O Circuit Essentials – Self-Guided Experience

In our “O Circuit Essentials” program, we provide the fundamental services to explore part of the northern and western sections of the O Circuit in Torres del Paine National Park. This program is designed for experienced travelers seeking a more challenging adventure, with independence and flexibility.

It includes key elements to simplify your planning: confirmed reservations at strategically located campsites operated by Vértice, park entrance, and regular transportation. This way, you can focus on enjoying the trekking experience at your own pace.

Additionally, you can enhance your trip by adding optional services (Add-ons) such as transportation, navigations, and meals, allowing you to tailor the program to your needs.

Important

This program does not include meals or campsites in the Las Torres sector (Central, Serón, Francés, Cuernos, or Chileno), which are operated by another company and must be booked independently. It also does not include a guide.

This program includes:

✔ 1 night at Dickson Campsite

✔ 1 night at Los Perros Campsite

✔ 1 night at Grey Campsite

✔ 1 night at Paine Grande Campsite

✔ Torres del Paine National Park entrance fee

✔ Round-trip regular bus transportation to/from Torres del Paine National Park

This program does NOT include:

⭐ Meal services (available as Add-ons)

❌ Guide

⭐ Navigations (available as Add-ons)

❌ Campsites in the Las Torres sector (Central, Serón, Francés, Cuernos, Chileno)

❌ Accommodations not mentioned

What are our Add-ons?

Our Add-ons are optional services available at an additional cost that allow you to complement your experience. These include internal transportation, navigations, and meal services, helping you access, move through, and exit the trekking circuit more easily.

Available Add-ons:

⭐ Shuttle bus

⭐ Lake Pehoé Catamaran: Pudeto ↔ Paine Grande

⭐ Grey III Navigation: Grey Sector ↔ Grey Campsite

⭐ Meal services (Full Board at Grey and Paine Grande)

⭐ Box lunch

What routes can you do with this program?

This program covers an essential section of the O Circuit. To complete the full circuit, you will need to combine it with additional reservations.

OPTION – Partial O Circuit (North + West Sections)

Day 1: Arrival at the park / transfer to Serón or Dickson

✔ Bus from Puerto Natales to the park (included)

❌ Overnight at Serón Campsite (book on your own, if applicable)

Day 2: Trek to Dickson

✔ Overnight at Dickson Campsite (included)

Day 3: Trek to Los Perros

✔ Overnight at Los Perros Campsite (included)

Day 4: John Gardner Pass – trek to Grey

✔ Overnight at Grey Campsite (included)

Day 5: Trek to Paine Grande

✔ Overnight at Paine Grande Campsite (included)

Day 6: Exit the park

⭐ Lake Pehoé Catamaran: Paine Grande – Pudeto (Add-on)

✔ Bus Pudeto – Puerto Natales (included)

Extension to Full O Circuit

If you wish to complete the full O Circuit, you must add the following bookings on your own in the Las Torres sector:

Central Campsite

Serón Campsite

Cuernos, Francés, or Chileno Campsite

This will allow you to complete the eastern section of the circuit and connect with the campsites included in this program.

Dickson Refuge & Camping is the gateway to the northern sector of Torres del Paine National Park, a popular base for those venturing on the Paine Massif Circuit (better known as the “O” Circuit).

Its exceptional location on the edge of Lake Dickson offers wonderful views not only of the glacier of the same name, but also of the Tridente, Escudo, Cabeza del Indio, and Los Gemelos mountains, among others.

Open from October to April (weather permitting).

Check in: from 01:00 pm
Check out: 9:30 am

ACCESS

Serón – Dickson Trail (19 km / 6-7 hrs. approx. – Medium Difficulty).

Central - Dickson Trail (34 km / 12 hrs. approx. - Demanding  Difficulty).

BATHROOMS

Bathrooms are shared (separate male/female), with sinks (cold water only), toilets, and hot water showers.

