Torres del Paine W Trek

Please Note: This itinerary can begin at either Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or El Calafate. Please speak to your consultant for further arrival information. 

Overview:

The visually stunning W Trek - highlighting the best of Torres del Paine such as Grey Glacier, French Valley, and the base of the Towers - is a once-in-a-lifetime experience...so you should do it right the first time! Team up with our highly experienced and knowledgeable guides to head off on one of the most famous treks in the world, ending each day with spectacular sights, delicious meals, and comfortable nighttime accommodations. During your nights at EcoCamp Patagonia, you'll be treated to delicious meals made from local ingredients, fun conversation over drinks in the Bar dome with your fellow guests, yoga to stretch your muscles, nights spent in our unique domes, and more!  

The Patagonian Andes is very exposed to winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. In addition, the strong marine influence and the effect of the Southern Patagonia Icefield make the weather hard to predict. In spring or early summer, fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, bringing rain and even snow. Even in summer (December to March), you should come prepared to find strong cold winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfall. The summer’s average temperature is 11ºC (24ºC max, 2ºC min). However, just as quickly as the weather turns nasty, it can become lovely and sunny. So come prepared for all types of weather!

Included:

• All ground transport as indicated in the itinerary
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Regular return bus tickets Calafate Natales if starting/finishing in Calafate.
• Boat crossing on Grey Lake (depending on weather conditions)
• 4 nights accommodation in EcoCamp 
• 1 night accommodation at Refugio Paine Grande (depending on availability) 
• 1 night in Refugio Los Cuernos or Domo El Francés (depending on availability)
• Park fees for Torres del Paine National Park
• One expert English speaking trekking guide
• Sleeping bag for refugios if needed
• Transportation for your luggage within the Park: while trekking you will carry just your daypack

Excluded:

• Airfares
• Travel Insurance 
• Voluntary tipping of guides and staff
• Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp
• Items of a personal nature

Day 1: THE PATAGONIAN ADVENTURE STARTS

The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas or Punta Arenas airport in the morning and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia, located in the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park. Alternatively, you can start your trip in Calafate. En route we make a stop in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of "Seno de Ultima Esperanza", where we enjoy a hearty local lunch. 

The journey is scenic and highly atmospheric, featuring many wild birds and wonderful Patagonian landscapes. The day ends with our arrival and overnight stay at EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park and with a prime view of the majestic Torres. Sunset is usually around 11 pm during the summer months, meaning that there will still be enough daylight for you to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon once you arrive. 

This is the right trip for energetic people who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. To enjoy this trek it is essential to be in shape before you arrive.  

Ecocamp Patagonia is located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, with views of the majestic granite towers. The region’s first sustainable lodge south of the Amazon and the first of its kind in the Patagonian wilderness, EcoCamp offers upscale camping in domes inspired by the region’s ancient nomadic inhabitants. 

At Ecocamp Patagonia guests sleep in sustainable domes and eat meals in large community domes overlooking the majestic hills. These are fitted with private or shared bathrooms, wood stoves and private terraces. A complimentary buffet breakfast is served in the dining room while drinks can be enjoyed at the bar, lounge or outdoor terrace.

EcoCamp Standard domes were the world's first lodge accommodation in geodesic shape. They are resistant to the strong Patagonian winds, and come equipped with two single beds (doubles on request), cozy fleece blankets and feather quilts. There are windows in the ceiling for stargazing. Standard domes include shared bathrooms which are large, comfortable and gender divided. 

LOS CUERNOS TREK
Approximate Walking Distance: 4.5 hrs(or 5.5 hrs) 
Distance: 12 km /(14 km)
Max Altitude Point: 244 m

We begin our Patagonian adventure with a pleasant walk through the sinuous Cuernos Trail which leads us alongside the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. During this warm-up walk we will have the opportunity to admire the park’s exquisite flora and fauna. Enjoy the magnificent views of the park’s central lakes and the Paine’s Horns, majestic black horn-like peaks of slate atop gray granite which crown the center of the Massif. 

