One of the vital iconic and wonderful hikes in Chile is the Mirador Las Torres (‘viewpoint of the towers’), and it may be performed as both a 1 day hike or as a part of the W trek, which takes 4 to five days.
When you’re visiting Torres Del Paine on a funds and need to do that hike with no automobile, the excellent news is which you can additionally do it by bus in a single day, even when you’re staying within the city of Puerto Natales.
That’s what I did, and it was a spotlight of my current journey to Patagonia. The hike is difficult and it takes a full day, however it pays off with superior views of the three granite towers and the turquoise lake.
This journey information will clarify how one can do it step-by-step!
Fast Stats*
- Distance: 20 kilometers (12.5 mi)
- Elevation Acquire: 1,015 meters (3,325 ft)
- Max Altitude: 870 meters (2,860 ft)
- Length: 6 – 10 hours
- Problem: Onerous
*These are complete roundtrip stats for the day hike
Torres Del Paine Nationwide Park — the ‘towers of blue’
How To Get There
To start with, the closest airport to the park is within the city of Puerto Natales (PNT), which has day by day flights from Santiago and Puerto Montt. You may store for flights on Skyscanner.
There’s additionally a bus path to Puerto Natales from El Calafate, on the Argentine aspect of Patagonia. That’s what I did and it was fairly straightforward and cozy. The journey takes 6 hours and you may ebook it right here.
When you arrive in Puerto Natales, you may get to the Las Torres hike by automobile, tour, or bus. I’ll clarify every of those choices under.
• By Automotive
Renting a automobile is the best and most versatile solution to get to the towers hike.
There are various firms providing automobile leases on this space, however my private suggestion is DiscoverCars.
If it suits in your funds, you’ll be able to even keep straight on the dear Lodge Las Torres, which is situated proper firstly of the path!
In any other case, when you’re coming from Puerto Natales, it’s a 2 hour drive to the Torres Del Paine Welcome Middle (map right here), the place you’ll begin the hike.
• By Tour
A guided tour is one other handy possibility when you don’t need to mess with a rental automobile or bus, and the costs are fairly cheap.
GetYourGuide has a day tour to Base Las Torres that features lodge pickup and drop-off from Puerto Natales, and a bilingual information to steer you to the towers.
We’ve used this firm for many excursions and actions world wide, they usually’re nice. Extremely really helpful!
Ebook Now: Torres Day Hike From Puerto Natales
The blue lake at Lago Torres
• By Bus
The most affordable solution to get to the towers hike from Puerto Natales is by bus and shuttle.
You may ebook the bus on-line right here, and a roundtrip ticket prices about 28,000 pesos (~$30 USD) as of 2026. I’d suggest reserving your tickets not less than a month upfront.
The bus station is known as Terminal Rodoviario (map right here) and it’s centrally situated in Puerto Natales. I stayed at a funds pleasant lodge inside strolling distance of the station.
The buses appear to be this
There are many bus departures day-after-day, however for the reason that hike is a protracted one, you’ll have to take the earliest departure and the newest return, that means you might have loads of time to finish the hike and nonetheless catch your return bus.
The primary bus leaves Puerto Natales at 6:30 or 6:45 AM, arriving in Torres Del Paine (Laguna Amarga) 2 hours later, at 8:30 or 8:45 AM.
I took this bus a number of instances whereas visiting the park, and it was all the time on schedule, despite the fact that there was some highway development alongside the best way.
Comfortable seats
One of many good issues about going by bus is which you can chill out and let another person deal with the driving.
I don’t actually get pleasure from driving in another country, particularly if it’s early within the morning after I’m nonetheless waking up.
On the bus, you’ll be able to tune out and perhaps even get some sleep whilst you’re en path to the park, which is useful for a giant hike like this.
The park workplace at Laguna Amarga
When you arrive on the checkpoint at Laguna Amarga, the rangers from TDP will test your park tickets as you get off the bus.
I extremely suggest shopping for your tickets on-line to avoid wasting time on this step. You should buy them on the official web site right here.
When you want a minute, the constructing at Laguna Amarga has clear bogs and free Starlink WiFi. Right here’s a map of the placement.
Welcome heart
Subsequent, you must catch a shuttle van from Laguna Amarga to the Torres Del Paine Welcome Middle (map right here). It’s too far to stroll.
The shuttle is a 15 minute drive and it prices 4,500 pesos in money, as of 2026. You may’t ebook it upfront, however there’s no want since there are common shuttles in every path.
Once more, there are restrooms and WiFi on the Welcome Middle, plus a restaurant, meals truck, and memento store.
Cafe & memento store
The Welcome Middle is the place you begin mountain climbing to the towers. Right here’s a map from AllTrails displaying the total mountain climbing route.
I obtained off the shuttle on the Welcome Middle and began mountain climbing at precisely 9 AM, reached the Refugio Chileno at 10:30 AM, and the lake at 12:30 PM. My tempo was in all probability a little bit above common, however nothing loopy.
I stayed on the lake for nearly 2 hours, resting and taking photos, earlier than beginning again at round 2:30 PM.
