What to wear in Torres del Paine
The core kit for any day tour
Bring
- Layers you can add and shed as the wind decides
- A windproof (ideally waterproof) shell jacket
- Waterproof shoes — the Grey beach walk is worth dry feet
- Sunscreen and sunglasses, every month of the year
- Your passport or ID, checked at the park gate
Leave behind
- Anything that flaps — ponchos and umbrellas lose to Patagonian gusts
- Brand-new footwear you have never walked in
- The assumption that a sunny morning stays sunny
Extra gear for the hard hike
The Base of the Towers day is 22 km, and the operator’s own list for it reads: proper hiking shoes, a windbreaker, a hat and hiking pants. Trekking poles are provided. If you are weighing that hike against an easier day, the hiking tours page is honest about the effort involved.
Adjust for the season
Summer can reach about 20 °C and still knock you sideways at a viewpoint; winter can drop to about −7 °C with snow. The month-by-month picture is on the best time to visit page — the shell jacket stays in the bag all twelve months.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need hiking boots for a Torres del Paine day tour?
Not boots, but waterproof shoes, yes — the optional walk on Grey beach and the viewpoint paths reward dry feet. Save the full boot-and-poles kit for the hiking tours.
What should I wear in summer?
The same layered kit as any season, because December to February brings the strongest wind of the year alongside the warmth. Shorts-weather mornings turn into shell-jacket afternoons here, even at 20 °C.
Is there anything tours require me to bring?
The flagship day tour asks for passport or ID, layers, sunscreen, sunglasses and waterproof shoes; the Base of the Towers hike adds hiking shoes, a windbreaker, a hat and hiking pants, and requires travel insurance.