ACCOMMODATION
GUIDE
DICKSON REFUGIO
PAINE MASSIF
The Circuit Trek
The Torres del Paine Circuit circumnavigates one of the world's most spectacular mountain ranges. The Paine Massif, jagged and glacier encrusted, rises abruptly from Patagonia's vast flat pampas to a height of some 3200 metres
This is a campground-to-campground guide to hiking the Circuit anticlockwise, including side treks to The Towers and The French Valley. (Distances and hiking times are approximate.)
Torres Central to Camp Séron
9 km, 4 hrs
Easy trekking across pampas and bogland. Camp Seron is a manned campsite with a small shop. Sleeping bags, mats and tents can be hired here.
Easy trekking across pampas and bogland. Camp Seron is a manned campsite with a small shop. Sleeping bags, mats and tents can be hired here.
Camp Séron to Refuguio Dickson
18 km, 8 hrs
Still quite flat, the trail crosses fields of wildflowers and more bogs. At around the halfway point, the trail starts to climb slowly into the Paine Massif. Dickson Refugio's setting is one of the best in Torres del Paine National Park, with a glacier on one side and mountain tips on the other.
Facilities include a campground, a shop and a refugio with dorm rooms.
Still quite flat, the trail crosses fields of wildflowers and more bogs. At around the halfway point, the trail starts to climb slowly into the Paine Massif. Dickson Refugio's setting is one of the best in Torres del Paine National Park, with a glacier on one side and mountain tips on the other.
Facilities include a campground, a shop and a refugio with dorm rooms.
Refugio Dickson to Camp Los Perros
11.6 km, 4.5 hrs
Dense alpine woodland and fast-flowing glacial rivers replace pampas and bog as the trek climbs to Los Perros Glacier and campground. Camp Los Perros is a manned campsite run by Vertice Patagonia. In theory, you can hire tents here. There are cold showers too.
Dense alpine woodland and fast-flowing glacial rivers replace pampas and bog as the trek climbs to Los Perros Glacier and campground. Camp Los Perros is a manned campsite run by Vertice Patagonia. In theory, you can hire tents here. There are cold showers too.
Camp Los Perros to Refugio Grey
17 km, 8 to 10 hrs
A climb now takes you to the John Gardner Pass and views of the the magnificent Patagonian Ice Field at an altitude of some 1200 metres, an altitude gain of about 700 metres. This is a long and exposed day's hike, with nowhere to camp or lodge until you get to Refugio Grey.
The descent, steep and muddy, plunges through alpine woodland, followed by a slow descent to Refugio Grey.
A climb now takes you to the John Gardner Pass and views of the the magnificent Patagonian Ice Field at an altitude of some 1200 metres, an altitude gain of about 700 metres. This is a long and exposed day's hike, with nowhere to camp or lodge until you get to Refugio Grey.
The descent, steep and muddy, plunges through alpine woodland, followed by a slow descent to Refugio Grey.
Refugio Gray to Paine Grande Mountain Lodge
11 km, 4 hrs
An easy undulating hike to Paine Grande Mountain Lodge, a very big, but not very attractive, refugio/hotel by Lago Pehoe. Facilities are plentiful though. They include hot showers, rooms, a restaurant and internet access. The Lodge also has excellent views of Pehoe Lake.
An easy undulating hike to Paine Grande Mountain Lodge, a very big, but not very attractive, refugio/hotel by Lago Pehoe. Facilities are plentiful though. They include hot showers, rooms, a restaurant and internet access. The Lodge also has excellent views of Pehoe Lake.
Paine Grande to Camp Italiano
2.5 hrs (7.6 km)
The landscape now changes as the trail heads along the shores of Torres del Paine's aquamarine lakes. Camp Italiano is a free campsite set in woodland. In 2025 it is closed, but you may be able to leave your luggage here while you hike to the French Valley. Listen out for the calving glaciers of the the French Valley above you.
The landscape now changes as the trail heads along the shores of Torres del Paine's aquamarine lakes. Camp Italiano is a free campsite set in woodland. In 2025 it is closed, but you may be able to leave your luggage here while you hike to the French Valley. Listen out for the calving glaciers of the the French Valley above you.
Camp Italiano to French Valley Mirador
1.5 hrs (3.7 km)
A challenging 800m climb takes you to the spectacular French Valley, a hidden granite cirque complete with hanging glaciers.
A challenging 800m climb takes you to the spectacular French Valley, a hidden granite cirque complete with hanging glaciers.
Camp Italiano To Domo Francés
30 min hr (2km)
A moderately difficult hike with some steep and muddy sections.
A moderately difficult hike with some steep and muddy sections.
Domo Francés to Los Cuernos
2 hrs (3.5 km)
Once out of the The French Valley, the trail follows the shores of Lago Nordenskjold, with Paine Massif to your left, until you get to Refugio Los Cuernos, run by Las Torres.
Facilities include standalone lodges, a restaurant, hot showers, a campsite, a store, shared rooms and a hot tub with a view.
Once out of the The French Valley, the trail follows the shores of Lago Nordenskjold, with Paine Massif to your left, until you get to Refugio Los Cuernos, run by Las Torres.
Facilities include standalone lodges, a restaurant, hot showers, a campsite, a store, shared rooms and a hot tub with a view.
Refugio Los Cuernos to Refugio Torres Central and Norte
4 hrs (11 km)
A gentle climb into the foothills of the Paine Massif to Refugios Torres Central and Norte, both run by Las Torres.
Facilities include hot showers, campgrounds, a restaurant, bars and lounge rooms.
Torres Central is slightly better equipped.
A gentle climb into the foothills of the Paine Massif to Refugios Torres Central and Norte, both run by Las Torres.
Facilities include hot showers, campgrounds, a restaurant, bars and lounge rooms.
Torres Central is slightly better equipped.
Refugio Torres Central to Refugio Chileno
2 hrs (5 km)
Challenging up-and-down hike into the Valley Ascencio, the first part of the climb to the Torres del Paine Towers.
Refugio Chileno has a campground, hot showers and a restaurant.
Challenging up-and-down hike into the Valley Ascencio, the first part of the climb to the Torres del Paine Towers.
Refugio Chileno has a campground, hot showers and a restaurant.
Refugio Chileno to Base of The Towers Mirador
2 hrs (4.2 km)
A difficult and slightly hair-raising climb over giant moraine boulders to the Base of the Towers, the three granite spikes that give the Park its name. Torre d'Agonsti stands at 2850m, Torre Central at 2800m and Torre Norte at 2600m.
A difficult and slightly hair-raising climb over giant moraine boulders to the Base of the Towers, the three granite spikes that give the Park its name. Torre d'Agonsti stands at 2850m, Torre Central at 2800m and Torre Norte at 2600m.
The Towers to Refugios Torres Central and Norte
3 hrs (9.2 km)
An easy descent back to the refugios, where you can catch a bus to Puerto Natales.
An easy descent back to the refugios, where you can catch a bus to Puerto Natales.
Accommodation on the Circuit Trek
You can book accommodation yourself with Las Torres or Vertice Patagonia or join an organized group
Torres del Paine Circuit Trek.