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

Patagonia is one of those bucket list places that hikers, nature lovers, and photographers dream of. Towering jagged peaks surrounded by turquoise glacial lagoons, one of the world’s most awe-inspiring glaciers, dramatic waterfalls, and the legendary W or O treks — it’s no surprise that this is one of the most photographed places in the world. But when we started planning our own Patagonia adventure, we quickly realized something: Patagonia is huge, popular, and requires some serious logistics in order to make sure you make the best of your time there. 

After spending nearly two weeks hiking, road tripping, photographing, and even horseback riding through this jaw-dropping region, we’ve put together everything we wish we had known before going. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the essentials for planning your visit to Torres del Paine in Patagonia Chile—from the best things to do and where to base yourself, to scenic drives, hikes, tours, restaurant tips, park fees, and more.

What and Where is Patagonia

Before diving into the logistics of planning a trip, it’s important to first understand the geography of Patagonia. This region is far larger than most travelers expect—ourselves included. Spanning more than one million square kilometres across southern Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is actually larger than France and Germany combined. 

Before researching for our trip, we had imagined Patagonia as just a compact national park. But we quickly realized that Patagonia stretches across both Chile and Argentina, encompassing a huge variety of landscapes and regions.

That said, most visitors focus on two key areas: Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. These are home to some of Patagonia’s most iconic sights, including Base de las Torres, Laguna de los Tres, the dramatic Perito Moreno Glacier, and Mount Fitz Roy, the peak famously featured in the Patagonia clothing logo. 

In this guide, we’ll be focusing on the Chilean side—specifically Torres del Paine National Park—and covering all the essential information you need to plan an unforgettable trip. 

From a logistical standpoint, the two key locations to keep in mind are Torres del Paine National Park itself and the closest base town of Puerto Natales (where you’ll find the airport), which sits about 1.5 hours away by car from the park entrance.

Understanding the relationship between these two areas is essential for planning where to stay, how to get around, and how to structure your itinerary—something we’ll break down in greater detail in the following sections.

How to get to Torres del Paine, Chile

There are a few different ways to reach Torres del Paine National Park, depending on your starting point and travel style. Below, we’ve broken down the main transportation options to help you decide the best route for you:

• Arriving at Puerto Natales Airport: You can take a flight from Santiago de Chile to Puerto Natales airport, at which point you are about 15 minutes drive from the main base town of Puerto Natales. From here, it is around a 1.5 hour drive to reach the park entrance of Torres del Paine.
• Arriving from Punta Arenas: You can take a flight from Santiago de Chile to Punta Arenas. This route is more common for those who want to see the penguins in that area. However from Punta Arenas, it is around a 3 hour drive to reach Puerto Natales. 
• Arriving from Argentina Patagonia: For those planning on visiting both sides of Patagonia, you reach Torres del Paine from El Calafate in Argentina. There are daily buses and the cost is around 45$ and takes close to 5 hours including the border crossing. We used this website to book our buses (it has a lot more options)

👀 One tour platform many people don’t know about for South America and has been excellent throughout our travels is Denomades. It’s worth taking a look!

Should you base yourself in Puerto Natales or inside Torres del Paine

When planning your visit to Torres del Paine, one of the most important considerations is to whether base yourself in Puerto Natales or inside the Torres del Paine national park itself.

Depending on your decision, it will highly affect the cost of accommodation, distance to drive to reach the main attractions, access to restaurants, and more.

With that said, there is no right or wrong choice, but we will highlight the advantages of each so you can choose what suits your travel style best. 

Base: Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is the primary and closest town to Torres del Paine National Park, though it’s located approximately 1.5 hours by car from the park’s entrance.

Since most of the main attractions are inside the park itself, that means you’ll be doing that drive every day you want to explore. With that said, we personally chose to stay in Puerto Natales due to the significantly lower accommodation costs (roughly 20-30% of what is charged within the park). 

Our accommodation costed us only around 50$ per night whereas the lodges within the park average between 300-500$ per night. In addition to being more budget-friendly, Puerto Natales also offers a wide selection of excellent restaurants, grocery stores, and cultural activities.

Despite the distance from the park, we actually did not end up minding the daily commute since the views are incredibly scenic all along the way. Ultimately, staying in Puerto Natales offers a more affordable base with an abundance of amenities, with the trade-off being the longer travel time to and from the park each day.

