Hiking in Patagonia: Torres del Paine W Trek

Welcome to Puerto Natales! A representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. This laidback port town is the gateway to Chilean Patagonia and the starting point for your Torres del Paine trek. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see and do in the area. Maybe stroll along the waterfront and visit the historic pier or check out the Municipal Historical Museum. At 6 pm, you'll meet your local leader and fellow trekkers for a welcome briefing. After, why not get to know everyone over dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy some authentic Patagonian cuisine – local faves include spit-roasted lamb and king crab.

After breakfast, take a private transfer to the Grey Sector of the W Circuit. This is the most famous trail in the park, and although it can be challenging, it can be completed by anyone who’s reasonably active and can walk long distances. The path is quite flat for the first hour, weaving through beech-lined woods and crossing small streams. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to snap photos of the icebergs that jut from Lake Grey along the way. You’ll also see Grey Glacier in the distance as you ascend. Stop for a packed lunch – if you’re lucky you’ll spot the Patagonian fox and the Andean condor – then make your way downhill to reach Refugio Paine Grande. Refugios are backcountry huts or lodges, with full-service kitchens, beds and bathrooms. After a nice warm shower, wrap up your first day on the trail with a group dinner.

Fuel up with breakfast ahead of a long trek through the French Valley. The path leads toward the jagged peaks of the Cuernos of Paine, passing through woods and over bubbling streams. If the weather allows, you’ll get a gorgeous view of Lake Nordenskjold. You’ll arrive at a rickety-looking hanging bridge (don’t worry, it’s safe!). Then head into French Valley, where it’s a steady, uphill path that reaches an altitude of around 2950 ft – the views are spectacular on a clear day. Continue traversing rivers and beech forests until the skyline is dwarfed by towering granite spires and the famed Paine Grande – the park’s highest peak (10,005 ft). The return trek (along Lake Nordenskjold) eventually takes you to your rest stop for the night – Refugio Domos Frances – where you can dig into a hard-earned dinner.

Gear up for another day in the wilderness. Today you’ll trek through beech woodlands before reaching the northern shore of Lake Nordenskjold. Take in the inky-blue water framed by the tall granite spires of Los Cuernos del Paine (The Horns of Blue) to the left. The Horns are one of the most distinctive features of the park and part of the overall Paine massif – which sits in the heart of the southern Andes. Along the way, look out for grazing guanacos, swooping eagles and Magellanic ducks. You might even see black-necked swans and pink flamingos on the lake. Today includes a few hills and potentially steep climbs, but after every incline you’ll be rewarded with scenery that reminds you exactly why you’re here. Dig into a group dinner when you arrive at Refugio Torre Central and enjoy a good night’s sleep after a big day.

Rise and shine for your last day of trekking! After turning the final bend on today’s trail, you’ll see one of the park’s main highlights – the Torres del Paine (Towers of Blue). As you’ve followed the W Circuit from west to east, this is an epic view to finish your trip. Take a moment to appreciate the huge vertical structures against the blue lake. You’ll have about half an hour here to take photos and eat your lunch – and you’ll be thankful you brought your trusty windproof jacket as it can be pretty chilly! Then turn around and hike back the way you came – with an optional stop at Refugio Chileno to stretch and refuel. Once past Refugio Chileno, return through the French Valley towards Hotel las Torres. You’ll eventually reach the ECO Camp, where a private transfer will take you back to Puerto Natales. Tonight's farewell group dinner is the perfect chance to raise a toast to your adventure and reflect on your favorite moments.

With no activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you’re not quite ready to leave Patagonia, let your booking agent know ahead of time and we can organize extra accommodation.