8 Best Day Hikes in Torres del Paine, Chile (Easy to Moderate Trails)

Before our Patagonia trip, we spent weeks scouring guides that all said the same thing: to truly experience Torres del Paine, you need to commit to the multi-day camping treks along the W-Circuit or O-Circuit. But here’s the thing – we love hiking, but just not the idea of carrying everything on our backs for days. We had previously completed several multi-day treks including through the Salkantay trail and Colca Canyon in Peru, and a hut-to-hit hike in the Dolomites, but this time we wanted to explore Torres del Paine through day hikes.

So we designed our own approach: Road tripping through Torres del Paine while staying in comfortable beds in Puerto Natales as our base, and carefully planned day hikes into the park. The result? We still saw Torres del Paine’s most iconic views, maintained total flexibility, and never once missed having a proper shower. Now that we have completed our trip and loved every minute of it, we’ve put together this guide to show you exactly how we did it. It’s all about the best Torres del Paine day hikes and scenic trails perfect for travelers who prefer to skip the multi-day treks.

8 Best Torres del Paine Day Hikes (easy-Moderate)

We are big fans of hiking and feel like it is one of the best ways to fully connect with nature. But often times, reaching the best viewpoints require a long and challenging full day hike.

Fortunately, in Torres del Paine, most of the stunning viewpoints are surprisingly easy to reach—either by car or with a short, manageable hike. Below, we’ve rounded up the 8 best easy hikes (under 1 hour) and moderate trails (2–4 hours) that let you soak in the park’s beauty without the blisters.

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Easy Day Hikes in Torres del Paine (<2 hours)

First off, we’ll take a look at the most recommended Torres del Paine day hikes that can be completed in under two hours. Many of these are viewpoints that can be directly reached by car and then is just a quick walk from the parking lot.

1) Salto Grande Waterfall

The Salto Grande Waterfall is one of the most accessible yet no less impressive viewpoints in Torres del Paine. From the parking lot, it is a simple 10 minute walk along a mostly flat and well-maintained path to reach the viewing platform overlooking powerful waterfall.

This makes it one of the best mini hikes to do for families or anyone looking for big views with minimal effort. 

If you’re up for a little bit more challenge, from the waterfall, continue on to embark on the Mirador Cuernos hike (moderate) which will bring you through some incredibly diverse landscapes with petrified trees, turquoise lagoons, and iconic mountain ranges.

The Salto Grande hiking trail pairs perfectly with the nearby Mirador Condor hike for a full morning of scenic views. Then just steps away at the Pudeto dock, you can also hop on a scenic catamaran trip through Lago Pehoe, another spectacular way to experience the park.

2) Mirador Condor Hike

If there were just two short hikes that we would do in Torres del Paine National Park, it would be Mirador Condor and Mirador Cuernos.

Located just 10-15 minutes apart by car, they pair perfectly together for a morning of stunning scenic views through varied landscapes.

Mirador Condor hike takes around 1.5 hours to complete roundtrip at a comfortable pace. In the park, it is one of the best accessible hikes that provides you with incredible views of the surrounding lagoons and the entire mountain range. 

As with all hikes in Patagonia, make sure you dress properly though as it gets very windy at the top! 

3) Cascada Rio Paine

Surprisingly, we don’t see Cascada Rio Paine mentioned in many Patagonia travel guides, but it is definitely a spot not to be missed!

This Rio Paine waterfall is easily accessible by car and requires no hiking at all! From here, you can admire the powerful peninsula-shaped waterfall with the stunning Paine mountain range in the background.

There are a couple of viewpoints but all within a 5 minute walk from the parking lot!

Cascada Rio Paine is also conveniently located just about 5-10 minutes from the Amarga Park Entrance, so makes for a very quick detour!

4) Panoramic Viewpoint of Lago Pehoe

This might not be one of the official viewpoints marked on the park map, but it ended up being one of our favourite sunset spots in Torres del Paine—totally peaceful and crowd-free.

Just a short drive from the Mirador Condor trailhead near Camp Pehoé, head toward the luxurious Explora Patagonia hotel and park near the entrance. You’ll spot a wooden boardwalk with stairs leading up the hill.

It only takes about 5–10 minutes to reach the top, and the view is incredible—Lago Pehoé shimmering below, with the jagged mountain range towering in the distance.

What we loved most? Hardly anyone seems to know about it. We had the whole place to ourselves, which made the experience even more magical. Honestly, the view rivals the more popular Mirador Condor—but without the uphill hike or the crowds.

Moderate Day Hikes in torres del Paine (2-4 Hours)

Next up are the moderate-level hikes. These trails are manageable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, and many are even suitable for families with kids.

Each one takes under 4 hours to complete, making them perfect for a half-day adventure.

5) Hike to Grey Glacier

If you are keen on seeing glaciers and will not be visiting Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, then this moderate-level hike to Grey Glacier is your best option! Keep in mind that doing this hike does require some logistical planning as well as taking a boat to reach the starting point. 