Hours of operation
Bathrooms: 24 hours
Showers: 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. / 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Cleaning hours: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

CAMPING

This campsite is equipped with shared bathrooms (male/female), hot showers, food service, and a designated wind-free cooking area for those who want to prepare their food (quincho). Camping equipment (assembled tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag) is available for reservation for those who wish to enjoy this outdoor adventure without having to carry additional weight.

RESTAURANT

The lodge has a restaurant with a daily menu and a vegetarian alternative. Dinner, breakfast, and lunch are available, as well as a box lunch (ordered in advance) so you can have lunch at a stop on your trek and enjoy your lunch outdoors (remember to take your garbage with you!). Also, enjoy our pizzas and cafeteria service. Dinner must be reserved before 15:00 hrs.

Schedule of services
Breakfast: 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 to 14:00 hrs
Dinner: 18:00 to 21:00 hrs

Kitchen Hours (Burgers & Pizza)
1:00 PM to 9:00 PM

QUINCHO (COOKING AREA)

For those who prefer to prepare their food, we have a designated area that is protected from wind and rain, as cooking is not allowed inside the shelter or tents or outdoors.

Hours of operation
07:00 to 10:00 a.m. / 1:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

MINI MARKET – BAR

You will find everything you need to cook in case you wish to prepare your food, including general supplies, beverages, chocolates, energy bars, cookies, etc You will also find souvenirs and mountain equipment. We also have a small bar where you can enjoy a beer, a glass of wine or a pisco sour.

Hours of operation
Mini market: 07:00 to 09:30 am and 13:00 to 21:00 hrs.
Bar: 15:00 to 22:00 hrs

ELECTRICITY

You will find sockets (220 V) available in the rooms, restaurant, and mini market. At night, there is no electricity to save energy.

Hours of operation
07:00 to 23:00 hrs.

INTERNET

There is no cell phone signal in the entire park. Refugio Dickson does not have Wi-Fi or internet service for guests.

Located deep within Torres del Paine National Park, amidst an ocean of lenga and coigüe trees, Camping Los Perros is one of the most remote spots on the Paine Massif Circuit, a rest stop before tackling the famous and challenging John Gardner Pass (1,200 meters above sea level).

Open from October to April (weather permitting).

Check in: from 13:00 hrs. 

Check out: 07:00 hrs.

ACCESS

Dickson Trail – Los Perros (12 km – 5 hrs. approx – Difficulty level: high).

 CAMPING

 This campsite is equipped with shared bathrooms (separated by gender, male/female), cold water showers, and a designated area for cooking sheltered from the wind. Camping equipment (tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag) is available for reservation for those who wish to enjoy this outdoor adventure without having to carry extra weight.

 BATHROOMS

Bathrooms are shared (separate male/female), with sinks (cold water only), toilets, and showers, also with cold water.

Hours of operation
Bathrooms: 24 hrs
Showers: 05:00 to 07:00 am / 10:00 am to 22:00 hrs

 QUINCHO (COOKING AREA)

For those who prefer to prepare their food, we have a designated area that is protected from wind and rain, as cooking is not allowed inside the tents or outdoors.

Hours of operation
05:00 am a 07:00 am / 10:00 am a 22:30 hrs.

 MINIMARKET

You will find everything you need to cook in case you wish to prepare your food, including general supplies, drinks, as well as chocolates, energy bars, cookies, etc You will also find souvenirs and mountain equipment.

Hours of operation
13:00- 19:30 hrs.

 ELECTRICITY

Plugs (220 V) are available at the mini market. At night, there is no electricity to save energy.

Hours of operation
05:00 am a 22:30 hrs.

Please note that the hours for charging equipment and batteries are from 13:00 a 19:30 hrs. only.

 INTERNET 

There is no cell phone reception in the entire park. Camping Los Perros does not have Wi-Fi or internet service for guests. 