Base: Within Torres del Paine

Alternatively, the biggest advantage of staying within Torres del Paine National Park is the unparalleled access to its breathtaking natural landscapes. We have visited the stunning peaks of the Dolomites in Italy, through Nepal, across the Salkantay Trail in Peru, and there is something truly unique of the landscape in Patagonia.

While accommodations inside the park are significantly more expensive, the higher cost reflects the unique opportunity to be fully immersed in the scenery that makes the park world-renowned.

Staying inside the park is also a lot more convenient for accessing the iconic hikes, with most trailheads just 10-30 minutes drive away. If you love to do photography or watch the sunset, staying inside the park is also ideal as your lodging will only be a few steps away.

With that said, there are a couple of key trade-offs: Food options are limited, as most lodges are remote and offer only in-house dining. Additionally, the elevated price point can be a significant consideration for travelers on a budget.

In summary, if your priority is to maximize your time surrounded by the dramatic beauty of Torres del Paine and you’re comfortable with the higher cost and fewer dining choices, staying within the park offers a truly immersive and unforgettable experience.

Do you need to rent a car to Visit Torres del Paine

Deciding whether to rent a car was one of the biggest planning points for our Patagonia trip. Now that we’ve explored both Torres del Paine and Argentinian Patagonia, we can confidently say: renting a car is absolutely worth it—especially for Torres del Paine.

Car Rental if staying in Puerto Natales

If you’re staying in Puerto Natales, like we did, having a rental car gives you the flexibility to explore the park’s iconic sights at your own pace. Torres del Paine is best experienced via its circular scenic drive route, with the major attractions—like the Base de Torre hike, Lago Pehoé, and Salto Grande—spread out across the park.

Relying on day tours would have limited our ability to stop spontaneously for photos, picnics, or short hikes. In fact, we loved the scenic drive so much that we did it three times—something that would’ve been impossible without our own vehicle.  

Car Rental if staying inside Torres del Paine

Even if you’re staying at a lodge inside the park, many trailheads and viewpoints are still a considerable distance away. So without a car, you’ll likely be restricted to your immediate surroundings or have to depend on scheduled excursions offered by the hotel, which can be costly and rigid in timing.

Having the rental car allowed us the freedom to visit all our favourite viewpoints and stay as long as we wanted to fully take in the incredible surrounding.

It also made it easy for us to base ourselves in Puerto Natales, which significantly reduced our accommodation costs by over 50% compared to staying inside the park.

Do you need a Car for Argentina Patagonia

In contrast, we found that renting a car wasn’t necessary for exploring the Argentinian side of Patagonia. In El Chaltén, most of the trailheads for the iconic hikes—like Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Capri—are within walking distance from town (just 5–10 minutes away).

Since there’s no real scenic driving route in this area, having a car offers little added benefit in Argentina Patagonia.

For this reason, we recommend only renting a car on the Chilean side, and then taking the bus over to El Calafate to explore the Argentinian Patagonia.

Recommended Car Rental in Patagonia

We recommend reserving your rental car from Puerto Natales or the Puerto Natales Airport as early as possible—ideally several months in advance. Rental cars in Patagonia are in high demand and tend to book out quickly, especially during peak season. 

We attempted to book ours about two months ahead of time and ended up having to slightly adjust our itinerary to match the limited availability. While we usually go with our go-to provider, Discovercars.com, we actually found better availability and pricing this time through Booking.com Car Rental—so it’s worth comparing both options before you book.

14 Best Things to do in Chile’s Torres del Paine

One of the things we love most about Chilean Patagonia—especially Torres del Paine National Park—is the incredible variety of experiences it offers.

Yes, they have world-class challenging full day hikes like to Base de Torre, but it is equally rewarding for those seeking shorter walks, scenic drives, horseback riding, kayaking, glacier excursions, and cultural experiences!

Whether you’re an avid hiker, a couple looking for a romantic escape, a family on an adventure, or simply a nature lover, Torres del Paine has something for everyone.

Below, we’re sharing our favorite experiences to help you plan your visit.

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1) LA Peninsula Estancia Horseback Riding

One of our most memorable experiences during our stay in Torres del Paine was visiting the LA Peninsula Estancia. Located a boat ride away from Puerto Natales on its own remote island, you’ll get to visit a traditional estancia ranch surrounded by the breathtaking views of the lakes and mountains of Torres del Paine.

On this excursion, you’ll experience riding a horse through the majestic landscapes, enjoy a mouthwatering grilled lamb lunch, lots of wine, learn about the history of the gauchos, and witness the entire sheep herding and shearing process.