First, you will need to reach Refugio Grey which is inaccessible by car. Instead, you will need to head over to Hotel Lago Grey (one of the most stunning hotels in Torres del Paine) and take their boat cruise to reach Refugio Grey. You can either take the boat as a Roundtrip scenic navigation around Grey glacier, or you can take it one-way and get off at Refugio Grey to embark on the hike. 

On this 3 hour round-trip hike, you will get to trek along Lago Grey, cross a breathtaking suspension bridge, before reaching the glacier viewpoint. It is possible to do this as a day trip by booking a one-way boat trip to Refugio grey, doing the 3 hour hike, before catching the 3pm or 6pm boat back. 

This is also the same process that you’ll need to go through if you intend on doing the Grey Glacier Ice Trekking or Grey Glacier Kayaking trips, but those will require at least a one night stay at Refugio Grey (since you won’t be back in time for the last boat back). 

6) Mylodon Cave

Mylodon Cave was one of our favourite historical and cultural experiences in Torres del Paine. It is comprised of 3 massive caves that once sheltered the indigenous people of Patagonia alongside the extinct giant sloth (also known as Mylodon) that lived during the Pleistocene epoch roughly 2 million to 10,000 years ago!

It is an open-air museum which brings you back in time and allows you to experience what it must’ve been like thousands of years ago, seeking shelter and building a home in the cave, meanwhile avoiding sabertooth tigers! 

To explore the site, you can either drive directly to the cave entrance or opt for a scenic 3-hour hike that connects all three caves. This trail winds through the lush Patagonian forest and passes by the eerie and iconic Silla del Diablo (“Devil’s Chair”) along the way.

If you choose to explore by car, the hike to reach the first cave takes around 30 minutes roundtrip, the second cave 30 minutes, and the final cave only 10 minutes. 

7) Mirador cuernos

As mentioned above, both Mirador Condor and Mirador Cuernos are likely the two most rewarding short hikes in Torres del Paine.

After the 10 minute walk to reach Salto Grande Waterfall, you can continue on the trail to reach Mirador Cuernos.

The hike in total is about 2 hours roundtrip and is a total distance of 6.3km. There is only an elevation gain of 90m so most of the trek is fairly flat, along well maintained trails. However, you will be transported through a diverse landscape, from petrified trees, turquoise lagoons, rolling hills, to jagged mountains.

Although the Cuernos viewpoint is not the most spectacular in the park, the variety of landscapes that you’ll see on this trail is what makes this hike special!

8) Mirador Dorotea

Mirador Dorotea is located outside of Torres del Paine national park, just a short 10km away from Puerto Natales.

If you don’t have a car, you can reach it by taking a taxi (around 5,000 CLP) and the trailhead begins at a private property gate. The landowner there will normally charge an entrance fee of 5,000 CLP.

This hike is not considered one of the main popular hikes in Torres del Paine but serves as a perfect training hike if you will be tackling the iconic Base de Torre hike. At the summit, you will get a 360 degree view of Puerto Natales, Última Esperanza Fjord, the Señoret Channel, and the Southern Andean peaks. Andean condors are sometimes spotted drifting overhead.

This post is part of our series about Patagonia. If you want to learn more about Patagonia on both the Chilean and Argentina side, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

Where to Stay in Torres del Paine: Puerto Natales vs Inside Park Hotels

How to Visit Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile (Beginner’s Guide)

1 Week in Argentina Patagonia: Ultimate Los Glaciares Travel Guide

29 Essential Patagonia Travel Tips (From Real Experience)

Chile Patagonia vs Argentina Patagonia: Which is Right for You

Practical Day Hiking Tips in Torres del Paine

Transportation to the Trailheads

If you’re staying in Puerto Natales, be sure to factor in about 2 hours each way to reach the trailhead. We enjoyed the scenic drive, but after a full day of hiking, it can definitely be exhausting.

Since most hikes finish around sunset, you’ll also want to be comfortable driving back in the dark.

There are two main roads that lead into Torres del Paine, and we highly recommend taking the eastern route. It’s a well-paved highway and felt much safer compared to the western road, which is winding, unpaved in sections, and full of potholes.

If you do not have a rental car, then we would recommend instead joining one of the days tours like the Torres del Paine Scenic Drive Tour or the Viewpoints hikes tour to explore the park. 

Weather Preparation in Torre del Paine

They say you can experience all four seasons in a single hike in Patagonia—and it’s no exaggeration.

Thanks to its location at the southern tip of South America, where weather systems from the Pacific, Atlantic, and even the Antarctic collide, conditions can shift in the blink of an eye.

For example, when we embarked on the Base de Torre hike, in the morning it was freezing cold and snowing, then by noon, it was sunny and felt like autumn. At a certain point in the valley, it was very hot and we were hiking in T-shirts. Then at the summit, the 60-80km/h winds were blasting us and it felt like winter again.

