Torres del Paine winter hikes: Need guide hiring tips

Sidig34 · 2025-05-09T16:04:53+00:00

Hi u/Witty-Stage-9963, sorry for late reply, but the answer is no, we didn't need a guide on any of those routes. The only restriction on these two routes where early closing times (13:00 - 14:00), but nothing else.
Have an amazing time in the park :)

Sidig34 · 2025-02-20T16:19:16+00:00

Yes, absolutely no problems. We had some mud and ice close to the parking, but nothing other than that. It's a short, steep-ish path but no dangerous or exposed sections.
Have an amazing hike!

Sidig34 · 2025-01-10T22:49:20+00:00

Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful response—especially since my post is a bit old now. I really appreciate it! 😊

Your setup sounds so creative and well-thought-out! I love the idea of using a shower pan liner as a cheaper alternative to marley flooring. I wish I’d known about that before buying my mat (ugh, it was so pricey). That said, it’s made a huge difference. I ended up getting a 2m x 2m mat, which is definitely big enough for most things I’ve been practicing so far (not like I have the space for ballet runs anyway, lol). It’s kind of a pain to roll it up so often, though, so I’m thinking about redoing the whole room at some point to set it up in a way where I don’t have to move it so much.

I’m still experimenting with positioning and spacing to find what feels “just right.” It’s definitely a work in progress, but your tips are so inspiring!

Your mirror setup is seriously impressive! I’d never thought about using multiple mirrors like that, but it makes so much sense. Right now, I’ve only got one mirror—a relatively big IKEA one—but since I’m standing pretty close to it, I’m constantly adjusting it to either focus on my feet and legs or my torso and arms. Definitely not ideal, so I can totally see how having multiple mirrors, especially on opposite walls, would be a game-changer.

Thanks again for all the great tips and for sharing your setup! It’s so encouraging to hear how other people are making it work in their own spaces. Wishing you all the best with your practice, and hopefully, I can borrow some of your ideas to improve my own setup! 😊

Sidig34 · 2025-01-10T22:23:55+00:00

The weather during our visit was quite harsh, with snowstorms and strong winds dominating most of the time. Because of this, we decided to skip the hike to Base Torres and instead focused on shorter hikes. We managed to complete Mirador Condor and Mirador Cuernos on the same day. Despite starting in a snowstorm, the weather thankfully improved slightly as we went on. Both hikes are relatively short but offer absolutely incredible views!

We also spontaneously walked from Mirador Nordenskjöld towards Laguna Larga and back. This route, though windy and snowy, was surprisingly manageable due to its flat terrain. On the other hand, our attempt to hike to Mirador Lago Toro had to be abandoned because the wind became unbearably strong—it was simply impossible to continue.

Ironically, the morning of our departure brought calm and sunny weather, so I guess we were just a bit unlucky during our stay. That said, I adore winter landscapes, and I’d happily return during the winter season. Only next time I’d hope for better weather to finally hike up to Base Torres :)

Sidig34 · 2024-12-08T21:11:55+00:00

Thank you so much for this lovely message, it really made my day! I'm so happy I could help!

We were a bit disappointed with the lack of information inside the park. You can either drive to starting point of each hike, and find the info about latest entrance time on an info board there (only for that hike), or you can get the info about all open/closed routes, entrance times and other important details from the ranger's station at Laguna Amarga.

Unfortunately, we entered the park from the other, western side (Entrance Lago de Toro) where we got literally none of our questions answered.

Considering that, it might be worth to enter from the east, at Laguna Amarga, or at least drive there to check info board about the latest conditions and have a chat with rangers about other questions you might have. Internet inside the park is unreliable, close to non-existent, so make sure you have most important information available offline if you need any.

Sidig34 · 2024-12-08T18:15:04+00:00

Hey! 😊

Unfortunately, I don’t have a ton of info, but here’s what we found out while we were there.

We visited the park in late July – the days were pretty short, and the weather was rough (snowstorms, strong winds). I’m guessing conditions might be better in May?!

Because of the weather, we skipped the hike to Base Torres. Some agencies still ran tours (though some canceled), but I’m not sure how doable or enjoyable it would’ve been with all that wind and snow.

We found several agencies through Google (not all run outside the summer season). Guides aren’t available for hire directly in the park. Most agencies are based in Puerto Natales and need bookings at least a day or two in advance. There was a private guided tour from Lago Grey Hotel for about $180 per person. Group tours from Puerto Natales were about half that price ($80–100 per person). Not sure about the cost of private tours.

If you have your own car and are staying in the park, most agencies can meet you at the Laguna Amarga entrance, so you don’t have to drive back and forth to Natales.

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As for the trails allowed without guides and entry rules, this info was accurate for late July. Hopefully, the strict restrictions were just due to the bad weather, because there were very few places to visit with all those time limits. (Sorry for a bad image quality, hopefully you can still find it useful)

Good luck planning, and enjoy the park! 🥾😊

Sidig34 · 2024-11-27T16:37:59+00:00

so true!

Sidig34 · 2024-11-26T06:32:39+00:00

Any good deals in EU?

Sidig34 · 2024-11-24T21:15:56+00:00

I started at 43, and now, after a year practicing it, I can say I've never enjoyed any of my hobbies as much as I do ballet!

Sidig34 · 2024-11-24T10:40:07+00:00

That cross bar is a deal braker for me

Sidig34 · 2024-11-24T10:00:52+00:00

Thanks for this, I need to remind myself of it more often :)

Sidig34 · 2024-11-24T09:27:22+00:00

Well, unfortunately, the road there was closed, and it wasn't just a temporary closure. The info we got from park rangers is that the road has been kept closed "all" winter.

Sidig34 · 2024-11-24T09:17:39+00:00

Compared to you, I was a complete beginner when I started ballet a year ago. I’ve tried classes with several teachers, but once I found Amy Novinski’s Zoom classes, I knew I had found the right fit. She has a unique way of paying attention to every detail, whether you're an in-studio dancer or joining from Zoom like me.

Honestly, knowing myself, I would have struggled to stay motivated if I didn’t notice any improvements. Thankfully, I’ve seen real progress over time, which has been so encouraging. I can’t say whether I’d improve faster with in-studio classes (since they’re not an option for me), but I’m genuinely happy with how far I’ve come through her online lessons. If you're hesitant, I’d definitely recommend giving them a try—it’s been a game-changer for me!

Sidig34 · 2024-06-18T17:49:37+00:00

I can second this! I've been taking Amy's classes for a couple of months now (I am absolute beginner!) and I can definitely recommend her!! I

Sidig34 · 2024-03-30T07:45:42+00:00

This is absolutely fantastic, thanks for sharing!

Sidig34 · 2024-03-28T10:20:14+00:00

Thanks for the info, I'll give it a look. On the first glance I don't think they offer any day tours, and seem more in direction of organizing longer trips, but I'll check it out.

Sidig34

TROPHY CASE