayaking? Just to break the hiking up abit. Thanks.
Hello Helen. Thank you for the comment. I think staying at the Grey campsite for an extra day is worth it. It's halfway on the O circuit you can have a break in the middle. You can do a catamaran cruise to Grey Glacier from there. And the views of the glacier and the lake from the campsite are quite impressive. There is no hotel there but a Refugio with dormitories. If you want private indoor accommodation the only options on the O circuit are mountain cabins at the Cuernos campsite and Hotel Las Torres at the Central campsite. I don't know of kayaking tours in Torres del Paine. All tours I've seen are hiking, horseriding, and cruising.
Good luck
Hi!
Thank you so much for you excellent and detailed posts - a big help in planning!
We are planning to independently do the O trek at a reasonable cost. One of my concerns is the amount of wind that is noted. I have an MSR Hubba Hubba NX three season tent (a not inexpensive tent which I think is capable of a reasonable amount but I have read the wind can hit 100 kmph...). I was wondering if you think that will be good enough / if people do the trek with relatively cheap tents at all?
Thanks so much again for this bible!
Akash
Hello Akash. Thank you for the comment. We have the same Hubba Hubba tent and it's a pretty solid tent I'm sure you'll be fine camping in it on the O Circuit. We did the O trek with a cheap tent that we bought for 30US$ somewhere in Peru. We camped in it for 2 months in Patagonia and somehow it made it through. If it's a windy day try to find a camping spot that is better protected e.g. next to a rock, between the trees, etc.
Good luck
Hello Akash. Thank you for the comment. We have the same Hubba Hubba tent and it's a pretty solid tent I'm sure you'll be fine camping in it on the O Circuit. We did the O trek with a cheap tent that we bought for 30US$ somewhere in Peru. We camped in it for 2 months in Patagonia and somehow it made it through. If it's a windy day try to find a camping spot that is better protected e.g. next to a rock, between the trees, etc.
Good luck
hi, great detailed itinerary as I am starting to plan for 2023! I came across the booking website in my research which allows you to book the accommodations, bus and entry all in one place vs coordinating the 2 or 3 different websites. There is a service fee of 15%. Have you heard of any feedback, pro's (obviously convenient!) and cons on this platform?
Hello Karen. Thank you for the comment. I have never heard of the booking site that you mention. I checked it and the website is very new I'm not sure how legit it is. I'd rather book campsites on the O Circuit directly with the companies (Vertice and Fantastico). The entrance ticket to Torres del Paine can be purchased at the gate or online. Most hostels and hotels sell bus tickets from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine it's not a problem to buy them. I'd rather spend more time and book everything myself than arrive there and find out that something is wrong.
Good luck
@Stingy Nomads, thats true. I found the site btw on the official parquetorresdelpaine.cf site so i think its legit but as you say, new and could have kinks to work out. Thanks for the speedy advice!
Hi Alya and Campbell
Many thanks for this and your article on the Carretera Austral - a fantastic help for planning.
I'm going to do the Carretera and then hop over for Torres and Ushuaia - I've got a touch over 6 weeks in Jan/Feb 2023. I've done the W a couple of times, but I'm super pumped to be doing to O this time. Just such beautiful scenery in many parts of Patagonia, after 2.5 years without travel I can't wait to get back.
For anyone else planning for later this year or next, bookings are now open - although I couldn't use the Torres Hike website (it kept telling me at the very last stage they can't accept payments at the moment), but I was able to book direct through the Vertice and Fantastico Sur websites. For some reason I wasn't able to book full board at Cerron and Frances (I know that's cheating, but I figure that at over 50 I need all the help I can get), so I've sent an email to Fantastico Sur asking if that's likely to change and will try to update here if I get a response.
So not really any questions from me at this stage, just a huge thanks and some info for others that might come across some of the same issues.
Cheers
Mark
Hello Mark. Thank you very much for your comment with a lot of details. It's good to know that bookings for the coming season are open. I'm sure you'll enjoy the O Circuit it's one of our favorite hiking routes in South America. I'm sure Fantastico Sur will be able to add the full board to your booking. Please, keep us updated about your progress.
