Torres del Paine (the three towers): what time does it glow at sunrise?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: First light on the Torres at 05:58; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:36. Be at the Base de las Torres viewpoint by 05:28.
The granite towers face east over the Patagonian steppe, so the first sun hits them square on and they glow orange-red for a few minutes. Hikers climb to the lake at their base in the dark to be there.
Fri 6 November 2026
First light 05:58
First light on the Torres at 05:58; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:36. Be at the Base de las Torres viewpoint by 05:28.
| 05:28 | Arrive at the Base de las Torres viewpoint |
| 05:58 | First light: the very top turns red |
| 06:08 | Sunrise on a flat horizon here (the valley stays in shade longer) |
| 06:36 | Glow fades to gold, then white |
Plan it
The climb from Hotel Las Torres or Camp Chileno takes 2 to 4 hours; book the Chileno campsite to cut it down. Cloud hides the towers on many mornings. The glow needs a clear sky towards the east as well as over the peak.
Through the year
| 15th of | First light | Glow |
|---|---|---|
| January | 05:51 | 05:51–06:33 |
| February | 06:48 | 06:48–07:24 |
| March | 07:38 | 07:38–08:12 |
| April | 08:28 | 08:28–09:03 |
| May | 09:13 | 09:13–09:53 |
| June | 09:44 | 09:44–10:29 |
| July | 09:38 | 09:38–10:21 |
| August | 08:54 | 08:54–09:32 |
| September | 07:49 | 07:49–08:24 |
| October | 06:42 | 06:42–07:17 |
| November | 05:44 | 05:44–06:23 |
| December | 05:22 | 05:22–06:05 |
Torres del Paine by month
Questions
What time is the sunrise glow on the Torres?
6 Nov 2026: First light on the Torres at 05:58; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:36. Be at the Base de las Torres viewpoint by 05:28. The time moves through the year; pick your date above.
How much earlier does the Torres catch the sun than the valley?
About 10 minutes before a sunrise on a flat horizon at the Base de las Torres viewpoint, and the valley itself stays in the mountains' shadow for longer.
Which month has the earliest and latest first light?
January 05:51, February 06:48, March 07:38, April 08:28, May 09:13, June 09:44, July 09:38, August 08:54, September 07:49, October 06:42, November 05:44, December 05:22 (15th of each month).
How is this calculated?
A summit high above its surroundings looks down on its own horizon, so it sees the sun before anything below it. For each date we find the moment the sun's upper edge clears the skyline as seen from the summit (allowing for the dip of the horizon, refraction and higher ridges nearby). The red, then orange, then gold glow lasts until the sun is about 5° higher. Expect the real moment within about 5 minutes.
Summit 2,850 m. Times are local (America/Punta_Arenas).