Refugios Torre Norte, Torre Central, Chileno, Los Cuernos, Grey, Dickson & Paine Grande Lodge

Overview

[photos - ... coming soon... ]

Booking Refugios in Torres del Paine is essential, yet difficult.

On one hand, the Refugios in Torres del Paine National Park fill up quickly (especially during high season, which is from November through March), on the other hand, booking them is not an easy task. The later simply is because the companies that manage the Refugios are extremely slow in answering reservation requests.

Te get the best out of your trip to Torres del Paine, please allow yourself a little bit of time to carefully read through the following explainations to see how it all fits together. Enjoy... and looking forward to hearing from you soon to book your refugios in Torres del Paine with us!

By the way...

Refugio is the Spanish word for shelter/ mountain hut. It is sometimes also called albergue. They all mean the same thing.

Map

... coming soon...

Torre Norte & Torre Central

Refugios Torre Norte & Torre Central

Location

Refugio Torre Norte and Refugio Torre Central are just a few steps from each other (about 200 meters/ yards).

Refugio Torre Central is the newer one of the two and has been open since 2006. It is also the main building of the two Las Torres Refugios, with restaurant and bar for guests staying in either one of the two Refugios.

Refugio Torre Norte is simpler and nowadays serves as a bunk house with all services next door, at Refugio Torre Central (except bathrooms and showers).

Access

7km (4 miles) by road from the park entrance Laguna Amarga. The road is in a pretty "adventurous" state, so it takes about 20min. to drive, one way. Private vehicles, including rental cars are allowed on this access road to the refugios. There is also a shuttle bus service from/ to Laguna Amarga to Refugio Torre Central, which operates on the following schedule:

• 09:00 a.m.: Refugio Torre Central - Laguna Amarga (connecting with the 1st public bus coming from Puerto Natales that continues to Pudeto (catamaran across Pehoé Lake to Paine Grande Lodge) and La Administración
  
• 09:30 a.m.: Laguna Amarga - Refugio Torre Central
• 02:00 p.m.: Refugio Torre Central - Laguna Amarga (connecting with the 2nd public bus coming from Puerto Natales that continues to Pudeto (catamaran across Pehoé Lake to Paine Grande Lodge) and La Administración

• 02:30 p.m.: Laguna Amarga - Refugio Torre Central

Note on the bus schedule

Sometimes, it happens that the shuttle bus fills up. Don't worry about this! While everybody is getting nervous, because they want to catch the bus at Laguna Amarga, simply sit back an relax, the shuttle bus drivers will simply send for another shuttle bus shortly after. The "big" bus, at Laguna Amarga will wait for you.

Capacity

Refugio Torre Norte: 44 beds, distributed in 6 rooms with 3 bunk beds each and 1 8-bed room

Refugio Torre Central: 60 beds distributed in 10 rooms with 3 bunk beds each.

Open

Refugio Torre Norte: November 01, 2011 – March 15, 2012

Refugio Torre Central: September 15, 2011 – April 30, 2012

Services/ Facilities

• Shared bathrooms and hot water/ showers (separated for men and women)
• Restaurant and bar (at Refugio Torre Central)
  
• Cozy common areas
  
• Small store, which sells basic camping equipment, basic food supplies and souvenirs
  

Hiking Options

Day Hikes

• Torres del Paine Lookout "Base Las Torres", 8 hours round trip
• Laguna Inge, 1 hour to the lake, 1 hours around the lake, 1 hour back
  

Multi-Day Hikes

• 2 hours to Refugio El Chileno
• 3 hours to Campamento Las Torres, camping only, no service
• 4 hours to Camping Serón
• 4 hours to Refugio and Cabañas Los Cuernos
  

Chileno

Refugio El Chileno

Hiking Options

Day Hikes

• Torres del Paine Lookout "Base Las Torres", 4 hours round trip
• Valle del Silencio, 4 to 8 hours round trip
  

Multi-Day Hikes

• 2 hours to Refugios Torre Norte and Torre Central
  
• 1 hour to Campamento Las Torres, camping only, no service
• 6 hours to Camping Serón
• 4.5 hours to Refugio and Cabañas Los Cuernos
  

Los Cuernos

Refugio & Cabañas Los Cuernos

Hiking Options

Day Hikes

• Torres del Paine Lookout "Base Las Torres", 8 hours round trip
• Laguna Inge, 1 hour to the lake, 1 hours around the lake, 1 hour back
  

Multi-Day Hikes

• 2 hours to Campamento Italiano, camping only, no service
• 4 hours to Campamento Britanico, camping only, no service
• 4 - 9 hours to Paine Grande Lodge, which is:
  
• 2 hours to Campamento Italiano + 2 hours to Paine Grande Lodge (therefore min. 4 hours from Refugio & Cabañas Los Cuernos to Paine Grande Lodge)
• + 30min. round trip to the first lookout, Francés Glacier Lookout
• + 1.5 hours round trip to the 2nd lookout, Valle del Francés Lookout
  