It was one of the most immersive and culturally rich activities we did in Patagonia—and one we wholeheartedly recommend.

2) Hiking Base de Torre

The Base de las Torres hike is the crown jewel of Torres del Paine National Park, offering some of the best views of Patagonia’s most iconic granite spires and glacial lagoon. This hike is challenging though, covering approximately 21 kilometres round trip, with an elevation gain of around 950 meters, taking us close to 9 hours to complete (including a 2 hour stop at the top!)

The trail begins in a scenic valley before climbing steadily above the tree line where you’ll be surrounded by the snow capped mountains. Then there is the final push—a steep and rocky ascent which takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and is the most strenuous part of the hike.

But at the summit, you’ll be rewarded with the jaw-dropping view of Laguna Torres, nestled beneath the towering granite pillars known as the Torres del Paine (Torre Sur, Torre Central, and Torre Norte)— the peaks that gave the park its name.

We were so blown away by the scenery that we stayed up there for two full hours, braving the icy winds and freezing temps. Totally worth every shiver.

3) Hiking Mirador Condor

Remember how I mentioned that one of the great things about Torres del Paine is that it offers both challenging long treks and short easy to access hikes? Well, Mirador Cóndor and the nearby Mirador Cuernos are two excellent options.

The trail to Mirador Cóndor is a relatively short 3 km out-and-back hike with a modest 220 meters of elevation gain.

From the top, you’ll be able to see several of the breathtaking lagoons and the iconic mountain range. But as with all the hikes in Patagonia, be prepared and dress properly for the intense wind, especially at the summit!

The views are worth it though!

4) Hiking Mirador Cuernos + Mirador Salto Grande

Only a short 13-minute drive from Mirador Condor, you’ll find the second best short hike of Torres del Paine National Park, Mirador Cuernos.

Within only a ten minute walk along a well-maintained trail, you’ll reach the impressive Salto Grande Waterfall, providing amazing views with the backdrop of the mountains.

For those looking to explore further, you can complete a 6.3km out-and-back hike to reach the Mirador Cuernos. This hike is really worth it as it is fairly easy and you will pass through countless shimmering lagoons and a very varied landscape flora.

Once you reach the end, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Nordenskjold lake and the iconic Cerro Grande mountain range, the same spectacular scenery that you’ll encounter on the multi-day W trek! 

5) Scenic Drive Route around Torres del Paine

One of our favourite features of Torres del Paine, especially when compared to the Argentinian side of Patagonia, is the awe-inspiring scenic drive that loops through the park.

This circuit takes you past over 10 breathtaking viewpoints, including the trailheads for Mirador Cóndor and Mirador Cuernos, as well as many of our personal favourite stops scattered along the route.

Along the way, you’ll pass countless lakes and lagoons, enjoy ever-changing views of the iconic Paine mountain range from multiple angles, and encounter so many photo-worthy moments that you’ll be pulling over often to take it all in.

We loved this scenic drive route so much that we actually drove through it 3 times! This circuit can be done independently if you have a c

ar rental like we did, or you can join this Full day Torres del Paine Scenic drive Tour!

6) Cascada Rio Paine Lookout

This is one of the incredible waterfall viewpoints along the scenic drive route but we wanted to mention this one in particular since it is a short detour off the main route and many travelers seem to miss it.

At Cascada Rio Pain, you’ll be treated to the view of the thundering waterfall with the Paine mountain range in the backdrop. It is also reached within just a short drive and requires no hiking, making it a perfect stop for all visitors!

• Lookout: Cascada Rio Paine
• Location: here
• Can be visited independently or part of this Torres del Paine Scenic Tour

7) Mylodon Cave

One thing we really loved about our experience in Torres del Paine is the sheer variety of activities beyond hiking.

From horseback riding, kayaking, ice trekking, scenic drive, gastronomy, to a rich experience discovering the ancient Mylodon cave 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!

The Mylodon cave consists of three massive cave systems that you can enter and discover all the ancient artifacts that were found there!

If you want, you can also do a hike that connects all three caves, taking approximately 3 hours. Alternatively, you can also easily reach each cave by car.

8) Puma Tracking in Torres del Paine

We have done several safaris in South Africa and Namibia where we got to witness cheetahs, lions, and leopards and the experience is absolutely unforgettable. Although you won’t find these cats in Patagonia, you do have the rare opportunity to spot one of its most elusive predators — the puma!

