A step-by-step guide on how to travel to Patagonia and hike the W-trek
Just a smidge north of Antarctica – Patagonia, Chile, is a remarkable sight with glaciers, lakes, mountains, wilderness and forests. And you can hike through all this terrain in 5 glorious days.
How to Hike the W Trek, Torres del Paine, Patagonia
Are you ready to hike the W Trek at Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile? If you are up for an adventure at the bottom of the world with interesting and new landscapes at every turn, then the W trek is right for you. Hiking and/or backpacking at Torres del Paine National Park is the adventure. No, you will not be trekking completely alone. There are other adventurers out there as well, but the trails are no where near crowded, and they are well-marked. I did feel comfort in knowing that there were other people doing similar treks. Like-minded people!
I opted for the “Classic W Trek” which is a solid 5 days of hiking (quick trip!), an intermediate hike level (~6-8 hours of hiking/day), and is perfect for experiencing all that this region has to offer – magnificent Grey Glacier, Lago (lake) Grey with its turquoise colored water, the bluest of blue icebergs, temperate rainforest, and the three granite peaks of the Paine mountain range. Total of about 50 miles of beautiful hiking.
October through April is the ideal time frame to visit this beautiful region and hike the W trek.
Ahead of time: You must make reservations at the campsites (even for tent camping and free camps) and book way in advance. Bring a printed confirmation with you. (Note that there are several refugios in the park, which are similar to hostels, if you’d like a bed and a real roof over your head.)
For the W trek, I reserved at the following campsites in this order:
Camp Grey (paid campsite)
Camp Italiano (free) [update: closed in 2023+] Good alternative: Camp Frances
Camp at Los Cuernos (paid campsite which offers meals – recommended!- and has showers and free 5 minutes of internet)
Camp Torres (free) [update: closed]. Good alternative: Camp Chileno
(2023 update: A good tip is to book campsites at: Camp Gray, Camp Los Cuernos and Camp Chileno first – then you can adapt on first and last days as needed – spending another night at one of the camps if needed.)
*The camp availability changes often with each season. Some have been closed for repairs.
The entrance fee to Torres de Paine national park should be paid in advance.
Packing and renting: The essential packing list is at the bottom of this post. Also know that in Puerto Natales – the only town to stay at before the trek – there are restaurants, ATMs, hotels, hostels, and stores with rental equipment for hiking including good tents, sleeping bags, etc. More on that later.
Money. Don’t forget to get Chilean pesos, at your bank, before you leave for Chile. It may take a couple of weeks for your bank to get them, so plan accordingly. You will need pesos to travel in the smaller towns. Some places are starting to take Paypal so have that on your phone.
Passport. You will need to show your passport and migration ticket (that you receive at the airport when you enter the country – keep it!!) for entrance to the national park and at each campsite.
Eating. There was a huge forest fire, caused by negligence, in 2012 that destroyed 17,000 acres at Torres del Paine. Therefore, lighting fires within the park is forbidden. Even the use of a camping stove (e.g., Jet Boiler) must be within a structure, which you can easily find at all the campsites. I ordered Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry meals and brought them with me to cook in the Jet Boiler. I also brought along oatmeal packets and nuts for breakfast. Lunch was canned salmon and tuna with crackers. Clif and Kind bars, beef jerky and cheese for snacks. Los Cuernos had a nice, heavy dinner and breakfast which was very welcome on day 3.
Water. Water can be found all over the park, and it’s pretty fun to bend down and fill your bottle or hydration bladder. It’s clean water (right from the glacier!) and doesn’t require filtration. However, I don’t like to take chances, so I put a filter on my hydration bladder and never had to worry.
How to get to Torres del Paine
Options for getting there:
Flight(s): I flew to Santiago, Chile, and then took a ~3 hour flight to Punta Arenas.
Taxi/Shuttle to downtown Puerto Natales: From the airport, you will need to get to downtown Punta Arenas to a bus to get to Puerto Natales. Take a taxi or shuttle downtown – about a 20 minute ride. Use cash (~730 pesos for shuttle; ~6000 pesos for taxi).
Bus to Puerto Natales: There are 3 bus company options to take you on the 3 hour ride to Puerto Natales: Buses Fernández, Buses Pacheco or Bus-Sur. Note that there is not a centralized bus station, but the bus companies are all within 8 minutes (walking) of each other. I used Buses Fernández. It’s actually easy peasy to get there – it’s a frequented trek, so people expect that you’ll be going to Torres del Paine.
Puerto Natales Bus Depot: When you arrive in the cute and small town of Puerto Natales – you’ll be let off at the bus depot which is centrally located and a quick walk to most hotels. Check the bus timetable to get the current departure times for Torres del Paine the next day. Secure a reservation. There are typically 2 buses per day – one in the early morning and one in the afternoon. Then walk to your local hotel (book ahead of time).
