PAINE "O" CIRCUIT +OGGIONI PASS

At 7:30 AM, we begin our journey from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park, traveling along dirt roads, lagoons, and pampas, with the chance to spot guanacos, foxes, flamingos, and swans.

Our first stop is at Almirante Nieto, where we will enjoy stunning views of Nordenskjöld Lake and the Asencio Valley. From there, we head past Refugio Chileno, trekking through a lenga forest until we reach the Base of the Towers, where we are rewarded with a spectacular view of the three granite towers and a green lagoon.

After enjoying lunch and taking photos, we descend to Las Torres Camp, where we collect our backpacks and continue toward the “Camping Japones” campsite. Upon arrival, we will set up camp and rest, preparing for the crossing of Paso Oggioni the following day.

After breakfast at the camp, we’ll pack up and begin our first attempt of the day to cross the Oggioni Pass to the Dickson Valley. Our guide will lead us past a waterfall and across a stone bridge, before walking over two glacial moraines as we begin our ascent to Mount Oggioni, located behind the Silencio Valley.

Once we pass the pass, we’ll walk through a dense forest that will lead us to a beautiful view of the Dickson Valley and the camp in the distance. As we descend, we will arrive at our camp.

*Today’s hike is very challenging, and you must be in excellent physical condition to cross the Oggioni Pass.

This day can be taken as a rest day, or depending on the weather, we may attempt a second crossing of the Oggioni Pass. Alternatively, we can explore the beautiful area surrounding Dickson Refuge and the lake.

Today is a day to indulge the senses, filled with beautiful sights and textures. We will walk through ancient beech forests, follow winding trails, and trace the path of the Los Perros River. Mountains, waterfalls, and lush vegetation will always be close by as our trail crosses the river via a suspension bridge and reaches the base of our second terminal moraine. A final half-hour hike will bring us to today’s destination, Los Perros Camp.

This is the most strenuous day of the Paine Circuit, featuring demanding trails and variable weather conditions. However, your effort will be more than rewarded with some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Torres del Paine, experienced by only a few visitors.

We will ascend to the John Garner Pass at 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) above sea level, where the famous Patagonian winds are strong, and the views of the Grey Glacier and the still-unexplored peaks of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field are simply astonishing.

The trail then leads us along the glacier, ascending and descending through forests of fallen trees and beneath the towering, almost muscular granite walls of the Olguín Range. As we approach Grey Glacier, we may witness ice calving—where chunks of ice break off from the glacier’s edge.

Our morning will begin with some rest and stretching at the camp. Depending on your energy levels, you can choose from several options for this morning.

We will hike to the Grey Glacier viewpoint to watch ice calving from its massive walls; take on an ice trek using crampons; or paddle across Grey Lake on a kayaking expedition, navigating around icebergs and facing the glacier.

Afterward, we will have lunch at the refuge and hike to Lake Pehoe. (The ice trek and kayaking expedition have an additional cost; advance booking is required).

We bid farewell to this journey with the Francés Valley, a spectacular natural basin surrounded by towering peaks and hanging glaciers.

This is a round-trip hike that begins by walking around Paine Grande. From the suspension bridge over the Francés River, you will witness the impressive hanging glacier above the valley. From there, we will continue hiking for another hour to the viewpoint (the “plateau”), where we will have lunch surrounded by these majestic peaks and open skies.

Our return hike follows the same path, and a catamaran will take us back across Lake Pehoe to meet our transfer, which will safely return us to Puerto Natales.