Top-rated attractions, experiences and activities — from iconic landmarks to hidden gems.
These are the experiences most visitors to Torres del Paine rate as unmissable — the highlights that define a trip to this destination.
The most iconic hike in Patagonia — an 18km return day walk (or overnight) to the viewpoint directly beneath the three granite towers. The final 45-minute scramble up a rocky moraine leads to an emerald glacial lake and the towers soaring overhead.
The Grey Glacier — one of the largest in the southern Andes — feeds icebergs into the milky blue waters of Lago Grey. A boat tour brings you alongside the 30-metre ice wall; ice trekking on the glacier surface is available for the more adventurous.
The middle arm of the W Trek leads through hanging glacier country to the Mirador Británico — arguably the finest viewpoint in the park, with towers, glaciers, and condors visible in a single panorama on a clear day.
The Andean condor — the world's largest flying bird with a 3-metre wingspan — is commonly sighted riding thermals above the park's ridgelines, particularly around the Valle del Francés and above the Paine Grande glacier area.
The turquoise waters of Lago Pehoé, reflecting the Paine Massif, is one of the most photographed landscapes in South America. The ferry across the lake connects the main camping area to the start of the W Trek.
Torres del Paine has a healthy puma population — and a growing number of operators offer guided puma tracking excursions from the Chilean Patagonia gateway towns. Guanacos (the wild relative of the llama) are ubiquitous throughout the park.
Long days, warmest temperatures (12–20°C), and all facilities open. Trails are very busy — all refugios booked out months in advance. Book the full W Trek 6–12 months ahead.
Similar conditions to peak but 20–30% cheaper and fewer hikers. November brings spring wildflowers; March offers the beginning of spectacular autumn colours on the lenga beech.
The red and orange autumn foliage of the lenga beech creates one of Patagonia's most beautiful landscapes. Fewer visitors, lower prices, and variable but often stunning weather.
The austral winter brings the park's puma population into the open in search of prey. Specialist wildlife lodges offer guided puma tracking — success rates are much higher in winter. Trails can be icy.