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.

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).

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)

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.

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 👇