Self-Guided O Circuit: Torres del Paine Full Loop in 7 Days
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TripsChilePatagonia

Self-Guided O Circuit: Torres del Paine Full Loop in 7 Days

Chile
6 Nights·7 Days
PatagoniaHiking & TrekkingCamping & Wild Camping

Overview

Trekking the self-guided O Circuit gives you the freedom to discover Patagonia’s wilderness at your own pace, free from the hassle of daily planning. While you have the flexibility to hike independently, all logistics are organized by experienced local professionals, including campsite reservations, all meals, and a detailed safety briefing. Travelers are equipped with an offline navigation app that provides all the essential route guidelines, maps, and tips needed to explore the trails.

Located in the beautiful Torres del Paine National Park, this challenging 100+ km trek leads past the Base of the Towers, quiet lenga forests, and Paine Chico. The trail continues along Lake Paine, Lake Dickson, and the Los Perros River before a steep ascent over John Gardner Pass, revealing jaw-dropping views of Grey Glacier and Lake Grey.

Accommodation takes place in six different campsites strategically located around the mountain circuit. This daily change of scenery guarantees a deeply immersive outdoor experience, connecting you directly with the remote environment. Staying in these shared natural spaces also provides an excellent opportunity to meet other travelers who are sharing the same adventure.

  • Full itinerary: the complete Torres del Paine O Circuit on foot, with the Base of the Towers, the beech forests to Serón, Lake Paine and Lake Dickson, the Los Perros River, John Gardner Pass, Grey Glacier, Lake Pehoé, and the French Valley.
  • Start big: the Base of the Towers on Day 1, three granite spires above a glacial lake.
  • Cross John Gardner Pass at 1,200 m (3,937 ft) and look down on Grey Glacier and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
  • Hike the quiet back side of the park, through old lenga beech forest and open valleys, where the shorter W Trek never goes.
  • Sleep in 4-season tents already set up at every campsite, with a sleeping bag, mat, and pillow—no camping gear to carry for 6 nights.
  • Self-guided, with local support: briefing by a local team in Puerto Natales and an offline navigation app with maps, tips, and key points. There is no guide on the trail.
  • All-inclusive experience: the bus into Torres del Paine, the park entrance, 6 nights in pre-booked campsites with tents and bedding, meals from Day 1 to Day 7, the Lake Pehoé catamaran, and the transfer back to Puerto Natales.

  • Please note: Patagonian weather changes fast, and on a self-guided trek the decisions on the trail are yours. Follow the park’s rules and recommendations in your navigation app; should snow or severe winds compromise safety, turn around without hesitation.

Itinerary

Day 1

Bus to Torres del Paine / Hike to the Base of the Towers / Central

  • Public busPuerto Natales → Laguna Amarga · ~2 h · Leaves 7 AM
  • TrekCentral ⇄ Base of the Towers · 22 km (13.7 mi) · 8–10 h
  • OvernightTent (or a shared dorm bed) at Central

Your self-guided O Circuit trek starts at the Puerto Natales bus terminal at 6:45 AM for the 7 AM public bus to Torres del Paine. The road crosses estancias and open Patagonian plains. Upon reaching Laguna Amarga (the park’s main entrance), present your park-entry QR pass before boarding a 20-minute shuttle ride bound for the Welcome Center.

From there you walk to Refugio Central, leave your bag, and set off up the Ascencio Valley. The trail climbs to the Windy Pass—an exposed section with strong gusts—then passes Refugio Chileno, the last stop with toilets, food for sale, and internet. Bring cash if you want to buy anything.

After a stretch of lenga forest and small streams, the last hour climbs a steep terminal moraine to the view of the Towers above their glacial lake. Come back down the same trail to sleep at Central.

Meals included: Box lunch / Dinner

A female hiker with a blue backpack stands on a granite boulder, taking in the view of the three iconic Torres del Paine granite spires and snow-dusted peaks rising above a lenga beech valley on the self-guided O Circuit
Three sheer granite towers of Torres del Paine rise steeply above a snow-dusted base on the self-guided O Circuit, with warm ochre and grey rock faces filling the frame under a partly cloudy sky

Day 2

Lenga Forest / Paine Chico Views / Serón

  • TrekCentral → Serón · 13 km (8 mi) · 4–5 h
  • ForestOld beech forest · Gentle, well-marked trail
  • OvernightTent at Serón

Weather permitting, the day starts with dawn light on the Towers. Leave the busy side of the park behind and walk through an old beech forest, where you may hear woodpeckers or spot fresh puma tracks on the trail.

