All About the W Trek in Torres del Paine

The famous “W-Trek” of Torres del Paine is a much sought-after walking trail that people from all over the world come to experience. The reason is rather simple. The path is in the centre of the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park in the heart of Patagonia, in Southern Chile.

For those lucky enough to come here you can walk with and experience an incredible sense of freedom amid the raw, natural beautiful landscape of Patagonia. Here you can see tall, vertically sided, needle-like granite towers, blue-coloured lagoons; massive, jagged mountain peaks, hanging glaciers, huge moving glaciers, large lakes, waterfalls, puma’s, guanacos, eagles, condors and native forests to name some of the great attributes to this part of the world. And, in addition to that you can kayak in a lake past icebergs, climb on a glacier, ride at fast speed in a zodiac up or down river and horse ride. If you ever wanted to “feel alive”, then a visit and walk on the W Trek will certainly give you that feeling.

Here, below, we outline all you need to know about the W Trek in Torres del Paine.

Then, if you refer to the above tabs you will find more key information about the W Trek such as route descriptions, accommodation descriptions as well as hiking times and distances.

Warning:

Weather can change in an instant in Torres del Paine. Take the right clothes for cold wind and wet weather, sturdy walking boots, extra food and water, and a torch and DO NOT go off the TRAIL.

Torres del Paine W-Trek Brief Summary

Total Trekking Distance: 75km approx., depending on which route you take.

Number of Days: Full Trek 5 days, but shorter version can be done in 4 days.

Starting and End Points:

East to West
  • Start at Refugio Chileno, Refugio Central (or Norte) or Hotel Las Torres, or ECO Camp
  • End at Refugio Grey
West to East
  • Start at Refugio Grey, or Paine Grande
  • End at Refugio Chileno, Refugio Central (or Norte), Hotel Las Torres, or ECO Camp
Note:
  • Made bed means duvet, pillow and sheets.
  • Simple bed + Kit: The staff provide you the sheets and duvet and you set up the bed.
  • Full Board Means: Hot dinner, breakfast and box lunch (in this order).
Usual Meal Times:
  • Dinner: 19:30 – 21:30hrs
  • Breakfast: 07:30 – 09:30hrs
  • Lunch: 19:30 – 21:30hrs (if trekking you will get a box lunch to go).

About Hiking the W Trek in Torres del Paine

Taking between 4 – 5 full days of hiking, the full W Trek will enable you to see all of Torres Del Paine National Park’s best views, like the Base of the Towers, the French Valley and the Grey Lake.

For the W Trek, traditionally visitors stay in various refugios (hostels) each night for the duration of the trek. However, some choose to camp.

Here at Experience Chile we provide full-board reservations, so you won’t need to buy your own food on the trek.

Suggestion

Consider asking us to reserve accommodation in Puerto Natales or El Calafate the night before you start your trek and the night of the day you end your trek. Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine is approx 2hrs on the old road or 1hr to the CONAF ADMIN (Sector Serrano) on the new road that passes by the Milodon cave. Punta Arenas from Puerto Natales is approx 3hrs. There is a direct bus from El Calafate to TDP and also TDP to El Calafate and this transfer takes approx 6hrs.

Fitness

In order to trek the Circuit and “W” people need to be reasonably fit, not necessarily as an athlete, but perfectly able to walk for up to 10hrs a day (in the longest sectors) over rugged terrain, uphill, over streams and rocks, through woods and sometimes in driving rain and strong winds. If you are not able to endure this environment, you should seriously consider not trekking in TDP.

Questions

Seasons

Torres del Paine High Season

The busiest months are December, January and February, therefore, the trekking route and Torres Del Paine National Nark will be more crowded during this time.

For the reason mentioned above, October, November; March and April are considered by “those in the know” to the best months to embark on the W-Trek.

If your schedule is flexible, out of all the options we recommend visiting the park in April because it is quieter and there is less wind.

All bookings will need to be made up to one year in advance in order to secure your spot. However, if you have limited availability, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can build a custom travel itinerary that suits your exact needs.

The Torres del Paine Low Season

The winter months of Chilean Patagonia (late April to early September) present challenges to itinerary design that have to be worked around. Days are shorter and the weather is generally colder, leading to a high likelihood of snow on the roads and trails.

Self-guided programs are not available as a result and many hostels scale back their opening hours and services offered to compensate for the reduced quantity of tourists. If a Patagonian winter is still the only time you can make it, or you just love a challenge, we can still easily create your custom itinerary to work around these restrictions.