Hotel in Puerto Natales: I stayed at the nice, clean, friendly Hotel Hallef (booked through Hotels.com) at Eleuterio Ramirez 604. Most of the hotels will hold your extra luggage for you for when you return from the trek. This helped to store all my traveling clothes and suitcase that I could not take on the hike.
Equipment Rental: Erratic Rock is a store/hostel right in Puerto Natales and offers rentals for all the hiking stuff you couldn’t load into your suitcase, such as a sturdy (very wind-proof) tent, sleeping bags, sleeping mat, hiking poles (needed), gas canisters (for your Jet Boil – can’t bring gas on the plane, of course), lighters, and whatever else you may need. All at reasonable prices. They also offer free daily info seminars at 3:00. I arrived too late for this talk, but I’d recommend it, since there are many variables on this trek. Address: Baquedano 719, Puerto Natales, Chile.
Day by day Hiking and Camping on the W Trek, Torres del Paine Chile
Day 1:
Bus to Laguna Amarga:
The next morning start off on the first bus to the CONAF office located in Laguna Amarga. It’s about a 2 hour, comfortable ride (CLP 20,000/US$25) to this welcome center/entrance to the park at “Portería Laguna Amarga.” Bring your passport as you’ll have to check in when you arrive and show your paid entrance. Entrance fee should be paid in advance (CLP 39,000/US$49 – as of 2023). (No advance booking needed for buses or catamaran.) Buses are timed with the catamaran departures at Pudeto.
Catamaran at Pudeto to Refugio Paine Grande
The 45-minute catamaran at Pudeto brings passengers across the spectacular Lago Pehoé (a 45 minute ride) to start the trek. Reservations are not available. The boat drops off at Refugio Paine Grande (where you can book ahead to stay in their hostel and/or dine at their restaurant).
Hike to Refugio/Camp Grey:
I opted to hike 11km (6.83 miles; 4-5 hours) to Refugio Grey to tent camp. Note that one of the lookouts to Glacier Grey is at Mirador Grey (2km/1.24 miles before Refugio Grey. (Mortifyingly, I accidentally left my tent fly at the bathrooms near Refugio Paine Grande. Insert eye roll and embarrassed face here! So I do know that if you get to Refugio Grey and you don’t have a tent or fly, they will happily rent you one! Cash again.) The campsite area has a small structure where you can use your camp stove to make your meal(s) and possibly meet new friends.
Options if you’d like to see more: just set up your camp and then hike another 15 minutes north of Refugio Grey – climb rocks and get good view of the eastern side of Glacier Grey. (That’s where I took the photo at the top of this page – the stunning blues of the iceberg looked fake!)
Another option: trek forward ~1 hour towards, but before, Los Guardos campsite to view the southern ice field behind Glacier Grey (world’s 3rd largest ice field after Antarctica and Greenland).
Another option is to Ice Hike (5 hours) the following day with Bigfoot Patagonia. It’s just a short walk from the campsite – ask the park ranger. If you ice hike I’d recommend staying a 2nd night at Refugio/Camp Grey.
Day 2:
Hike to Campamento Italiano: [closed]. Hike to Camp Frances
This trek is a backtrack toward Refugio Paine Grande. Yes, it’s the same route, but it’s a lovely route, so enjoy it twice. Pass the starting point (where the catamaran docks) and continue on to Camp Frances (~2 hours from Refugio Paine Grande/catamaran drop off). The hiking hits various terrain including rocky areas, wilderness, woodsy, and lakeside (Laguna Scottsberg). There are peaks and valleys and rock strewn trails. At Camp Frances, set up camp.
Hike to Valle Francés/Mirador Británico:
Here it’s recommended to head to Valle Francés/Mirador Británico. However, it takes ~5 hours round-trip to hike this option, so plan it for either late day 2 or early day 3. Climb the loose rock trails (you will need your poles and a daypack with water and snacks) and over and around boulders up through Valle Francés and/or Mirador Británico (~5 hours round trip). Look one way and there’s the glacier and the other way is the turquoise lake or continue on for views of the entire valley. The wind! It was so strong at this location that it was difficult to stand upright at times or make your voice heard. Also, rain/ice pellets. They are prevalent here too. All part of the experience! It was well worth the hike to see this space.
Day 3:
Hike to Los Cuernos
This day winds along the rocky, pebbled Lago (lake) Nordenskjöld to the very appreciated Los Cuernos. The hike takes about 2.5 hours (5.5km/3.41m.) and is flat with frequent high winds and rain. As was my experience as well. This is a short day of hiking unless you opt to do the Valle Francés and/or Mirador Británico in the morning. Either way, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the warm reception and wonderful meals (it comes with the campsite reservation) offered at Los Cuernos. Family style seating with hot meals and many interesting stories overheard. 🙂 Overnight, expect strong gusts of wind; therefore, make doubly sure your tent is very secure. Your tent will most certainly sway with the intense gusts.
