Torres del Paine · Summer
W Trek Guided
Torres del Paine's Classic W · Fully Guided
At a glance
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.
- Duration
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Distance
- about 68 km (42 mi), plus 4 km (2.4 mi) if you add Mirador Británico on day 3
- Difficulty
- Intermediate–Advanced
- Group
- 1–12
- Season
- Summer (October–April)
- Direction
- East to west
- Start
- Your hotel in Puerto Natales (private airport transfer from PUQ or PNT arranged at booking)
- End
- Puerto Natales
- Accommodation
- Refugios and campsites in the park (4 nights)
- Guiding
- Guided
Overview
The W Trek is the classic multi-day route through Torres del Paine National Park, and this is the guided version, led by Vertic's own guides. Over 5 days and about 68 km (42 mi) you walk east to west along the south face of the Paine massif: up to the base of the granite towers on day one, along the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld below the Cuernos del Paine, into Valle Francés, across to Lago Pehoé and finally to Lago Grey, where the trip ends with a boat navigation to the face of Grey Glacier.
Every night is booked in advance by us in the park's refugios and campsites: Central, Cuernos, Paine Grande and Grey. Park entrance fees, the Grey Glacier navigation, meals during activities, private airport transfers and private transfers to and from the park are included, along with a pre-trek video call with your guide and a gear check at pickup, so you start the trail knowing the plan for each day. Porters can be added on request if you would rather not carry your own gear between camps.
The W is rated intermediate to advanced. The first day is the hardest: the Base Torres hike is about 22 km with roughly 1,400 m of elevation gain. After that the days are shorter but still full, on uneven, rocky trail and in wind that can change by the hour. It suits hikers in good physical condition who want the park's main viewpoints in less time than the 8-day O Circuit needs, in a group or private party of 1 to 12 guests. The trip runs from October to April, with a fixed small-group departure planned for October.
Highlights
- The Base Torres hike: Ascencio valley, Refugio Chileno and the moraine climb to the lake below the three towers
- A full day along Lago Nordenskjöld under the Cuernos del Paine
- Valle Francés, with Mirador Francés or the longer climb to Mirador Británico
- The suspension bridges beyond Refugio Grey
- A catamaran navigation to the face of Grey Glacier to close the trek
- A Vertic guide on the trail every day, and a video call with your guide before you start
Is this trip for you?
- Level
- Intermediate–Advanced
- Group
- 1–12
Hikers in good physical condition who are ready for a long first day and four more full days on uneven trail, and who want a guide handling the pace, the timing and the route. It fits travelers who have five days rather than the eight the O Circuit needs. If you are looking for easy walks, Torres del Paine Classic is a better match; if you want the full loop, see O Circuit Guided.
Itinerary
- Day 1Pickup and the Base Torres hike22 km / 14 mi
- Day 2Central to Cuernos12 km / 7 mi
- Day 3Cuernos to Paine Grande via Valle Francés20 km / 12 mi
- Day 4Paine Grande to Grey and the suspension bridges12 km / 7 mi
- Day 5Grey Glacier navigation and return to Puerto Natales2 km / 1 mi
Day 1
Pickup and the Base Torres hike
Early pickup at your hotel in Puerto Natales and a private drive into the park through the Laguna Amarga entrance to the Las Torres sector. With your guide, you climb the Ascencio valley, cross Paso de los Vientos and drop to Refugio Chileno, then continue through lenga forest to the moraine: about 45 minutes of steep, rocky climbing to the glacial lake at the foot of the towers. You return the same way. The day is about 22 km (14 mi) with roughly 1,400 m of elevation gain, usually 8–10 hours on the trail. Tonight you sleep at Refugio & Camping Central, at the foot of the valley that leads to Base Torres, with dorms, hot showers, a restaurant and a small shop.Overnight · Refugio & Camping Central · Meals · Meals during activities
Day 2
Central to Cuernos
Day 3
Cuernos to Paine Grande via Valle Francés
Day 4
Paine Grande to Grey and the suspension bridges
Day 5
Grey Glacier navigation and return to Puerto Natales
Also bookable as a day experience: Day Hike to Base of the Towers and Navigation to Grey Glacier.
Where you'll stay
- Night 1Refugio & Camping CentralRefugio · Camping
- Night 2Refugio & Camping CuernosRefugio · Camping · Cabins
- Night 3Refugio & Camping Paine GrandeRefugio · Camping
- Night 4Refugio & Camping GreyRefugio · Camping
Each night is booked in advance by us. Depending on availability, you sleep in a shared dorm at the refugio or in a tent at the campsite. On camping nights your tent, sleeping bag and mat are included.
Dates
Small-group departure in October 2027. Exact date confirmed on request.
Minimum 3 guests to run this departure. If the minimum is not reached, we let you know at least 95 days before the start, and you choose a full refund or another trip of equal value.
Private departures on request, summer (October–April).
