Grey Glacier is the great tongue of ice in the western sector of Torres del Paine National Park: it flows out of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, runs about 28 kilometers down to the lake of the same name and ends in ice walls up to 30 meters high that calve blue icebergs. According to the inventory of Chile's Directorate General of Water (DGA), it covers 240.6 km². There are three ways to see it up close: the boat trip on the Grey III catamaran, which costs CLP 120,000 per adult round trip in the 2026-2027 season according to Hotel Lago Grey; kayaking among the icebergs; and hiking on the ice. The last two are only open to hikers on the W or O circuits.
*Updated on November 1, 2026.* Prices and schedules in this guide come from the operators and from Conaf, Chile's park service, and they change every season (on October 1 each year). Check them before booking: boat trips are cancelled in strong wind, even when passengers are already at the meeting point.
Grey Glacier key facts
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Western sector of Torres del Paine National Park, Magallanes Region | Chile Travel |
| Origin | Southern Patagonian Ice Field | Chile Travel |
| Area | 240.6 km² | DGA glacier inventory |
| Length down to the lake | About 28 km | Chile Travel |
| Height of the ice front | Up to about 30 m | Chile Travel |
| Distance from Puerto Natales | About 100 km (around 2 hours) to the Lago Grey sector | Chile Travel |
| Boat and kayak season | October to April (the boat also runs in winter, with fewer departures) | Hotel Lago Grey and Nomades |
Sources: Chile Travel, Chile's official tourism site, and the DGA. Grey is one of the most visited glaciers in the country; in our ranking of Chile's largest glaciers it stands out among the Torres del Paine glaciers you can see without an expedition.
Grey Glacier boat trip: 2026-2027 schedules and prices
The trip runs on the Grey III catamaran, with 98 seats in the cabin and an open deck. It leaves from Grey beach, in front of Hotel Lago Grey, and sails up to the glacier front. It lasts about 2 hours and 45 minutes and includes one pisco sour (or a juice) per person. Check-in is at the hotel reception one hour before departure; from there, it is a 30- to 45-minute walk along the beach to the boarding point, the only way to reach the boat.
| Ticket (Oct 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027) | Adult | Child (5 to 12) |
|---|---|---|
| Round trip (Hotel Lago Grey - glacier - Hotel Lago Grey) | CLP 120,000 | CLP 60,000 |
| One way (hotel - Refugio Grey, or the reverse) | CLP 110,000 | CLP 55,000 |
| Children aged 0 to 4 | Free | — |
Source: Hotel Lago Grey boat trip page, checked on November 1, 2026. The page does not state the currency, but prices are in Chilean pesos. Each departure needs at least 25 passengers. The agency Nomades lists CLP 120,000 per adult and CLP 71,000 per child for the round trip in the same period, so confirm the child fare when booking.
| Departure | Check-in | Sails | Reaches Refugio Grey | Leaves Refugio Grey | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 08:30 | 09:30 | 10:15 | 10:30 | 12:15 |
| 2nd | 12:00 | 13:00 | 13:45 | 14:00 | 15:45 |
| 3rd | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:30 | 17:45 | 18:45 |
Source: Hotel Lago Grey. Watch the detail: on the 1st and 2nd departures, passengers going from the hotel to Refugio Grey sail straight there without visiting the glacier; on the 3rd, the boat visits the glacier first. In the other direction, those boarding at the refuge see the glacier on the first two departures, but not on the third. Round-trip passengers cannot get off at the refuge. On busy summer days a 4th departure may be added.
Kayaking and ice hiking on Grey Glacier
Both activities start at the BigFoot base camp, on the northeast shore of Lago Grey, inside the trekking circuit. That is why only hikers on the W or O who spend at least one night at the Grey refuge or campsite can do them. They must be booked at least two days in advance.
| Activity | Price per person | Duration | Start times | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayaking among icebergs | CLP 195,000 | 2 h 30 min | 08:00, 11:00 and 16:30 | Ages 14 to 65, up to 100 kg, minimum 4 people |
| Ice hike | CLP 265,000 | 5 hours | 08:30 and 14:30 | Ages 14 to 65, minimum 2 people |
Source: Nomades listings for the kayak and the ice hike, checked on November 1, 2026. Both run from October to April. If the weather cancels the outing, you get a full refund. They are the most expensive experiences in the park: a couple doing the ice hike pays CLP 530,000, not counting the park pass.
