Difficult | 9 - 10h | 26,7 km | 1192m
Hiking in Torres del Paine National Park is a bucket-list experience for any mountain lover.
The famous W-trek circuit lives up to the hype, with stunning landscapes, uniquely shaped mountains, and a truly raw environment. The middle leg of the W-trek, hiking to the British Lookout, can also be done as a day hike.
In this article, you will find all the details you need to know to go on a day hike to the British Lookout: from how to get to the beginning of the trail, what to bring, a reference pace to follow, and a detailed overview of the hike itself.
Things to know before hiking to the British Lookout in Patagonia
How to get to the beginning of the trail
To do this as a day hike, you must take the Ferry from Pudeto to Paine Grande. Taking the Pudeto Ferry alone is more than worth it, as you get the perfect view of the Cuernos del Paine from it.
-By car:
Drive to the Pudeto Pier. There's a small parking lot where you can leave your car for free for the day. You shouldn't have a problem finding a parking spot if you're taking the first ferry from Pudetto.
-By bus:
Bus-sur ensures this connection daily from Puerto Natales. However, beware that the first bus leaving Puerto Natales will arrive at the Pudeto Pier around noon, so you will have to spend at least one night there to do this as a day hike.
In addition, check the timetables for the last bus from Pudetto to Puerto Natales so you don't get stuck after the hike.
-Join a tour:
Some tours take you from Puerto Natales to the French Lookout. Most hotels in the National Park area offer this tour, but the price tag is higher.
Fees
Torres del Paine National Park Fees
In 2025, the entrance fee for Torres del Paine National Park is 32.400 CLP (approx. USD 34) for stays up to three days and 46.200 CLP (approx. USD 48) for more extended stays.
To save time, buy your entrance to Torres del Paine National Park before you get there. The official ticket site is this way.
Pudeto Ferry Ticket Fee
The catamaran (ferry) tickets are 26,000 CLP (approx. USD 27) one way.
If you know the date and time you will be taking the ferry, I recommend booking the tickets in advance to ensure a spot. People who finish day and multi-day hikes use the return route.
To book your ferry tickets, it's this way.
Opening hours
The national park is officially open from 8:30 to 6:00 p.m., but people with valid tickets can enter earlier to avoid the crowds.
It is important to note that the trail from the Italiano Refuge to the French and British Lookouts closes at 3 p.m., so plan your hike accordingly.
What to bring on a hike to the British Lookout
- Layers of clothing - you can experience the 4 seasons in one day
- Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses - on sunny days, the UV index can get relatively high
- Lunch - you can only buy food at the beginning and end of the hike at the Paine Grande refuge.
- At least 1L of water - you can refill water for free at Paine Grande and Italiano refuges.
- Sturdy shoes
- Camera
Other things to know
The Italiano Refuge is exclusively for leaving luggage and refilling water. The toilets can and will probably be out of service there.
Hike Overview
Pudeto to Paine Grande
After you get to the parking lot, you will have to walk about 5 minutes to the pier, where you will show your ticket and get on the ferry. Sit on the upper deck for the best view of the Cuernos del Paine.
Paine Grande to Italiano Refuge
Once you get off the ferry, go to the Paine Grande refuge if you need to go to the toilet or fill up on water. Otherwise, go directly onto the path on the right-hand side.
The trail to the Italiano camp is quite flat and easy, and it should take around 2 hours to get there. As mentioned before, the Italiano campsite does not offer any services other than water refill, so don't spend too long resting there.
Italiano Refuge to French Lookout
From the Italiano Refuge to the French Lookout, the path is uphill and rocky for about one hour.
At the French Lookout, you can enjoy your lunch and hear the noise caused by the avalanches on the ice capping the mountain.
Once you're done here, you can either return to Paine Grande to catch the ferry back to Pudeto or continue to the British Lookout before returning.
If you kept up the pace announced before, you should be able to make it to the British Lookout and return on time to catch the ferry back to Pudeto. If you have any delays or feel too stressed about missing the ferry, I would stop here and go back to Paine Grande.
French Lookout to British Lookout
Continue for an extra hour to reach the British Lookout.
An important thing to consider is that having good visibility at the French Lookout does not guarantee good visibility at the British Lookout. While the view at the latter is still impressive when cloudy, it will not be as good as in the pictures you might have seen.
