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04 SELF GUIDED W Trek 2 Valleys / Base-French

INTRODUCTION

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W TREK 2 Valleys / Torres Base & French - 4 Nights / 5 Days

W TREK 2 Valleys / Torres Base & French - 4 Nights / 5 Days

Duration
4 Nights / 5 Days
Total Hike Distance
49km / 30.6mi
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Style
Self Guided
From
USD 975 PP

From USD 975 Per Person

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04 SELF GUIDED W Trek 2 Valleys / Base-French

Introduction

This itinerary will allow you to do a full day hike, on different days, one day to the Torres Base, and the next day to the French Valley.

Accommodation begins at your hotel in Puerto Natales followed by a night at Refugio Central and then Refugio Frances or Cuernos, with a final, last night in your hotel in Puerto Natales.

Experience Chile can arrange additional private transfers as well as extra nights and activities – just ask.

Torres Base & French Valley:

Torres Base: 21.8 km / 13.6 mi – 9 hrs hiking.

French Valley: 27.2 km / 17 mi – 5 hrs 10 min hiking.

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Your Day-By-Day Itinerary

Check-in to your hotel in Puerto Natales.

NIGHT: Puerto Natales

Depart from Puerto Natales on the regular bus at 07:00hrs. Arrive to Laguna Amarga in Torres del Paine and board the shuttle to the Welcome Centre. Hike up hill to Chileno - 2.5hrs, and then on to the Torres Base - 2hrs. After time here enjoying the view, return back down to the Welcome Centre and Refugio Central - 4.5hrs. NOTE: There is an option whereby we can book PREMIUM CAMPING CHILENO for the night which is half way up the trail to the Torres Base.

Begin the hike to the Torres Base. Welcome Centre to Chileno: 6.1km / 3.9mi – Altitude: 43m – 2hrs 30mins hiking.
Chileno to Torres Base: 4.8km / 3mi – Altitude: 43m – 2hrs hiking.
Time at the base to rest and take pictures: 30min.
Torres Base to Chileno: 4.8km / 3mi – Altitude: 43m – 2hrs hiking.
Chileno to the Welcome Centre (Refugio Central): 6.1km / 3.9mi – Altitude: 43m – 2hrs 30mins hiking.

NIGHT: Dinner and Night Central or Chileno

After breakfast, you will receive a box lunch and then begin your hike to either Frances or Cuernos accommodation, depending on which one of the two we have manged to book for you.

Welcome Centre to Cuernos: 12.5km / 7.8mi – Altitude: 43m – 4.5hrs hiking.
Welcome Centre to Frances: 16.1km / 10mi – Altitude: 43m – 6hrs hiking.

NIGHT: Dinner and night at either Cuernos or Frances.

After breakfast, you will be handed a box lunch. The hike today from Cuernos will pass by Frances (unless you are already at Frances) and then reach the entrance to the French Valley. See below for hike times and distances. Once you have completed your hike in the French Valley and return to the entrance, which is now your exit, you will continue on to Paine Grande. Here, you will board a catamaran to take you across Pehoe Lake to Pudeto, and then board the regular bus back to Puerto Natales.

Cuernos to Frances: 3.6km / 2.2mi – Altitude: 43m – 1hr 30min hiking.
Frances to French Valley Entrance: 1.1km / 0.7mi – Altitude: 43m – 45min hiking.
French Valley Entrance to French Valley Viewpoint: 2.6km / 1.6mi – Altitude: 43m – 1hr 30min hiking.
French Valley Viewpoint to Camp Britanico (the end): 3.2km / 2mi – Altitude: 43m – 1hr hiking.
Camp Britanico (the end) to the French Valley Viewpoint: 3.2km / 2mi – Altitude: 43m – 1hr hiking.
French Valley Viewpoint to the French Valley Exit: 2.6km / 1.6mi – Altitude: 43m – 1hr 30min hiking.
French Valley Exit to Paine Grande: 7.8km / 4.mi – Altitude: 43m – 2hrs 40min hiking.
Total hike time if to the French Valley Viewpoint and out is: 17.7km / 11mi – Altitude: 43m – 8hrs hiking.
Total hike time if to the French Valley Camp Britanico and out is: 24.1km / 15mi – Altitude: 43m – 10hrs hiking.

NIGHT: Puerto Natales

After breakfast, depart from Puerto Natales airport or bus terminal.

