Torres del Paine National Park lifts guide rule in September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 08:28 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Torres del Paine National Park and its guide-rule change concern visitors travelling from Puerto Natales to Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in Chile. On 16 September 2026, the national forest authority CONAF lifted the requirement for accredited guides on the Base Torres and W mountain trails.
The change applies as the park moves towards normal seasonal operation, but it does not remove every winter precaution. Conditions on individual trails can still require microcrampons and trekking poles.
Torres del Paine National Park lifts the guide rule
CONAF announced the change on 14 September 2026 after monitoring weather and trail conditions in the Magallanes region. Its notice states that visitors may use the Base Torres and W routes without an accredited guide from 16 September 2026.
The authority also says winter conditions persist in some sectors. The recommendation or requirement for microcrampons and poles therefore depends on the conditions encountered on the trails. CONAF can reinforce safety measures or impose further closures if weather or ground conditions demand it. The 16 September trail-rule notice names both the affected routes and the remaining precautions.
What the 2026 change means for the park
The guide decision concerns two of the park’s best-known mountain routes, rather than the whole protected area. Base Torres leads towards the granite towers, while the W crosses the southern side of the Paine massif. The separate Macizo Paine circuit, also called the O, remains closed until 1 November 2026.
John Gardner Pass, an important section of that longer circuit, remains closed with it. CONAF says reopening depends on a technical and weather assessment. This creates a clear distinction for October travellers: the guide requirement has ended on Base Torres and the W, while the full Macizo Paine route is still unavailable. The official park information page also identifies the 31 October closure period and describes the area as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1978.
The park lies in Chile’s Magallanes region between the Andes and the Patagonian steppe. Its landscape includes granite massifs, glaciers, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and lagoons. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation dates from 1978, and the park is managed by CONAF.
Visiting Torres del Paine National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The guide-rule change took effect on 16 September 2026 for the Base Torres and W mountain trails.
- The Macizo Paine circuit and John Gardner Pass remain closed until 1 November 2026, pending technical and weather assessment.
- Microcrampons and trekking poles may be recommended or required on sections where winter conditions remain, so equipment rules can vary with the trail.
- The park is in Chile’s Magallanes region, with Puerto Natales serving as the nearest gateway named in the park’s official ticketing information. Routes and conditions should be checked through CONAF and Pases Parques before setting out.
- Spanish is Chile’s official language and the national currency is the Chilean peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Torres del Paine National Park
When did the guide requirement end at Torres del Paine National Park?
CONAF lifted the accredited-guide requirement for the Base Torres and W trails on 16 September 2026. Winter equipment requirements can still depend on trail conditions.
What remains closed at Torres del Paine National Park?
The Macizo Paine circuit and John Gardner Pass remain closed until 1 November 2026, subject to technical and weather evaluation.
Where is Torres del Paine National Park and how do you get there?
The park is in Chile’s Magallanes region, and Puerto Natales is the gateway identified in its official visitor information. Access and current conditions should be checked through CONAF and Pases Parques.