All the best
Your info is fantastic... and so helpful! Thank you.
Being South African and now able to travel, my wife and I hope to spend over 3 weeks in Chile in December really exploring. We do have time for the O Circuit; we are wondering if you feel it is worth doing the full O vs the W circuit. I have read lots about the quietness over the extra days, and that both are beautiful.. but would you say it is worth it from an experience and scenery point of view (and extra cost and time)?
Hello, Jonathan. Thank you for the comment. I think you should rather do the W trek and save a couple of days to visit more places in Chile. You can see all the highlights of Torres del Paine on the W route jut make sure to go up to one of the Grey Glacier viewpoints (suspension bridges) to see the glacier from the top it's very impressive. We had 3 months in Chile and still felt that there were many places we didn't have time to visit.
Good luck
Relied heavily on your blog for my recent Camino Norte adventure. So relieved to see that I can follow your advice again for this one. Thanks so much
Hello, Lisa. Thank you very much for the comment. If you have any questions regarding the O Circuit don't hesitate to ask.
Cheers
Hi;
We are starting the O trek March 13 this year.
On February 1 the Chilean government wants foreigners to report via the internet fo 7 days after arrival. Two of the campsites on the trek will not have internet.
The fines for not reporting are huge!
Any idea how to solve this problem?
Ronald
Hello, Ronald. I'd suggest contacting the campsites they might have Internet for personal use to connect with the main office, etc. Maybe they'll let you connect to it. Otherwise, ask on arrival in Chile and see what they suggest. As far as I remember people in Chile even officials are quite helpful. Unfortunately, it's all I can suggest as we've never been in this situation. Hopefully, they change it by March.
Good luck!
Another great guide. Just a quick one regarding the bus from Puerto Natales to the park. i am not sure what destination to go to? The Bus Sur has different options:- 1. Pudeto (catamaran), 2. Paradero Administracion and 3. Laguna Amarga
I have purchased a an entry to the Park online already on the Conaf website - I am not sure if this has any bearing whatsoever on where I need to get a ticket to!
Any advice much appreciated 🙂 x
Hello, Natalie. Thank you for the comment. If you're going to hike the O circuit it starts at Hotel Las Torres/Campamento Central the closest part entrance is Laguna Amarga, about 7 km away. From Laguna Amarga, you can walk or take another bus to Hotel Las Torres, it's a 10-minute drive. You can buy your ticket on the bus.
Good luck
Hello both,
Great guide but I wondered if you had any advice on how much food (and what food exactly) to take for a week?
Also where is best to stock up before?
My partner and I can share the load between us.
Finally, is there anywhere to leave other belongings that we will need for the rest of our time in Chile but not necessarily for the trek?
Thanks in advance,
Andrew
Hello, Andrew. What to take on the O circuit depends on what you eat I don't know if you're a vegetarian or vegan. For breakfast we ate 3 packs of flavored instant oats between two people; for lunch, we never cooked we usually had nuts, dry fruit, and power bars; for dinner we made pasta or 2 packs of instant noodles with a can of tuna and a sachet of tomato sauce. As an option instead of pasta and tuna, you can pack dehydrated hiking meals. You probably can buy them at some outdoor stores in Puerto Natales or bring them with you from your country. They're quite a bit more expensive but weigh less and have many different flavors. We had enough tea bags/coffee sachets to have a hot drink twice a day for breakfast and dinner with a chocolate bar or a pack of cookies. All paid campsites on the circuit have a small shop and a restaurant where you can buy food as well.
Puerto Natales is the closest to Torres del Paine town. It's the best place to stock on food.
You can leave your extra luggage at your hotel/hostel where you're going to stay before and after the trek. Usually, they don't mind and have a special room where they store luggage.
Cheers
@Stingy Nomads,
Very helpful, thank you.
Hi Guys
First of all great source of all sorts of information.
