Probably the most spectacular hikes in Chile is the Mirador Las Torres (‘viewpoint of the towers’), and it may be performed as both a 1 day hike or as a part of the longer W trek, which takes 4 to five days.
In case you’re visiting Torres Del Paine on a price range and need to do that hike with no automotive, the excellent news is which you could additionally do it by bus in a single day, even in the event you’re staying in Puerto Natales.
That’s what I did, and it was a spotlight of my latest journey to Patagonia. The hike is difficult and it takes a full day, nevertheless it pays off with superb views of the three towers and the turquoise lake.
This information will clarify the right way to do it step-by-step!
Fast Info*
- Distance: 20 kilometers (12.5 mi)
- Elevation Achieve: 1,015 meters (3,325 ft)
- Max Altitude: 870 meters (2,860 ft)
- Issue: Laborious
*These are roundtrip stats for the day hike
The ‘Torres Del Paine’ — Towers of Blue
How To Get There
• By Automotive
Renting a automotive is the best strategy to get to the towers hike.
If it matches in your price range, you may even keep immediately on the Hotel Las Torres, which is positioned proper at first of the path!
There are numerous firms providing automotive leases in Puerto Natales, however I like to recommend DiscoverCars.
It’s a 2 hour drive from Puerto Natales to the Torres Del Paine Welcome Middle (map here), the place you’ll begin the hike.
• By Tour
A guided tour is one other handy possibility in the event you don’t need to mess with a rental automotive or the bus.
GetYourGuide has a day tour to Base Las Torres that features lodge pickup and drop-off from Puerto Natales, and a bilingual information to take you to the towers.
We’ve used this firm for plenty of excursions and actions world wide, they usually’re nice. Extremely beneficial!
Guide Now: Towers Day Hike From Puerto Natales
The blue lake at Lago Torres
• By Bus
The most cost effective strategy to get to the towers hike from Puerto Natales is by bus + shuttle.
You’ll be able to guide the bus on-line here, and a roundtrip ticket prices 28,000 pesos (~$30 USD) as of 2025. I’d advocate reserving your tickets not less than a month upfront.
The bus station is known as Terminal Rodoviario (map here) and it’s centrally positioned in Puerto Natales. I stayed at a budget friendly hotel inside strolling distance of the station.
The buses appear like this
There are many bus departures every single day, however because the hike is an extended one, you’ll must take the earliest departure and the newest return, that approach you’ve loads of time to finish the hike and nonetheless catch your return bus.
The primary bus leaves Puerto Natales at 6:45 AM, arriving in TDP (Laguna Amarga) 2 hours later, at 8:45 AM.
I took this bus a number of instances whereas visiting Torres Del Paine, and it was at all times on schedule, despite the fact that there was some highway development alongside the best way.
Comfortable seats
One of many good issues about going by bus is which you could chill out and let another person deal with the driving.
I don’t actually get pleasure from driving out of the country, particularly if it’s early within the morning once I’m nonetheless waking up.
On the bus, you may tune out and possibly even get some sleep when you’re en path to the park.
The park workplace at Laguna Amarga
When you arrive on the Laguna Amarga checkpoint, the rangers from TDP will examine your park tickets as you get off the bus.
I extremely advocate shopping for your tickets on-line to avoid wasting time on this step. You should buy them on the official website here.
In case you want a minute, the constructing at Laguna Amarga has clear bogs and free Starlink WiFi. Here’s a map of the situation.
Welcome middle
Subsequent, it’s worthwhile to catch a shuttle van from Laguna Amarga to the Torres Del Paine Welcome Middle (map here).
It’s a 15 minute drive and prices 4,500 pesos in money, as of 2025. You’ll be able to’t guide this upfront, however there’s no want since there are common shuttles in every course.
Once more, there are restrooms and WiFi on the Welcome Middle, plus a restaurant and memento store.
Cafe & memento store
The Welcome Middle is the place you begin climbing to the towers. Right here’s a map from AllTrails displaying the complete climbing route.
I acquired off the shuttle on the Welcome Middle and began climbing at precisely 9 AM, reached the Refugio Chileno at 10:30 AM, and the lake at 12:30 PM. My tempo was in all probability slightly above common, however not too loopy.