This is one of the easiest stages of the circuit: a well-marked path with a gentle incline and distant views of Cerro Paine Chico. Your pre-booked tent waits at Serón, in the north-eastern corner of the park.

Meals included: Breakfast / Box lunch / Dinner

Three elevated grey platform tents on a hillside during the self-guided O Circuit, with a snow-capped peak, dramatic storm clouds, and a wide green valley dotted with colourful dome tents in the background
A hiker with a large backpack and trekking poles walks through a dense lenga beech forest on the o circuit self guided route, the forest floor blanketed in green undergrowth and fallen branches, with a second hiker visible ahead among the tall, slender trunks.
A wide meadow of white daisy-like wildflowers stretches toward forested mountain slopes with patches of snow, under a dramatic sky of deep blue and billowing clouds on the self-guided O Circuit in Torres del Paine

Day 3

Lake Paine / Wildflowers and Peaks / Lake Dickson

  • TrekSerón → Dickson · 18.5 km (11.5 mi) · 6–7 h
  • WildflowersOrchids, calceolarias, violets, and oxalis, in season
  • OvernightTent at Dickson, on the lakeshore

The independent O Circuit follows the shore of Lake Paine, with Cerro Escudo, Cerro Cabeza del Indio (look for the face carved by nature in the rock), and the curved summit of Cerro Cubo around you. In spring and early summer, the slopes are full of wildflowers.

The stage ends at Lake Dickson, fed by Dickson Glacier on the border between Chile and Argentina. The campsite sits on the edge of the lake, with mountain views. The whole route is loaded in your offline navigation app.

Meals included: Breakfast / Box lunch / Dinner

Aerial view of a glacial turquoise lake curving around a forested peninsula on the self-guided O Circuit, with snow-capped mountains and overcast skies in the background and a small campsite visible among the trees
Pendant red and purple fuchsia flowers hanging from a slender branch against a soft green forest background on the self-guided O Circuit trail
Snow-capped granite peak rising above a valley of lenga beech trees and green shrubland on the self-guided o circuit self-guided o circuit route in Torres del Paine, with sunlight breaking through dramatic storm clouds

Day 4

Los Perros River / Suspension Bridge / Los Perros Camp

  • TrekDickson → Los Perros · 13 km · 5 h
  • RiverLos Perros River · Suspension bridge · Glacial lagoon
  • OvernightTent at Los Perros

Trek through ancient beech woodlands along the gentle course of the Los Perros River, surrounded by cascading waterfalls and towering peaks. A suspension bridge crosses the river to the foot of a terminal moraine that feeds a clear glacial lagoon.

A final 30 minutes brings you to Los Perros, the most rustic of the Torres del Paine campsites on this route, with only a cold-water shower and no flush toilets.

Meals included: Breakfast / Box lunch / Dinner

Turquoise glacial river winding through lenga beech forest with boulders along the banks and two hikers crossing a rustic wooden footbridge, a scene typical of the self-guided O Circuit in Torres del Paine
Two hikers with full backpacks navigate a narrow trail on the self-guided O Circuit, passing a towering moss-covered rock face flanked by old lenga beech forest

Day 5

John Gardner Pass / Grey Glacier / Grey Camp

  • Early startThe longest day of the circuit
  • John Gardner PassHighest point · 1,200 m (3,937 ft)
  • TrekLos Perros → Grey · 17 km · 10–11 h
  • OvernightTent at Grey

The hardest day of the O Circuit. Climb to John Gardner Pass at 1,200 m, where the Patagonian wind hits at full force. From the top, the view opens over Grey Glacier and the peaks of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a part of the park few visitors ever see.

The descent follows the edge of the glacier, up and down through a forest of fallen trees beneath the granite walls of the Olguín Range. Near Grey you may hear or see the ice calving into the lake.

Meals included: Breakfast / Box lunch / Dinner

Two trekkers with large blue backpacks follow a boot-packed trail across a vast snow-covered plateau on the self-guided O Circuit, with a sweeping range of snow-capped Patagonian peaks under a deep blue sky behind them
Jagged blue-white ice towers at the calving front of Grey Glacier meeting a dark glacial lake, seen from above on the self-guided O Circuit in Torres del Paine
Snow-covered peaks and a glacial ice field loom above tree tops on the self-guided O Circuit, with blue ice visible in the crevassed lower slopes and a strip of glacier at the base

Day 6

Grey Glacier Morning / Lake Grey / Paine Grande

  • ViewpointGrey Glacier lookout · Icebergs and calving
  • OptionalKayak on Lake Grey or ice hike on the glacier · Extra cost
  • TrekGrey → Paine Grande · 11 km (6.8 mi) · 3.5 h
  • OvernightTent at Paine Grande

The morning is yours at the foot of Grey Glacier. Walk to the glacier lookout, or, if you booked it in advance, join an ice hike with crampons or paddle a kayak among the icebergs on Lake Grey.

