Base of the Towers Day Hike

The Base of the Towers is the viewpoint the whole park is named for: a small glacial lake under Torre Sur, Torre Central and Torre Norte, at the top of the Ascencio valley. It is the last stage of the W Trek, and the one stage you can walk as a day hike from Puerto Natales without a single refugio night. That makes it the day almost every visitor asks the same two questions about: how hard is it, and do I need a guide?

The trail in figures

Measured along the path, the trail from the Welcome Center by Hotel Las Torres to Mirador Base Torres is 8.8 km each way: 4.5 km up the Ascencio valley to the Chileno sector, then 4.4 km through lenga forest and up the moraine. That is close to 18 km there and back; the guided days count 20 to 22 km on foot, with the walk from the vans. The viewpoint sits at about 890 m above sea level, and the climb from the valley floor is close to 900 m.

The guided days plan 4 to 5 hours up and about the same down at a normal pace with breaks. The last half hour is the hard part: a steep slope of loose, medium-sized boulders left by the glacier, where everyone slows down.

Do you need a guide?

No. The park lists the Base Torres trail as a walk that needs no reservation, unlike the W itself, and the path is well marked. What you do need is the logistics, and that is where a guided day earns its price:

• The transport. The public bus leaves the Puerto Natales terminal at 07:00 and reaches Laguna Amarga at about 09:10 (Bus Sur’s 2026-27 timetable, CLP 18,000 a leg or CLP 35,000 return). From there a transfer covers the 7.8 km to the Welcome Center, about CLP 5,000 each way, cash. The guided days collect you from your accommodation and drive you to the trailhead.
• The trail hours. The park posts fixed hours for the Base Torres trail: an entry cut-off in the morning and an exit time, 15:00 on the schedule we read in October 2026. Check the hours for your date at the ranger station or in the park’s daily report before planning a bus-and-boots day, because the first bus arrives at 09:10.
• The guide. The guide reads the wind, sets the pace and tells you when to turn around, which matters more on the moraine than anywhere else.

The featured day hike cost $99 a person in October 2026, with pickup in Puerto Natales between 6:15 and 6:45, a certified bilingual guide, trekking poles and a first aid kit, and back in town around 21:00 to 21:30. Food and the park entry are not included.

Check Base of the Towers day hike dates

The park pass

Every visitor needs a park pass, bought online in advance at pasesparques.cl. For foreign adults the daily pass cost CLP 32,400 and the pass for two or more days, valid up to 10 days in a row, CLP 48,500 (checked October 2026). The guided day hikes do not include it.

Which guided day?

All three run from Puerto Natales with pickup included and are rated 4.8 out of 5. The small-group trek adds an assistant guide for groups over six people and has everyone back at the van between 17:30 and 18:30. In the winter season, from late April, the park requires a specialised guide on this trail.

How fit do you need to be?

Fit enough to walk all day with a long climb in it. The trail itself is not technical, but the day is long and the moraine is steep, and the guided days list it as advanced or medium-high intensity, not suitable for children under 10. Wear hiking shoes that grip on rock, carry layers and a windbreaker, and bring your own lunch and water. The wind at the top can be strong enough to stop you; the towers are often in cloud, and no tour can promise the view.

The day hike or the full W?

The day hike gives you the towers. The W Trek adds the Francés valley and Grey Glacier over four or five days, with refugio and campsite nights that must be booked first. If the nights are gone for your dates, the day hike is how you still stand under the towers. If you are doing the W, this is the stage you save for last. Ready? Compare the day hikes or check live availability.