Do you run a hotel, a refuge or tours in Torres del Paine or Puerto Natales? Reach travelers planning Patagonia, in four languages.
See advertising optionsThe Grey Glacier trail from Paine Grande
The free way to see Grey Glacier is on foot. The W circuit section between the Paine Grande and Grey refuges is about 11 kilometers long (10.98 km according to the GPS-Tour.info track) and takes 3 to 4 hours each way. Halfway along is the Grey lookout, with the first view of the ice front over the lake; there are more lookouts past the refuge. Paine Grande is reached on the Lake Pehoé catamaran from Pudeto, which runs from October to April.
| Option | Distance or time | Extra cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grey lookout and Refugio Grey (from Paine Grande) | About 11 km each way, 3 to 4 h | Park pass only | Hikers with a full day or on the W |
| Grey beach (from Hotel Lago Grey) | 30 to 45 min walk along the beach | Park pass only | Those who don't want to sail; stranded icebergs |
| Grey III boat trip | About 2 h 45 min | CLP 120,000 adult | Anyone without reduced mobility |
| Kayak or ice hike | 2 h 30 min or 5 h | CLP 195,000 or 265,000 | W or O hikers only |
Sources: Hotel Lago Grey, Nomades and GPS-Tour.info. Stage details, refuges and bookings are in our guide to the W and O circuits in Torres del Paine. The O circuit, which also passes the glacier, was expected to reopen in November, as we reported here.
How to get to Grey Glacier and which pass to buy
The gateway is Puerto Natales. You can fly into Teniente Julio Gallardo aerodrome or into Punta Arenas, about 250 kilometers (3 hours) from Natales, according to Chile Travel. Note that Puerto Natales aerodrome will have closures between January and March 2027 for works, as we explain here. From Natales it is about 100 kilometers on the park's internal roads to the Lago Grey sector; the hotel has free parking and operators sell transfers.
| 2026 park pass | Day pass | 2-day-or-more pass |
|---|---|---|
| Chilean adult (18 to 59) | CLP 9,400 | CLP 14,200 |
| Foreign adult (18 and over) | CLP 32,400 | CLP 48,500 |
| Under 12 | Free | Free |
Source: Torres del Paine National Park fees. The park pass is not included in the boat trip or the kayak and must be bought online at Pases Parques at least one day ahead. If wind cancels the boat trip, the park pass is not refunded. All fees are in how much it costs to enter Torres del Paine and, to plan your base, see things to do in Puerto Natales.
Tips for visiting Grey Glacier
- Book the boat trip early: it sells out in summer and bookings close the day before.
- Choose the 1st or 2nd departure: the 3rd and 4th only open when the earlier ones fill up.
- Bring a windbreaker, gloves and a hat: on deck and on the beach the wind off the ice is strong even in January.
- The walk to the boat is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or for strollers; a baby carrier is recommended for infants.
- If you plan to kayak or ice hike, schedule a night at the Grey refuge or campsite on the W.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Grey Glacier boat trip?
Between October 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027, CLP 120,000 per adult and CLP 60,000 per child aged 5 to 12, round trip, according to Hotel Lago Grey. The park pass is extra.
Can you see Grey Glacier without paying for a tour?
Yes. Hike from Paine Grande to the Grey lookout or Refugio Grey (about 11 km each way), or walk from Hotel Lago Grey to the beach, where icebergs get stranded. You only pay the park pass.
How long is the boat trip?
About 2 hours and 45 minutes, plus a 30- to 45-minute walk along the beach each way.
Who can kayak on Lago Grey?
People aged 14 to 65, weighing up to 100 kg, who are doing the W or O and spend at least one night in the Grey sector. It costs CLP 195,000 per person.
