Trekking Chile: The Top 8 Hikes & Trails

Tell you what? It's finally time to go hiking in Chile! The country has some of the best mountains to hike in South America if you want awesome outdoor adventures!

Whether you're a multi-day trekking beast who wants to conquer rugged wilderness or a waterfall-chasing day hiker, the country has trails for you.

But with so many amazing adventures, deciding where to hike can be challenging. That's why we at Skyhook have put together this guide to the best hikes in Chile. Read on before booking your trip.

The W Trek, Patagonia, in Torres del Paine National Park, is arguably the most iconic Chile hiking trail.

Typically, you trek the W from east to west, starting at Central Refuge and ending at Refugio Paine Grande. The 4-5 day route winds up into three valleys that create the distinctive W-shape, taking you to the iconic highlights of the national park.

The first valley you'll encounter is the Ascencio Valley in the east. This demanding 6-8 hour day hike includes an 800m gruelling climb that takes you to the base of the famous Torres del Paine towers.

Next is the French Valley, where you'll hike through rocky terrain into the heart of the valley, with stunning views of the massive hanging Francés Glacier cracking and crumbling ahead.

The final leg runs alongside Grey Lake, flecked with brilliant blue icebergs. You'll ultimately reach the immense face of Grey Glacier, which stretches out towards the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

At Skyhook, we offer the guided Torres del Paine Guided W Trek and the W Trek Self-Guided tour. In the guided trek, our guides will handle everything you need, including guiding you up the trail, arranging meals, and where to stay.

If you go for the self-guided trek, we will assist you with booking accommodations, and you can hike and savour the scenery at your preferred pace.

The Patagonia O Trek offers an unforgettable seven-day hiking experience through the stunning landscapes of Chile's Patagonia region.

You begin at the renowned Base Torres viewpoint, taking in the iconic granite towers and turquoise lagoon, then progress through varied terrains, including dense forests, past glaciers, and over-high passes.

Each day promises spectacular views, with manageable distances and moderate to difficult hiking challenges.

If you book our guided Torres del Paine O Circuit tour, the journey includes well-organised accommodations in campsites, with meals provided. If you want to hike at your pace, the O Circuit self-guided tour allows you to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty and grandeur of Torres del Paine.

Are you craving an off-the-beaten-path adventure? Then, trekking deep into the rugged Cochamó Valley may be just what you need.

You will access this area by hiking the historic 10km horse trail through Andean forests - the same path once used by notorious outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid while in hiding! The hike is moderate, with a steady 300m elevation gain over 13km.

Then, the payoff is immense. You get to spend days exploring Cochamó's towering granite domes and sparkling waterfalls, which have earned it the nickname "Chilean Yosemite." As you hike, watch for deer, colourful orchids, and native birds inhabiting this isolated wilderness. Gaze up at the star-studded sky, and you can't help but feel that magical disconnection from the world you've left behind.

For an otherworldly experience, you can visit the Atacama Desert's bizarre Valle de la Luna, also named the "Valley of the Moon."

On this hike, you will come across wind-sculpted terrain, bizarre rock formations, salt-covered dunes, and sandy corridors.

At the start, you'll spend a few hours exploring the winding caverns, where the creaking of the rock underfoot will be your only companion.

Then, you'll reach the "amphitheatre" - a panoramic view of salt-blanketed formations. Atop the dunes, spectacular miradors (viewpoints) will reveal breathtaking vistas in every direction. You will want to experience the sunrise and sunset here; when the colours shift dramatically, painting the landscape in vivid hues.

When you need a break from lunar explorations, the nearby village of San Pedro de Atacama will provide an ideal base camp. You'll stay at one of the charming local hotels, like the family-run Casa Solcor, before venturing back out to continue your trekking adventure under star-studded skies.

The Cerro Castillo Circuit is located deep in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, near the charming town of Coyhaique. It is a 4-5 day loop trail that winds around the spectacular castle-like rock spires and glaciers that give Cerro Castillo National Park its name.

This 37- 37-kilometre circuit promises an unforgettable journey through one of the region's most remote and breathtaking wildernesses.

