Circuit O Torres del Paine National Park 🏔️

Torres del Paine National Park is the eighth wonder of the natural world, a place with some of the southernmost trekking on the planet. The park extends over 227,298 hectares, there is a lot of fauna that inhabits the Park (cougars, foxes, condors, guanacos, huemules, quirquinchos, ducks, flamingos, woodpeckers, chingues, rheas, caranchos, among other species), which coexist before the presence of the Cuernos del Paine, lakes, forests, rivers and waterfalls.

One of the most complex decisions during your visit to Torres del Paine is the choice of the O or W circuit. The first thing you should know is that they owe their name to the route that each route has and you should always consider the weather conditions in your area. stay in the Park, since the conditions are usually very changeable. Ojos Viajeros gives you all the tips to determine if the "O" is the option you need.

CIRCUIT OR

The O circuit includes a route of about 130 kilometers with a peak altitude of about 1,241 meters above sea level, which is recommended to travel in 8 - 9 days. This trek is classified as intermediate - high difficulty.

Day 1, Trekking Mirador Base Torres: We leave early in the morning from Puerto Natales, to arrive early at the Torres del Paine National Park, pay the entrance fee and register. Here the adventure begins, setting up your camp in the Central Sector, where you will sleep tonight, also this way you can lighten the weight a little during the day. The trekking consists of going up to the Base Torres Viewpoint, where you can take one of the most iconic photos of the park, then descending the same path to the Central Sector. The road is endless and this route has about 16 kilometers that can take up to 8 - 9 hours round trip. Accumulated elevation difference, 1,060 meters.

Day 2, Border the Paine River: Start this day with a walk of about 14 kilometers for about 3 - 5 hours from the Central Sector, all the time with a positive slope, accompanied by the Paine River on the right side. This tour culminates in the Serón Sector , where you will camp. Accumulated difference, 420 meters.

Day 3, Border the Paine River and Paine Lake: This walk lasts for about 6 - 7 hours, traveling 18 kilometers until ending in the Dickson Sector . It should be noted that this back part of the Park is less crowded, so you can enjoy the sounds. of Patagonia without disturbances, on the way you will be able to see Lake Paine. Tonight you must stay in the Dickson Sector . Accumulated difference, 720 meters.

Day 4, Trekking Mirador Glaciar los Perros: This trek is about 12 kilometers that you will cover in just over 4 hours. Bordering the Los Perros River and you will pass by the Mirador del Glaciar of the same name, to finally stay at Camping los Perros . Accumulated difference, 610 meters.

Day 5, John Gardner Pass: After breaking camp at Camping los Perros, this day's walk begins, which includes 8 kilometers for 4 - 5 hours. On this route you cross the John Gardner Pass (highest point of the O circuit), in this place you can feel the strong winds of Patagonia, you can also have beautiful views of Campos de Hielo Sur, to finally stay at Camping Paso . Accumulated difference, 835 meters.

Optionally, if your physical condition allows it, you can continue to the Gray Sector and save a day, keep in mind that it would be 20 kilometers for approximately 9 - 10 hours, accumulating almost 1450 meters of accumulated elevation gain.

Day 6, Trekking Mirador Glaciar Gray: Leaving the Paso Camping, one of the simplest routes is presented, with a route of 7 kilometers for about 3 hours of walking. On the way you will see Laguna Gray and Gray Glacier. Tonight you will stay in Sector Gray. Accumulated difference, 310 meters.

Day 7, Gray Glacier Mirador Trekking: This day includes an 11-kilometer route passing along the side of Gray Lake. This tour will take you about 4 - 5 hours, in this sector there is a lot of wind, we recommend you be prepared for that type of weather. Tonight you will have to stay in the Paine Grande Sector. Accumulated difference, 300 meters.

Day 8, Trekking Valle del Francés: Walk to the Valle del Francés round trip, then continue walking a couple of kilometers to the Francés Sector , Where are you going to camp tonight? You will travel 20 kilometers for 10 hours throughout this day. Accumulated difference, 815 meters.

Day 9, Border Lake Nordenskjöld: We set up camp in the French Sector and today's mission is to reach the Central Sector , taking a walk of about 14 kilometers, for about 5 - 7 hours, this route borders Lake Nordenskjöld, where you can enjoy its deep turquoise color, this route concludes in the Central Sector, where you will exit the park heading towards Puerto Natales, ending this beautiful journey. Accumulated drop, . Accumulated difference, 530 meters.

Tips: Remember to reserve your campsites, shelters or catamaran tickets in advance, bring the necessary food for your trekking days, remember to use the appropriate equipment (waterproof boots, hat to cover your ears) according to the weather conditions (wind, rain and even snow), a trekking tent suitable for strong gusts of wind and that can withstand 1,500 - 2,000 millimeters of water ideally. The best months to visit this Park are between October and April, although in the middle of summer there are more hours of sunlight.

To get to the park there are 3 ways, buses that operate in the area, renting a car in Puerto Natales or privately in your own car, in all cases, you must arrive at the Laguna Amarga entrance, where you must register and pay the fees. input.

Tell us about your experience touring the Patagonian landscapes of the Torres del Paine National Park. What advice would you give to other travelers?

If you are looking for a different experience in the Torres del Paine National Park, a photographic experience for amateurs or professionals, if you want to take those unique postcards at sunrise and sunset, in our Adventure section we have the ideal expedition for you.