"W" Trek
Torres del Paine National Park
"W" Trek Overview
Duration: 5 days
Difficulty: Medium
Activity: Hiking
Maximum group size: max 6 people
The most walked and visited trail in Torres del Paine Park, called W. Its name refers to the valley system through which it enters and allows you to immerse yourself in viewpoints with world-class views. The W circuit is the summary of the must-see attractions such as: Gray Glacier, Los Cuernos del Paine, Valle del Frances and Las Torres de granito. This, one of the most popular routes in world-class Patagonia and considered an experience of “at least once in a lifetime”.
2024-2025 Prices
Classic 5 day W program - USD$ 1800 per person
All standard tours are all tent-camping and are 'real' backpacking trips - you set up & breakdown your own tent and you hit the trail the old fashioned way. This is not a 'soft' trekking tour - we have rationed food, fuel and supplies. Meals are prepared at camp and on the trail. We do not use freeze dried foods, we have real meals. Your pack weight will be your own pack +4 kilos of food and 3 kilos of camping gear. The programs are suitable for beginner trekkers and are very safe, but physical fitness is key to enjoying these incredible treks. A 2 pp tent and sleeping pad is provided.
Single Tent Supplement - USD$ 100 per person
If you would like your own tent, instead of sharing, there is a single tent supplement. This also means you will be carrying your tent, instead of splitting that weight with a tent-partner. If you are placed in a one-person tent by your guide no extra cost will be added.
Porter Services - USD$ 200 per day
Porters can be hired to support you on our guided programs. Porters can carry up to 15 kilos of your pack weight. This is a great way to reduce your pack weight and trek with ease. The porters are a real part of our team and help out with setting up the tent. For the light trekking upgrade this is recommended to be shared by two persons.
Light trekking upgrade - USD$ 500 + price pp
Walk with just your camping gear and feel the real backpacking experience setting up and breaking down camp while eating luxurious meals within the Refugio. This option includes the tent and sleeping pad.
Ultra-light trekking upgrade – USD$ 900 + price pp
With this upgrade you hike with a small day backpack carying your personal things. The fully equipped tent will be set up when arriving at camp and all meals are provided in and by the Refugio. This upgrade includes all camping gear (tent, sleeping bag and mattress) rented at the camping site.
Single Tent Supplement in Light and Ultra-light upgrade - USD $555 pp
If you would like your own tent, instead of sharing, there is a single tent supplement. The tent
will be set up in each campsite for you with a sleeping pad and sleeping bag
Complete Refugio Upgrade - USD$ 1000 + price pp
Would you rather stay inside of a Refugio and sleep in a bed. The mountain huts offer dorm rooms with 2 to 4 bunk beds. Together with Breakfast and Dinners being served inside of the Refugio and an organized lunchbox. Have the outdoor experience in a more comfortable way.
Route Map
Night 2 - Paine Grande Campsite
Night 1- Grey Campsite
Night 3 - Francés Campsite
Night 4 - Central Campsite
W Trail
Start
End
Key
From October 2024
until April 2025
Departure dates
Every 3th, 15th and 24th of the month
Day 0 Start Return
2 3 7
14 15 19
23 24 28
Day 0 - Meeting with the guide at 18:00
What's Included:
Experienced/ certified mountain guide.
All transportation
All meals during the trek.
Entrance and camping fees
Camping/ cooking equipment: 4 Season tent, sleeping pad, stove, cooking utilities
***Your trip does not include:
Personal Equipment and trekking gear ( clothing, backpack, sleeping bag )
Mountain equipment ( trekking poles )
Alcoholic beverages
Lodging in town (before and after the trek)
Travel insurance
Personal first aid
Tips
Heading 1
Detailed Itinerary
Day 0: Meeting day.
Briefing with the guide in Puerto Natales at - 6pm. Gear check and itinerary review.
Day 1: Puerto Natales – Campsite Grey.