Make sure to dress in multiple layers and also to pack more layers in your backpack. We went from wearing long sleeves and puffer and windbreaker, to T-shirt, then to putting on a sweater, then to re-layering completely with a tuque and gloves. It is always better to prepare more than less. 

💡 For other essential tips traveling through Patagonia, including what to wear, currency and payments, booking hotels, food and more, check out our guide of 29 Essential Patagonia Tavel Tips, things we wish we knew before visiting Patagonia!

Toilets in Torres del Paine

The Chilean side of Patagonia, in particular Torres del Paine, is very well equipped with the necessary bathroom facilities. At the entrance checkpoints to the Torres del Paine National Park, there is a full information centre with bathrooms. Then, there are multiple hotels and restaurants scattered throughout the park that have toilets.

Finally, before embarking on a big hike like Base de Torre, there is another information centre with bathroom facilities as well as some food and last minute clothing essentials. Even at the midpoint of the trail up Base de Torre, there is another camping centre with bathrooms and restaurants.

All that is to say that if you’re someone who needs regular bathroom breaks, you’ll be glad to know that Torres del Paine is surprisingly well-equipped in that department!

Safety considerations in Patagonia

Beyond the recommendations of dressing in layers and bringing backup layers, it is also important to consider navigation, insurance, and letting someone know where you are. 

Before every hike, make sure to let a friend or the hotel reception know which hike you will be doing and at what time. In that way, if you don’t return within a reasonable time, they know where to look for you.

Second recommendation is for navigation. Although the trails are quite clear in Torres del Paine, I still always suggest using AllTrails or Komoot and download the navigation map offline (there is usually no cell service in the park). There were a couple of times where we weren’t sure which way to go and having my map to direct me was a lifesaver. 

Lastly, make sure you have travel insurance that covers accidents on hiking trails—especially in remote regions like Patagonia. We personally use Genki and confirmed in advance that Torres del Paine is included in their coverage, along with emergency services like helicopter rescue. It’s always better to be safe (and covered) than sorry!

Non-hiking Activities in torres del Paine

While this guide focuses on the best short day hikes in Torres del Paine, we’ve also included a quick roundup of alternative non-hiking experiences we highly recommend.

We personally tried many of these and felt they added so much depth to our time in Chilean Patagonia—offering a richer experience beyond just hiking every day.

Scenic Drive in Torres del Paine

One of our favourite experiences in Torres del Paine was doing the scenic drive loop throughout the park, passing through countless incredible viewpoints.

The full loop takes around 4 hours to complete but account for a full day since you will be stopping often to take photos! If you don’t have your own car, you can do this trip as part of the Scenic Drive Tour. 

Boat Tour on Lago Grey

If you want to witness the impressive Grey Glacier up close, one of the best ways is by taking a scenic boat trip. There is a roundtrip scenic boat trip departing from Hotel Lago grey that brings you through the incredible landscapes of Patagonia and visits the Grey Glacier. 

Estancia Horseback Riding Tour

One of our favourite experiences in Torres del Paine was getting to visit a traditional estancia and horseback riding through the breathtaking fjords. There are a couple of Estancias in Torres del Paine but we would recommend joining the tour we did with LA Peninsula Estancia.

Gin Making workshop

We’re big gin fans—and Torres del Paine did not disappoint.

They’ve got a few incredible gins crafted right there in Patagonia, infused with local botanicals you won’t find anywhere else. In this Gin Distillery workshop, you’ll have the chance to learn about the Gin distilling process and also create your own 700ml bottle of gin to take home!

You’ll also get to enjoy some cocktails and platters with Patagonian delicacies during the 3.5 hour process. 

Eating the Freshest Seafood

Last but definitely not least, make sure to enjoy the incredible variety of fresh seafood in Puerto Natales. We were amazed by how affordable and delicious their king crab, salmon, oysters, and scallops are!

Torres del Paine Itinerary

Now that you’ve got a solid list of amazing short hikes and unique alternative activities, it’s time to start shaping your Torres del Paine itinerary.

We recommend setting aside at least 5 days to truly experience the park. Spend 3 days hitting the trails, 1 day doing something like a horseback riding and estancia visit, and maybe one day doing a cultural experience or trying your luck at puma tracking.  

If you want a full detailed guide of how to plan your Torres del Paine itinerary, including how to schedule each day, where to eat, where to stay in Torres del Paine, driving routes, and more, check out our Comprehensive Torres del Paine Guide. 

🔥 Related – If you’ll also be heading over to explore the Argentina side of Patagonia, make sure to check out our Complete Guide to visiting Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park.

Using WISE card in Chile and Argentina

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.

Summary: Torres del Paine Day Hikes

What makes Torres del Paine so special is that you can experience its jaw-dropping beauty however you like—whether you’re up for a multi-day trek or prefer scenic day hikes and excursions. And it’s not just for hardcore hikers—there’s a surprising variety of activities that make it perfect for all types of travelers. We also explored the Argentine side of Patagonia and wrote an in-depth comparison for anyone debating which side to visit—or whether both are worth the trip. 

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