Torres del Paine is without any doubt one of the most beautiful places in South America. And if you like mountain activities like nice and long hikes, it is just perfect! In only one place you can enjoy stunning landscapes of massive rocky peaks, beautiful turquoise lakes, mysterious Nothofagus forests, patches of ice in the higher grounds and an imposing glacier in the end of the trip. But it is not just that. The park is organized in a way you will be able to enjoy 5 to 8 hours trek careless because you will have your warm meals and your bed or sleeping bag prepared at the end of the day. The W Trek program gives you all the meals you need and perfect places to stay to avoid carrying food and heavy equipment with you on your way. This trek has to be in your bucket list, it is just a matter of when you decide to come
What is included in the tour
- Accomodations
- Guide
What is NOT included in the tour
- Travel insurance
- Flights
- Explore Nothofagus forests, patches of ice in the higher grounds
Day 1 Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine (Regular Bus)
Find your own way to the bus station. Registration time at Rodoviario (Bus Station): 2pm.
Departure: 2.30pm. / Arrival to Portería Laguna Amarga: 4.30pm.
Transfer in a regular bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine. The journey lasts approximately 2 hours (112 Km.), passing through Cerro Castillo (a small border town situated along the route to the park and 54 Km. from Puerto Natales).
Upon arrival to Laguna Amarga, all travelers must get off of the bus and visit the CONAF Administration Office where they will follow all necessary paperwok to enter the park; the park entrance fee is included in the cost of the program. Having finished the paperwork, travelers will board the transfer vehicles which will take them to the sector surrounding the Cerro Paine Ranch and then on to The Welcome Centre of their first accommodation site.
IMPORTANT NOTE: it is best if you arrive to Puerto Natales the day before to be able to assist to the briefing at 6 pm the day before the trek begins. If you can´t make it to 6 pm you will have to attend the briefing in the morning of the same day you will begin the program
NIGHT 1 of W-Trek: Refugio Torre Central.
Day 2 Trekking Base Torres Lookout (7 – 8 hours, 13 Km
Recommended time to begin the trek: 9am
The first stage includes an ascent for about 1,5 hours, with beautiful views of the surrounding lakes and Mount Almirante Nieto’s hanging glacier (2.670 m.a.s.l.), until arriving to Refugio El Chileno. Here, you will go through check-in, recharge energies and leave your main luggage before initiating the climb with a small rucksack. From here, and for about an hour, you will cross a millennium-old forest of lenga trees before arriving to the base of the “Morrena”. At this point, you will ascend for about 45 minutes in order
to arrive to one of the site’s most magnificent areas, "Base Torres Lookout", from where the imposing Torre Sur (2.850 m a.s.l.), Torre Central (2.800 m a.s.l.), Torre Norte (2.600 m a.s.l.), Nido de Condor and Glacier Torre can all be appreciated.
Level of difficulty: High.
NIGHT 2 of W-Trek: Refugio El Chileno / If there are no beds available at this shelter, the alternative is to return to Torre Central (2 hours additional walking time
Day 3 Trekking Refugio El Chileno (or Central) – Refugio Los Cuernos (or Domo Frances) (5 - 6 hours, 11 Km)
Recommended time to begin the trek: 9am
A moderate trek around the Macizo Paine, circling the base of Mount Almirante Nieto. From Refugio El Chileno, and after half an hour’s walk, you will arrive to the “Atajo”, a path on the right that continues towards Refugio Los Cuernos. Along the journey your can take pictures in the incredible sites of Lake Nordenskjöld, the hanging glaciers and local flora, including the “ciruelillo” or “notro” trees, which delight in displaying their characteristic red flowers from December onwards.
After a four or five-hour walk, you will arrive to the area entitled Los Cuernos, which is considered by many as one of the most welcoming spots along the entire circuit. If Los Cuernos is not available, Domo Frances is an excellent alternative.
Level of difficulty: Medium.
NIGHT 3 of W-Trek: Refugio Los Cuernos (or Frances
Day 4 Trekking to Francés Valley / Paine Grande (11 - 12 hours, 25.3 Km)
Recommended time to begin the trek: 8am
The first two hours are fairly light with views of Lake Nordenskjöld until arriving to “Camp Italiano”. At this point, we recommend that you contact CONAF staff and make arrangements for leaving backpacks at the camp before beginning the ascent with just a small rucksack containing water, food and warm clothing. The climb begins from the valley of River Francés and continues all the way up to the Francés Glacier Lookout (1.5 hrs). From there, the climb continues along the path until arriving to the area called “Británico” and the “Británico Lookout”, which offers one of the national park’s most impressive landscape views. The peaks that can be appreciated from this lookout are Paine Grande, Catedral, Hoja, Máscara, Espada, Aleta de Tiburón and Cuerno Norte. The return trek follows the same path down to “Camp Italiano” and then onwards to the sector known as Pehoé, where Paine Grande shelter is located.
Level of difficulty: High.
NIGHT 4 of W-Trek: Paine Grande Lodge.
Find your own way to the bus station. Registration time at Rodoviario (Bus Station): 2pm.
Departure: 2.30pm. / Arrival to Portería Laguna Amarga: 4.30pm.
Transfer in a regular bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine. The journey lasts approximately 2 hours (112 Km.), passing through Cerro Castillo (a small border town situated along the route to the park and 54 Km. from Puerto Natales).
Upon arrival to Laguna Amarga, all travelers must get off of the bus and visit the CONAF Administration Office where they will follow all necessary paperwok to enter the park; the park entrance fee is included in the cost of the program. Having finished the paperwork, travelers will board the transfer vehicles which will take them to the sector surrounding the Cerro Paine Ranch and then on to The Welcome Centre of their first accommodation site.
IMPORTANT NOTE: it is best if you arrive to Puerto Natales the day before to be able to assist to the briefing at 6 pm the day before the trek begins. If you can´t make it to 6 pm you will have to attend the briefing in the morning of the same day you will begin the program
NIGHT 1 of W-Trek: Refugio Torre Central.
