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Hiking the Torres del Paine W Trek in Patagonia

Duration
5 days
Season
November to March
Group size
Up to 12 people
Difficulty
Intermediate to advanced

Explore the stunning scenery spread over 74 kilometers (46 miles) of trails, molded by one of the largest glaciers in the Southern Hemisphere. Torres del Paine is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, tucked between the Andes and the Patagonian Steppe in Chile. Feel the crisp air coming from the surrounding mountains and enjoy hiking under clear blue skies. To fully experience this rugged and beautiful landscape, it requires hiking in sometimes unpredictable conditions but the rewards are unparalleled: experience the sunsets on the lagoon, hike to the edges of glaciers, and enjoy sweeping views of waterfalls and ridges that will get your heart racing. The ‘W’ shaped trek checks all the adventure boxes with its spectacular wilderness of Patagonian Steppe, glaciers, and lakes that deserve their UNESCO status. Find out more about this hike that never ceases to amaze from a hiking guide James Mackender!

Adventure highlights

  • W Trek takes the prize for the perfect balance of hiking and sightseeing
  • Endless valleys with majestic glaciers and towering mountains as a backdrop
  • 74 km of stunning scenery, molded by one of the largest glaciers of the Southern Hemisphere

Itinerary

Explore Torres del Paine’s W Trek in an unforgettable 5-day tour! Let your guide take you to the most spectacular places, such as Mirador Base Torres, Cerro Almirante Nieto, and the spectacular Cuernos del Paine. Spend the nights in a camp, and save up energy for exploring the French Valley and the impressive Grey Glacier. Learn about the history of the area and explore the Patagonian Steppe, while sleeping in beautiful campsites among Chilean natural wonders.
NOTE: Dorm-style refugio accommodations are also available for an added fee.

  • Arrive at the Torres del Paine National Park in the afternoon hours, followed by introductions, dinner and spending the first night at Sector Central.

  • Wake up for breakfast and venture off to one of the beautiful places along the trail, such as the Mirador Base Torres, Ascencio River, Paso de los Vientos, Chilean Refuge or La Morrena. Camp and eat dinner in the Central Sector, and rest for the rest of your trip. 

  • Get an early start and hike for 13.5km through the magnificent Lake Nordenskjöld, Cerro Almirante Nieto and Cuernos del Paine. Take in the beautiful views of the granite formed mountains, lakes and zones where you can appreciate the abundant flora and fauna of this Patagonian park. Camp and eat dinner at the French Sector.

  • Wake up for breakfast and continue hiking. Today you’ll hike along the French Valley, valley of the French River, Paine Grande and Northern Horn. Learn about the history and take photos along the way. After you’re done for today, head back to the camp, have dinner and rest for the night.

  • After breakfast, continue the hike and visit the third milestone, a place that offers an unforgettable memory of the park, the Grey Glacier. Some stops along the way include Paine Grande Hill, the highest point of the Massif (3,050m), Ñirres, Coigües and Notros, the first Mirador of Lago Gray and Grey Refuge. After lunch at the Grey Sector, return to the Paine Grande Sector and take the catamaran to Pudeto. From there, you can catch a bus back to Puerto Natales.

Adventure brochure
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Meet your guide

Unu Raymi Expeditions
5.00
Unu Raymi Expeditions
Unu Raymi Expeditions develop expeditions and customised trips for travellers that often go beyond the traditional routes and take you deeper into the incredible environments that exist in South America. They are experienced local guides seeking to offer a personalized service of quality and reliability by designing unique trips to exceed the expectations of the travellers.

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Things to know

  • 57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

    We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Torres del Paine, please refer to the Chile Reports and Official Chilean Government (Spanish only) websites.

    Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

  • What you get on this adventure:

    • A professional bilingual guide
    • All camping equipment (including sleeping bags)
    • Refugio or campsite reservations
    • Full meal service at refugios (meals purchased separately)

    What’s not included:

    • Hiking poles
    • Hiking boots or shoes
    • Meals and snacks
    • Bus transportation to and from Puerto Natales (approx. $24 per person for the round trip)
    • Catamaran transportation to Pudeto on the final day ($34 per person)
    • Hotel accommodations before and after the tour
    • International and domestic flight costs
    • Park entrance fees (to be paid in cash at the park entrance)

    Other than breakfast and lunch on day 1 and dinner on day 5, all meals for the duration of the trip can either be individually purchased in the refugios, or be included as part of your reservation on request.
    If you wish to include meals, private transport, or upgrade your accommodation,
    please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

  • Here’s the list of the equipment you need to bring:

      • Multi-day hiking pack large enough to carry all the items listed (35-50L backpack)
      • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
      • Lightweight hiking or trekking boots
      • Thermal long-sleeved shirt
      • Synthetic t-shirts and long-sleeved shirt
      • Waterproof rain jacket with hood (like Gore-tex)
      • Thermal base layer pants
      • Waterproof pants
      • Hiking pants (preferably convertibles)
      • Down jacket or vest
      • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
      • Sunhat
      • Winter hat, scarf and gloves
      • Hiking poles — optional (but recommended)
      • Head torch
      • Pocket knife
      • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
      • First aid kit
      • Sunglasses
      • Camera — optional (but recommended)
  • The Torres del Paine W Trek is considered a difficult hike and is best suited for fit and experienced hikers. Intermediate hikes will see a little more change in elevation and hikes will start to increase in length. Advanced hikes are longer treks with steep descents and challenging switchbacks. Keep in mind, the weather in summer can change and you’ll also be packing a 35-50L backpack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day. 

  • Group sizes and pricing:

    • The groups for this W-Trek tour usually consist of 2-6 people, but you can arrange a trip with up to 12 people.

    If you’re traveling with a larger party, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements. All pricing is per person and cost doesn’t decrease.

    Min. age requirements:

    • Everybody over the age of 18 is welcome to book this hiking adventure.
    • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.

    If you plan to hike with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

  • The easiest way to come to the Torres del Paine is by flying to Santiago de Chile International Airport and then to Punta Arenas where you can take a bus straight on to Torres del Paine. You can also choose to travel from Argentina’s El Calafate across the border.

    The meeting location will be at the Torres del Paine National Park. You should arrive during the afternoon to then go to dinner and spend the first night in the Sector Central. From there, you’ll meet your guide and start your Torres del Paine W-Trek tour.

  • A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies, and deposits are no longer refundable. The remaining 70% of the amount is paid the latest 3 months (90 days) prior the departure.

    In case you need to cancel the trip, the following cancellation costs would be incurred:

    • Cancellation fee: $50 (plus any trip resource costs already paid & any bank charges that are incurred for a refund) 
    • 69 – 50 days prior to arrival: 70% refund of total trip price (if paid in full, or else prorated for a deposit payment)
    • 49 – 31 days prior to arrival: 50% refund of total trip price
    • 30 – 8 days prior to arrival: 40% refund of total trip price
    • 7 – 0 days prior to arrival: 0% refund of total trip price

    Refunds percentages are based on 100% of the trip price. Please note that flight purchases are not included in the above table and the refund of any flights is subject to the cancellation/refunds policy of the individual airline, nor are any other non-refundable resources purchased as part of the trip. 

    You can get credit for future travel as a means of replanning your trip in the event of unforeseen circumstances (travel that is impacted by pandemias, travel bans etc.) that delays your arrival, requires postponement for a short period or will require entirely changing the dates of your trip for another year.

Have more questions? Read our FAQ, or Talk with us
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