It is the closest refuge to the Grey Glacier and the starting point for hiking excursions on the glacier, kayaking, and hiking to the suspension bridges with panoramic views of Campos de Hielo Sur. From north to south, the Paine Massif Circuit is the closest refuge and campsite after passing through the challenging John Gardner Pass. It’s an ideal place to rest after a great adventure, where you can enjoy a pizza and a beer if you wish.

Grey Refuge is open all year round.

CHECK IN: From 1:00 p.m. onwards 

CHECK OUT: 9:30 am 

 ACCESS

Paine Grande – Grey Trail (11 km – approximately 4.5 hours – Medium difficulty)

Navigation from Lago Grey (45 minutes to 1.5 hours) Depending on the passenger and departure time.

Los Perros – Grey Trail (18 km – approximately 10 to 12 hours – High difficulty) Only for those completing the Paine Massif Circuit.

 BATHROOMS

Bathrooms are shared (separate male/female), with sinks (cold water only), toilets, and hot water showers.

Hours of operation
Bathrooms: 24 hrs
Showers: 07:00 to 09:00 am and from 14:00 to 22:00 hrs.

 CAMPING

Camping Grey is equipped with shared bathrooms (male/female), hot showers, food service, and a designated wind-free cooking area for those who want to prepare their food (quincho). Camping equipment (assembled tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag) is available for reservation for those who wish to enjoy this outdoor adventure without having to carry additional weight.

 RESTAURANT

The lodge has a casino-style restaurant that offers an assisted buffet with a hypercaloric offer focused especially for those trekking in the park, where you can find protein options, side dishes, salads, and desserts for dinner. Breakfast is an American-style buffet. Regarding lunch, when you check in it is important to specify if you prefer to have lunch at the lodge or leave a box lunch requested so you can take it with you to your trek and have lunch outdoors (remember to take your garbage with you!).

Also, enjoy our pizzas and cafeteria service. Dinner must be reserved before 15:00 hrs.

Schedule of services
Breakfast: 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 to 14:00 hrs
Dinner: 18:00 to 21:00 hrs

Kitchen Hours (Burgers & Pizza)
12:00 to 21:00 hrs.

 BAR

Located next to the Refugio’s living and dining room, you’ll find the bar where you can enjoy a beer, a wide variety of wines or our extensive cocktail menu.

Hours of operation
6:30 am to 10:00 pm

 LIVING ROOM

Sit back and relax in our living room in one of our comfortable armchairs to enjoy the mountain view, magazines and a television offering documentaries and cable TV. This is the perfect place to unwind after a long day of hiking!

 TERRACE

It is the ideal place to enjoy the view of Cordón Olguín and, if you are lucky, watch the condors gliding.

 BARBECUE AREA (COOKING AREA)

For those who prefer to prepare their food, we have a designated area that is protected from wind and rain, as cooking is not allowed inside the shelter or tents or outdoors.

Hours of operation
From 07:00 to 09:00 am / 1:00 pm to 9:30 pm

 MINI MARKET

You will find everything you need to cook in case you want to prepare your own food, including basic groceries, beverages, chocolates, energy bars and cookies, among others. In addition, you can find souvenirs and mountain equipment.

Hours of operation
From 07:00 am to 11:00 a.m. / 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

 ELECTRICITY

You will find sockets (220 V) available in the rooms, restaurant, and mini market. At night, there is no electricity to save energy.

Hours of operation
06:00 am to 00:00 hrs.

 LUGGAGE CUSTODY

The locker room is available for passengers to use free of charge. From approximately 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

 INTERNET

There is no cell phone signal in the entire park. At Grey Refuge, you can hire Wi-Fi for a fee. Consult the values and payment methods at the Reception.

 On the shores of Lake Pehoé is an incredible refuge, with beautiful views of the Cuernos del Paine and the Paine Grande hill.

It is the starting point of the route to the French Valley and the path to the Gray Glacier.