I am planning to do O trek in couple of years but just trying to get some basic information. I have read in different places that for O trek you need to have guide or somebody to carry/prepare food for you etc. Is this all true? Is there a good official place of what are the requirements for O trek?
Hello, Dominik. Thank you for the comment. The O trek can be walked independently. It's not required to have a guide or a porter. The only time you need a guide for hiking in Torres del Paine is during the winter season (usually from 1st May to 31st September) but the O trek is closed for the off-season anyway. There is an official website of the park https://parquetorresdelpaine.cl/en/home/ but its English version is still in progress you can find info only in Spanish (you can use Google translate to convert it into English).
Cheers
@Stingy Nomads, Thanks for the info. Well i still have some time to work on my fitness and little boy to grow a bit older so i dont feel guilty by leaving him with his mam for 2 weeks or so 🙂 ...and congratulations on the baby...not sure when he.she arrived exactly. I have been sleepy 2 yrs straight 🙂
Thanks! Yeh, it's difficult to be a solo parent with a young child! Our girl was born in August, still early days.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
@Stingy Nomads, Amazing, congratulations again. This is a whole different journey 😉 Happy Christmas to You and everyone out there
@Dominik,
No, you do not need a guide to trek the O circuit. You can carry your own food and cook it in the cooking areas at each camp. Most camps/refugios have food and snacks you can buy including beer and wine! Most have meals you can buy but are very expensive, $29 for dinner, $17 for lunch.
Hi,
Thanks so much for such a detailed post. Lots of great information. I had a question regarding booking campsites via Vertice Patagonia. I am able to pick the dates/campsites that I want, but when I get to the actual page where I'm supposed to pay, I try to click on the PayPal link and a small pop up appears then disappears and I never get the chance to pay. I've tried disabling all pop-up blockers, tried all different browser, restarted my computer. Still won't work. Did you all encounter this? And if so, what was the fix?
Thanks!
Hello, Walker. Thank you for the comment. We have never tried to pay through PayPal we always use a credit card for booking. I'd recommend contacting Vertice Patagonia directly to find out what's the problem.
Good luck
@Stingy Nomads,
Great, thanks for getting back to me. For one reason or another I can't even click on the credit card button. I'll contact them.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for so many details. Is there a good company that arranges the accommodations for a self-guided Trek on the "O" circuit?
Hello, Pavankumar. Thank you for the comment. The best is to contact two companies (Las Torres Patagonia and Vertice Patagonia) that run accommodation on the O Circuit directly. You can book any accommodation (campsites, hostels, cabins) through their websites without any extra commission.
Cheers
Gee I didn't realise if you go with an organised tour, they transfer your pack between campsites / accommodation. I assumed you carried everything all day. Super helpful knowing that thanks 🙂
Hello, Jodie. Thank you for the comment. Usually (depending on a tour), if you do it with a tour they arrange everything including transportation of your camping gear and food (the heaviest stuff) from campsite to campsite. You still have to carry a pack with personal items. The tour that we recommend in the post does include luggage transfer.
Cheers
Hey Stingy Folks
Im exploring your recommendation to do the full O and just day hike the cerro Castillo! In November the Chileno Site is closed, so we will have to camp at Central. Is Paso site open? I have emailed them but have no response!
Hi, Matt. It doesn't look like the free campsites can be booked so I'm not sure when and if they're going to open for this coming season. I wouldn't bargain on them. Maybe it will be better to book paid campsites for the entire O circuit. You could change our itinerary to the following: Puerto Natales - Seron - Dickson - Los Perros - El Grey - Frances - Central- Puerto Natales. I checked all these campsites can be booked for November. I hope it helps. It's always been difficult to book CONAF campsites but now it doesn't even look like it's possible.
Cheers
I understand it is possible to drop of the backpack at Camp Italiano (to walk up to Mirador Frances lightweigthed).
Question: is it also common/ possible to leave your backback if you don't sleep at Italiano (i.e. walk 30 min further and stay at Camp Frances)?
Also: according to my gps section Day 6; Italiano campsite – Chileno campsite, is not 21km but more like 17,5 km.