I arrived again on the trailhead and the Welcome Middle 3 hours later, a little bit previous 5:30 PM.
Observe the indicators for Mirador Las Torres
The final shuttle from the Welcome Middle again to Laguna Amarga is at 7 PM, so that you don’t need to miss it; and the final return bus from Laguna Amarga to Puerto Natales is at 8:15 PM, so that you don’t need to miss that both.
In complete, this plan provides you with principally 10 hours of free time to hike to the towers and again, assuming you’re taking the primary morning bus and hit the path at 9 AM like I did, and return to Laguna Amarga on the final shuttle at 7 PM.
That’s fairly beneficiant. Don’t dawdle, however 10 hours must be loads of time for most individuals to finish this hike comfortably!
Take note the final bus will put you again in Puerto Natales city at round 10 PM. Sure, it’s late, however you received’t be the one vacationer strolling round, and a few eating places will nonetheless be open.
Valley views on the best way to the towers
Map Of The Path
Right here’s a map from AllTrails that exhibits the whole mountain climbing route and elevation profile for the Base Las Torres day hike, ranging from the TDP Welcome Middle.
That is the trailhead the place the hike all the time begins and ends, no matter whether or not you go together with a rental automobile, tour, or bus.
When you join AllTrails Plus, you’ll be able to obtain the map and use it offline whereas mountain climbing. It’s very useful!
What To Anticipate: Mountaineering To Mirador Las Torres
• Trailhead To Refugio Chileno
The hike begins with a flat stroll via some meadows and previous the Lodge Las Torres, with distant views of the mountains within the background. It stays largely flat like this for about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles).
Subsequent, there’s a gentle uphill climb for an additional 2.5 kilometers till you attain the Windy Go, which is the place you’ll encounter the primary nice views of the hike, with a river chopping via the valley and snow-capped mountains on each side.
After strolling via the cross, you’ll attain the Refugio Chileno, the place you’ll be able to relaxation a minute. The Refugio is an in a single day lodge with a restaurant, and it additionally has WiFi and bogs for a price.
A bridge crossing close to the beginning of the hike
First mountain views
• Refugio Chileno To Lake Of The Towers
From the Refugio, you’ll stroll via a forest with a gradual incline for the following 3 kilometers till you attain a clearing, the place the trail forks uphill to Base Las Torres.
There’s a cut-off time to go previous this level, so when you get right here after 2 PM, they received’t allow you to go to Las Torres. Even when you’re solely 10 minutes late, the rangers will flip you round, so maintain that in thoughts.
In the summertime, the cut-off time is a extra lenient 3 PM due to longer daytime.
There’s a cut-off time to hike previous this signal
The path will get tough close to the top
That is the place the path will get steep and rocky. This final kilometer is unquestionably the toughest a part of the entire hike. It’s protected, however it’s strenuous and you must watch out to not step on any wobbly rocks.
Lastly, you’ll attain Lago Torres, the lake of the towers! It’s a shocking view, and despite the fact that it will get fairly busy through the day, there are many nice picture spots across the lake.
The climate right here can change in a second, so don’t be discouraged if the towers are coated in clouds once you first get to the lake. That occurred to me, however I waited awhile and the towers got here out!
Take pleasure in a snack break right here after the lengthy climb. The return hike is completely flat or downhill, so it’s a lot simpler!
First peek of the towers
Resting on an enormous boulder close to the lake
Can You Hike Independently?
Sure, you are able to do this hike by yourself. A information isn’t required besides through the winter months, from Could to September.
Simply bear in mind you want a ticket for the nationwide park, which you should buy on the official web site right here. It’s legitimate for 3 days.
Finest Time To Go
The perfect time to go to Torres Del Paine is through the spring (September to November) or fall (March to Could). Summer season is sweet too, however the trails are extra busy.
I went in early November, and that was just about good.
The climate was nice, and I preferred how there was nonetheless some snow and ice skirting the bottom of the towers. It appeared further good for photographs.
Base Las Torres
What To Convey
- Layers. The climate in Patagonia is notoriously unpredictable and it may be extraordinarily windy, so that you’ll need to deliver a jacket, gloves, and hat in case it will get chilly. You in all probability received’t want these for many of the path, however you’ll be comfortable to have them on the lake if the wind picks up.
- Snacks. Despite the fact that you should buy meals on the Welcome Middle or Refugio, it’s overpriced for vacationers. Higher to deliver your personal snacks to eat on the hike. I introduced beef jerky and power bars from the U.S. they usually have been nice to have.
- Mountaineering Poles. I didn’t deliver these, however they might be useful to your knees on the steep ascents and descents.
- Water. A great quantity to hold might be 2 liters of water. There are glacial streams out there close to the Refugio, however I’d use a filter or purification tablets to be protected.
River operating via the valley
Extra Patagonia Journey Guides
Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved this information for how one can do the Mirador Las Torres day journey from Puerto Natales.
Don’t overlook to take a look at my different journey guides for Patagonia earlier than you go!
