A Guide to Mirador Las Torres Hike in Torres del Paine
Are you planning on hiking in Chilean Patagonia, in Torres del Paine National Park? You cannot miss the iconic one-day hike to Mirador Las Torres, also known as Base Towers. Our travel guide includes tips on how to get to the trailhead, what to pack, where to stay, and trail description.
How often does it happen to you that you want to visit a place after seeing only a single photo from this particular location?
It happened to us after we saw the classic picture of Las Torres, the main attraction in Torres del Paine National Park.
And we have a feeling that it will happen to you in this case as well.
It might seem a bit shallow, but the stunning images of three spiked granite towers mirroring in the turquoise lake were among the main reasons why we wanted to travel to this part of Patagonia.
And we hope now that our photos will inspire you to visit Torres del Paine as well. Trust us. It is an unforgettable experience.
Moreover, Las Torres is often considered among the top hikes in Patagonia.
No matter if you plan on hiking to the Base of the Towers towering above the glacial lake on a day trip or if you want to catch a sunrise at Las Torres on your multi-day W or O Trek, we are convinced this day will be the highlight of your trip to Patagonia.
Therefore, here's everything you should know about hiking the Mirador Las Torres before you go.
Hike Difficulty
We would rate this hike as moderate to hard, depending on our previous experience.
However, don't be fooled by the number of people who hike to the Base Towers viewpoint every day. It is not that easy to finish this trail.
Because it is a must-do activity in Patagonia, we met on the trail many people who, in our opinion, really underestimated this hike.
They either seemed really out of shape, underestimated the unpredictable weather, wore inadequate clothing, or brought the wrong gear.
There are much easier but equally beautiful hikes in Torres del Paine, so make sure to choose the right trail. But back to the trail's profile.
The hike is 18 kilometers long (9 kilometers one way), and you will gain 900 meters of elevation on the way up to the lookout.
From start to finish, the trek should take you 6 to 9 hours, depending on your pace and fitness level.
Do I Need a Guide?
No, you don't need a guide for the Las Torres hike. In our experience, reaching the base of the Towers can be easily done on your own.
The trail is well-marked and heavily trafficked, so it's almost impossible to get lost.
During the peak season, there were many people around us all the time, so we felt very safe the whole time.
In case you don't feel like arranging transport by yourself and hiking alone, or if you just want to enjoy a smooth day trip to this incredible place, you can take a guided tour.
Entrance Fee
The Towers Base hike is free, but don't forget that you need to purchase an expensive entrance ticket in order to enter the national park.
The entrance fee we paid in Laguna Amarga's office for Torres del Paine was pretty steep, 21.000 CLP per person.
With this ticket, you can visit the park on three consecutive days from Puerto Natales and hike any multi-day treks within the park.
When visiting the national park on day trips, it pays off to make plans for three consecutive days to get the most out of the ticket.
In order to purchase the entry ticket, you need to wait in line for approximately 30 minutes, fill out several forms and show your passport.
It is enough to have a copy or a print screen on your phone.
How to Visit Mirador Las Torres
Before we dive into the topic, we must mention that you have two options on how to hike to the Base of the Towers.
First, you can visit the Towers as part of the famous multi-day W Trek (or its longer version, O Trek).
Trekking this trail is a fantastic experience, but it requires about five to ten days of your time, and you will need to make bookings several months ahead.
As we traveled across South America, making spontaneous changes to our itinerary every day, this was not an option for us.
Simply put, all the camping slots were booked out by the time we reached the lower part of Chilean Patagonia.
Thankfully, if you cannot afford to spend that many days of your holiday on a single trek or don't have any luck with reservations, you can do the hike in only one day from Puerto Natales.
How to Get to Mirador Las Torres Trailhead from Puerto Natales
Getting to the trailhead of the Base of the Towers hike from Puerto Natales and back is not hard. Just be prepared that it will be a long day.
Public Transport
First, you need to buy a bus ticket at the bus station one day before you want to visit Torres del Paine.
There are several bus companies with a similar timetable, quality, and rates, so choose the one that has available tickets.
Bus to Torres del Paine
You will pay between 10.000 to 15.000 CLP for a round-trip ticket per person.
Always check the current departure times before you go, as they can change every year. At the time of our visit, buses were leaving Puerto Natales at 7 AM, 8 AM, and 2:30 PM.
We suggest you take the early morning bus to enjoy a stress-free day on the trail.