On this full-day puma tracking tour, you’ll set out at dawn with expert guides who will teach you how to identify signs of puma activity and track them in the wild.

Tours range from single-day outings to multi-day expeditions, taking you deep into the remote Patagonian countryside in search of these majestic animals.

9) Boat Navigation to Grey Glacier

The Grey Glacier is one of the most iconic glaciers you can visit in Torres del Paine National Park. But unlike Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier, getting up close to Grey is a bit trickier.

You can experience the glacier by boat, kayak, on a regular hike, or even go ice trekking—but here’s the catch: kayaking, hiking, and ice trekking all depart from Refugio Grey, which is located in a remote section of the lake with no roads, so is mainly only accessible as part of the multi-day W and O trekking circuits.

How to Visit Grey Glacier

If you’re not doing one of those multi-day hikes, your best option is the boat navigation from Hotel Lago Grey, which is reachable by car and about two hours from Puerto Natales. This close to 4 hour scenic boat ride offers round-trip options to the glacier, cruising right up close for epic views of the glacier.

You can also choose a one-way trip to or from Refugio Grey, but that’s mostly for hikers staying overnight are those who plan to do the kayak or ice trek the next day (details on that in the section below).

Now here’s the confusing bit we learned the hard way: if you are planning a one-way trip, only the first two return boats from Refugio Grey back to Hotel Lago Grey actually pass by the glacier. We had considered taking a one-way boat ride to Refugio Grey, then doing a day hike to the viewpoint, before catching the late afternoon boat back but realized that we’d actually miss the boats that include the scenic glacier route entirely (only first two navigations). 

That means if you’re doing this as a day trip and want to see the glacier from the water, you MUST do the round-trip navigation (which does not permit you to get off a refugio Grey). 

This was confusing to figure out but we hope this information will be helpful for you! 

10) Kayaking or ice trekking on Grey Glacier

As mentioned in the previous Grey Glacier Navigation section, the Kayaking and Grey Glacier Ice trekking experience is mainly for those who are already doing the multi-day W or O Circuit since reaching the starting point of Refugio Grey can be challenging as a day trip. 

If you are interested in doing it, you will need to stay overnight at Refugio Grey.

The Kayaking trip starts at 8:30am, 2:00pm, or 5:00pm which would not leave you enough time to catch the return boat back to Hotel Lago Grey on the same day.

The same applies to Ice Trekking the Grey Glacier which starts at 8:30am, or 2:30pm.

This means that if you are not doing the multi-day W or O Circuits, then the only way to experience the kayaking or ice trekking would be an itinerary like the following:

• Day 1: Take one-way boat navigation from Hotel Lago Grey to Refugio Grey at 9:00am, do the 2:00pm or 2:30pm departure for the Kayaking or Ice trekking trip. Spend the night at Refugio Grey
• Day 2: If you did not do the ice trekking or Kayaking on Day 1, you could do it in the morning on Day 2 at 8:30am. Following the activity, take the 1:45pm (boat visit to glacier included) or 5:30pm (glacier visit not included) to return back to Hotel Lago Grey. 

If all of this sounds a bit too complicated or logistically tricky, don’t worry—there’s always the option of doing the Ice Trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier instead, Argentina’s most jaw-dropping and accessible glacier experience!

11) Multi-day hiking on the W-Circuit or O-circuit

One of the highlight features of the Chilean Patagonia is the world-famous  W-Circuit (70-80km, taking 4-5 days) and O circuits (110-130km, 7-9 days), both multi-day treks that bring you through the impressive Cordillera del Paine Andes Mountain Range. 

We decided to skip the multi-day treks and experience Torres del Paine through self-drive day trips instead, but we wanted to mention the W and O circuits for those looking for a more intensive 5–9 day hiking adventure!

We spoke to fellow travelers who tackled the circuit and they told us that while it’s incredibly rewarding, it can be tricky to plan. Booking accommodations for each night is essential, and they often sell out months in advance, so planning ahead is key!

If you are interested in doing the W or O Circuit, but do not want to stress about the logistics, there are also self-guided trekking options where the tour company helps you make all the necessary arrangements.

Check out the options below:

12) Enjoy some of the best seafood in Puerto Natales

When it comes to hiking towns, we usually keep our expectations for food pretty low, but Puerto Natales totally blew us away.