We will start our trip in the early morning, leaving Puerto Natales for a 2 - 2.5-hour drive to the West entrance of the National park Torres del Paine. On the way, we can enjoy the view of the mountains that form the amazing landscape of Patagonia. We will pass by lakes, forest and also one of the best lookouts of the whole national park mountain range.
After we check in at the ranger station and entrance of the park we will continue driving for another half an hour to get to Pudeto peer. We take the catamaran that will take us for approximately 25 minutes over the Lake Pehoe, known as the most beautiful lake in the region, until we get to the Paine Grande Lodge/campsite. From here we start to get ready for our first hike and the official start of the ‘W’ trail. After a quick organizational break, we begin hiking towards Campsite/Refugio Grey. This will be an 11 km hike with amazing views over the Grey Lake, which displays the impressive geological changes that have happened in this area. When arriving at the campsite, we set up the tents and prepare for dinner.
Day 2: Campsite Grey – Grey Glacier Lookout - Campsite Paine Grande.
In the morning of our second day, we do a half-day hike that goes up to an amazing viewpoint of glaciers and the southern Patagonian ice-field. We will be able to do this section of the hike with a light daypack. During this hike, we will cross mainly forest and two hanging bridges to get to an encompassing view over Glacier Grey. Coming back to camp, we will pack our backpacks and start our hike back to Paine Grande campsite, where we will stay for the night. This campground is known for its amazing views of the “Cuernos”, big granite walls that are part of the unique mountain range of the national park, and also the strong gusts of wind that can make camping an all-together more challenging experience.
Day 3: Paine Grande Campsite – Valle Francés - Campsite Francés.
On the third day, we make our way to the beautiful Valle del Francés. We start our walk from Paine Grande to Campsite Italiano, over rolling hills we will arrive at a ranger station at the foot of the valley. Here we drop our big backpacks and prepare our small daypacks for the hike up into the valley. There are 2 viewpoints to hike to; the first viewpoint is called Mirador Francés, it will take us 1 hour hiking up some steep parts of the valley. From this viewpoint, you can enjoy the view of the hanging glacier coming down from the largest mountain in the park, the Paine Grande. From this spot, it is another hour and a half to get to the second viewpoint called Británico. This next part of the trail is easier and relaxing, with a boulder field at the end were we can have the amazing 360° view around you.
The Británico lookout is on a big rock formation at the end of the valley, the best spot for the perfect picture from the Valle del Francés. After some good time enjoying the view, we turn around and go back to Campsite Italiano. Here we pick up our big backpacks again and go for the last half an hour hiking to the campground for the night, camping Francés.
Day 4: Campsite Francés – Campsite Las Torres/Central.
Today is one of the longest day of the W trek. We will cross forest, pebble beaches, some steep inclines and descents, all this with views overlooking Lago Nordenskjold and up against the impressive walls of the Cuernos and the Almirante Nieto mountain. Around every corner you will find a different perspective of the Patagonian steppe, making this a beautiful landscape.
After a few hours of hiking, we get to the beginning of the Ascencio Valley, were we can start to see part of the famous Torres del Paine. Here we will find our camping ground.
Day 5: Base Torres hike – Puerto Natales.
This is our last trekking day, going up to the famous Torres del Paine. A full day of hiking with only our daypack. Starting the hike up into the mountain, we will have an amazing view from the green Ascencio Valley, and the mountains from the surroundings. After 2 hours hiking up, we reach “The pass of the wind”, the best view of the while valley Ascencio. From here we start walking down to Refugio Chileno, located next to the river of the valley. After a short break we will continue hiking for another hour into the valley, through the beautiful Magellan forest. At the end of the forest, we will find “Camp Torres” and the ranger station of the area. From here we start hiking the last section of the trail, for 45 min we make our way up to finally get to the “Mirador” where can see the three towers standing in front of a glacial lake.
After having enjoyed the spectacle at the towers, we will make our way back down to the camping ground. This marks the end of our trek. We will then take our private transportation back to Puerto Natales where our 'W' program officially ends.
Start/ End in Puerto Natales