I stayed on the lake for nearly 2 hours, resting and taking photos, earlier than beginning again at round 2:30 PM.
I arrived again on the TDP Welcome Middle 3 hours later, at slightly previous 5:30 PM.
Comply with the indicators for Mirador Las Torres
The final shuttle from the Welcome Middle again to Laguna Amarga is at 7 PM, so that you don’t need to miss it. And the final return bus from Laguna Amarga to Puerto Natales is at 8:15 PM, so that you don’t need to miss that both.
General, this plan gives you mainly 10 hours of free time to finish the hike, assuming you are taking the earliest morning bus and begin climbing at 9 AM like I did, and return to Laguna Amarga on the final shuttle at 7 PM.
That’s fairly beneficiant. Don’t dawdle, however 10 hours ought to be loads of time for many hikers!
Consider the final bus will put you again in Puerto Natales city at 10 PM. Sure, it’s late, however you received’t be alone, and a few eating places will nonetheless be open.
River working by way of the valley
Map Of The Path
Right here’s a map from AllTrails that exhibits the whole climbing route and elevation profile for the Las Torres day hike, ranging from the TDP Welcome Middle.
That is the place the hike at all times begins and ends, no matter whether or not you go along with a rental automotive, tour, or bus.
In case you join AllTrails Plus, you may obtain the map and use it offline whereas climbing. It’s very useful!
What To Count on: Mountaineering To Mirador Las Torres
• Trailhead To Refugio Chileno
The hike begins with a flat and uninteresting stroll by way of some meadows and previous the Hotel Las Torres, with distant views of the mountains within the background. It stays principally flat for about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles).
Subsequent, there’s a gentle uphill climb for one more 2.5 kilometers till you attain the ‘Paso de los Vientos’ (Windy Cross), which is the place you’ll encounter the primary nice view of the hike: a river slicing by way of the valley, with snow-capped mountains on each side.
After a brief stroll by way of the move, you’ll attain the Refugio Chileno, the place you may relaxation a minute. The Refugio is an in a single day lodge with a restaurant, and it additionally has WiFi and bathrooms for a payment.
Bridge crossing close to the beginning of the hike
First mountain views
• Refugio Chileno To Lake Of The Towers
From the Refugio, you’ll stroll by way of a forest on a gradual incline for the subsequent 3 kilometers till you attain a clearing, the place the trail forks downhill to Campamento Torres, or uphill to Las Torres.
There’s a time restrict to go previous this level: in the event you get right here after 2 PM, they received’t allow you to go to Las Torres.
Even in the event you’re solely 10 minutes late, the rangers will flip you round. So preserve that in thoughts.
There’s a cut-off time to hike previous this signal
The path will get messy close to the tip
That is the place the path will get steep and rocky. This final kilometer is unquestionably the toughest a part of the entire hike. It’s protected, however it’s worthwhile to watch out to not step on any wobbly rocks.
Lastly, you’ll attain Lago Torres, the lake of the towers! It’s a surprising view, and despite the fact that it will get fairly busy in the course of the day, there are many nice photograph spots across the lake.
Don’t be discouraged if the towers are coated in clouds whenever you first get to the lake. That occurred to me, however I waited awhile and the towers got here out!
The return hike is solely flat or downhill, so it’s a lot simpler.
First peek of the towers
Resting on a large boulder close to the lake
Can You Hike Independently?
Sure, you are able to do this hike by yourself. You don’t want to rent a information or get any form of particular allow.
All you want is a ticket for the nationwide park, which you should purchase on the official website here.
Greatest Time To Go
The very best time to go to Torres Del Paine is in the course of the spring (September to November) or fall (March to Might). Summer season is nice too, however the trails are extra busy.
I went in early November, and that was just about excellent. I’ll do it once more on my subsequent journey to Chile.
The climate was nice, and I appreciated how there was nonetheless a good quantity of snow and ice skirting the bottom of the towers. It regarded further good for pictures.
Base Las Torres
Extra Patagonia Journey Guides
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved this information for the right way to do the Mirador Las Torres hike by automotive or bus.
Don’t neglect to take a look at my other travel guides for Patagonia earlier than you go!