Thanks to its location near the sea and close to Antarctic waters, the town has access to incredibly fresh seafood like king crab, oysters, scallops, salmon, and more. Back home, king crab is a rare luxury we’d never dream of ordering, but in Puerto Natales it’s actually quite affordable.

Every night, we were excited after a day of hiking to savour the delicious seafood! This is also one of the perks of staying in Puerto Natales instead of inside the park, where food options are much more limited.

If you are looking for some excellent seafood restaurants, our favourites were Santolla, and Cangrejo Rojo.

13) Visit the Puerto Natales Historical Museum

One of the most meaningful cultural experiences in Puerto Natales is a visit to the Historical Museum, where you can learn about the indigenous tribes that once called this region home.

We were especially glad to see the honesty in which they share their past, including the darker chapters of colonization, when native communities faced genocide, poisoning, and forced control.

It was eye-opening to see this history shared openly. Since many of these tribes no longer exist today, preserving and remembering their stories feels more important than ever.

14) Make your own Gin Workshop

Who would’ve thought that in the middle of nowhere in Puerto Natales, you would be able to find an amazing Gin distillery where you can make your own gin to take home?

We sampled countless gins in Patagonia and they are absolutely delicious! Made from fresh herbs, berries, and plants only found in Patagonia, it presents a truly unique flavour! And while you’re at trying cocktails, make sure to order a Calafate Sour. It is not made with gin, but it is delicious!

The Last Hope Distillery Gin Workshop lasts 3.5 hours, and you will learn about local gin, immerse in a practical distillation, and finally create your own 700ml bottle of gin that you can take home. And while you’re hard at work distilling your own gin, you will also get to enjoy cocktails and platters with Patagonian delicacies.

This activity is a must-do!

How many days to visit Patagonia in Chile

We recommend spending a minimum of 4 nights, but ideally 5-6 nights to fully explore Torres del Paine.

We stayed 6 nights, with a rental car, and felt like that was the perfect amount of time to experience all the main highlights at a comfortable pace.

With 4 nights, you will have enough time to do the LA Peninsula Estancia Horseback riding (highly recommend!), spend a day doing the scenic drive, another day for the iconic Base de Torres hike, and your final day either doing some easy hikes (Mirador Condor and Salto Grande) or visiting the Mylodon Cave.

With two extra days, you have time to explore the town, the museums, and maybe even visit the Grey glacier. 

Since you’re already in the area, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend 5–7 days discovering the jaw-dropping beauty of Argentine Patagonia too—it’s well worth the extra time!

📝 If you’re wondering whether it is worth visiting, or what are the differences between the two parks, check out our full comparison guide between Chile and Argentina Patagonia. 

5 day Torres del Paine Itinerary

This itinerary will be focused on those who are seeking to do day trips, either self-drive or tour guided, to experience the best of Torres del Paine National Park.

While planning our own trip, we found that most guides focused heavily on the W or O Circuits. So we created this guide to share helpful tips and info for those who prefer a more flexible, day-trip style of exploring the park. 

Above, we recommended a minimum of 4 nights but ideally 5, so we will share what we consider an optimal 5 day itinerary for visiting Torres del Paine National Park:

• Day 1: Rent your car, LA Peninsula Horseback riding full day tour, dinner at Santolla for seafood and king crab!
• Day 2: Two easy day hikes at Mirador Cuernos (with Salto Grande Overlook) and Mirador Condor (can be self-drive or guided tour), dinner at Cangrejo Rojo
• Day 3: Base de Torre hike (longest and most challenging hike!)
• Day 4: Scenic drive route through Torres del Paine
• Day 5: Mylodon Cave and Puerto Natales Historical Museum, or do a day of Puma tracking

Torres del Paine Park Fees

To explore Torres del Paine National Park, you will need to purchase their park pass.

You have the option of buying their park pass for up to 3 days (55$ for foreigners), or the ticket for more than 3 days (75$ for foreigners). 

There is a checkpoint on the road for every time you enter the park where they will verify your ticket and register you into their system.

This applies to almost all the highlight attractions of Torres del Paine, such:

• Base de Torre hike
• Mirador Condor hike
• Mirador Cuernos hike
• Scenic drive route
• Grey Glacier
• Puma tracking etc…

Out of the list above, the only experiences that are not within the Torres del Paine national park are the LA Peninsula horseback riding experience, Mylodon cave, historical museum, and restaurants in Puerto Natales.