The bus ride to the national park takes an hour and a half, and you need to get off the bus right at the first stop, Laguna Amarga.
Here you will find the main entrance into the park and an office where you can buy the entrance ticket.
Laguna Amarga to Las Torres Trailhead
If you already have a ticket, you must cross the parking lot and jump on one of the waiting private shuttles that will take you to the trailhead.
The shuttle costs 3.000 per ride per person and takes you to the starting point of the Las Torres hike, about 8 kilometers from here.
Don't even think about getting from Laguna Amarga to the trailhead on foot.
You would need to walk 16 kilometers in total, and this section has nothing to offer you. It would be just a waste of time, money, and energy.
Bus to Puerto Natales
To get back to Puerto Natales in the afternoon, take a shuttle to the park's main entrance and here wait for your regular bus to Puerto Natales.
It does not have a fixed schedule, but don't worry. You will get to Laguna Amarga on time.
It usually leaves at 1:30 PM and 7 PM, but check your bus company's current timetable in Puerto Natales to be sure.
Rental Car
If you want to explore Torres del Paine National Park at your own pace, consider renting a car in Punta Arenas.
When arriving in Chilean Patagonia by air, this is where you land.
Alternatively, rent a car directly in Puerto Natales. This is a good alternative for those arriving in Chile from places such as El Calafate or El Chalten in Argentina.
Having a car in Torres del Paine is a significant advantage as you're not restricted by the bus schedules.
Don't forget that this approach is more aimed at day hikers, as you obviously won't need a car when doing W or O Trek.
Here you will find the best deals on rental cars in Patagonia.
Hiking the Mirador Las Torres
After a short ride, the shuttle bus dropped us off in front of another information center connected with the cafeteria and gift shop.
We walked quickly through this area and continued on a flat gravel path across the grassy field around Las Torres Hotel, where the Las Torres trail starts.
Trailhead
After being already for about two and a half hours on the road, we could easily see why this accommodation is popular despite its expensive room rates.
Still, we tried to sleep on the bus, so we can't say we arrived at this point tired. Rather the opposite. We were thrilled to start the hike and leave this busy area behind.
The first section was quite busy due to the fact that many people arriving from Puerto Natales headed out to the trail at the same time.
Some of the hikers tried to beat the crowds and pushed hard right from the start.
We decided to keep a steady pace instead of trying to outrun other hikers as we knew that we had nine kilometers ahead of us and the crowd will eventually disperse.
Ascencio Valley
On the first kilometer, we had to cross a couple of swinging bridges, but the trail was mostly flat to this point.
After leaving the second bridge behind us, we started a gradual ascend to Refugio Chileno, about three kilometers away.
The path was following a beautiful canyon in Ascencio Valley, and we could see lakes in the distance when we turned around during one of our quick stops.
Refugio Chileno
Then we arrived at our first stop. You can take a break here, but we knew that we still had plenty of work to do ahead of us, so we stayed here only for a few minutes to catch a breath and drink some water.
Refugio Chileno is accommodation for people hiking multi-day treks or for those who want to see Towers Base at sunrise.
Don't forget that you must book the Refugio Chileno or adjacent campground through the private company Torres del Patagonia (Fantastico Sur) well in advance, though.
By the way, Refugio Chileno is the best place to stay overnight before hiking to Mirador Las Torres to see the sunrise.
The Forest
After we passed by the busy Refugio Chileno, the trail led us into a forest where we had to cross several streams along the way.
This approximately three kilometers long section was relatively easy, and we picked up the pace here.
The Climb
When we walked out of the forest, we reappeared on a gravel path again. And we could see the steep hill ahead of us. That's right. This is the hardest part of the hike.
A sign on the side of the trail also mentioned that we should reach the Towers Base viewpoint in 45 minutes.
This part was for sure the most challenging as the surface was slippery, and there were loose rocks on the trail.
The higher we climbed, the windier it got, making the final push a bit harder than we wanted.
Generally, this part is not that bad, but you need to pay attention all the time and watch where you step, especially when it's windy up there.
Once again, keeping a steady pace was the key to success in this section.
We couldn't wish for better weather, but as we were reaching the top, we could see some clouds rolling over the mountains.
We picked up the pace to make it to the top to get the views, but it was not necessary as the clouds quickly dispersed.
Nevertheless, this brief moment reminded us how quickly can the weather in Patagonia can change.
The Base of the Towers
Finally, we emerged at the trail's highest point, from where we got well-deserved views of the impressive Towers and a beautiful lake sitting at their base.