W Trek : FAQs

It should be said that the majority of people trek the trail self-guided. The routes are sign-posted clearly with orange-painted poles and are also well-trodden paths and, in the summer season (Dec – Jan – Feb) there will be numerous other hikers about. Nevertheless, this is wilderness country, very remote and subject to sudden changes in weather that can make conditions tough.

Take Note

Do NOT go off the trail because even if you have the slightest incident like a twisted ankle, you may find that no one will find you. It is essential that all walkers have the right clothing and food and know what to do it they are caught out in extreme, unpredicted bad weather.

However, if you are a group, you should take a guide to comply with the Park regulations, or if you are unsure of doing the trek on your own. The guide will also be able to inform you of valuable information during the trek, about geological features, vegetation, and wildlife, as well as handle the check-in.

Porters are available to carry one, back-pack style bag (NOT a suitcase) up to 15kg in weight.

For both a guide and / or porter there is, of course, additional cost.

People coming from Santiago will inevitably pass by Puerto Natales, either coming from Punta Arenas or on a direct flight to the village. Therefore, Puerto Natales is the ideal stop-off for a night or two pre and / or post your visit to Torres del Paine.

Based in Natales

Also, here at Experience Chile, we operate W Trek programs based from Puerto Natales, whereupon you can avoid the dorm-room sleeping situation in the refugios and, instead, enjoy a decent hotel or top-end hotel as well as restaurants and “vibe” of a village.

Alternatively, the other place to stay pre and / or post the W Trek is in El Calafate, over the border in Argentina, which is a 6hr transfer away. Moreover, over at El Calafate you will be able to visit the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier and / or go trekking at El Chalten (3hr transfer).

The W route is called so because the path you walk forms a pattern in the shape of a “W”, when viewed down from above.

For most of the time walking the footpaths in TDP you will be staring at the ground a few paces in front and looking up occasionally, and then stopping to take in the breath-taking views all around.

However, a number of people ask which way is better.

Is There Any Advantage?

In reality there is really no specific advantage over the other, but the main differences are that going West to East means that from Paine Grande you will have the Cuernos del Paine in view for most of the way, hanging glaciers on your left, and lakes on your right as well as the prevailing wind, which, if blowing, will be on your back.

If you go East to West you will have the beautiful view of the lakes to your left and hanging glaciers on your right and the prevailing wind against you, if it is blowing.

Ultimately, it is better to plan the route around the reality of travel logistics and connections you will require.

There is an entrance fee to pay to enter Torres del Paine and this will need to be paid in Chilean Pesos or in USD– equal to approx USD50 per person. Experience Chile will pre-arrange entry tickets for all our clients and have them sent to your cel phone or email.

Extras

Payment for all extras at the refugios can be paid in USD or in Chilean Pesos

Chile has a modern network of ATM machines called Red Bank located in many areas (banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations) in villages, towns and cities.

It is easy to use a debit or credit card to get local currency cash out BUT NOT within Torres del Paine so ensure you have enough CASH with you before entering the park. More refugios are now accepting credit cards too (but do not rely on this).

Torres del Paine offers visitors various accommodation alternatives ranging from camping, to refugios (these are hostels), to hotels and luxury lodges.

For those walking the W Trek, the question for you is what type of person are you and how much money do you have to spend?

Some of Our Testimonials

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Group 88

“All in all one of the best holidays we have ever had, if not the best, so thank you for putting together such an enjoyable itinerary for us.

With best wishes for the new year.”

Joe

Group 88 (1)

“Our 60th birthday trip has been so amazing because of your fantastic help. We both turned 60 years old in 2018 so we wanted to celebrate by proving to ourselves we were still fit enough to do this kind of trip.

Your help made this easy, so THANK YOU!!!!!!”

Randy and E

Group 88 (2)

“We are getting ready to leave and I just wanted to thank you for helping us along the way. We had a great time and the weather was perfect. On the “O circuit” all your arrangements went smoothly.“

Marc

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MEET EXPERIENCECHILE.ORG DIRECTOR, CHARLES HALLIFAX

Our philosophy is to offer you an experience. Not just a holiday, not just a travel plan, but a life experience. We do this by creating travel itineraries that incorporate destinations, hotels and services that are special, that we know will offer you a memorable travel memory.
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