Torres del Paine W Trek Info & Advice

Buses

All regular buses from Puerto Natales pass by Laguna Amarga (and Pudeto and the CONAF ADMIN Center). Laguna Amarga is 7km from sector Las Torres (1.5hr trek, unless you take the shuttle bus, for which there is a very low charge). Shuttle buses run regularly between Laguna Amarga and the area for Hotel Las Torres, Refugio Torres Central and Refugio Torres Norte (located in the same sector). Refugio Chileno is a 2.5hr hike from Refugio Torres Central.

Bus Puerto Natales - Torres Del PaineBus 1Bus 2
Leaves Puerto Natales7.30am2.30pm
Arrives at Laguna Amarga (park office)9.45am4.45pm
Arrives at Pudeto (ferry)10.30am5.15pm
Bus Puerto Natales - Torres Del PaineBus 1Bus 2
Leaves Puerto Natales7.30am2.30pm
Arrives at Laguna Amarga (park office)9.45am4.45pm
Arrives at Pudeto (ferry)10.30am5.15pm
Catamaran

The catamaran operates between Pudeto (no accommodation here) and Refugio Paine Grande. NO previous reservations are accepted, and it costs approx USD35 per person, each way. Take Chilean Pesos ($25.000 CLP) if you can, although in the high season they accept USD too.

Catamaran Departure Times 2021 - 2022
The crossing takes about 25 minutes
From PudetoFrom Pudeto
01 Sep to 15 Sep11.00am11.35am
16 Sep to 31 Oct11.00am
6.00pm
11.35am
6.35pm
01 Nov - 30 Nov9.00am
11.00am
6.00pm
9.35am
11.35am
6.35pm
01 Dec 2019 to 31 Mar 20209.00am
11.00am
4.15pm
6.00pm
9.35am
11.35am
5.00pm
6.15pm
Christmas & New Year12.00pm
4.15pm
6.00pm
12.35pm
5.00pm
6.35pm
01 Apr to 30 Apr11.00am
6.00pm
11.35am
6.35pm
Only the 1st and the 15th of each month
01 May to 31 Aug
12.00pm12.35pm
Note: Crossing charge approx USD35 per person - One back pack per person.
Glacier Grey Navigation

This operates from Hotel Lago Grey and offers excursions to see the Glacier Grey, but ALSO drops off and collects people at Refugio Grey.

It goes FIRST to the Refugio Grey to drop off and collect passengers, and AFTER THAT it passes in front of the glacier, except for navigation 3 (see chart below).

The return trip from Hotel Grey back to Hotel Grey passes in front of the glacier and also the one way trip FROM the refugio to Hotel Grey passes in front of the glacier.

From Hotel Lago Grey the trip begins in a small inlet and takes in the length of Lago Grey passing by any icebergs that are floating in the lake. On a clear day the surrounding scenery is spectacular with views of hanging glaciers and snow-caped peaks around the Park. After about 45mins the boat will reach the drop-off point for people going to, and coming from, refugio grey.

Once other passengers coming from refugio grey have come aboard the trip continues towards Glacier Grey, passing by the face of the glacier. Here, in the face of the glacier you will see the stunning spectrum of blue-coloured ice and jagged ice peaks, and hear the crack and rumble of the glacier splitting as it moves. The lined walls of the mountains will show clear evidence of the glacial forces that twisted and scratched lines onto the rock.

Included: Pisco, with ice from the glacier (made thousands of years ago).

Glacier Grey Navigation 2020 - 2021Check-in
Hotel Grey
Departs
Hotel Grey
Arrives
Refugio Grey
Departs
Refugio Grey
Arrives
Hotel Grey
Hotel Grey - Refugio Grey - Glacier Grey - Hotel Grey
1 Navigation - Refugio first then glacier9.00am10.00am10.45am11.00am12.45pm
2 Navigation - Refugio first then glacier12.00pm1.00pm1.45pm2.00pm3.45pm
3 Navigation - Glacier first then refugio3.00pm4.00pm5.30pm5.45pm6.45pm
4 Navigation - Min 25 Pax, only summer6.00pm7.00pm7.45pm8.00pm9.30pm

Take a warm jacket, warm hat and even gloves as it can be quite cold when the wind blows down off the ice. Note that this service is subject to local weather conditions and when there is too much wind it will not operate.

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