Torres del Paine · Summer
W Trek Guided
Five days on the W Trek with a Vertic guide: Base Torres, Valle Francés, Grey Glacier by boat, refugio and campsite nights booked for you.
5 days · Guided · Intermediate–Advanced
Hiking · Patagonia
Day Hike to Base of the Towers
At a glance
A guided full-day hike in Torres del Paine to the lagoon at the foot of the three granite towers: about 22 km round trip, +1,400 m.
~12 hoursDuration
~22 kmDistance
~+1,400 mElevation gain
- Duration
- About 12 hours door to door from Puerto Natales; 8–10 hours of hiking depending on pace
- Level
- High
- Group
- 1–12
- Season
- Year-round
- Distance
- About 22 km round trip
- Elevation gain
- About +1,400 m
- Start
- Pickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales, around 06:00
Overview
This is the hike most people picture when they think of Torres del Paine. From the Welcome Center you climb to Paso de los Vientos, follow the Ascencio Valley past Refugio Chileno and walk through lenga and coigüe forest. The last stretch is a steep moraine of large glacial boulders, about 45 minutes of effort, that ends at a glacial lagoon below the three granite towers.
It is a long day. The round trip is about 22 km with around 1,400 m of elevation gain, and most of the walking time goes into the climb and the careful descent. We start very early so you reach the lookout with time to sit, eat lunch and take it in, and still return with margin before the drive back to Puerto Natales.
Every Vertic hike is guided by a certified guide who sets the pace, watches the weather and decides when to adjust the route or turn back if conditions become unsafe. Transport, the national park entrance fee and a box lunch are included, and the hike is offered all year. From April 27 to August 30 park rules require a guide on the Base Torres trail and on the W, so in winter a guided hike is the only way to go.
Highlights
- The lookout and glacial lagoon at the foot of the three towers
- Ascencio Valley and Paso de los Vientos
- Lenga and coigüe forest around Refugio Chileno
- A guided climb up the final moraine
The day
06:00
Pickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales
Pickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales, then the drive into Torres del Paine National Park.
07:45
Start at the Welcome Center
The hike begins with the climb out of the valley floor toward the Ascencio Valley.
09:00
Paso de los Vientos
The trail crosses the windy pass and drops into the Ascencio Valley, with the river below.
10:30
Refugio Chileno and the lenga forest
After Refugio Chileno the trail enters lenga and coigüe forest, the most sheltered section of the day.
11:30
The moraine
The final climb over large glacial boulders takes about 45 minutes. It is steep, loose and exposed to wind, and your guide manages the pace here.
12:15
Base of the Towers
Arrival at the lagoon below the towers. Time for your box lunch and photos before heading down.
13:30
Descent
The return follows the same trail back through the forest and valley.
16:30
Back at the vehicle
End of the hike at the Welcome Center and drive back to Puerto Natales.
18:00
Drop-off at your hotel in Puerto Natales
Drop-off at your hotel in Puerto Natales. Times are approximate and depend on the group's pace and the weather.
Included and not included
Included
- Guide
- Transport
- National park entrance fee
- Box lunch
What to bring and who it's for
What to bring
- Trekking boots with ankle support, broken in (worn for at least a month before the trip, not new)
- A breathable base layer
- An insulation layer (fleece or light down)
- A waterproof jacket (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Trekking poles (recommended)
- In winter conditions, park rules also call for gloves, warm and waterproof clothing, sunglasses, gaiters, a headlamp and microspikes or crampons; we confirm with you what to bring when you book
Who it's for
Fit hikers with some experience walking on uneven terrain. The day is long and the final moraine is the hardest part: steep, loose and exposed to wind. If you are comfortable hiking 8–10 hours with a sustained climb, you will be fine.
Good to know
- From April 27 to August 30, park rules require a guide on the Base Torres trail and on the W. CONAF sets these dates each season and can extend them when snow and ice remain; in 2026 it extended the requirement to September 15.
- Snow and ice can build up on the upper part of the trail depending on the season and weather.
- Your guide has the authority to modify the route or stop the ascent if conditions become unsafe.
- An early start lets you reach the lookout without rushing and return with margin.
- The national park entrance fee is included, so you don't need to buy a ticket separately.
Where it happens
The map loads from Esri when you open it.
- Puerto NatalesPickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales.
- Welcome CenterStart of the hike in the Central sector.
- Refugio ChilenoHalfway, in the Ascencio Valley.
- Mirador Base TorresThe lagoon at the foot of the towers.
- Puerto NatalesDrop-off at your hotel in Puerto Natales.
Make it part of a trip
Torres del Paine · Year-round
Torres del Paine Active
Seven active days from a Puerto Natales hotel: Base Torres, the Cuernos sector, horseback riding, puma tracking and a boat to Grey Glacier.
7 days · Guided · Low–Medium
Or combine it with other days in a trip designed around you.
Plan a tailor-made trip
Water & glaciers
Navigation to Grey Glacier
A boat trip on Lago Grey aboard the Grey III catamaran, among icebergs to the face of Grey Glacier, about 2 h 45 min on the water.
Day trip
Wildlife
Puma Tracking in Patagonia
A full day tracking wild pumas in Torres del Paine's eastern sector with a certified wildlife guide, a 4x4, a spotting scope and binoculars.
Full day
Horseback & estancias
Patagonia Horseback Riding
Ride with local baqueanos near Puerto Natales: 1, 3 or 6 hours, from an easy lagoon lookout to a condor lookout over the Última Esperanza fjord.
1 h, 3 h or 6 h
Ready to go?
FAQs
It is rated high. The round trip is about 22 km with around 1,400 m of elevation gain, and the final moraine is a steep climb over large, loose boulders with wind exposure. You need good fitness and some experience on uneven ground.
Plan on 8–10 hours of hiking depending on pace, and about 12 hours including the drive from and back to Puerto Natales. We start around 06:00 to give the day plenty of margin.
From April 27 to August 30, park rules require a guide on the Base Torres trail and on the W, and CONAF can extend that period when snow and ice remain on the trail. Outside those dates a guide is optional, but every Vertic hike is guided.
We run it all year. Winter brings shorter days and can bring snow and ice on the upper trail, which is when the guide requirement and extra winter gear apply. Weather in the park changes quickly in any season.
Yes. The trail stays open in winter under CONAF's winter rules, which require a guide and winter equipment such as microspikes or crampons, trekking poles and a headlamp. Your guide decides on the day whether conditions allow reaching the lookout.
Dress in layers: a breathable base layer, a fleece or light down jacket and a waterproof shell. Wear trekking boots with ankle support that you have already broken in; new shoes or city sneakers are not suitable for the moraine.
You should have previous experience walking on uneven terrain and be in good physical condition. Technical climbing skills are not needed.
Transport and the national park entrance fee are included. We pick you up at your hotel in Puerto Natales early in the morning, drive you into Torres del Paine National Park and drop you off at your hotel at the end of the day.
SOURCES · Vertic field notes · latercera.com · dialogosur.cl · conaf.cl