Chile's Carabineros police opened the temporary outpost in Torres del Paine National Park on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the Administración Serrano sector, with six officers who will stay in the park until March 2027. This year the deployment was brought forward to November to cover the entire high season, according to ITV Patagonia and the Presidential Delegation of Magallanes, via Radio Polar.
*Updated November 3, 2026.* The outpost will run without interruption until the end of March, and a second one will later open at Lake Dickson, on the O Circuit.
What the Carabineros outpost in Torres del Paine is
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Monday, November 2, 2026, at 12:00 | ITV Patagonia |
| Location | Administración Serrano sector | ITV Patagonia |
| Staff | Six officers | ITV Patagonia |
| Duration | Until the end of March 2027, without interruption | Presidential Delegation, via Radio Polar |
| Tasks | Guard at Conaf's entrance facilities, trail patrols, inspections, emergencies and rescues | Radio Polar and ITV Patagonia |
| Next step | Temporary outpost at Lake Dickson (date not announced) | Radio Polar |
| Permanent units | Torres del Paine and Cerro Guido police posts, with monthly staff rotation | Radio Polar |
The opening was led by regional presidential delegate Ericka Farías; Última Esperanza provincial delegate Liber Lazo; Torres del Paine mayor Anahí Cárdenas; Lieutenant Colonel Italo Badilla of the Magallanes Prefecture; and Conaf regional director John Revello. "Bringing this deployment forward to November and setting up a rotation system lets us anticipate risks," Farías said.
For visitors, the practical change is that police will be inside the park to give directions, take reports and help with accidents and missing hikers, coordinating with Conaf and emergency teams. Park rangers remain the authority in the protected area.
How many tourists visit Torres del Paine in high season
Torres del Paine received 337,224 visitors in 2025 and was Chile's second most visited national park, according to Conaf's 2025 visitor spreadsheet. Three out of four came between November and March, exactly the period the outpost covers.
| Period (2025) | Visitors | % of year |
|---|---|---|
| November and December | 97,306 | 28.9% |
| January to March | 158,357 | 47.0% |
| November to March (outpost season) | 255,663 | 75.8% |
| April to October | 81,561 | 24.2% |
| Total 2025 | 337,224 | 100% |
Source: Conaf, 2025 visitation. Sums and percentages calculated by Viajando Chile. The full ranking is in Chile's most visited national parks.
Rules enforced in Torres del Paine: fire is a crime
Fire is the main concern in Magallanes parks: the 2011-2012 Torres del Paine fire burned more than 17,600 hectares from the Lake Grey area. On October 31, two women were arrested for lighting a candle in the Magallanes National Reserve, near Punta Arenas. They were charged under article 22 bis of Chile's Forest Law and, under a conditional suspension, are banned from the reserve for a year and must each pay CLP 500,000 to the fire brigade, according to El Reporte Diario.
| Rule | What it means for tourists |
|---|---|
| No fires or heat sources outside designated areas | Lighting a candle, a stove or a fire where not allowed is a crime (Forest Law, art. 22 bis) |
| Smoke only where allowed | Cigarette butts are a known cause of wildfires |
| Stay on the trails | Carabineros and Conaf patrols cover trails and remote areas |
| Register your entry and pass | The entrance fee is paid online before arriving at the park |
Source: Forest Law, via El Reporte Diario; Conaf. Torres del Paine rangers received fire-prevention and first-response training on October 28, Radio Polar reported. More in the 2026-2027 wildfire season.
Do you run a refugio, a transfer or a tour in Última Esperanza? Reach travelers planning their Torres del Paine visit.
See advertising optionsWhat else changes in Torres del Paine this season
- The O Circuit opened on November 1 with the repaired Guardas bridge: details.
- Entrance for adult foreigners: CLP 32,400 for a day pass and CLP 48,500 for two or more days, according to the park's rate table checked in October: entrance fees.
- Subsidized rural buses from Puerto Natales to Magallanes parks: schedules and fares.
- Trekking routes: the W and the O, with mandatory campsite bookings.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Carabineros outpost in Torres del Paine?
At the Administración Serrano sector, in the south of the park, next to Conaf's facilities.
Until when will there be police in the park?
The temporary outpost operates from November 2, 2026, to the end of March 2027. The Torres del Paine and Cerro Guido posts operate year-round.
What should I do in an emergency in Torres del Paine?
Alert Conaf rangers or the Carabineros outpost; the Carabineros phone number in Chile is 133. Carry your entrance pass and register your route.
Can you light a fire in Torres del Paine?
Not outside designated areas. Using fire or heat sources where not allowed in parks and reserves is a crime under the Forest Law.
