Camping and refugios in Torres del Paine
On the W and O, you sleep in refugios or at campsites run by operators in the park. Reservations for the mountain nights are required, and without them you do not get into that part of the park. The entrance ticket does not replace a night. It is a separate booking, covered on the entrance fee page.
Overnight stays are allowed only at approved camping areas. There is no free tent night on the trail or at a viewpoint. If you do not want to organise the nights yourself, look at guided W Trek tours and check which nights they include. Camps along the road and at the edge of the park follow different rules, but that is no guarantee of a free pitch without a reservation.
Our pick: camping without the gear
This W trek sets up tents, sleeping bags and mats for you.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
W Trek and Torres del Paine tours
Guided treks, multi-day tours and full-day park trips, with live prices and availability.
Who runs the camps and refugios
Two groups of camps share the main routes. Names are given only where you need them to book.
| Sector | Operator | What you find |
|---|---|---|
| Paine Grande, Grey, Los Perros, Dickson | Vértice | Camping and, in places, refugios |
| Central, Chileno, Serón (Las Torres side) | Las Torres | Camping and refugios |
| Francés | Las Torres | Camping Francés in the French Valley |
| Italiano, Paso | Park rangers | Ranger stations, no free bookable night |
Do not assume that every sector has a full refugio. Los Perros, for example, does not automatically have a full bed refugio. For most trekkers on the W, the simplest plan is to book the refugio or campsite for each night before you buy the park ticket. The Italiano and Paso stations are ranger posts, so do not plan a free night there.
Camping Francés price examples, 2026/27
Prices at Camping Francés in the French Valley for the 2026/27 season. They are an example and not a price list for the whole park.
- Own pitch, double occupancy: from $50 per person from November to March, from $40 in October and April.
- Own pitch, single occupancy: from $90, or $70 in October and April.
- Fully equipped tent, double occupancy: from $160 per person, or $150 in October and April.
- Full board is $140 and half board $90 per person. At Christmas and New Year they cost $190 and $140.
Meals are not part of a pitch price, so add them if you want them. The French Valley itself is described on the French Valley page.
What a refugio is, and what it is not
A refugio is a mountain hut, not a hotel.
Beds and tents
The Vértice sectors offer shared rooms with bunk beds, either as a simple bed or with bedding. You can also camp with your own or rented equipment. A refugio bed does not mean a private room.
Food and power
The Vértice sectors have restaurants and bars, except Los Perros. There are cooking areas, power is available at times, and Wi-Fi is paid. Do not count on mobile coverage on the trails.
Pitch or equipped tent
Camping can mean your own tent on a pitch or a tent that is already set up. The equipped tent costs much more, as the Francés examples show. Read the offer before you book.
Registration
Report your arrival at every ranger station. At Paso and Los Perros, also report when you leave.
Camping rules in the park
Stay only on approved campsites. Open fires are not allowed. Stoves are allowed only without plant fuel and only in the cooking areas that are expressly permitted, so cook where you are allowed to. A stove does not make a lunch stop on the trail legal.
Swimming in lakes, lagoons and rivers is prohibited, and private drones are banned. Follow the rangers' instructions. For the O Circuit, which is a long route with strict stages, read the O Circuit page before you book its nights. A reservation is not trail clearance, so check the status of every stage.
Camping and refugios: frequently asked questions
Do I need a reservation to camp in Torres del Paine?
Yes for mountain nights on the W and O. Without a reservation you do not get into that part of the park. Camps on the road side follow different rules, but a free pitch is not guaranteed.
Can I camp for free in the park?
No. Overnight stays are allowed only on approved campsites. There is no free tent night on the trail or at a viewpoint, and the ranger stations at Italiano and Paso do not offer a bookable free night.
How much does a night at Camping Francés cost?
For 2026/27, an own pitch with double occupancy starts at $50 per person from November to March and $40 in October and April. An equipped tent starts at $160 per person, or $150 in October and April. These are examples for one campsite.
Does the entrance ticket cover my night?
No. The park ticket and the night are two separate bookings. Buy the ticket online at least 24 hours before you enter.
Is this the official website of the park?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the national park, CONAF or the concessionaires in the park, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.