Are you ready to conquer the legendary W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park? We have the ultimate w trek guide for everything you need to know, from planning your itinerary, booking campsites and surviving the unpredictable Patagonia weather.
Where is Torres del Paine National Park Located
Southern Chile in the Patagonia region 75km from Puerto Natales.
W -Trek Trail Summary
- Distance: 73.2km
- Time needed: 3-5 days (depending on your fitness level)
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Route type: Point to point
- Elevation gain: 3,023m
When is the best time to visit Torres del Paine
The trail is only open part of the year from the 1st October until the 30th April.
How to get to Puerto Natales
The closest town is Puerto Natales where you can base yourself before heading to the park. Puerto Natales has everything you need to prepare for the w trek like outdoor shops where you can buy or rent camping and hiking gear such as tents, sleeping bags, hiking boots, and anything else you might need on the trail.
Unless you are going full board we recommend arriving in Puerto Natales at least a day or two early so you can get organized before starting the trail.
Plane: Santiago de Chile to Puerto Nates Airport(Aeródromo Teniente Julio Gallardo). LATAM and SKY Airline run services to Puerto Natales.
Bus: Buses run from El Calafate in Argentina and Punta Arenas in Chile. You can book online and see schedules with Busbud.
TRAVEL TIP: Most hotels will allow you to store your extra luggage with them while you're in the park. Ask ahead to be sure!
How to get to Torres del Paine
To get to Torres del Paine can take the bus from the Puerto Natales Rodoviario bus station. Book both outbound and return tickets at least 24 hours in advance to make sure you get a seat. Book online with Busbud or in person from the Rodoviario bus station in Puerto Natales. Try to get on the earliest bus going out and if you are hiking west to east make sure you choose the Pudeto bus. And the same goes east to west your return ticket will be from Pudeto. On your last day give yourself plenty of time to catch your bus back to Puerto Natales.
Planning Itinerary
We recommend to start planning 5-6 months in advance as it can be hard to get accommodation if you leave it too late(especially if you want to stay at Chileno for the sunrise at Mirador base torres).
TRAVEL TIP: Keep in mind that the trail is open from the 1st of October until the 30th of April.
One of the most important tasks is planning your route and there are many things to take into consideration. What direction do you want to go in? How many days will you take to hike the trail?
Both directions have their perks. Hiking east to west (Central to Paine Grande) allows you to tackle tougher sections early with fresh legs while going west to east (Paine Grande to Central) has you finishing on a high with Mirador base Torres on the last day. Most people generally hike the W trek over 4 to 5 days, so choose the option that best suits your fitness level and preferences.
We hiked from west to east and feel it was so rewarding to finish with Mirador Base Torres but we can see how it would be easier coming from east to west especially day 3. We also did the trail over 5 days if you are super fit you can do it in 4 but we liked how relaxing it was over 5 with more time to take in the views.
5-Day Itinerary East to West
Day 1: There are 2 options for accommodation Chileno(2) or Central(1). Chileno is a 6km hike from central, stay here for sunrise at Mirador Base Torres(a) on day 2. If staying at Central you can leave your backpack at Camp Central and hike 20 km out and back to Mirador Base Torres(a).
Day 2: Hike along the beautiful Lago Nordenskold to Camp Frances(4) 15km or to Cuernos(3) 13km. If you camped at Chileno you will hike to Mirador Base Torres for sunrise this will add some extra km to the journey. We would recommend aiming to stay at Frances for an easier day 3.
Day 3: Hike through the stunning Valle de Frances(b) to Mirador Britanico(c) for epic views looking back down the valley and the giant granite peaks before making your way down to Paine Grande(5) (22km).
TRAVEL TIP: Drop your backpack at Camp Italiano to save your energy!
Day 4: Hike the 11km to Refugio Grey(6) passing along the side of Lago Grey and stopping at Mirador Lago Grey(d) before reaching Refugio Grey(6). Leave your bags and head further on the trail to Mirador Grey(e) for better views of Glacier Grey and experience the amazing/scary suspension bridges. Then hike back to Refugio Grey(6). (18km)
Day 5: Hike back down to Paine Grande(5) and catch the catamaran on Lago Pehoe to Pudeto(7) and take the bus back to Puerto Natales. (11km)
TRAVEL TIP: For a 4-day itinerary for east to west hike Mirador base Torres on day 1 and finish at Cuernos or Camp Italiano. For west to east on day 4 hike to Mirador base Torres and back down to Central. Leave your backpack at Chileno and collect it on your return.