The trek ends at Refugio Los Cuernos, a small and cozy mountain refuge located on the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. Alternatively depending on weather conditions, the trek ends at Domo el Francés, located between Cuernos and Italiano camping sites, with an amazing view of Nordenskjöld lake. The evening is free for relaxing and enjoying dinner. 

 Refugio Los Cuernos is in the real heart of the W Trek, From this sector you can visit the French Valley that has one of the best views in the park: the amphitheatre formed by several granitic mountains and then continue to Pehoé Lake and Grey Glacier. 

Typical mountain huts, are open to the public who are visiting Torres del Paine. They have rooms for 4-6 people. The beds are single bunks and we will provide you with a sleeping bag and a polar fleece liner (you don't need to bring a sleeping bag!). The bathrooms are also shared and they have hot water. The refugios are heated and have a very comfortable dining area where plentiful meals are served. 

If the refugios are unavailable, an alternative accommodation will be provided in tents with prior notice. 

THE PAINE MASSIF’S HEART: VALLE FRANCES

Approximate Walking Distance: 10 hrs
Distance: 26km
Max Altitude Point: 686 m  

After breakfast at Refugio Los Cuernos, we will begin the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), along a steep trail that leads to the very heart of the Paine Massif. How far in we go depends on our group's trekking rhythm. 

A swifter walk will lead us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south-east face of the Massif, where we will be treated to fantastic views of the valley. We will then continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley where we will be able to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley's geological formations: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress).

After our upward trek, we will pause for a picnic and relax a while. This day's trek will end as we descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest which will take us to Refugio Paine Grande.

N.B. An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is also available.

GLACIER GREY

Approximate Walking Distance: 4 hrs
Distance: 11km
Max Altitude Point: 244m  

This day will see us hike from Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Grey to the northern side of the glacially beautiful Lake Grey. We will feast on a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails right to the huge, crystalline facade of Glacier Grey, where we will have plenty of time to marvel at the calving glacier. From the southern end of Glacier Grey, we will transfer to EcoCamp.

Due to the temperamental weather of the region, boat trips across the lake may occasionally be canceled. If this is the case, we will trek up to the sightseeing point and profit from wonderful, panoramic views of the Glacier instead. Then we will return on foot to Paine Grande and take a catamaran to Pudeto’s dock, where we will be picked up and driven to EcoCamp.

THE BIG CHALLENGE, TREK TO THE TOWERS BASE

Approximate Walking Distance: 9 hrs
Distance: 22km
Max Altitude Point: 914 m  

The goal of our fifth day of our 7-day Trek will be to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park! We will walk from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley on the Tower's eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. 

Our big challenge comes in the form of the steep moraine, a huge mass of boulders which will lead us to that iconic base-view of the Towers - Three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. After a tough uphill climb, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us, with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch? After feasting on the view and our picnic, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner.

EASTERN LAKES

Approximate Walking Distance: 3 hrs
Distance: 6km
Max Altitude Point: 180 m  

The sixth day will consist of a less strenuous trail in order to counter the exhausting efforts of the previous day. After breakfast, we will take a leisurely car journey towards Laguna Azul, passing Cañadón Macho, home to many wild guanacos and ñandúes, en route. We will pause occasionally to admire the views of the Patagonian steppe and the towers from a different perspective. 

At Laguna Azul, we will hike to the lookout point where we will be treated to a gorgeous view of both the lagoon and granite towers. After lunch, we will drive to the northern shore of Sarmiento Lake where the Fauna Trail begins. As we hike northbound, we will spot an impressive range of Patagonian fauna on the vast plains, including guanacos, ostrich-like ñandús and maybe the occasional puma print! We will pass the charming Goic lagoon and after approximately 5km of relaxed walking, we will reach the Laguna Amarga ranger station where we will be picked up and driven back to Ecocamp to celebrate over our farewell dinner.

ADIOS TORRES DEL PAINE!

We will board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight to Santiago. Or, alternatively, we board an early morning vehicle to the border to continue our journey to El Calafate depending on your logistics.