Torres del Paine National Park is known for its dramatic mountains, the bright blue ice fields and glaciers, and golden grasslands. Prepare to see llama-like guanacos and incredible rock formations including the 3 granite towers from which the park takes its name. We’ll be hiking the O Circuit, where we’ll be treated to one jaw-dropping view after another on this all-inclusive adventure.

This hike can be challenging. Some days are long, parts of the trail can be steep, and Patagonia is known for extreme weather. Heavy winds and rain are typically unavoidable. You must be in good physical condition to tackle the O, free from injuries.

All that said, we have taken every effort to make this trip comfortable. We will have tents and food provided at each campsite, significantly lightening our loads, so that all you need to carry is your personal equipment. We have also added two days at the end of the trip at the Hotel Las Torres, for optimal comfort and good eating (and some very inventive cocktails!). Here’s what our adventure will look like:

DAY 1, MARCH 15: Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile

Arrive at any time in Punta Arenas, Chile, our gateway into Patagonia.

Meet your adventure tour leaders, Kristin and Pete, and other group members at our welcome dinner.

In the evening, walk to the Cerro De La Cruz for a view of the city all the way to the Strait of Magellan.

DAY 2, MARCH 16: Isla Magdalena to Puerto Natales

After breakfast, we’ll take a 2-hour ferry journey to Isla Magdalena, Chilean Patagonia’s most important Magellanic penguin colony. With its rookery of around 120,000 penguins, this tiny island in the middle of the Strait of Magellan is a significant breeding ground for the species and was declared a national monument in 1982.

In the afternoon, we’ll hop on a bus to make our way to Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine.

DAY 3, MARCH 17: Begin the O in Torres del Paine

We’ll wake up early in Puerto Natales to make our way to the incredible Torres del Paine National Park to begin our hike.

Our first day will be a leisurely 12 km (7.5 miles) hike to our first campsite where we’ll enjoy a hot dinner and local red wine for those who are interested in trying Chile’s local offerings (non-alcoholic beverages and clean water always available as well).

DAYS 4 – 9, MARCH 17-24: Hike the O in Torres del Paine

Over the course of the next six days we’ll make our way over the first pass to Refugio Dickson where we’ll enjoy one of the loveliest campsites in the park. Play soccer with the rangers if you’re up for it!

Next we’ll make our way to the John Gardner Pass, the highest point of the circuit at 1200 meters (3937 feet) above sea level.

Upon crossing over the pass, we’ll have a breathtaking view of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the third largest frozen body of fresh water in the world. There are only 4 trails in Patagonia where this is viewable, and we’ll be walking along one of them!

Cross the park’s famous suspension bridges, and view the famous Grey Glacier before we make our way to join the hikers on the W Trek.

Over the following days we’ll see more famous rock formations, like the Cuernos, shaped like a bull’s horns, and the French Valley with an amphitheater of breathtaking rock formations.

All along the way we’ll be taking photos and eating hot meals each night. Each campsite provides tents with thick sleeping mats, warm sleeping bags, and some will have hot showers for us as well. The refugios all have their own special charm and are typically in gorgeous settings.

We’ve scheduled this trip to be during ideal star-viewing conditions. Join Kristin for nightly astrophotography sessions – a much-loved bonding experience from our previous Patagonia adventure!

All of this will lead us to the crown jewel of the hike…

DAY 11, MARCH 24: Las Torres

Today we’ll be waking up before sunrise to hike with the stars to The Towers that made the park famous.

Watch as the sunrise illuminates The Towers – truly one of the most spectacular sights in all of Patagonia.

After breakfast, we will make our way down to the valley to complete our trek!

DAYS 11-12, MARCH 24-26: Hotel Las Torres

We’ll finish our trek and head to the Hotel Las Torres for comfy beds, delicious meals, and inventive cocktails!

The hotel is one of the best in the area for learning about the Patagonian Gaucho (known locally as Huasos) culture. Ride along the parts of the park that we didn’t see on horseback with local guides and cowboys.

We will complete our stay with a Full Paine bus tour of the park, taking us to breathtaking viewpoints that we couldn’t see from the trail. This gives us a chance to get the full picture of Torres del Paine, while resting our tired legs! This is a premium park experience that most visitors miss.

Return to Punta Arenas

On our final day, we’ll make a leisurely return to Punta Arenas where we’ll have our goodbye dinner and celebrate a fantastic experience in the jewel of Patagonia.

DAY 13, MARCH 27: Fly Home

Depart any time.

All meals are included and all tents and rooms are double occupancy with the exception of some rooms in Punta Arenas which may be triple occupancy. We will make sure that everyone is happy and comfortable.

Please note that some campsites are more luxurious than others. While some have refugios, showers, and running water, others are quite basic with drop toilets and no showers. We cannot avoid the more basic campsites on the trail – it’s part of the experience – however most will have great facilities and even Wi-Fi.

Price: $4500