Torres del Paine Hiking Deaths

Is it Dangerous in Torres del Paine?

Five People Needlessly Died in Torres del Paine 17 November 2025

Torres del Paine Patagonia National Park is in a raw and rugged area called Patagonia, that straddles both southern Argentina and Chile. In the western side of Patagonia is the Andes mountain range, which is home to the massive Southern Ice Sheet comprising vast, deep glaciers that fill the valleys in-between the steep, hard rock sides of the mountains.

Therefore, the weather in this part of the world is subject to the changeable mood of a mountain climate. For example, it is common to experience “four seasons in one day” in these parts.

Remote Spaces

The outdoor activities, such as hiking the trails in Torres del Paine, but also in El Chalten, involve walking for hours in remote spaces. When the weather is calm, sunny and with no wind, this is a wonderful, “jaw-dropping” experience. However, when the wind starts blowing at ferocious speeds, and the rain, and snow fall, the environment becomes severe and, potentially, life threatening if you do not have the right equipment and clothing, or shelter.

Tragically, on Sunday 16 November 2025, in Chile, the National Presidential election was held. Under Chilean law, every eligible voting person must vote or have a viable excuse not to. Torres del Paine National Park is administered by an authority called CONAF whose responsibility it is to manage all the National Parks in Chile with a company of rangers.

CONAF (Chilean Forestry Corporation)

On Sunday 16 November 2025, not enough CONAF rangers were on post in Torres del Paine and, consequently, there was a failure to announce trail closures or advance severe weather warnings to people in Torres del Paine for this and the following day. However, it must be said it is under investigation as to exactly what failed and led to the tragic death of five hikers in the park.

The sector where the five people perished is between Los Perros, and the top of the John Garner pass. This is a stretch of the backcountry, full circuit trail, known as the “O” Circuit. Effectively, it is virtually at a point adjacent to the Southern Ice Field.

Therefore, with hurricane-force winds being blown directly off the below-freezing glaciers that cover the ice field, if one was to be “marooned” in this environment, without shelter, hypothermia will likely set in. This is the situation that the five hikers encountered on Monday17 November 2025.

Circuit Trail Map

Link to information about the Circuit trek trail and a clear map: Torres del Paine | Circuit Trek | Experience

It is important to note that such a tragic situation has not previously occurred to this magnitude. As with other unpredictable global weather events that are happening all over the world, this was another one. It has been reported that at the Perros base camp the weather was overcast, foggy and with drizzle, with not much indication that further along the trail there were hurricane-force winds.

Our condolences and prayers go out to all those who died on that fateful day and we hope that the authorities will learn an essential lesson from such a disaster to ensure it is never repeated.

Over 360,000 people visit Torres del Paine in a typical season and the vast majority have a wonderful time. It appears that this particular tragedy, which, of course could have been avoided, was a freak event.

More information has been published in the press, including here:

The Torres del Paine Tragedy: What Really Happened to Those Five Hikers » Explorersweb

Survivors Describe Deadly Snowstorm in Chilean Patagonia – The New York Times

Survivor of Blizzard That Killed 5 Remembers Search for Friend Who Died

Cornwall woman among five killed in snowstorm in Chile

Five tourists killed by snowstorm in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park | CNN

‘It’s a tragedy that should have been avoided’: Survivors of Patagonia blizzard disaster that killed British woman tell how officials’ ‘failures’ forced trekkers to become rescuers | Daily Mail Online

Patagonia blizzard survivor: Our holiday turned into a ‘horror film’

Survivor of Chilean blizzard that killed Briton says staff told trekkers they could proceed | Chile | The Guardian