Later, the trail heads south through forest and over streams, with wide views of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, and down past Laguna de los Patos, where you may see flightless steamer ducks. The campsite is Paine Grande, on the shore of Lake Pehoé.

Meals included: Breakfast / Box lunch / Dinner

A group of kayakers in red and orange sea kayaks paddle on a calm lake during the o circuit self guided trek, with the jagged snow-dusted peaks of the Cuernos del Paine rising sharply under a dramatic overcast sky
Aerial view of vivid turquoise meltwater pools and channels carved into a vast white glacier surface, seen on the self-guided O Circuit in Torres del Paine
A small group of trekkers crossing a vast blue-grey glacier surface on the self-guided O Circuit, dwarfed by rolling waves of ancient ice stretching in every direction
Towering blue ice seracs at a glacier terminus rising directly from dark water on the self-guided O Circuit in Torres del Paine, with deep crevasses splitting the ice wall under a cloudy sky

Day 7

French Valley / Catamaran on Lake Pehoé / Puerto Natales

  • TrekPaine Grande ⇄ French Valley viewpoint · 20 km (12.4 mi) · 7–8 h
  • CatamaranAcross Lake Pehoé · 35 min
  • TransferTo Puerto Natales · ~2 h

The last day of your self-guided Torres del Paine trek goes into the heart of the Paine Massif. A winding trail leads to the French River—at the entrance of the French Valley, a gradual one-hour climb brings the first view of the hanging glacier at the top of the valley, then on to the French Valley viewpoint.

Return on the same trail to Paine Grande and board the catamaran across Lake Pehoé. On the other side, the pre-arranged transfer drives you back to Puerto Natales, where the trip ends.

Meals included: Breakfast / Box lunch

Four hikers with backpacks walk across golden grassland on the self-guided O Circuit, with the snow-dusted granite horns of Cuernos del Paine rising through storm clouds behind them
Two hikers with large backpacks and trekking poles walk a rocky trail on the self-guided O Circuit, with the granite walls and dark horns of the Cuernos del Paine rising steeply under a cloudy sky, surrounded by scrubby vegetation and bleached dead trees

What is Included

  • Round-trip transfer (Puerto Natales ⇌ Torres del Paine: public bus and park shuttle on Day 1, catamaran and transfer on Day 7)
  • 6-night stay in pre-booked campsites: Central, Serón, Dickson, Los Perros, Grey, and Paine Grande
  • Meals (full board on the trail: from the Day 1 box lunch to the Day 7 box lunch)
  • Torres del Paine National Park entrance (QR code)
  • 4-season tents for two, set up at each campsite, with sleeping bag, air mattress, and pillow
  • Catamaran across Lake Pehoé
  • Trip briefing with our local team in Puerto Natales, the day before Day 1
  • Offline navigation app with maps, tips, and key points along the route
  • Self-guided route on the O Circuit, with all bookings made for you

Not included

  • Flight tickets
  • Hotel nights in Puerto Natales before Day 1 and after Day 7
  • Airport transfers (Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales) and the bus from Punta Arenas
  • A guide on the trail
  • Private porter service (optional, Day 1)
  • Grey Glacier kayaking and ice hike (optional)
  • Upgrade from a tent to a refugio bed
  • Single supplement for a tent of your own
  • Towels
  • Snacks, drinks, and anything you buy along the trail
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Card payment fees, passports, and visas

FAQ

Reviews

“Customer service was top notch! Communication while planning was very quick and timely. We went in the independent o trek 7 days. They took care of all the booking. Once on the trek, we were able to communicate with them via WhatsApp with any questions. Food was great and kept us full the whole trip. Camping and Refugios were comfortable. The app they used to navigate the as very accurate. Corrected us very promptly when we got off course!”

— Escape756154

“Absolutely a clear recommendation to choose this operator. The guides have solid knowledge of the flora, fauna and mountains. First-class logistics provide all the necessary information in advance. Checking in at the camps on the O Trek, which often means standing in a long line (I'm talking about 1 hour), thankfully doesn't apply, because it is taken care of for you. There is also the luxury of not having to carry your own food, because the so-called "porters" bring the lunch boxes and dinner to the remote camps. This way the team of guides and porters forms a great unit.”