Am I missing something?
Furthermore: Thank you for the excellent and very informative guide.
gr. J-P
Hello. Thank you for the comment.
Theoretically, you can drop your backpack at the ranger's office at Italiano Camp but nobody will really look after it. There were several backpacks left there when we did the trek I guess it's normal practice. I'd just recommend taking valuables like a camera, mobile phone, documents, etc. with you.
After arriving at Chileno Campsite we walked to the Mirador Los Torres, which is about 4 km return, maybe that's where the extra 4 km come from.
Good luck with your planning!
Thank you so much for this useful information!I've planned to do the O Circuit in december '21. As I understood it well, it seems the 4th night it is only possible to stay at a free camping site (paso). Which means there is no restaurant or other way to get food?
Hello, Caroline. Thank you for the comment. Yes, you'll have to stop at Paso (a free campsite) which is quite basic and doesn't have any restaurant/shop. You always can order a lunch box or buy takeaway sandwiches at the paid campsite you'll be staying at the night before (Dickson or Los Perros). Sometimes you have to preorder food at campsites. I'd suggest finding out about takeaway food options when you book a spot. Maybe you could change the itinerary and walk from Dickson to Los Perros, stay there overnight, and from there walk all the way to Grey campsite skipping Paso. When we walked the O circuit it wasn't allowed to skip a campsite but we tried to stay at free campsites where it was possible. All three campsites (Dickson, Los Perros, and Grey) are run by Vertise Patagonia. I'm sure if you contact them via e-mail or chat they'll be able to clarify it for you.
Cheers
Thank you! This is a wealth of information. I don't believe I've seen such in depth trail info.
I hope to do the trail either January/February 2022. Your link to book paid campsites brought me to tour groups. I'm a solo hiker that enjoys hiking alone. I'll continue my search on how to make a campsite reservation. I liked your 7 day plan. You make it easy for us to plan.
Is the campsite restaurant food good? Maybe I'll plan to cook half my dinners if so.
Thanks again
Hello, John. Thank you for the comment! I'm not sure why the links open tour groups for you. If I go to the "How to book campsites on the O Circuit" section and click on Vertice Patagonia or Fantastico Sur links it opens their websites. You can book campsites through them. On the Fantastico Sur site click on the "book now" button on the top right to book campsites or other accommodation along the O Circuit. On the Vertice Patagonia website click on the Accommodation button and it'll open a page with different campsites along the route.
Food at campsites is quite pricy. We cooked our own meals and a couple of times drank coffee or ate pastry at campsites. The meals looked quite good though. You can see the prices of breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Vertice and Fantastico Sur websites. Breakfast is between 16 and 21USD, box lunch 17-26, dinner 30-35.
I hope it helps!
Cheers
@Stingy Nomads, Thank you! You Rock!!!
@Stingy Nomads,
Is there any advantage in booking the meals in advance?
Hello, Alex. We didn't buy meals at any campsite on the O Circuit, we cooked our own food. I don't think there is any advantage of booking your meals ahead unless you want everything to be arranged ahead. The paid campsites have restaurants I'm sure they'll be able to prepare a meal for you without an advanced booking. I believe you can book and pay for your meals when you check-in at the campsite e.g. at Vertice Patagonia campsites you have to preorder dinner before 5 pm. They sell sandwiches as well as some lighter meal options you can decide what you want to eat once you're there.
Cheers
Hi there! I am wanting to plan a trip the last half of December of this year. I know due to COVID international travel is not allowed right now. I would still like to book things in hope it will open back up by then. Is it too late to try and book campsites for this December? Will everything likely be full?
Thanks!!
Hello. December is not the peak season for the O circuit in Torres del Paine even in normal years you would be able to book campsites a couple of months in advance. I don't think booking for the 2021-22 season is open yet. I'd suggest every once in a while checking Fantastico Sur and Vertice Patagonia websites. As soon as they start accepting bookings for the coming season you can book your campsites.
Cheers
Really nice job putting this together! I will use all of it planning my trip
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