All fixed departuresIncluded and not included
Included
- Camping/refugio accommodation
- Tent, sleeping bag and mat on camping nights
- Meals during activities
- Private airport transfers
- Private transfers to and from the national park
- National park entrance fees
- Porters (add-on, on request)
- Pre-trek video call with your guide, and a gear check at pickup
- Guide
- Grey Glacier navigation
Not included
- Gratuities
- Flights
- Travel insurance
Good to know
- The trek runs east to west: Base Torres first, Grey Glacier last.
- Park passes are sold online only, not at the gate, and every night in the park must be booked before you arrive. We handle both and send you the pass: carry it on your phone or printed, with your passport.
- Fires are not allowed anywhere in the park. Cooking is only allowed in the designated areas of each campsite or refugio. Stay on marked trails and pack out everything you bring in.
- Patagonian weather changes fast and wind is constant: expect sun, rain and strong gusts on the same day, in any month. Pack layers rather than one warm jacket.
- Travel insurance is required and is not included.
- Your hotel nights in Puerto Natales before and after the trek are not part of this trip.
Before you go
Getting there
Fly to Punta Arenas (PUQ), which has flights all year, or to Puerto Natales (PNT), which has seasonal flights from Santiago and Puerto Montt. From Punta Arenas it's about 3 hours by road to Puerto Natales, and the park is 2–4 hours from Puerto Natales depending on the entrance. Your private transfers between the airport, Puerto Natales and the park are included.
- Flights
- PUQ year-round · PNT seasonal
- Punta Arenas → Puerto Natales
- ~3 h by road
- Puerto Natales → park
- 2–4 h
- Park entrances
- Laguna Amarga · Pudeto (catamaran across Lago Pehoé, 30–40 min)
Park pass and bookings
Park passes are sold online only, not at the gate, and every night in the park has to be booked before you arrive. Entrance fees and all your nights are included in this trip and booked by us. We'll send you the pass: carry it on your phone or printed, together with your passport.
Park rules we follow
- Fires are not allowed anywhere in the park. Cooking only in the designated areas of each campsite or refugio.
- Stay on marked trails and pack out everything you bring in (Leave No Trace).
Weather and daylight
Patagonian weather changes fast, and wind is the constant: expect sun, rain and strong gusts on the same day, in any month. Plan layers rather than a single warm jacket.
Hours of daylight · 51° S (Torres del Paine)
What to pack
- Layers
- waterproof jacket and waterproof pants, a warm mid layer (fleece or down), quick-dry base layers, warm hat and gloves
- Feet
- broken-in hiking boots, wool socks, camp shoes
- On the trail
- daypack with rain cover, trekking poles, headlamp, reusable water bottle
- Sun
- sunglasses, sunscreen, sun hat
- Documents
- passport, park pass (we send it to you), travel insurance details
Insurance
Compare with
W Trek Self-Guided
The same 5-day W without a guide; independent navigation required.
5 days / 4 nights · Intermediate–Advanced (independent navigation required)
W Express Guided
The W in 4 days, fully guided, with longer hiking days.
4 days / 3 nights · Intermediate–Advanced
More in Patagonia: the Patagonia travel guide, with when to go, the places and every trip in the region.
SOURCES · Vertic field notes · torresdelpaine.com · Daylight computed with the NOAA solar equations for 51° S (Torres del Paine), 15th of each month · Park passes and rules: CONAF / pasesparques.cl · Campsites and refugios: the park's concessionaires
Ready to go?
FAQs
About 68 km (42 mi) over 5 days, plus 4 km (2.4 mi) if you add Mirador Británico on day 3. It is rated intermediate to advanced. The hardest day is the first: the Base Torres hike is about 22 km with roughly 1,400 m of elevation gain.
East to west. You start in the Las Torres sector with Base Torres on day 1 and finish at Lago Grey with the glacier navigation on day 5.
At Refugio & Camping Central, Cuernos, Paine Grande and Grey, one night each. Depending on availability you sleep in a shared dorm at the refugio or in a tent at the campsite. We book every night in advance.
No. On camping nights your tent, sleeping bag and mat are included.
Meals during activities are included. Each refugio on the route also has a restaurant.
Porters are available as an add-on on request. Ask us when you book and we will tell you what you carry each day with and without porters.
Fly to Punta Arenas (PUQ), which has flights all year, or to Puerto Natales (PNT), which has seasonal flights. Your private airport transfer and your private transfers to and from the park are included. Punta Arenas is about 3 hours by road from Puerto Natales.
On the last day you board the Grey III catamaran at Refugio Grey and sail toward the face of the glacier among floating icebergs, then land at the Hotel Lago Grey pier, where your transfer is waiting. The navigation and one pisco sour per person on board are included.
A video call with your guide a few days before the trek, to go over the route, the daily plan, the weather and your gear. On day 1 your guide checks your boots, layers and pack at pickup, so there is still time to buy anything missing in Puerto Natales. We confirm the time of the call when you book.
From October to April. A fixed small-group departure is planned for October; ask us for exact dates.
W Trek Guided is 5 days with a guide. W Trek Self-Guided follows the same route without a guide. W Express Guided covers the W in 4 days with longer hiking days.
No. Travel insurance is required and is not included. We recommend World Nomads for travel insurance and Global Rescue for evacuation and medical support in remote terrain. Both are optional partners, never part of the trip price.