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Outdoors Central sector, Torres del Paine

Valle del Francés

An outdoor spot in Central sector, Torres del Paine, free to visit and worth most of a day (about 8 hours). Best time to go: Clear day.

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Valle del Francés in Central sector, Torres del Paine
Photo: Tilman Giese · Google

Why go

Central W-trek valley with hanging glaciers and avalanches off Paine Grande.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Torres del Paine, alongside 5 outdoor spots, 1 activity and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Mirador Cuernos, 3.7 km away as the crow flies. Set aside most of a day (about 8 hours) here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.

Type
Outdoors · Adventure
Neighborhood
Central sector
Price
Free
Time needed
8 hr
Best time
Clear day

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Torres del Paine, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Mirador Cuernos

    Easy trail with views of Los Cuernos above Lake Nordenskjöld.

    Outdoors · 3.7 km straight-line
  2. 2
    Salto Grande

    Powerful waterfall between Lake Nordenskjöld and Lake Pehoé.

    Outdoors · 5.7 km straight-line
  3. 3
    Lago Pehoé catamaran

    Boat from Pudeto across turquoise Lake Pehoé to Paine Grande.

    Activity · 6.0 km straight-line
  4. 4
    Mirador Base Las Torres

    Steep hike to the glacial lake below the three granite towers.

    Outdoors · 11 km straight-line
  5. 5
    Hotel Lago Grey

    Lodge with a restaurant and bar facing icebergs on Lake Grey.

    Drinks · 12 km straight-line
  6. 6
    Hotel Las Torres Patagonia

    Lodge restaurant and bar at the Base Torres trailhead, open to non-guests.

    Food · 13 km straight-line

On these curated routes

Valle del Francés is a stop on our Patagonia Peaks route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More outdoor spots in Torres del Paine

2 more curated outdoor spots in Torres del Paine. See the full Torres del Paine guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Torres del Paine run from -5°C in July to 3°C in February; January is usually the wettest month. For Valle del Francés itself, we suggest: Clear day.

Modelled monthly averages for Torres del Paine from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Torres del Paine weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Valle del Francés, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Vallée del Francés, Torres de Paine, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena, Chile
Coordinates
-51.02177, -73.04442
Destination
Torres del Paine, Chile

Valle del Francés: quick answers

How much time do you need at Valle del Francés?

Plan on most of a day (about 8 hours) at Valle del Francés. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Valle del Francés?

Our pick: Clear day.

Is Valle del Francés free?

Yes, we list Valle del Francés as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Valle del Francés?

Valle del Francés is at Vallée del Francés, Torres de Paine, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena, Chile, in Central sector. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Valle del Francés?

Valle del Francés appears on Patagonia Peaks, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Valle del Francés to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Torres del Paine.

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Lists & regions

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.