Torres del Paine O Circuit (Self-guided)

The most remote part of the circuit, through ancient forest and dense vegetation, with Magellanic woodpeckers. Following the Los Perros river you climb a large moraine to the Los Perros glacier and its blue-green lagoon. A short day, designed for resting before the one that follows. 12 km, 5 hours. Los Perros campsite. Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.

The most demanding day of the circuit and also the most memorable. You cross forest over roots and mud, then climb loose rock, sometimes with snow, to the John Garner Pass at 1,200 metres, facing the Southern Ice Field. The descent runs alongside a wall of ice, passes El Paso campsite with its ranger post, and crosses the hanging bridges before reaching Grey. 18 km, 10 to 12 hours. Grey campsite. Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.

Views of the Southern Ice Field and the icebergs of Lake Grey. You climb through mountain forest to the Grey Glacier viewpoint, continue to Los Patos lagoon and descend through a narrow, windy valley to Paine Grande. 11 km, 4 to 4.5 hours. Paine Grande campsite. Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.

A full day into the heart of the park. You follow the shore of Lake Skottsberg to Italiano campsite and from there climb into the valley. On the French plateau Los Cuernos appear, along with glacial lagoons and the hanging glaciers of Paine Grande, at 3,050 metres, where avalanches are often heard. You return along the same path to Italiano and continue to Francés or Los Cuernos. 15 or 18 km depending on the campsite, 7 to 8 hours. Cuernos or Francés campsite. Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.

A walk among streams, with the hanging glaciers of Mount Almirante Nieto at 2,670 metres and the chance of spotting condors, following the blue-green waters of Lake Nordenskjöld to the Central sector. 12.5 or 16 km depending on the starting point, 4 to 6 hours. Central campsite. Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.

The final day climbs the Ascencio valley and ends with a crossing of boulder fields to the Base of the Towers viewpoint at 900 metres, facing the three granite walls and the glacial lake. You return along the same path to the Central sector and the Visitor Center, take the shuttle to Laguna Amarga and the coach back to Puerto Natales. 21 km, 8 to 10 hours. Breakfast and box lunch.

A long day over rolling hills and wetlands in the northern sector, with views of the Dickson Glacier, Cerro Cubo and the peaks that form the border with Argentina. In the afternoon there is time to walk the rocky shore of Lake Dickson. 19 km, 6 to 7 hours. Dickson campsite. Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.