— Mary On

“They made the trip so easy. They organized everything perfectly. I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking to hike in torres del paine”

— mark francis

“I hiked the O Trek and it was incredible! We were extremely lucky with the weather, only having some rainy or windy days. The views were picturesque and while the hiking was difficult, our guide Pepa knew when we needed to rest or slow our pace to ensure we didn't overdo it. The refugios (campsites) were well kept and almost all of them had all the amenities you could want (supplies for purchase, beer, and wifi if you needed). All staff members throughout the hike were kind and welcoming. Our guide Pepa was fantastic! She was knowledgeable about plants, history of the park and Chile, adventurers, and so much more. She ensured we were checked into each refugio on time, kept us up-to-date on expectations for the next day's hike/weather, and was a great companion to have on the journey. She and the porters that helped us (Coñeñe and Jaime) were kind and extremely helpful; they even brought us treats to have before each dinner which was a wonderful touch!”

— Evan L

“I did the guided Big Paine trek in November 2024, it was the best hiking experience I ever had! The agency is really helpful and assists you with any inquiry or advices you might need. They offer different circuits which are all well detailed on their websites. They gently recommended other agencies and shops in other parts of Patagonia for the rest of my trip as well, I really appreciated this! Torres del Paine was an amazing discovery for me, I initially came to visit the famous towers but ended up discovering so much more along the way. At times I could look in any directions and be stunned by the majesty of all the nature around me. Our guide, Catalina, was exceptional, she shared her knowledge and passion for Patagonia, the park and nature with a contagious joy and energy. She showed us along the way many animals, plants, mountains and much more and taught us about them and their relationship to the park and the region. She went out of her way each day and each night at each camp to accommodate to our group and make our experience amazing! The agency also handled the reservation at each camp, we had the tents ready with sleeping bags and mats when we arrived, food was included at every refuge as well and was quite good! We also took the porter option, the team was very nice and efficient, our dry bags we’d always ready for us at the camp and the porters always prepared some surprise for us when we arrived. Thank you to all the team for that amazing experience! I hope I’ll have an other occasion to visit Patagonia with you!”

— Alexis Chevalier

“Amazing trip! We joined the Torres Del Paine 7 day O trek tour - note that this tour is not a complete O Trek but skipping the part from Camp Frances to Las Torres, which worked in our favour as our holiday is limited and we won’t miss much. Our guide, Debbie was knowledgeable and amicable, and very passionate about hiking. Unfortunately I fell sick during the hike and wished to leave a day earlier than planned.”

— Suet K

“I booked the independent, self-guided Torres Del Paine trek help and was so glad I did. To still be able to go on the trip when I wanted to go, to not have to spend so much time planning all the logistics, to get a local’s recommendations on the best way to do the trek…but STILL get to do the trek on my own was amazing and worth every penny. In particular Paolina at the agency was incredibly helpful. I would recommend this agency to anyone looking to hike in Torres del Paine.”

— Olivia Evans

“I was in Torres del Paine, doing the full circuit. I had an excellent experience; the company's team takes special care of its clients. The meals offered were of great quality, and the guides were always attentive, clearly explaining the challenges we would face each day. I recommend them to anyone planning this trek. Although it is possible to do the route on your own, the effort required is very great, and using a company like them makes the circuit much easier. But in Torres del Paine everything is very expensive and paid in dollars.”

— Samuel M

“The two of us joined a group of a total of 9 (inc one family of 6) and had a fabulous trip. The weather was kind with the passo being a fine day. Our guide and porters were very professional and friendly. A fantastic location, a well organised trek, great company. Fantastic. Three cheers to the team walking with us.”

— Tom

“What a fantastic experience.I have never done a group tour or a guided tour while trekking, so I was skeptical about this, but I am incredibly happy I did. While you don’t need a guide to navigate the paths of the trip, the two guides (Brujo and Chuma) made the trip 10 times better than if I had done it solo. You get to focus on the hike, on being in nature, on relaxing, writing - whatever you want. All the logistics are handled with ease, and you get a couple of great meals in the middle of Torres del Paine! The guides even helped me with my Spanish and would chat with me along the trail every day, which I appreciated immensely. I’d recommend ChileNativo without hesitation if you’re thinking of doing the “O” (and you should do the O if you can - it’s the best!)”

— Kate

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