Must-do experience with delightful views - The change of scenery along the hike was a delight. Time (45 min) to enjoy the towers at the base was nice too. Definitely worth it. Did this in running shoes and it was doable, but definitely recommend hiking shoes for grip on several sections of the trail.

Tough ? Yes. Worth it ? No doubts ! - “The average hike length is 8 hours but I’ve had many trips that have been over 11” ; the somewhat ‘menacing’, certainly ‘sobering’ words of my Guide Valentina, as we prepared for the ‘off’. Looking up, I could feel the acute angle of my neck ! I’d been told - warned - that this officially categorised ‘challenging’ activity had within it 3 phases, the first being an ascent taking circa 90 minutes. An aerobic workout that definitely tested. And replenishing water bottles from the gushing rivers/falls was as necessary as it was a relief. Phase 2 - through the forest - was easier, albeit each ‘down’ was met with the next ‘up’. The occasional returning hiker’s telling grin - in sync with a recurring ‘keep going’ salutation - was commensurate with a presumed sense of descending joy ! The 3rd and final ‘stretch’ was arguably the hardest. You’re 10Km ‘in’ at this stage and ahead of you is a last 1Km that takes a good 50 minutes to complete. You’re clambering over uneven rocks & small boulders, all the time ascending. You sweat. You ache. You occasionally entertain the odd expletive. This is arguably as much a mental resilience issue as it is physical. Then…there ‘they’ reveal themselves ! South, Central & North, alongside Condors Nest. Magnificent ! Dramatic. Imposing. ‘Mighty’ ! Beautiful too. And all of this with the tranquility of a shimmering lake in the foreground. Any hint of negativity dissipates, all doubts are forgotten. Because no doubt - it’s worth it ! ‘That’ sight before you impacts…and with it, there’s a powerful sense of achievement. Memorable. And being one of the first to reach the destination brought privilege, in that there was a discernible peace about the environment, that later - after eating our lunch - had been replaced with lots of busyness and queuing for the best photo opportunity. Don’t be lulled into a false belief that the return to base is straightforward. Occasionally slipping & sliding on the rocks in the first phase, equates to a need for a more minded purpose of footing. Hiking protocol dictates that you give way to Ascenders. For each ‘down’ there continues to be an ‘up’…right to the end. But Vally telling me ‘You’re the real deal Hiker JP’ at the end of 7 hours, 20 minutes was a moment of magical affirmation.

Amazing experience. - Everything was perfect. The highlight of my time in chile was this trek. From the tour guides to the food, it was perfect. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Thanks again guys! Aaron

Grey day of hiking - It was great, fantastic tour couldn’t have been happier great guides and everything was good. Highly recommend

Great day out with amazing views - This was a great trip. My husband is coeliac and we have found it somewhat difficult finding good food for him in South America. We requested a gluten free meal for his lunch box, and it was done with no hesitation, and was delicious! Our guide was attentive, knowledgeable and personable, and made sure that everyone was doing well throughout the day. Can I please remind everyone that this is a challenging hike, with two very steep sections each way and needs to be treated with respect. You need to be in good health, in good shape and with the right gear to get the most out of the day. Make sure you read up about the hike before you choose to do it. This is a day I will never forget. Thank you!

Beautiful excursion - Very tough excursion, about 9 hours of walking, 25 km in difficult but very beautiful terrain, it goes from a long wooded stretch to rocks that are very difficult to walk on, but in the end the view is priceless, you are presented with the towers which are truly spectacular !!

Moderate hike is an understatement... - <p>Moderate hike is an understatement. The suggested mileage should include the additional 5 miles round-trip to trek from the parking lot to the trail head. Inspect your lunch items before you set out on the hike, and be prepared to supplement with your own preferences--every ounce matters in an 18 mile day, so only take what you'll want to eat. Make sure you take enough water. There may not be a place to refill on the trip. The restrooms cost money at the rest area / campsite halfway through the hike. The description says the limit is 5 people in a tour, and we felt weighted down with 7--not sure why we had additional people, but it was tough making it through the more difficult parts of the hike when we would lose momentum. Super long day, but worth it. A great way to see a ton of highlights in one day.</p>

Terrific hike. Viator disappointing. - This trek is challenging. I did it in under the average 8 hours and my body was tested. Lots of ‘uphill’, often clambering over a path full of rocks and small boulders. Uneven stepping to say the least. After the first 20 minutes, it’s a constant climb for 1.5 hours. And the final ‘push’ is another 45 minute climb. Coming down, it’s easy to lose your footing and slip/slide. I did this 3 times - and lived but have the bruises. Better shoes needed than the runners I had. But…the experience beyond the physical test is wonderful. Amazing scenery and a ‘destination’ that is truly breathtaking. In short, it’s ’worth It’ ! My travelling companion damaged his back the day before our booked hike. He was advised to refrain from physical exertion. I emailed Viator, late on the night before, admittedly well outside of the cancellation policy terms. What’s so disappointing ( and in the context of me being a regular Viator customer ) is that the cost of the 1 x hike could not be transferred to another, less strenuous trip. Poor judgement ? Bad customer service ?

Great hike but chose your guided company carefully. - We understood that the maximum group size was 6 hikers/group. I believe our group was 14 with a fairly wide range of hiking capability. That meant that the group as a whole was delayed considerably by the slow walkers. Seating in the bus was very cramped, especially over the rear wheelwell. The hike was more demanding than advertised. With significant undulations in altitude the net elevation gain belies the cumulative elevation gain. The hiking distance was advertised to be 19 km, not the 23 we walked probably because the ground transportation doesn't get hikers to the trailhead. The drop-off point probably falls a couple kilometers short of the trailhead. The lunch, for an additional fee, was barely palatable. It would have been useful to know on the ascent that water at the midway rest stop was potable. We weren't advised of that until we returned on our descent. The blue towers are spectacular and well worth the hike. But this guided group fell well short of expectation.

I would like information about Torres del Paine - Hello, I would like to know if I can do a self-guided full-day trail, that is, it is not mandatory to hire a guide. Thank you so much!