Check In: From 01:00 pm.
Check out: 09:30 am

 ACCESS

• “Lago Pehoé” Catamaran, Pudeto – Paine Grande (approximately 30 minutes of navigation).
• Italian Trail – Paine Grande (7.6 km – approximately 2.5 hours – easy).
• Grey Trail – Paine Grande (11 km – approximately 4.5 hours – medium).
• “Las Carretas” Trail, Administration – Paine Grande (17 km – approximately 5 hours – medium)*.

*IMPORTANT: During the winter season, this trail is used to enter and exit the park (Administration – Paine Grande). During the summer, it is only open to exit the park (check with CONAF for trail authorization).

BATHROOMS 

Bathrooms are shared (separate male/female), with sinks, toilets, and hot water showers.

Hours of operation
Restrooms: 24 hrs

Duchas: 12:00 a 22:00 hrs

CAMPING

Camping Paine Grande has a barbecue area for cooking that shelters our visitors from the wind, in case they want to prepare their own food, and bathrooms (separate male/female) with hot water showers.

Our camping equipment rental service (tents, sleeping bags, and mats) is available for pre-booking. This option is very convenient for those who want to enjoy their adventure without carrying extra weight.

 RESTAURANT

The refuge has a casino-type restaurant that offers a buffet with a hypercaloric offer focused especially for those trekking in the park, where you can find protein options, side dishes, salads, and desserts for dinner. Breakfast is an American-style buffet. Regarding lunch, when you check in, it is important to specify if you prefer to have lunch at the lodge or leave a box lunch requested so you can take it with you to your trek and have lunch outdoors (remember to take your garbage with you!). Drinks, beer, and wine for sale.

Cafeteria service is also available, with coffee, tea, sandwiches, and pizzas. Dinner must be reserved before 15:00 hrs.

Schedule of services
Breakfast: 06:30 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 to 14:00 hrs
Dinner: 18:30 to 21:00 hrs

Kitchen Hours (burgers & pizzas):
14:00- 17:00 hrs
18:00- 20:00 hrs.

 BAR

Located on the second floor of our restaurant, the Paine Grande bar offers a beautiful panoramic view from Lake Pehoé, through the Cuernos del Paine and up to the imposing Paine Grande massif, where you can enjoy our wine list, beer, and exquisite cocktails.

Hours of operation

15:00 to 22:00 hrs.

 LIVING ROOMS

For the exclusive use of the refuge’s guests, they have slow combustion wood heaters and armchairs to rest after a day of adventures on the trails of Torres del Paine.

 MINIMARKET AND COFFEE STORE (Coffee Store)

You will find everything you need to cook in case you want to prepare your own food, including basic groceries, beverages, chocolates, energy bars, and cookies, among others. You can also find souvenirs and mountain equipment.

In the cafeteria area, you can enjoy a good coffee, muffins, or a hamburger with a cold beer if you prefer.

Hours of operation

07:00 am to 22:00 hrs.

 QUINCHO (COOKING AREA)

For those who prefer to prepare their food, we have a designated area that is protected from the wind and rain, as cooking is not allowed inside the shelter or tents or outdoors.

Hours of operation

06:30 am to 22:00 hrs.

 TERRACE COFFEE STORE

Next to the camping area is our terrace, where you can enjoy all that our Coffee Store has to offer with a beautiful view of the Paine Grande massif.

 ELECTRICITY

You will find sockets available in the rooms (220V) and the living rooms (for guests only). At night, there is no electricity to save energy.

Hours of operation

06:00 am to 00:00 hrs

 LUGGAGE CUSTODY

Custodial service is available for guests.

Custodial service value: $4,000 per backpack.

Opening hours: 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

*This service is free of charge for guests of the refuge.

 INTERNET 

There is no cell phone signal in the entire park. At Refugio Paine Grande, you can hire paid Wi-Fi, for which you must have a PayPal account enabled. Consult the values at the Reception.