The O Circuit in Torres del Paine, which Conaf calls the Macizo Paine circuit, opens this Sunday, November 1, 2026, with the Guardas bridge back in service. Conaf Magallanes said on October 30 that progress on repairing the bridge, one of the suspension bridges in the Grey sector, allowed it to keep the circuit's opening "as planned," in an official statement.
It is the circuit's first full season since five foreign hikers died near the John Gardner Pass in November 2025, La Prensa Austral recalled. This story updates what we reported on October 17 about the planned reopening of the O Circuit.
Torres del Paine O Circuit: what opens on November 1
| Item | Status on November 1, 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macizo Paine circuit (O) | Opens November 1, as planned | Conaf, 10-30-2026 |
| Guardas bridge | In service from November 1 | Conaf / La Prensa Austral |
| John Gardner Pass | Subject to technical and weather assessment and the mountain protocol | Conaf, via La Prensa Austral |
| Official season launch | November 11, with Conaf executive director Aída Baldini | La Prensa Austral |
| W Circuit | Open for the summer season | Conaf |
Sources: Conaf (October 30, 2026) and La Prensa Austral (October 31, 2026). Conaf regional director John Revello announced the November 11 launch. Access to the circuit remains subject to the safety protocol and each day's weather.
What happened to the Guardas bridge
The Guardas bridge is the second of three suspension bridges between Paso campsite and Refugio Grey, on the stretch that descends from the John Gardner Pass toward the glacier. Conaf closed it as a precaution in August 2026 after detecting structural damage from an undetermined natural event. It had been damaged in 2024 too, and rangers repaired it before that summer season, according to La Prensa Austral.
Conaf rangers carried out the repair with technical assistance from US engineer Richard Braunlich of Conservation VIP, who helped assess the structure and define the solution. Conaf thanked concessionaires Turismo Lago Grey, Vértice and Kau Patagonia and the Legacy Foundation. The cost was not disclosed. Conaf built the bridge in 2015 with Conservation VIP volunteers and the US National Park Service.
| Guardas bridge | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Second of three suspension bridges between Paso campsite and Refugio Grey | La Prensa Austral |
| Built | 2015, by Conaf with Conservation VIP and the National Park Service | La Prensa Austral |
| Previous damage | 2024, repaired before the summer | La Prensa Austral |
| Closure | August 2026, structural damage of undetermined natural origin | La Prensa Austral |
| Reopening | November 1, 2026 | Conaf |
| Cost of repair | Not disclosed | La Prensa Austral |
O Circuit safety rules for 2026-2027
Since January 2026 the park's Mountain Operations Protocol has set objective thresholds for closing the John Gardner Pass. There are two kinds of closure: a preventive one, planned 24 hours ahead based on the Chilean Meteorological Directorate's forecast, and an emergency one, decided by the ranger on the ground.
| Type of closure | Threshold | How it is decided |
|---|---|---|
| Preventive | Forecast wind gusts above 120 km/h at the pass | Closed if all three thresholds are met at once for more than 6 hours |
| Preventive | 0 °C isotherm below 1,200 meters during the crossing | Chilean Meteorological Directorate forecast |
| Preventive | More than 10 mm of water equivalent in 12 hours, with over 80% chance of snow | Chilean Meteorological Directorate forecast |
| Emergency | Sustained gusts above 80 km/h for more than 10 minutes | One threshold is enough; measured by the ranger |
| Emergency | Visibility under 50 meters due to blizzard, fog or snowfall | One threshold is enough |
| Emergency | More than 10 cm of fresh snow in 6 hours, or ice on over half the exposed trail | One threshold is enough |
| Emergency | -5 °C with wind above 40 km/h (wind chill of -15 °C) | One threshold is enough |
Source: Conaf, Mountain Operations Protocol, Torres del Paine National Park, January 2026. The protocol also sets times and points of no return on the Perros-Paso stretch, bans hiking at night or outside the official map's hours and advises against children under 14 on the Macizo Paine circuit. Hikers aged 14 to 17 must cross the John Gardner with at least two adults experienced in mountain terrain.
Every visitor must sign Conaf's register with their name, ID, route, overnight location and expected exit date, which complements the concessionaires' check-in. Conaf recommends waterproof boots, layered clothing, a headlamp, an emergency blanket, gaiters and trekking poles.
Do you run a refuge, a trekking agency or transport in Puerto Natales? Reach the hikers planning Torres del Paine.
See advertising optionsTorres del Paine entrance fees for the O Circuit
The O Circuit requires the pass for two or more days, sold only online at Pases Parques, plus campsite or refuge bookings for every night with the concessionaires. These are the rates published by the park, in Chilean pesos:
| Visitor | Age | Day pass | Pass for 2 or more days (up to 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilean resident | Under 12, over 60 and people with disabilities | Free | Free |
| Chilean resident | 13 to 17 | CLP 5,200 | CLP 8,200 |
| Chilean resident | 18 to 59 | CLP 9,400 | CLP 14,200 |
| Foreign visitor | Under 12 | Free | Free |
| Foreign visitor | 13 to 17 | CLP 16,600 | CLP 48,500 |
| Foreign visitor | 18 and over | CLP 32,400 | CLP 48,500 |
Source: Torres del Paine National Park, fees and hours, checked in October 2026. More detail in Torres del Paine entrance fee 2026 and in our W and O circuit trekking guide. To get there without a car from Puerto Natales, see rural buses to Magallanes national parks.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Torres del Paine O Circuit open?
Yes, from November 1, 2026, according to Conaf. The John Gardner Pass can close at any time if the protocol's wind, snow, visibility or cold thresholds are met.
What is the Guardas bridge?
A suspension bridge on the O Circuit, the second of three between Paso campsite and Refugio Grey. It was closed from August 2026 due to damage and repaired by Conaf rangers.
Do I need a guide for the O Circuit?
No. The guide requirement was lifted in January 2026, but you must register with Conaf, carry accommodation bookings and respect times and points of no return.
When is the official season launch in Torres del Paine?
November 11, 2026, with Conaf officials in the park, according to La Prensa Austral.
