Torres del Paine National Park keeps O Circuit closed until 31 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 02:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Torres del Paine National Park remains closed on the Paine Massif, or O Circuit, through 31 October 2026.
- CONAF says reopening after 31 October 2026 will depend on weather and safety conditions.
- The park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve established in 1959 in Chilean Patagonia, with access routes from Puerto Natales.
Torres del Paine National Park (Parque Nacional Torres del Paine) is keeping its Paine Massif, also called the O Circuit, closed through 31 October 2026. The restriction affects visitors planning the full mountain circuit in Chilean Patagonia, while other parts of the park remain governed by current safety conditions.
O Circuit closure continues through 31 October 2026
Chile's National Forestry Corporation, CONAF, says the Paine Massif circuit has remained closed from May and will stay closed initially until 31 October 2026. The official notice states that any change to the date will be announced through CONAF's official channels.
The closure is a current access restriction rather than a confirmed reopening. CONAF's closure notice links the date directly to the Paine Massif circuit and identifies La O as its alternative name. Reopening therefore remains subject to a later assessment, not an automatic change on 1 November.
Why the closed route matters to the park's mountain landscape
The O Circuit runs around the Paine Massif, the granite and sedimentary mountain system that gives the protected area its name. CONAF describes the park as a landscape shaped by glacial movement, with valleys, glaciers, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and an extensive network of mountain trails.
The protected area was created on 13 May 1959 and became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978. It covers 227,298 hectares and contains seventeen ecosystems, according to the park authority. The closure is significant because it removes the route that circles the massif from the available trekking choices during the October period, while the park's wider landscape and other authorised sectors remain in operation subject to conditions. Further background is available in the municipal park profile.
Access from Puerto Natales remains route-specific
Visitors approaching from Puerto Natales can use the Y-290 road towards the park's Rio Serrano entrance, or continue north on Route 9 towards the Sarmiento and Laguna Amarga entrances. Access to the national park does not by itself override the separate closure affecting the Paine Massif circuit.
Visiting Torres del Paine National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The O Circuit is closed through 31 October 2026. CONAF says the Paine Massif route will reopen only after an assessment of weather and safety conditions.
- The restriction applies to the Paine Massif circuit, also known as La O. Other park sectors are not covered by this specific closure, but visitors must follow current CONAF conditions and instructions.
- From Puerto Natales, access routes include the Y-290 road to Rio Serrano and Route 9 towards the Sarmiento and Laguna Amarga entrances.
- The park's mountain terrain includes glaciers, lakes, valleys and marked trails. Some authorised routes include demanding sections, and CONAF advises visitors to remain on official trails and follow guardaparque instructions.
- 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 Paine Massif, or O Circuit, remains closed through 31 October 2026. Its reopening will depend on a later assessment of weather and safety conditions.
Where is Torres del Paine National Park and how do you get there?
The park is in Chile's Magallanes region. From Puerto Natales, visitors can use the Y-290 route to Rio Serrano or Route 9 towards other park entrances.
What is Torres del Paine National Park?
It is a 227,298-hectare protected area created in 1959 and recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978. Its landscape includes the Paine Massif, glaciers, lakes, valleys and mountain trails.
