This page contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you book or buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
The trekking season runs roughly October to April, with December to February as the peak: the longest days, the steadiest weather and by far the most competition for beds. November and March trade fewer people for more changeable weather. Summer days average around 13°C, with nights close to freezing.
Unlike safari destinations with a real low season, Torres del Paine doesn't discount off-peak. The CLP 48,500 park ticket is the same in December as in March, and the concessionaires price by site, not by week. What changes through the year is whether there's a bed left. "When to book" here means how early you act — the booking-race page covers the release timing.
A week of park access costs about €44 in Torres del Paine. A comparable week of hiking in Argentina's Los Glaciares, around El Chaltén, runs about €100, because the Argentine park charges per entry day.
<aside> ❗
It's the opposite of the usual assumption that the Argentine side is the cheap one.
</aside>
Chile exempts non-resident foreign tourists from the 19% IVA on hotel stays, but hotels handle it differently, including how you have to pay — ask when you book, and keep your passport and entry slip to hand.
Guides for Torres del Paine planning — real costs, route comparisons, and booking links.