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
Water & glaciers · Patagonia
Navigation to Grey Glacier
At a glance
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.
- Duration
- About 2 h 45 min on the water, plus check-in one hour before, the beach walk each way and transport
- Level
- Easy; includes a 30–45 minute walk across Grey Beach each way
- Group
- Shared boat
- Season
- Year-round
- Start
- Pickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales, confirmed when you book; check-in at Hotel Lago Grey one hour before departure
Overview
This is the easy way to see Grey Glacier up close. The navigation leaves from Hotel Lago Grey, inside Torres del Paine National Park. To reach the boat you walk 30–45 minutes across Grey Beach to the boarding area, the only way to get to the catamaran, then board the Grey III.
The trip on Lago Grey lasts about 2 hours 45 minutes. The boat sails among icebergs floating in the grey water toward the glacier's blue ice, with mountains and forest along the shore, and makes a short stop at the Refugio Grey sector on the way. If you are lucky you may see pieces of ice break off the glacier and fall into the lake. Each passenger gets a courtesy pisco sour, or another drink or juice, on board.
Your day includes transport, the national park entrance fee, the navigation, a guide and a box lunch. The boat is shared with other travelers. It is a good fit for families, for travelers with limited time and as a pairing with a trek. Wind can be strong on the lake, so departures depend on the weather; book ahead and keep some flexibility in your plans. Dress warmly, because the wind chill on deck can be significant even in summer.
Highlights
- Icebergs and the blue ice of Grey Glacier
- The Grey III catamaran on Lago Grey
- A short stop at the Refugio Grey sector
- A walk across Grey Beach to the boat
- A courtesy pisco sour on board
The day
Pickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales
Pickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales, confirmed when you book. Transport takes you to Hotel Lago Grey, inside Torres del Paine National Park.
Check-in at Hotel Lago Grey
Check-in opens one hour before departure: 08:30 for the 09:30 boat, 12:00 for the 13:00 boat, or 15:00 for the 16:00 boat (summer timetable).
Walk across Grey Beach
A 30–45 minute walk across Grey Beach takes you to the boarding area.
Navigation to Grey Glacier
About 2 hours 45 minutes on Lago Grey aboard the Grey III, among icebergs and up to the glacier, with a short stop at the Refugio Grey sector and a courtesy pisco sour, drink or juice.
Return to Hotel Lago Grey
The boat is back at 12:15, 15:45 or 18:45, depending on your departure. Walk back across the beach to Hotel Lago Grey. A box lunch is included in your day.
Drop-off at your hotel in Puerto Natales
Transport back from Hotel Lago Grey. Drop-off at your hotel in Puerto Natales, confirmed when you book.
Included and not included
Included
- Transport
- National park entrance fee
- Boat navigation
- Guide
- Box lunch
Not included
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance
What to bring and who it's for
What to bring
- Warm layers and a windproof jacket for the deck
- Hat and gloves
- Comfortable shoes for the 30–45 minute beach walk each way
- Camera
Who it's for
Families, travelers with limited time, and hikers who want to pair a trek with a day on the water. The physical demand is low, but you need to be able to walk 30–45 minutes on a beach each way to reach the boat. Children are welcome.
Good to know
- Navigations depend on the weather, especially wind on the lake. Book ahead and keep some flexibility.
- The wind chill on deck can be significant even in summer.
- The boat is shared with other passengers, and the operator needs a minimum number of passengers to run a departure.
- Reaching the boat means walking 30–45 minutes across Grey Beach; it is not a dock-side boarding.
- Check-in at Hotel Lago Grey opens one hour before each departure.
Where it happens
The map loads from Esri when you open it.
- Puerto NatalesPickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales.
- Hotel Lago GreyCheck-in, then the walk across Grey Beach to the boat.
- Grey GlacierThe Grey III sails to the glacier face.
- Puerto NatalesDrop-off at your hotel in Puerto Natales.
Make it part of a trip
Torres del Paine · Year-round
Torres del Paine Classic
Torres del Paine from a hotel in Puerto Natales: a full day in the park, a 3-hour horseback ride and a boat to Grey Glacier. Low difficulty, year-round.
5 days · Guided · Low
Or combine it with other days in a trip designed around you.
Plan a tailor-made trip
Hiking
Day Hike to Base of the Towers
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.
Full day
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
The navigation itself is about 2 hours 45 minutes. Add check-in one hour before departure, the 30–45 minute walk across Grey Beach each way and the drive from and back to your hotel.
Check-in is at Hotel Lago Grey, inside Torres del Paine National Park. From there you walk 30–45 minutes across Grey Beach to the boarding area, which is the only way to reach the boat.
Yes. The physical demand is low and children are welcome. The one part that takes some effort is the 30–45 minute walk across Grey Beach to and from the boat.
Yes. Departures depend on the weather, especially wind on Lago Grey. Book ahead and leave some flexibility in your plans in case a departure is changed.
Dress warmly in layers with a windproof jacket, hat and gloves. The wind chill on deck can be significant even in summer.
Sometimes. With luck you may see pieces of ice break off the glacier and fall into the lake, but it can't be predicted.
In the summer season the Grey III leaves at 09:30, 13:00 and 16:00 and is back at 12:15, 15:45 and 18:45. Check-in at Hotel Lago Grey is one hour before.
Transport, the national park entrance fee, the boat navigation, a guide and a box lunch. Each passenger also gets a courtesy pisco sour, or another drink or juice, on board.
SOURCES · Vertic field notes · torresdelpaine.com