Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine captures the stunning landscapes along an eight‑day, 150‑kilometer hike around the “O” Circuit within Torres del Paine National Park in the Chilean Patagonia. The series combines color digital and black‑and‑white film photographs.

The journey begins on the trail toward the Serón campsite, where the first distant glimpse of Las Torres appears. From there, it continues across mostly flat terrain along the Paine River to the Dickson campsite before climbing through forested areas toward the Los Perros glacier. Day 4 starts with an early‑morning ascent to the 1,200‑meter‑high John Gardner Pass, descending to a series of impressive views across the Grey Glacier. From Grey to Paine Grande, the trail follows Grey Lake, where vegetation shows the effects of the strong Patagonian winds and forest fires, evoking an unmistakable sense of resilience. Days 6 and 7 move among the mountain peaks of Paine Grande and the Cuernos del Paine, ending at the Chileno campsite. The final day returns to the three towers that give the park its name, completing the circuit where it all began.

Gravel foreground, wooden sign SERÓN with arrow, grassy hills and snowy mountain peaks under blue sky.
Day 1: Central to Serón (14 km)
Black-and-white landscape: grassy foreground, tree-covered hillside, and a large bright cloud in the sky.
Day 1: Meadow and Bright Clouds, Torres del Paine
Wide grassy meadow with low shrubs and fallen log, trees at left, distant snow-capped mountains under blue sky with clouds.
Day 1: Central to Serón (14 km)
Trail through grassy meadow framed by two large trees, leading toward distant snow-capped mountains under blue sky.
Day 1: Central to Serón (14 km)
Wide landscape: golden grass field with small shrub, dark tree line, mountains under blue sky.
Day 1: Golden Grass Field, Torres del Paine
Winding river through broad valley, grassy plains, foreground shrubs, and snow-capped mountains under blue sky.
Day 1: Paine River, Torres del Paine
Black-and-white wide landscape: grassy foreground, scattered shrubs, mountain ridge and peaks, large lenticular clouds above.
Day 2: Serón to Dickson (19 km)
Snow-capped jagged mountains rising above dense green forest under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Day 2: Glimpse at Las Torres, Torres del Paine
Low cushion shrubs foreground, reflective alpine lake midground, snow-capped mountain range under thin clouds.
Day 2: Paine Lake, Torres del Paine
Low grassy hillside with solitary clump of trees near horizon under expansive blue sky with wispy clouds.
Day 2: Serón to Dickson (19 km)
Vertical landscape: grassy foreground with scattered shrubs, midground trees and plains, snow-capped jagged mountains under blue sky.
Day 2: Serón to Dickson (19 km)
Forest stream with rushing water, moss-covered fallen logs in foreground and a rustic wooden footbridge in background.
Day 3: Forest Interior, Torres del Paine
Fast-flowing stream running over mossy boulders and stones through a narrow forested ravine.
Day 3: Dickson to Los Perros (13 km)
Dense green forest framing a glacier between rocky mountains under an overcast sky.
Day 3: Los Perros Glacier, Torres del Paine
Black-and-white vertical landscape showing rocky stream in foreground, dense forest midground, mountain peaks shrouded in clouds.
Day 3: Dickson to Los Perros (13 km)
Rocky foreground slope leading to jagged, snow-dusted mountain peaks beneath heavy clouds and pink-tinged sky.
Day 4: Los Perros to Grey (17 km)
Jagged snow-covered mountain peaks above a rocky scree slope with a small cascading stream over mossy boulders.
Day 4: John Gardner Pass, Torres del Paine
Jagged snow-dusted mountain peaks with steep rocky slopes under overcast sky, mist in the ridges.
Day 4: John Gardner Pass, Torres del Paine
Wide view of glacier filling valley between snow-capped mountains, rocky foreground under overcast sky.
Day 4: Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine
Angled tree on rocky slope overlooking pale glacial lake and jagged glacier tongue beneath barren cliffs.
Day 4: Tree and Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine
Wide glacier flowing toward distant snow-capped mountains, dark forested ridge in right foreground, cloudy sky.
Day 4: Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine
Dense green forest in foreground with steep, crevassed white-and-blue glacier rising behind.
Day 4: Close View of Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine
Downward view of a rocky stream with white rapids flowing between mossy boulders and steep vegetated banks.
Day 5: Rocky Stream with White Rapids, Torres del Paine
Hillside with sparse leafless trees and shrubs in foreground; pale-blue iceberg pieces floating on gray water.
Day 5: Grey to Paine Grande (11 km)
Single windswept evergreen tree leaning right on rocky hillside under overcast sky, low shrubs and exposed stone.
Day 5: Tree Shaped by Wind, Torres del Paine
Low hillside with dense green shrubs and a patch of small yellow wildflowers against bare rocky outcrop.
Day 5: Grey to Paine Grande (11 km)
Black-and-white panorama of rugged, snow-capped mountains, glacier at left, rocky sloping foreground.
Day 5: Cordón Olguin and Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine
Weathered, leafless tree trunks and twisted branches over grassy scrub; pale lake and mountains under cloudy sky.
Day 5: Burned Trees, Torres del Paine
Fallen bleached tree trunk and standing dead trees on grassy slope with small yellow wildflowers.
Day 5: Grey to Paine Grande (11 km)
Calm alpine lake in foreground, grassy slope left, rugged snow-dusted mountains under cloudy sky.
Day 6: Paine Grande to Francés (12 km)
Fog-shrouded layered mountain peaks and steep rocky cliffs under overcast sky.
Day 6: Layered Mountain Peaks, Torres del Paine
Black-and-white mountain valley with jagged central peak partly shrouded by clouds; foreground shrubs and bare branches.
Day 6: Paine Grande, Torres del Paine
Fog-shrouded jagged peaks above a valley of white-barked trees with a narrow central waterfall.
Day 6: Paine Grande to Francés (12 km)
Rocky stream in foreground leading to dense forest and glacier-covered mountain under low clouds.
Day 6: Francés Valley, Torres del Paine
Wide view of steep granite cliffs and jagged peaks above dark, rocky slopes under cloudy sky.
Day 6: Paine Grande, Torres del Paine
Foreground of weathered dead tree trunks and grass leading to a calm lake, distant hills under cloudy sky.
Day 6: Paine Grande to Francés (12 km)
Mountain lake bordered by forest, rocky cliffs on right and snow-capped peaks beneath cloudy sky.
Day 7: Nordenskjöld Lake, Torres del Paine
Yellow-leafed tree in foreground, dense green forest, rocky snow-dusted mountain peak under cloudy sky.
Day 7: Francés to Chileno (17 km)
Steep rocky mountain slope at right with dense evergreen trees in foreground under overcast sky.
Day 7: Francés to Chileno (17 km)
Black-and-white photograph of jagged granite peaks above a shrub-covered hillside with scattered trees and clouds.
Day 7: Francés to Chileno (17 km)
Wide view of steep granite cliff and two jagged mountain peaks above rocky foreground with low vegetation.
Day 7: Cuernos del Paine, Torres del Paine
Stream and boulders leading through alpine trees toward sheer granite peaks under overcast sky.
Day 7: Francés to Chileno (17 km)
Turquoise glacial lake surrounded by steep rocky moraine with three prominent granite towers and clear blue sky.
Day 8: Chileno to Base Torres and Central (16 km)
Black-and-white view of three granite towers rising above a glacial basin, lake and boulders in foreground.
Day 8: Las Torres, Torres del Paine
Three steep granite peaks with snow patches under blue sky, dark sheer cliff face at right foreground.
Day 8: Chileno to Base Torres and Central (16 km)