PUERTO NATALES, REGION DE MAGALLANES, CHILE
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD FAMOUS W-TREK
6 DAYS /
5 NIGHTS
83 KM
HIKE
+40 HOURS
HIKING
ALL MEALS INCLUDED
Let X-Plore Patagonia guide you to an unforgettable journey!
Overview
Located in the southernmost tip of South America, in Chile lies one of the most famous hiking trails in the World, the W-Trek Circuit. We offer this service in a multi-day experience, hiking among rugged mountains, glaciers, and wild fauna to live an invigorating experience at the End of The World!
Let's go hiking!
Day 1: Arrival to Puerto Natales + Welcome Dinner & Briefing with private guide
Includes:
Private transfer from Puerto Natales Airport into town
Welcome Dinner
Accommodation in Puerto Natales
Day 2: Hike Base of the Towers
Includes:
Private transfer from accommodation in Puerto Natales towards Welcome Center inside Torres del Paine National Park.
Private bilingual and certified guide.
Park Entrance
Accommodation in Torres del Paine National Park
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner
Day 3: Hike from Central - Cuernos / Frances
Includes:
Private bilingual and certified guide.
Accommodation in Torres del Paine National Park
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner
Day 4: Hike from Cuernos / Frances - Frenchmen's Valley - Paine Grande
Includes:
Private bilingual and certified guide.
Accommodation in Torres del Paine National Park
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner
Day 5: Hike from Paine Grande to Glacier Grey Lookout point + Catamaran along Lake Pehoe + Private transfer to Puerto Natales + Farewell Dinner
Includes:
Private bilingual and certified guide.
Catamaran Ticket
Private transfer from Pudeto toward Puerto Natales
Accommodation in Puerto Natales
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner
Day 6: Catamaran Towards Glacier Grey + Private Transfer back to Puerto Natales + Farewell Dinner
Includes:
Catamaran across Lake Grey
Private transfer towards Puerto Natales
Local Guide
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch, farewell dinner.
Day 7: Private transport to Puerto Natales Airport or to Puerto Natales Bus Station
Includes:
Breakfast
Private transfer from Puerto Natales toward Bus Station in Puerto Natales or Puerto Natales Airport
PUERTO NATALES, REGIÓN DE MAGALLANES, CHILE
Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival to Puerto Natales + Welcome Dinner & Briefing with Private Local Guide
Welcome to the end of the world!
Once you arrive to Puerto Natales, either by bus from Punta Arenas, El Calafate or by plane from Santiago to the Puerto Natales airport, our private transfer will be waiting for you to take you into town. We will have a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, which is also where you will be meeting your guide and have a briefing to let you know about what will happen throughout the journey of the following days.
Optional Upgrade:
*Ask for the possibility to have a private transfer bring you from Punta Arenas or El Calafate
DAY 2
Hike Base of the Towers
Early pick up from accommodation along with guide and private transfer.
We will arrive at the most famous Torres del Paine National Park hike after a two-hour van ride. A demanding hike that is full of treasures, adventure, and incredible views. After arriving at the trailhead at the Welcome Center, we will gear up and begin our hike with our backpacks until we reach El Chileno campground.
We divide this hike into three parts. The first part is all about getting warmed up, passing through pre-Andean shrubland and we will initiate a hike that has rounds of uphill slopes, giving us resting points along the way. As we start entering the Asencio Valley, we pall by the famous Windy Pass to have the best views of the valley that will lead us towards the Chileno campground where we will stop for a snack, leave our big packs, and hydrate ourselves. We then begin the second part of the trail with small packs down an undulated valley among Magellanic Lenga forests. There will be multiple streams that will allow us to refill our water bottles with glacier water. Once we cross the timberline we will begin our final part along a moraine that will lead us to the base of the towers. This segment is usually more exposed to wind and rain. We will arrive at the Base of the Towers Lookout Point and feel the magic of the Eighth Wonder of The World. We’ll have our boxed lunch, take stunning photos and then continue our way back down the same trail back to our campground.
Duration of Excursion: 11-13 hours
Difficulty: High
Private Van Transfer: 2 hrs.
Hiking Distance: 16 km.
Hiking Hours: 8-9 hrs.
Uphill: 1,258 mts.
Downhill: 1,272 mts.
Maximum Altitude: 950 m.a.s.l.
DAY 3
Hike from Central - Cuernos / Frances
This day we head around the South East face of the Paine Massif, in a medium-intensity hike that will lead us to our next campground. Constantly bordering Lake Nordenskjold, one of the most beautiful lakes in the park, and among shrubs and sub-antarctic beech trees we will hike along a marked trail, crossing rivers and streams to refill multiple times our waterbottle. Eventually arriving, after rolling hills, at the foothills of the notorious "Cuernos Del Paine". The horns are one of the most iconic peaks in the park. Once we arrive here we will have some time to rest, shower, and head over to dinner to enjoy the view and talk about our next big day!
