Torres del Paine National Park keeps O Circuit closed on 31 October
Published on 10/31/2026 at 15:17 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSClosure and routes for visitors
- CONAF lists the Macizo Paine circuit at Torres del Paine as closed through 31 October 2026.
- The closure affects the O route, while CONAF lists several W route sections and Base Torres trails separately.
- The park was created in 1959 and became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978.
- Puerto Natales connects with the park through Route 9 North and the Y-290 road.
Torres del Paine National Park (Parque Nacional Torres del Paine) near Puerto Natales is keeping its Macizo Paine, or O Circuit, closed through 31 October 2026. The restriction is listed by Chile's National Forest Corporation, CONAF, the park's custodian, and remains the key access issue for visitors travelling to Chile in October.
The closure covers the route around the Paine Massif, rather than every trail in the national park. CONAF's notice says any modification to the 31 October date will be announced through its official channels.
The O Circuit closure continues through 31 October 2026
The official CONAF visitor notice identifies the Macizo Paine circuit as La O and states that it will remain closed until 31 October 2026. The notice does not confirm an automatic reopening on 1 November, so an early November plan requires a fresh check of the authority's information.
For travellers, that distinction matters because the O Circuit is a continuous loop. A visit planned around its northern and western stages cannot be treated as a complete circuit while the Macizo Paine section remains closed. The alternative is to use a route listed as open, change the itinerary or move the full loop to a later date.
How the closure relates to the national park
CONAF records the park's creation under a Chilean Ministry of Agriculture decree on 13 May 1959. It covers 227,298 hectares in Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, and its landscape includes the Paine mountain range, glaciers, rivers, lakes and lagoons.
The same official record says UNESCO recognised the area as a Biosphere Reserve in 1978. That history gives the current restriction a precise setting: the closed route crosses the mountain landscape that defines the park, while the authority lists other trails as separate units with their own conditions.
CONAF's trail information names sections of the W route, including Paine Grande to the administration area, Italiano to the Británico viewpoint and the Base Torres route. Several northern stages associated with the O Circuit are marked closed for winter hiking. Walking conditions, guide requirements and trail status can vary by section.
What the restriction means for October visits
- Date and route: The Macizo Paine, also called the O Circuit, is listed as closed through 31 October 2026. The affected route is the circuit around the Paine Massif.
- Access: The closure does not describe the whole park as shut. CONAF lists other trails separately, so visitors must check the status of their chosen section before setting out.
- Location: The park lies in Chile's Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica region. Buses leave Puerto Natales for park access points, while the Y-290 road also links Puerto Natales with the park.
- Terrain: The area contains mountain trails, glacial moraines, lakes and exposed highland terrain. CONAF lists some routes as demanding and warns that snow can affect sections during winter.
- Travel documents: Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Torres del Paine National Park
What has changed at Torres del Paine National Park?
The Macizo Paine, or O Circuit, is listed as closed through 31 October 2026. CONAF says any change to that date will be announced through its official channels.
Where is Torres del Paine National Park and how do you get there?
The park is in Chile's Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica region, with Puerto Natales as a principal access town. Routes include Route 9 North and the Y-290 road.
What is Torres del Paine National Park?
It is a Chilean national park created in 1959 and recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978. CONAF records an area of 227,298 hectares.
