The O-Circuit, also known as the Circuit Paine Grande, in the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile is probably one of the best-known trekking tours in Patagonia alongside the smaller W-Trek. The trail leads through the Torres del Paine massif for around 130 km and, in addition to the famous view of the Torres del Paine, the trail also impresses with beautiful views of Lake Dikson, Los Perros Glacier and the mighty Grey Glacier, which can be admired particularly well from the John Gardner Pass.
I completed this fantastic hike with my sister in 2023. During the 8 days in the national park, we were able to enjoy the different landscapes in good weather.
Overview
- Name: O-Circuit (Circuit Paine Grande)
- Country: Chile
- Length: ca. 130 km
- Difficulty: medium
- Stages: 8
- Season: November to February
Route
Video
As always, I made a short video about the hike. Here you can get a first impression of the hike.
Planning
Unfortunately, trekking on the O-Circuit is now a very touristy affair. There are several campsites and accommodation along the way and these must be booked in advance. As places are limited and quickly booked out, it makes sense to start planning early. Many people book a year in advance, but we were lucky and were able to secure our places about 8 weeks before the start.
Food
There are always smaller stores and restaurants along the way, but the choice is very limited, especially at the back of the park, and the prices are enormous. It therefore makes sense to start out with enough food and take it with you for the 8 days. We had classic rice with tuna, soups, salami, cereals, snacks, etc. with us. All together quite a lot 😀
We cooked our own food in the evening on the stove.
Reports
If you want to know more about the individual stages, you can read my posts about the O-Circuit on my blog. There I tell you what I experienced on the individual days and how difficult the individual stages really were.
Galery
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