It took us a bit under three hours to get from Las Torres Hotel to Towers Base, which we believe is about an average time for this trail.
We walked down to the lake, took some photos, had our simple lunch, and relaxed on the shore for more than an hour while soaking up one of Patagonia's best views.
While it was pretty windy up there, lying on our backs on the rocks behind larger boulders kept us warm.
Trail to Laguna Amarga
Nothing lasts forever, though. So we had to force ourselves to get up and start hiking back.
As this is an out-and-back trail, we had to follow the same way back to the parking lot.
Then we took a shuttle bus to Laguna Amarga, where we hopped on a bus to Puerto Natales.
Even though we were exhausted and tried to sleep on the way back, the setting sun over the mountains didn't let us.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
When to Go
The best time to visit Las Torres is during summer, usually between December and February.
As this is the best time to visit Patagonia, be prepared that you won't have the trail for yourself. If you want to escape the crowds, make sure to arrive outside the peak season.
Spring and fall are beautiful times to see Patagonia, so expect fewer crowds and lower temperatures.
You can hike to Las Torres in winter. Just be prepared that the trail will be icy, slippery, and probably covered in snow.
Make sure to bring the right gear with you.
What to Pack
Weather in Patagonia is unpredictable any time of the year, so it's essential to come here prepared.
Strong winds blow almost every day here during summer, but it seemed to us that this hike was not as affected by this natural phenomenon as some other trails in the park.
When the hiking season is in full swing, and the skies are clear, you still should expect that the weather can change in a matter of minutes up there.
To make your trip as comfortable as possible, wear a comfortable daypack with back support and a waist strap.
A good fleece jacket is perfect for hiking in colder conditions.
We usually also bring another extra layer to keep your body warm when we take a break along the way.
A down jacket is great to have with you once you reach the main viewpoint, so you will stay warm there while having lunch and admiring the views.
Never leave for the mountains without a good rain jacket. We also always have a rain poncho in our daypack in case of heavy rain.
Hiking boots are a must-have as well on this trail.
As the trail incline is steeper, good trekking poles will help you keep your pace on the way up and balance on the way down.
Also, don't forget to read our in-depth guide on what to pack for Patagonia.
Where to Stay
When it comes to accommodation, you have three options on where to stay before hiking to the Towers.
Staying directly in one of the national park's hotels is an unforgettable experience, and you will eliminate the annoying travel time between the city and the park.
The biggest disadvantage of this idea is that the hotels in Torres del Paine are very expensive. If you're a budget traveler, you should consider staying in Puerto Natales instead.
While it's not conveniently located as the other options, Puerto Natales serves as a base for visiting Torres del Paine National Park for most visitors.
Of course, if you're doing the W Trek, you can stay in Refugio Las Torres, but be prepared that even this basic accommodation is very expensive for what it offers.
Here we hand-selected the top hotels in Torres del Paine and Puerto Natales.
Torres del Paine | Hotel Las Torres Patagonia - Hands down, Hotel Las Torres Patagonia has the best location for hikers planning to reach the Base of Towers early in the morning. It's the hotel we had to pass by at the beginning of the trail, and we must admit we envied everyone who could have afforded it.
Puerto Natales | Hostal Boutique Factoria Patagonia - One of the nicest and best hostels in Puerto Natales, Factoria Patagonia features both dormitories and private rooms, a filling breakfast, and good Wi-Fi. Don't forget to try the homemade pasta in the on-site restaurant.
Camping | Refugio Las Torres - You can also try to secure a spot in Refugio Las Torres, which offers both dormitories and campsites. You can make your reservation with Las Torres Patagonia (Fantastico Sur).
Is Las Torres Hike Worth It?
If you are traveling to Torres del Paine National Park only for a day or two, this iconic hike should undoubtedly be on your Patagonia itinerary.
And if you're hiking the W or O Trek, you will get here eventually anyway.
If you've made it all the way here to the end of our blog post, we have a small confession to make.
We have to admit that we both liked Grey Glacier Hike a bit more. Don't get us wrong. Las Torres is a fantastic hike.
It's just that the trail to the Base of the Towers can get crowded, and there are not that many views from the trail.
Still, we can't stress enough that this is just nitpicking, and if you decide on this trail, you have a fantastic day ahead of you.
Or try both and let us know in the comments which one you liked more!
Simply put, the Base of Towers is one of the most famous travel destinations in Chilean Patagonia and a place that has a firm spot on every itinerary.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
