Full-Day Hiking Tour to the Base of Paine Towers at Torres del Paine National Park

The trip was awesome! Our two tour guides, Juan Pablo and Ignacio, were friendly, kind and knowledgeable. They explained everything we’d be doing so we’d know what to expect and were reassuring and encouraging at challenging points along the route

It was a wonderful hike to a beautiful place. María Jesús, our guide, was very knowledgeable, engaging and kind and made 39,000 steps fly by! Highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting TdP.

Ricardo & Hugo were the best guides we could have asked for! They were knowledgeable, kind, adaptive for everyone in the group and really helped us see a glimpse into Chilean culture. They set a great pace that was manageable for all parties and checked in on everyone physically many times throughout the hike. Would HIGHLY recommend people to use this company & even request Ricardo and Hugo. The excursion was appropriately priced, there was good communication before pickup, and our guides had great energy. Such a fun day!

Very tough excursion, about 9 hours of walking, 25 km in difficult but very beautiful terrain, it goes from a long wooded stretch to rocks that are very difficult to walk on, but in the end the view is priceless, you are presented with the towers which are truly spectacular !!

The change of scenery along the hike was a delight. Time (45 min) to enjoy the towers at the base was nice too. Definitely worth it. Did this in running shoes and it was doable, but definitely recommend hiking shoes for grip on several sections of the trail.

“The average hike length is 8 hours but I’ve had many trips that have been over 11” ; the somewhat ‘menacing’, certainly ‘sobering’ words of my Guide Valentina, as we prepared for the ‘off’. Looking up, I could feel the acute angle of my neck ! I’d been told - warned - that this officially categorised ‘challenging’ activity had within it 3 phases, the first being an ascent taking circa 90 minutes. An aerobic workout that definitely tested. And replenishing water bottles from the gushing rivers/falls was as necessary as it was a relief. Phase 2 - through the forest - was easier, albeit each ‘down’ was met with the next ‘up’. The occasional returning hiker’s telling grin - in sync with a recurring ‘keep going’ salutation - was commensurate with a presumed sense of descending joy ! The 3rd and final ‘stretch’ was arguably the hardest. You’re 10Km ‘in’ at this stage and ahead of you is a last 1Km that takes a good 50 minutes to complete. You’re clambering over uneven rocks & small boulders, all the time ascending. You sweat. You ache. You occasionally entertain the odd expletive. This is arguably as much a mental resilience issue as it is physical. Then…there ‘they’ reveal themselves ! South, Central & North, alongside Condors Nest. Magnificent ! Dramatic. Imposing. ‘Mighty’ ! Beautiful too. And all of this with the tranquility of a shimmering lake in the foreground. Any hint of negativity dissipates, all doubts are forgotten. Because no doubt - it’s worth it ! ‘That’ sight before you impacts…and with it, there’s a powerful sense of achievement. Memorable. And being one of the first to reach the destination brought privilege, in that there was a discernible peace about the environment, that later - after eating our lunch - had been replaced with lots of busyness and queuing for the best photo opportunity. Don’t be lulled into a false belief that the return to base is straightforward. Occasionally slipping & sliding on the rocks in the first phase, equates to a need for a more minded purpose of footing. Hiking protocol dictates that you give way to Ascenders. For each ‘down’ there continues to be an ‘up’…right to the end. But Vally telling me ‘You’re the real deal Hiker JP’ at the end of 7 hours, 20 minutes was a moment of magical affirmation.

This trek is challenging. I did it in under the average 8 hours and my body was tested. Lots of ‘uphill’, often clambering over a path full of rocks and small boulders. Uneven stepping to say the least. After the first 20 minutes, it’s a constant climb for 1.5 hours. And the final ‘push’ is another 45 minute climb. Coming down, it’s easy to lose your footing and slip/slide. I did this 3 times - and lived but have the bruises. Better shoes needed than the runners I had. But…the experience beyond the physical test is wonderful. Amazing scenery and a ‘destination’ that is truly breathtaking. In short, it’s ’worth It’ ! My travelling companion damaged his back the day before our booked hike. He was advised to refrain from physical exertion. I emailed Viator, late on the night before, admittedly well outside of the cancellation policy terms. What’s so disappointing ( and in the context of me being a regular Viator customer ) is that the cost of the 1 x hike could not be transferred to another, less strenuous trip. Poor judgement ? Bad customer service ?

Hello, I would like to know if I can do a self-guided full-day trail, that is, it is not mandatory to hire a guide. Thank you so much!

Our guide Felipe was super nice, helpful and took great care of the whole group. He left those where he wanted to run fast, so I could stop where I wanted and shit pictures. Was 1 hour earlier than the first of the group above ;-) In the end it will be hard for most as it goes over big stones. In the middle of the hike there is a restaurant there will then take a break. A great excursion and the view at the end compensates the efforts before. A tip from me in the backpack something to take with me for dinner and something to drink. Great trip.

Everything was perfect. The highlight of my time in chile was this trek. From the tour guides to the food, it was perfect. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Thanks again guys! Aaron