News
News & articles Interviews Events Company news Mountain guides news
Routes
Rock climbs Classic mountaineering, ice climbing, mixed climbing Ski mountaineering Freeride Snowshoeing Trekking Via ferrata All routes
Crags
Special
Mountain huts Mountain guides Climbing walls

Photos

 Videos
Expo
Companies Products Company news
 
1 / 39
Routes > Climbing routes > South African route - Central Tower

South African route - Central Tower

Chile>Paine>Patagonia>Torres del Paine>Central Tower
Planetmountain
Main article
Traduci in
1 / 39
South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile
Planetmountain
Beauty
First ascent
F.A. Paul Fatti, Roger Fuggle, Art McGarr, Mervyn Prior, Mike Scott, Richard Smithers, 1973/1974. FFA: Nicolas Favresse, Sean Villanueva & Ben Ditto, 02/2009
By
Planetmountain
Orientation
East
Length
1200m (30 pitches, many 50m long)
Height
2460m
Difficulty
7b+/5.12c
Departure
Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
Link
www.nicolasfavresse.com
Last update
26/02/2026

Route



The striking 30 pitch South African route takes the clearcut dihedral up the East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile. First climbed in 1973/74 and graded A4/5.10, it was freed in February 2009 by the Belgian climbers Favresse, Villanueva & Ditto. The trio spent 13 days freeing the route  and stated that the 1200m line contained some of the most amazing free climbing in their big wall career.

Getting there

Reach the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine from Puerto Natales. From Puerto Natales various bus operators offer open-ended return tickets to the park, almost 120km away. Buses depart at around 7 am and take over 4 hours to reach the park. The main entrance is Guardería & Rifugio Laguna Amarga, at the northern end of the park; all tourists are brought here and they must purchase a park permit and register before entering. Buses then continue to the Sede Administrativa Lago del Toro, from where most depart in the early afternoon for the return trip to Puerto Natales.

Access

From Guardería Laguna Amarga walk to Campamento Torres and then the Torres del Paine Lookout. Details of the trek.

Gear

Full trad rack.

Notes

- Read the full interview here


South African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, ChileSouth African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile Carrying loads to the wall.South African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile Hauling.South African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile Hauling.South African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile Sean Villanueva tackling a beautiful granite offwidth crack.South African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile Ben Ditto, pitch 13.South African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile Icy chimneySouth African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile Nico disappearing into an offwidth.South African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile The summit.South African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, Chile Sean Villanueva, Nicolas Favresse and Ben Ditto on the summit of the Central Tower, Torres del PaineVia dei Sudafricani, Central Tower East Face - Topo Via dei Sudafricani, Central Tower East Face, Torres del Paine, PatagoniaSouth African route Central Tower East Face - South African route: South African route, East Face Central Tower, Paine, ChileFree South Africa, Torres del Paine - Torres del Paine, Chile, Tommy Caldwell, Siebe Vanhee - Tommy Caldwell & Siebe Vanhee making their 24-hour free ascent of South African route on Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia (13-14/02/2026)Torres del Paine, Chile, Tommy Caldwell, Siebe Vanhee - Tommy Caldwell and Siebe Vanhee on the summit of the Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia on 14/02/2026 after having made a free ascent of the 'South African route' in 24-hoursTorres del Paine, Chile, Tommy Caldwell, Siebe Vanhee - Siebe Vanhee making the 24-hour free ascent of 'South African route' on the Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia on 13-14/02/2026 with Tommy CaldwellTorres del Paine, Chile, Tommy Caldwell, Siebe Vanhee - Siebe Vanhee making the 24-hour free ascent of 'South African route' on the Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia on 13-14/02/2026 with Tommy CaldwellTorres del Paine, Chile, Tommy Caldwell, Siebe Vanhee - The view during the 24-hour free ascent of 'South African route' on the Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia, carried out by Tommy Caldwell & Siebe Vanhee on 13-14/02/2026
See all photos



Comments

Info

You must fill all fields

Thanks for sending us your comment!
It will be visible as soon as it has been approved.

Wrong verification code

You must wait 2 minutes before commenting again.


No comments yet...
Beauty
First ascent
F.A. Paul Fatti, Roger Fuggle, Art McGarr, Mervyn Prior, Mike Scott, Richard Smithers, 1973/1974. FFA: Nicolas Favresse, Sean Villanueva & Ben Ditto, 02/2009
By
Planetmountain
Orientation
East
Length
1200m (30 pitches, many 50m long)
Height
2460m
Difficulty
7b+/5.12c
Departure
Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
Link
www.nicolasfavresse.com
Last update
26/02/2026

Route



Routes in the same mountain group

Show more in Torres del Paine

Related news