• + 3 hours round trip to the 3rd lookout in the upper French Valley "La Piedra"
  
• 2 hours to Refugio El Chileno

Paine Grande Lodge

Access

30min. boat ride by motor catamaran across Pehoé Lake, which operates on the following schedule:

• 09:30 a.m.: Pudeto - Paine Grande Lodge - (December 01, 2011 - March 31, 2012)
  
• 10:00 a.m.: Paine Grande Lodge - Pudeto - (December 01, 2011 - March 31, 2012)
• 12:00 noon: Pudeto - Paine Grande Lodge - (October 01, 2011 - April 30, 2012)
• 12:30 p.m.: Paine Grande Lodge - Pudeto - (October 01, 2011 - April 30, 2012)
• 06:00 p.m.: Pudeto - Paine Grande Lodge - (November 01, 2011 - April 15, 2012)
• 06:30 p.m.: Paine Grande Lodge - Pudeto - (November 01, 2011 - April 15, 2012)

Note on the catamaran schedule

Sometimes the catamaran gets full, then they simply sail a 2nd time.

Also:

Another access option includes a 5-hour hike from the park ranger's administration center, La Administración, with great views while you hiking towards the Paine Massif.

Hiking Options

Day Hikes

• Grey Glacier Lookout (half way to Refugio Grey), 4 hours round trip
• Grey Glacier Lookout (near Refugio Grey), 8 hours round trip
• Pehoé Lake/ Paine Massif Lookout (go South towards the park ranger's administration center/ La Administración), 2 hours round trip
• Valle del Francés/ French Valley (4 - 9 hours)
  
• 2 hours to Campamento Italiano + 2 hours to Paine Grande Lodge (therefore min. 4 hours from Refugio & Cabañas Los Cuernos to Paine Grande Lodge)
• + 30min. round trip to the first lookout, Francés Glacier Lookout
• + 1.5 hours round trip to the 2nd lookout, Valle del Francés Lookout
  
• + 3 hours round trip to the 3rd lookout in the upper French Valley "La Piedra"

Multi-Day Hikes

• 4 hours to Refugio Grey
• 5.5 hours to Campamento Los Guardas, camping only, no service
• 8.5 hours to Campamento El Paso, camping only, no service
• 2 hours to Campamento Italiano, camping only, no service
• 5 hours to Campamento Británico, camping only, no service
• 4 - 9 hours to Refugio & Cabañas Los Cuernos
• 2 hours to Campamento Italiano + 2 hours to Refugio & Cabañas Los Cuernos (therefore min. 4 hours from Paine Grande Lodge to Refugio & Cabañas Los Cuernos)
• + 30min. round trip to the first lookout, Francés Glacier Lookout
• + 1.5 hours round trip to the 2nd lookout, Valle del Francés Lookout
  
• + 3 hours round trip to the 3rd lookout in the upper French Valley "La Piedra"

Grey

Refugio Grey is the newest Refugio in Torres del Paine and opened on December 01, 2011. It replaced the original Refugio Grey, which is now becoming a CONAF park ranger hut. Until December 2011, the original Refugio Grey will remain open for guests.

Hiking Options

Day Hikes

• T..

Multi-Day Hikes

• 1.5 hours to Campamento Los Guardas, camping only, no service
• 4.5 hours to Campamento El Paso, camping only, no service
• 10 hours to Camping Los Perros
• 4 hours ro Paine Grande Lodge
  
• 6 hours to Campamento Italiano, camping only, no service
• 9 hours to Campamento Británico, camping only, no service
• 8 hours to Refugio & Cabañas Los Cuernos (without exploring Valle del Francés)
  

Dickson

Hiking Options

Day Hikes

• T...

Multi-Day Hikes

• 6 hours to Camping Serón
• 10 hours to Refugios Torre Norte and Torre Central
• 4 hours to Camping Los Perros
• 9 hours to Campamento El Paso, camping only, no service

Not Recommended

It is a 14-hour walk from Refugio Dickson to Refugio Grey, which is the next Refugio, if you trek the Torres del Paine Circuit in a counterclockwise direction. Although we met some above average trail runners, who run (not walk) the whole Paine Circuit in just over 14 hours, we do not recommend this leg to average and also not to very good trekkers. Solution: trek from Refugio Dickson to Los Perros Camp, spend the night (camping only) and hike over John Gardner Pass the next day and then continue to Refugio Grey. This also means that we do not recommend the Circuit using refugios only, meaning without at least one night at Los Perros Camp.

Prices

Torres del Paine Refugio Prices for Season 2011 - 2012

These prices are per person in Chilean Pesos, CLP

* If you only book a "Bed", you must bring a sleeping bag. In this case no sheets or blankets are provided.

Please allow yourself a little bit of time to carefully read through the following explanations.

Meals may also be booked on site.

[ FOTOS ROOMS - coming soon... ]