In the case of Cuernos Campground:
Duration of Excursion: 5-6 hours hours
Difficulty: Medium
Hiking Distance: 11 km.
Hiking Hours: 5-6 hrs.
Uphill: 622 mts.
Downhill: 623 mts.
Maximum Altitude: 272 m.a.s.l.
*In the case of Frances Campground, the hike is 2 hours longer, but shorter the next day!
DAY 4
Hike from Cuernos / Frances - Frenchmen's Valley - Paine Grande
A big day awaits as we start early in the morning to head during a short 40-minute hike to Italian Campground. Here, we will leave our big packs and only take what's needed into the Frenchman's Valley. We will hike towards the Frenchman's lookout point where we will be surrounded by an amphitheater of rugged mountains and the hanging glacier of Paine Grande. After having a snack here, we will head back to the Italian campground, grab our big packs and head over to our next refuge, Paine Grande.
Duration of Excursion: 10-12 hours
Difficulty: High
Hiking Distance: 16 km.
Hiking Hours: 10-12 hrs.
Uphill: 822 mts.
Downhill: 663 mts.
Maximum Altitude: 572 m.a.s.l.
DAY 5
Hike from Paine Grande to Grey Refuge
Shifting down a gear, we will have a 4-hour hike towards the third-biggest freshwater reserve in the world, the Southern Patagonian Ice-Fields where we will have a front view of Grey Glacier! We will begin the trek into a valley, passing by "Laguna de los Patos", refilling water from multiple streams, and arriving at a stunning lookout point with panoramic views of Lake and Glacier Grey! From here on out we will begin to feel the fierce wind as we make our way to our final campground.
Duration of Excursion: 4-5 hours hours
Difficulty: Medium
Hiking Distance: 11 km.
Hiking Hours: 4 hrs.
Uphill: 252 mts.
Downhill: 328 mts.
Maximum Altitude: 219 m.a.s.l.
DAY 6
Catamaran Towards Glacier Grey + Private Transfer back to Puerto Natales + Farewell Dinner
After breakfast we will have time for an optional hike to the 1 hanging bridge before taking the catamaran that will take us to visit the 3 different faces of Glacier Grey. While enjoying a classic pisco sour we will start heading to the other end of Lake Grey, where after walking across its panoramic beach, we will arrive to our private transportation that will take us towards Puerto Natales where we will have our farewell dinner.
Optional Upgrade:
*Ice Hike or Kayak. Ask for availability.
Private transport to Puerto Natales Airport or to Puerto Natales Bus Station
This day we head around the South East face of the Paine Massif, in a medium-intensity hike that will lead us to our next campground. Constantly bordering Lake Nordenskjold, one of the most beautiful lakes in the park, and among shrubs and sub-antarctic beech trees we will hike along a marked trail, crossing rivers and streams to refill multiple times our waterbottle. Eventually arriving, after rolling hills, at the foothills of the notorious "Cuernos Del Paine". The horns are one of the most iconic peaks in the park. Once we arrive here we will have some time to rest, shower, and head over to dinner to enjoy the view and talk about our next big day!
Optional Upgrade:
*Private transfer to Punta Arenas or El Calafate
DAY 7
What type of electricity is used in Chile?
In Chile, the electricity runs on 220 volts, meaning that the best option to charge your electronics is by bringing an international adapter. These are some examples:
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What gear and equipment do I need to bring for the W-Trek?
It is very important to use a three-layer system when hiking in Patagonia. Be sure to read our "Our Hand-Picked Essential Garments / Torres Del Paine" blog post to arrive well-prepared. Remember there is no such thing as bad weather, just people that come unprepared!
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What is the difficulty level of the W-Trek and how fit do I need to be?
We recommend training before hiking a multi-day trail. The idea is to enjoy the journey, observe and contemplate nature while trekking along rugged and uneven terrains. Lower body training is essential, at least 2 months of preparations will leave you well-prepared. If you have any previous injuries, we recommend checking with your doctor and bringing the right equipment for the hike (knee brace, ankle brace, etc).
What wildlife can I expect to see on the W-Trek and how can I stay safe around them?
Inside Torres del Paine National Park, there are +250 types of birds that you can spot, eagles, condors and woodpeckers are some of the stunning wildlife that you can spot when you hike along these trails. Some other mammals that you can spot are foxes, guanacos and of course the majestic puma. The puma is a difficult animal to see and has a behavior that is unofensive towards humans when you follow the norms. For more information about Pumas, make sure to read our blog post.
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What should I take to the hike?