You'll kick things off on the relatively easy 15km trek from Las Horquetas ranger station to Campamento Turbio, winding through beautiful beech forests and over small streams. From there, it's a strenuous climb up to the 1,300m Peñón Pass, a potentially snowy saddle providing your first glimpses of the iconic Castillo massif. This challenging 9.8km section will descend steeply to Camp Bosque Viejo.

Shorter but equally challenging sections will follow, like the 2.5km climb to the now-closed Camp La Tetera, passing a waterfall along the way. The pivotal 5.7km stretch will bring you face-to-face with the stunning glacial lake and sheer faces of Cerro Castillo itself.

Prepare for an exposed, rocky traverse to Camp Porteadores, a treacherous area prone to whiteout conditions. You'll then hike the final 3.3-kilometre valley to Camp Neozelandés and enjoy panoramic views of the entire massif.

En route, you may spot the endangered huemul deer amid a wilderness of crystal lagoons, waterfalls, old-growth forests, and looming glaciers.

If you crave true wilderness trekking at the ends of the Earth, nothing compares to the 4-5 day, 53km Dientes de Navarino Circuit on remote Isla Navarino. This southernmost trek winds through valleys of gnarled lenga trees across snow-dusted mountain passes, past shimmering lagoons, and up rocky balds with views of Cape Horn.

This challenging terrain takes you from shifty rock shards and unstable boulders to knee-deep mucky mud across four steep passes up to 859m in elevation. The fickle Patagonian weather means you could experience snow, sleet, rain, and sunshine on the same day. With no refuges and amenities, you must be fully self-sufficient, so carry a sturdy tent and other camping gear.

If lucky, you might spot endemic wildlife like sea lions basking on the rocks, dusky dolphins breaking the surface, and vast numbers of marine birds soaring overhead. When night falls, you'll pitch your tent under the stars in some of the most southerly scenery on Earth.

The active Villarrica Volcano near Pucón creates an unforgettable adventure! The conical stratovolcano is 2,847 metres (9,340 ft) tall, so it rewards you with epic Andean views. To trek, you will need a certified guide and essential gear like crampons, ice axes, helmets, and gas masks. You will go through Villarrica's snowy, glaciated slopes to the very edge of its sulfurous, smoking crater. The ascent begins around 1,500m, and you'll climb nearly 1,500m more over three gruelling hours, on a 45-degree incline.

You'll need to be physically fit, as you'll be hiking stairs in challenging high-altitude conditions while carrying a heavy pack. But the reward will be watching the sunrise light up Villarrica's still-smouldering cone, surrounded by stunning views of lakes, forests, and the Chilean Andes.

With careful guidance, you may even go near red-hot lava within the crater itself - a sight few ever witness.

After summiting, the descent is equally challenging, though you will enjoy sliding down the icy slopes on a plastic sledge!

Fun fact: This is a permanently active volcano revered by the Mapuche people. So, summiting will bring an immense sense of achievement!

When you visit Robin Crusoe Island, fly to this remote speck in the vast Pacific. You'll love the island's contrasts and the lush forests blanketing the eastern slopes while barren deserts cloak the west under a searing sun.

You'll follow in the footsteps of the real-life castaway who inspired Defoe's classic tale, crossing the entire width on an epic 6-hour ridge hike. Prepare to ascend through cloud-shrouded, endemic-rich cloud forests before cresting the spine of mountains separating wet and dry worlds.

When descending, you'll navigate slopes scoured bare by soil erosion and bizarre, dinosaur-like fronds of ancient Gunnera species clinging to existence. If you have a seasoned guide, you can bushwhack off-trail through woods dripping with mosses and ferns. Here, the rare and ornamental Juania australis palm still thrives, coexisting with flora found nowhere else on Earth - these are the last remnants of Robinson Crusoe's original ecosystems.

Chile promises some of the most epic hiking adventures on the planet, from towering volcanic peaks to remote glacial valleys, dense forests, and desert landscapes.

No matter which trails you tackle, one thing is sure - you'll return profoundly changed by the sheer scale, wildness, and surreal beauty of this hiking nirvana.