5-Day Itinerary West to East
West to East is the same but in reverse with some small changes.
Day 1: Catch the bus from Puerto Natales to Pudeto(7) then take the catamaran to Paine Grande(5). Hike to Refugio Grey(6).
Day 2: Hike out to Mirador Grey(e) and then back down to Paine Grande(5).
Day 3: Hike out to Mirador Britanico(c) then out Camp Frances(4) or Cuernos(3)
Day 4: Hike to Camp Central(1) or Chileno(2)
Day 5: Finish big with Mirador Base Torres(a). Have a beer at Camp Central before taking the shuttle bus to the park entrance and catching the bus back to Puerto Natales.
Where to stay
The W Trek has 6 campgrounds along the trail that offer two accommodation options:
Camping: More Budget-friendly and gives you that proper outdoor experience.
Dorm beds in Refugios: Comfy warm bed and you don’t need to carry extra gear on the trail.
Booking Accommodation
There are 2 company’s that host the campsites in the park Vertice and Las Torres you will need to book online from both of their individual websites. There is also another website BookingPatagonia.travel where you can book all your w trek accommodation all on one website(we haven’t tried it so can’t give an opinion on it).
When booking accommodation there are different tent camping and refugio packages on offer.
The Camping packages available range from:
Premium Camping: All camping gear included which consists of a pre-setup tent and all your bedding.
Standard Camping: You get a pre-set-up tent. You will need to provide your own bedding.
Campsite Only: You will need to provide your own tent and bedding.
TRAVEL TIP: You can hire camping gear from Puerto Natales
There are also meal options available for campers and dorm bookings. This saves you the hassle of carrying food and cooking equipment and you get a hot meal in your belly. You can book all your meals including dinner, breakfast, and packed lunch for the trail.
Park Entrance Fee
You must buy your entrance ticket to Torres del Paine National Park in advance on the Passes Parques Nacionales website. The entrance fee costs 44,500CLP or around $49USD. You will also need to bring along cash for the catamaran between Pedeto and Paine Grande which costs 26,000CLP or $30USD. You can also book online and see the schedule.
Where To Eat & Drink
All the campsites have a a small shop where you can buy snacks and drinks, the options are limited so don’t rely on the shops alone. All campsites have fresh drinking water and a food prep area for those bringing along cooking equipment.
What to pack
The weather in Torres del Paine is unpredictable and can change in an instant. So we recommend that you bring clothing for all weather conditions even if the weather prediction is for warm weather. Aim to pack as light as possible as every gram counts when you are carrying it around on your back for 5 days.
A good start on a picking list should include
Waterproof rain jacket, Fleece or other warm base layer, Headlamp, Water bottle, Toilet paper, Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hat, Small amount of cash, Toiletries(bare minimum) and any other camping equipment, clothes and food you plan to bring along.
What to expect on the trail
When you first arrive at the park you will need to check in with park administration where you show your receipt for the park entrance. If you are going west to east, get back on the bus and out to Pudeto to catch the catamaran to Paine Gande. If you are going east to west you can hike the 7km to central or take the shuttle bus that costs about $5USD.
The trails are well-defined and maintained with plenty of distance markers, maps and boards marking points of interest.
We didn’t find the trails overly busy given how popular it is the only time you run into larger groups of people was at the main viewpoints and the campsites. And on the campsites we found them to be really nice they have all the modern comforts like flush toilets, hot showers, a small shop, and plenty of tables to prepare food and eat at. We also found the campsites to be quite chill with everyone being friendly and respectful.
How much does the w trek cost
There are quite a lot of moving parts that you need to organise and pay for to hike the w trek. We have summarised the approximate costs below just be aware the prices change throughout the hiking season. All prices in USD
Transport
Bus between Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine – $11 each way
Park Entrance fee – $49 for more than 3 days
Catamaran between Paine Grande and Pudeto – $30
Shuttle bus between the park entrance and Camp Central(optional) – $5
Accommodation
Campsite Only – $10 – $20
Standard Camp(tent only) $50 – $100
Premium Camp(tent & bedding) – $100 – $200
Refugio lodgings – $65 – $144
Tips for your visit
Plan and book accommodation early
- You can fill your water bottles in the streams without a filter
- Take the shuttle bus between the entrance and Camp Central
- Pack as light as possible
- To save money hire gear from Puerto Natales
- Don’t forget the park entrance and catamaran!
Next Stop:
- Ushuaia: Welcome to the end of the world!
- How to Visit Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia
- More places to visit in Patagonia
Also check out our YouTube video below 👇