Day 4:
Hike to Campamento Torres [closed] Hike to Camp Chileno
This lovely day includes breakfast is at Los Cuernos. This day is my favorite kind of hiking: lush, green valleys with tall grasses, mountains with cliffs and rivers cutting through them. Beauty. It is about a 5 hour hike to Camp Chileno.
Day 5:
3 peaks of Torres del Paine
It’s an early wake-up day (4:20am in my case – start the ~45 minute hike an hour before sunrise) to view the 3 peaks of Torres del Paine. Leave the tent as-is and bring breakfast and warm clothing. Many of the campers will be doing the same thing. (Unfortunately for me, it was pouring rain that morning, so no good views.)
Shuttle at Hotel Las Torres to Laguna Amarga
Afterward, pack up camp (be sure to note checkout time) and head toward the Hotel Las Torres to take the shuttle bus to Laguna Amarga for a nominal fee. (If you want more hiking on this last day, you can walk the 11km/6.8 miles to Laguna Amarga.) At Laguna Amarga there are buses to take campers back to Puerto Natales where you can go back to the hotel where you started.
Day 6:
Day 6 will have your traveling in reverse. Puerto Natales bus to Punta Arenas to a plane to Santiago, Chile.
Packing list for the W trek
This was my packing list and there was nothing clean by the end of the hike:
Bring from home: Chilean pesos (from bank) - $600 backpack blow up pillow phone phone charger & backup charger electric adapter rain poncho quick drying towel plastic bags for wet stuff headlamps Camelback water purifier sunscreen 1st aid: moleskin, band-aids, ibuprofen, cold meds small shampoo & conditioner toothbrush & toothpaste wipes chapstick toilet paper hand & foot warmers food: oatmeal, beef jerky, cheese, peanut butter, crackers, protein bars, nuts, salmon, powdered milk, tea, instant coffee, pre-made meals Jet Boil collapsable bowl, spork, KNIFE map of park Pack: PASSPORT (plus migration paper from airport) sunglasses hiking boots socks gloves water-proof coat fleece jacket knit hat (that covers ears) neck warmer baseball cap 2-3 wicking long sleeve shirts 2 yoga and hiking pants t-shirt Rent/Purchase in Puerto Natales: tent sleeping bag sleeping mat trekking poles gas canister for Jet Boil fruit
Suggested quicktripadventures Itinerary to Hike the W Trek Torres del Paine Chile:
| Day 1 | Take ferry at Pudeto across Lake Pehoe to Refugio Paine Grande. Hike (11km/6.83 miles/3-4 hours) to Refugio & Camp Grey. Lookout to Glacier Grey is at Mirador Grey (2km/ 1.24m) before Refugio Grey Set up camp: Camp Grey (paid) Options: *just after Refugio Grey – climb rocks and get good view of eastern side of Glacier Grey *trek forward ~1 hour towards but before Los Guardos campsite to view the southern ice field behind Glacier Grey (world’s 3rd largest ice field after Antarctica and Greenland) | Breakfast: hotel Lunch: salmon and crackers, fruit Snacks: Clif bars and beef jerkey Dinner: Backpacker’s Pantry pouch |   |
| Day 2 | Option to kayak at 9:00am – need to reserve day before @ Bigfoot Patagonia. If so, stay another day at Camp Grey. Hike to Refugio Paine Grande (3-4 hours) – backtrack. Then hike to Camp Frances Set up camp: Camp Frances | Breakfast: oatmeal and tea/instant coffee Lunch: Backpacker’s Pantry pouch Snacks: Kind bar, peanut butter & crackers Dinner: Mountain House pouch |   |
| Day 3 | Early: Keep backpack at Camp Frances and take daypack and poles. Hike to Valles Del Francés and/or Mirador Británico (11km/6.83miles/~5 hours round trip time) Return to Camp Frances and gather backpack. Hike to Los Cuernos. Hike is flat with high winds. Camp at Los Cuernos (paid – has meals if paid ahead, showers, and free 5 minutes of internet) | Breakfast: oatmeal and tea/instant coffee Lunch: Backpacker’s Pantry pouch Snacks: Clif bar Dinner: @ Los Cuernos |   |
| Day 4 | Hike to Camp Chileno (~4-5 hours) Set up camp: Camp Chileno. Hike to Mirador Torres (to see 3 peaks of Torres Del Paine) which is ~45 minutes each way. Dependent on weather forecast, do this hike in afternoon or next morning for sunrise. | Breakfast: @ Los Cuernos Lunch: Mountain House pouch Snacks: Kind bar, beef jerky Dinner: Backpacker’s Pantry pouch |  |
| Day 5 | Hike to Hotel Las Torres for shuttle bus to Laguna Amarga. Or, hike the 11km/6.8 miles to Laguna Amarga to meet the bus to Puerto Natales. | Breakfast: oatmeal and tea/instant coffee and whatever’s left in bag. Lunch: leftovers or quick lunch at Hotel Las Torres |  |