From January 1 2026, independent travellers will again be allowed to hike the
Torres del Paine Circuit, according to Conaf. Chile's forestry commission had, during December, placed a temporary ban on unguided hikers, while it monitored and improved safety protocols in the national park.
Park officials stress that independent does not mean unregulated. Hikers must comply with regulations such as booking campsites and refugios in advance; camping only at designated sites and fire bans and leave-no-trace rules. Rangers routinely check reservations on the trail, and hikers without valid bookings will be turned back.
The Torres del Paine Circuit, also known as the Macizo Paine Circuit, circles the Paine Massif. Remote sections, exposed mountain passes, and fast-changing, sometimes dangerous, weather are some of the challenges. The ban on independent hikers followed a blizzard in November 2025 that resulted in fatalities, injuries and evacuations.