One of the most iconic and amazing hikes in Chile is the Mirador Las Torres (‘viewpoint of the towers’), and it can be done as either a 1 day hike or as part of the W trek, which takes 4 to 5 days.
If you’re visiting Torres Del Paine on a budget and want to do this hike without a car, the good news is that you can also do it by bus in a single day, even if you’re staying in the town of Puerto Natales.
That’s what I did, and it was a highlight of my recent trip to Patagonia. The hike is challenging and it takes a full day, but it pays off with awesome views of the three granite towers and the turquoise lake.
How To Get There
First of all, the closest airport to the park is in the town of Puerto Natales (PNT), which has daily flights from Santiago and Puerto Montt. You can shop for flights on Skyscanner.
There’s also a bus route to Puerto Natales from El Calafate, on the Argentine side of Patagonia. That’s what I did and it was pretty easy and comfortable. The trip takes 6 hours and you can book it here.
Once you arrive in Puerto Natales, you can get to the Las Torres hike by car, tour, or bus. I’ll explain each of these options below.
• By Car
Renting a car is the easiest and most flexible way to get to the towers hike.
There are many companies offering car rentals in this area, but my personal recommendation is DiscoverCars.
If it fits in your budget, you can even stay directly at the pricey Hotel Las Torres, which is located right at the start of the trail!
Otherwise, if you’re coming from Puerto Natales, it’s a 2 hour drive to the Torres Del Paine Welcome Center (map here), where you’ll start the hike.
• By Tour
A guided tour is another convenient option if you don’t want to mess with a rental car or bus, and the prices are pretty reasonable.
GetYourGuide has a day tour to Base Las Torres that includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Puerto Natales, and a bilingual guide to lead you to the towers.
We’ve used this company for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great. Highly recommended!
Book Now: Torres Day Hike From Puerto Natales