For the itinerary shared above, you can purchase the 3 day pass which will cover you for your two short hikes, Base de Torre hike, and the scenic drive route! We ended up staying 6 nights in Puerto Natales so bought the pass for more than 3 days, just incase we wanted to do the scenic drive route more than once (which we did!).

We recommend buying the tickets online and have it downloaded on your phone, as you will likely not have reception within the park.  

Buy your Torres del Paine Entrance tickets here

Where to stay when visiting Torres del Paine

As explained in the earlier section of this guide about whether you should base yourself inside or outside Torres del Paine National Park, there are benefits to each option.

Staying in Puerto Natales is a lot more affordable, with tons of food and grocery options, but with the trade-off of needing to make the 2 hour each-way transit to the get to the National Park.

Whereas staying inside Torres del Paine provides the convenience of being within 30 minutes of most of the main attractions, and you will get to enjoy 24/7 the stunning scenery that makes Patagonia world-famous, but with the trade-off that it is a lot more expensive.

To help you find an optimal place to stay, we have provided some hand-picked accommodations that are optimally located and perfect for all budgets. 

Best Places to Stay in Puerto Natales

If you are staying in Puerto Natales, the following accommodations are ideally located right in the downtown area, and offer a comfortable stay for every budget.

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Best Places to Stay in Torres del Paine

The accommodation options are scattered throughout Torres del Paine National Park. There are hotels in the Serrano area on the eastern part of Torres del Paine, some hotels perfectly located in the Northern part right near the Base de Torre hike, and some lodges located a bit further on the Western Part. Here are our top picks and highlight features of each hotel:

Should you visit Chile Patagonia or Argentina Patagonia

One of the biggest questions we faced when planning our trip to Patagonia was whether we should visit the Chilean Patagonia, Argentinian Patagonia, or if it was worth it to spend the time and money to explore both.

Having now spent close to 2 weeks exploring both sides of Patagonia, venturing through Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Park, we’ve put together a complete guide comparing the pros and cons of each.

Whether you’re into epic challenging hikes, scenic road trips, cultural and gastronomical experiences, this guide breaks down which park suits your travel style best so you can decide which adventure is right for you.

Chile Patagonia vs Argentina Patagonia: Which is Right for You

FAQ

Best Time to Visit Patagonia in Chile

The best time to visit Chilean Patagonia is from November to March (summer in the Southern Hemisphere). During these months, you’ll get the warmest weather, the longest daylight hours, and the most accessible trails. However, it’s also the busiest season, so book accommodations and tours well in advance.

For fewer crowds but still decent weather, consider shoulder months like October or April.

We ended up visiting during end of March through early April, and were rewarded with the stunning fall colours! 

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Travel Insurance & Safety Tips

Torres del Paine is a fairly remote area located almost at the farthest southern tip of South America. The weather conditions can be harsh, with strong winds and the possibility of experiencing all 4 seasons within a single hike.

For this reason, it is really important to have travel insurance that will cover you incase of any accident or need of helicopter rescue. We personally have been using Genki for long-term travel insurance and have been pleased so far. 

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Can you visit Torres del Paine without hiking?

Yes! It is possible to enjoy Torres del Paine without hiking.

One thing we loved about the Chilean side of Patagonia as compared to the Argentinian side is how you can visit most of the iconic viewpoints without any serious hiking.

This is especially true due to the scenic drive route, and many viewpoints that can be reached within a ten minute walk. Torres del Paine also has tons of other activities including horseback riding, boat navigation to the glacier, puma tracking, eating seafood, visiting the Mylodon cave, and much more!

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How difficult are the hikes in Torres del Paine?

Other than the iconic Base de Torre hike which is about 20km, most of the other hikes in Torres del Paine are actually quite accessible. For example, Mirador Condor and Mirador Cuernos hikes are both under 8km and take between 1-2 hours. We would consider these fairly easy hikes. 

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Is it safe to travel in Patagonia?

Patagonia is very safe! We rented a car, drove around, walked at night, and always felt completely safe! We also felt the same when exploring the highlights of Atacama Desert during our Atacama Road trip! This was in stark contrast to Santiago de Chile where many times, we felt quite unsafe. 

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: How to Visit Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile

We loved our experience traveling through Torres del Paine! From horseback riding, savouring delicious king crab, embarking on the iconic Base de Torre hike, to more relaxing days cruising through the scenic route, we feel that Torres del Paine has something to offer for every traveler!

We hope this guide to visiting Torres del Paine has helped make your trip planning easier and wishing you an amazing adventure!

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