Torres del Paine O Circuit: the reopening planned for November and the rules to hike it

The Torres del Paine O Circuit, officially called the Paine Massif circuit by Conaf, is still closed for the winter season. The park page on the Conaf website says the trail remains closed "initially until October 31, 2026" and that any date change will be announced through official channels. In other words, the earliest possible reopening is Sunday, November 1.

The date is not guaranteed. According to a review published on October 15 by The Rio Times, reopening the John Gardner Pass, the highest and most exposed point of the route, depends on a prior technical and weather assessment. As of that date there was no confirmed day for the back sections of the massif, between Dickson and Los Perros.

This year's winter regime began earlier than usual: Conaf moved it up to April 27 because of the weather, with a guide and mountain gear mandatory on the main trails, as reported by El Pingüino. The park's summer season formally began in September, but the full loop follows its own assessment.

On November 17, 2025, five foreign hikers died in the Los Perros and John Gardner Pass sector during a snow and wind storm. After the investigation, Conaf reopened the circuit on December 9, 2025 with new measures, according to 24horas: a maximum of 100 people per day, one-way traffic and mandatory registration at the Coirón ranger station.

Two rangers were also added per sector at Dickson, Los Perros and Paso, and Carabineros police have been present at Dickson since December, a deployment that from 2027 should start in October. The guide requirement for the circuit was lifted on January 1, 2026. For the coming season it has not been confirmed whether the 100-person daily cap will stay the same.

Park entry is sold only online, on Pases Parques, Conaf's official site. For both the O and the W, a campsite or refuge booking is also mandatory for every night: without it you cannot enter the mountain area. Day hikes, such as the climb to the base of the Towers, do not require lodging.

For reference, the fare published on Pases Parques and reported by The Rio Times on October 15, 2026 is 48,500 Chilean pesos for a foreign adult for more than one day, and 14,200 pesos for a Chilean adult for more than one day. Children under 12 enter free. These are starting prices and may change, so check them when you buy.

The O Circuit goes all the way around the Paine massif. It adds the more remote back section to the W sectors and is hiked in one direction, counterclockwise, over about seven to nine days depending on pace. These are its usual stages; exact distances and times for each section are on Conaf's official map and in our trekking guide:

The John Gardner Pass, at about 1,200 meters, is the critical point: the 2025 tragedy happened there, and it is the section Conaf reviews before each reopening. Cross it early, with a good forecast and without leaving the marked route.

• Have a plan B with the W: if the reopening is delayed, the W Trek is still available and shares many campsites. Our guide to the W and O circuits explains the differences in days and distances.
• Book with flexible cancellation: until Conaf confirms the exact day, back-side campsites should allow date changes.
• Check the park's daily report: Conaf's mountain protocol sets wind, rain and temperature thresholds that can close the John Gardner Pass preventively.
• Bring microspikes and poles: early in the season there is still snow on the pass.
• Register at every ranger station: registration is mandatory and there is no phone or internet signal inside.

Fire is banned throughout the park. Conaf's page notes that lighting any heat source outside authorized areas is punishable under Law 20,653, with fines of up to 2 million pesos or up to three years in prison, and that foreign offenders can be expelled. Drones are also banned without prior authorization.

What is still to be confirmed

Conaf has not yet published a resolution with the exact reopening day or the capacity rules for the 2026-2027 season. We will update this story when they are known. Meanwhile, to plan the rest of your trip, see our guide to what to see in Chilean Patagonia, and if you arrive through Punta Arenas, our guide to things to do in Punta Arenas.

When does the Torres del Paine O Circuit reopen?

Conaf keeps it closed initially until October 31, 2026. The earliest reopening would be November 1, subject to a weather and safety assessment.

Do you need a guide for the O Circuit?

Not in the summer season: the guide requirement was lifted on January 1, 2026. You must book a campsite or refuge for every night and register at the ranger stations.

Where do you buy Torres del Paine tickets?

Only online, at pasesparques.cl, Conaf's official site. The ticket does not include campsites, refuges or the Lake Pehoé catamaran.