PAINE BIG CIRCUIT + OGGIONI PASS (7 DAYS)

We’ll pick you up in Puerto Natales at 7:30AM and travel to Torres del Paine National Park along unpaved roads and past lagoons and pampas; accompanied at times by the guanacos (relatives of llamas), grey foxes, flamingos and black-necked swans that call them home.

Our first challenge is ascending Almirante Nieto – a mountain from which we’ll have a fantastic view of Lake Nordenskjold below and the Asencio Valley. Passing the Chileno Refugio, we’ll continue for an hour through a dense lenga forest pausing to observe how the valley’s beauty unfolds with rich beech forests, glaciers and waterfalls. Upon leaving the forest, we’ll continue uphill passing by Las Torres Camp where we’ll leave our packs before continuing through lush forests and our scramble up a gigantic terminal moraine (a ridge formed at a glacier’s end point) to the Base of the Torres lookout point.

Here, we’ll be rewarded by the impressive sight of the three immense Towers themselves. At this lookout point 900 meters above sea level, the three granite spires appear to burst dramatically out of the rocky landscape, while at their base a green-blue lagoon provides a counterpoint of stillness.

After enjoying lunch and taking pictures, we´ll begin our descent down the moraine back to Las Torres Campsite to collect our backpacks and continue along into the valley following the Ascencio River. After about 1 hour we reach our destination for the day – Jápones Camp (Japanese). This old climbers refugio was the he original base camping area where climbing pioneers stopped to shelter from the weather and prepare for their climb to the top of Las Torres. Here we will set up camp and settle in after enjoying a hearty dinner and early night’s rest in order to prepare for tomorrow’s attempt of crossing the Oggioni Pass.

*Chile Nativo Transfers allow us to continue our commitment to sustainability by minimizing our carbon footprint whenever possible. For this reason, Chile Nativo Transfers are semi privarte, sharing among our clients who are coming in or out of the park.

Following an early breakfast at camp, we’ll pack up and start today’s first attempt to cross the Oggioni Pass down to the Dickson Valley. Today we will be trekking through untouched, rugged wilderness along unmarked paths. Our guide will take us past a waterfall and over a stone bridge before we hike over two glacial moraines where we begin our ascent to the Oggioni Mountain on the situated behind the Silencio Valley.

Once successfully over the pass, we’ll hike through a thick forest leading us to a beautiful view of the Dickson Valley and campsite in the distance. Hiking down, we arrive to our campsite where we rest and celebrate this challenging hike together. A plentiful dinner will be served in order for us to recuperate our spirits and energy.

Please Note: today’s hike is very difficult and you must be in very good physical condition to cross the Oggioni Pass. We recommend people should be able to hike long distances, both uphill and downhill and individuals should also have keen mental strength and a sense of determination to resist tough elements like strong winds and frozen rain or snowfall (even in the summer). Most of the crossing is along moraine and snow (depending on how much snow fall the area received the previous winter). The weather in Patagonia is very unpredictable, and dealing with different levels of discomfort is one of the biggest challenges of Patagonian trekking. This is a semi-technical route where we will reach 1,585m/5,200ft (1,020m/3,350ft of elevation gain).

Today can be used a rest day or in case of bad weather on day 2, today will be the second attempt to cross the Oggioni Pass. Today can also be a day to explore the beautiful area around Refugio Dickson and the Lake.

Today is a day to please the senses, filled with beautiful sights and textures.

Often touted as one of the most beautiful sections of this wilder side of Torres del Paine, we’ll hike through ancient beech forests, wander undulating trails and follow Los Perros River.

Mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation will never be far away, as our trail crosses the river via suspension bridge and arrives at the base of our second terminal moraine; this time belonging to Glacier Los Perros, a hanging glacier that feeds the crystalline lagoon at its base.

A final half hour hike takes us to today’s destination, Los Perros Campsite.

Tonight’s campsite is the only one on the Circuit without hot showers and standard bathroom facilities such as flushing toilets.

The most strenuous day of the Paine Circuit has arrived, bringing demanding trails and variable weather conditions.

Of course, your efforts will be more than rewarded with some of Torres del Paine’s most heart-stirring landscapes, experienced by very few visitors to Torres del Paine.

We’ll begin along a clear trail through forests, then make our way through swamp-like section before beginning our ascent to the John Garner Pass. At this Pass, 1200 meters above sea level, Patagonia’s famous winds are strong and the views across Grey Glacier and of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field’s still unexplored peaks are astonishing.

The trail now takes you alongside the glacier, ascending and descending through forests of fallen trees and beneath the imposing, almost muscular granite walls of Cordon Olguín. As we come closer to Grey Glacier we may see an ice calving (where chunks of ice break off a glacier’s edge). Tonight we’ll recharge at Grey Campsite.

Our morning begins slowly, resting and stretching around camp. Depending on your energy levels, choose from several options this morning.

Walk to the Grey Glacier’s lookout point and watch for ice calvings on its massive walls; complete an ice hike with the aid of crampons; or kayak on Grey Lake, paddling around icebergs and in front of the glacier.

Later, we’ll have lunch at the Refugio and hike to Pehoe Lake. (Ice hike and kayaking expedition at an additional fee, advance booking required, please contact our Travel Specialists.)

*Optional Excursions Must Be Booked In Advanced – Ask Our Trip Specialists About Either Activity!

Today’s destination, the French Valley, is a spectacular natural basin surrounded by peaks and hanging glaciers. This is a return hike, so we will be able to leave our packs behind and trek lightly.

We start by walking around Paine Grande, the highest peak in Torres del Paine, through native Patagonian firebush and evergreen beech forests.

At the suspension bridge over the French River, the arresting hanging glacier atop the valley will come into sight. From here, we’ll walk for another hour, ascending 300m (984 ft.) through a dreamlike Japanese garden landscape before arriving at the lookout point (the “Plateau”).

Your reward is a heart-stirring bird’s eye view of granite peaks and hanging glaciers. To one side, the French Glacier and Paine Grande (3,050 m / 10,006 ft.); while to the other, La Espada, La Hoja, La Máscara and the main and north “horns” of Los Cuernos arch upwards. In the upper section of the Valley, Cerro Catedral and Cerro Fortaleza loom like turrets above the landscape.

We’ll take our time to have lunch at the viewpoint, surrounded by these imposing peaks and open skies. Our return hike is along the same track, and the catamaran will take us back across Pehoe Lake to meet our transfer who will take us safely back to Puerto Natales.

*Chile Nativo Transfers allow us to continue our commitment to sustainability by minimizing our carbon footprint whenever possible. For this reason, Chile Nativo Transfers are semi privarte, sharing among our clients who are coming in or out of the park.