PATAGONIA | Torres del Paine | W Trek Plus
This is an excellent way to enjoy the main attractions of the area. We begin with the Fauna Trail on the south east side of Torres del Paine National Park and continue with the famous W Trek. The last 2 days in the Park are spent by the majestic Grey Glacier, where you will have the chance to kayak amongst centenary icebergs and to ice hike on the majestic Grey Glacier.
With a difficulty of high intermediate, the trek covers 57 miles from the Patagonian Steppe, through the Pre-Andean Scrubland, the Magellanic Deciduous Forest to the Andean Desert. The kayaking takes around 3 hours and the ice hiking is a 5 hour excursion that involves a 20 minutes boat ride and 4 hour hiking.
The stunning views of mountains, lakes, rivers and glaciers make this trek one of the best in the world. Torres del Paine National Park is part of the UNESCO Natural Biosphere Reserves since 1978, and it is regarded as the 8th wonder of the world for its natural beauty and the abundance of easily observable wildlife.
Upon arrival to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, we will be there to pick you up and take you to your hotel to check in. You have time at leisure to explore town and pack your backpack with all the necessary items for the trek. A packing list will be given to you in advance for reference. The rest of your luggage will stay at the hotel. In the evening we get together for a nice dinner and a general briefing.
Lodging | double room in hotel with private bathroom |
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Food | refreshments |
After breakfast we drive to the Milodon Cave Natural Monument, one of the most important paleonthological sites in South America, located 15 miles north of Puerto Natales. The place is rich in information about the megafauna and the first humans that lived in the area over 10.000 year ago. We will have lunch in the beautiful lenga forest before resuming the drive to the park.
Once at Torres del Paine National Park, we will hike the Fauna Trail, a very pleasant “warm up” hike, where we see guanacos among other animals in their natural habitat. Half way through the hike, we get to a rocky outcrop with cave paintings 8,000 years old and a magnificent view of the Paine Massif. Our transfer will be waiting at the end of the trail ready to take us to our lodge, where we have dinner, hot showers and a good rest.
Distance | 7 mi. |
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Duration | 5 hrs. |
Max. elevation | 450 ft. |
Lodging | shared dormitory with 6 people in mountain lodge, shared bathroom |
Food | breakfast, lunch box, dinner |
Today begins with a good breakfast for strenght during the hike. We hike into the Ascencio Valley for approximately 4 hours, gaining elevation as we hike from scrubland and nothophagus forests to the Andean Desert. The higher we get, the better the views of the Ascencio River, Nordenskjöld Lake and Almirante Nieto Mountain, until we get to the proper lookout of the impressive towers. If the conditions allow it, we have lunch at the lookout to enjoy the special ambiance of the place and rest before starting our descent via the same trail we took up there. After another 4 hours of hiking we arrive at our lodge, where a nice meal and hot showers await.
Distance | 13 mi. |
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Duration | 8-10 hrs. |
Max. elevation | 2,870 ft. |
Lodging | shared dormitory with 6 people in mountain lodge, shared bathroom |
Food | breakfast, lunch box, dinner |
After a nutricious breakfast, we hike west by the foothills of Almirante Nieto Mountain (8,660 ft.) enjoying breathtaking views of the Lake Nordenskjöld with its beautiful turquoise blue water. On the way you see exotic plant and animal species like the Chilean Fire Bush, the Cinereus Harrier and the Andean Condor, as well as impressive and unique geologic formations such as Los Cuernos, “The Horns”, and the Paine Grande Mountain, the highest in the park (10,000 ft.). Once at the lodge, we can enjoy a hot shower and views of the lake during dinner.
Distance | 8.4 mi. |
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Duration | 5 hrs. |
Max. elevation | 1,050 ft. |
Lodging | shared dormitory with 6 people in mountain lodge, shared bathroom |
Food | breakfast, lunch box, dinner |
Today we start hiking west towards the French Valley in undulated terrain with an uphill trend. We stop at the lookouts to regroup and enjoy the views. Once at Italian Camp, we can leave some things to hike lighter up the valley. On the way up we see clear evidence of recent glacial and interglacial periods, shown by a series of moraines, as well as impressive hanging glaciers and the foothill glacier on the east face of Paine Grande Mountain.
Depending on the weather conditions and the groups’ ability, we go to the French or British Lookout to have lunch and enjoy the scenery of the impressive granite peaks that offer a challenge to the best climbers in the world. After lunch we go down the same way we came up until reaching Italian Camp to get our belongings. We continue heading west towards Paine Grande Lodge through an area with unique beauty despite the fire damage of 2011. Once at the lodge, we can enjoy a hot shower and a hearty meal.
Distance | 15.6 mi. |
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Duration | 11 hrs. |
Max. elevation | 1,650-2,250 ft. |
Lodging | shared dormitory with 6 people in mountain lodge, shared bathroom |
Food | breakfast, lunch box, dinner |
After breakfast we head north to finish the left leg of the W, hiking through a canyon with interesting stratigraphy before going uphill towards Los Patos Lake, where we have a view to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. We continue an uphill trend until we reach 900 feet above sea level at half way, enjoying views of the Grey Lake and Glacier, the Southern Patagonian Ice field, Paine Grande Mountain among other impressive natural features. From there on, we start a downhill trend getting closer to the glacier.
We stop for lunch at the Grey Lodge and then you have the option to go kayaking amongst blue icebergs of centenary ice on the Grey Lake (previous reservation required), or alternatively hike up to the hanging bridges for a breathtaking view of the Grey Glacier. We overnight at the Grey Lodge, a great place to end the day with great food, a nice bar, lounge area, hot showers and a special ambiance.
Distance | 10-13 mi. |
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Duration | 4-9 hrs. |
Max. elevation | 900-1575 ft. |
Lodging | shared dormitory with 4 people in mountain lodge, shared bathroom |
Food | breakfast, lunch box, dinner |
After a hearty breakfast, we hike 10 minutes north towards the lake to get ready for the ice hike. This unforgettable experience lasts 5 hours. It consists of a 20 minutes Zodiac boat ride, an hour hike on the island, 2 hours hiking on the centenary ice of the Grey Glacier, where impressive detail of ice and rock features can be seen and finally hiking one hour back on the island.
After the morning activity, we enjoy lunch before heading to the beach to take the Grey III navigation. The 2 hours long boat ride gets close to the front of the glacier for an amazing perspective of the ice. Once at a beach, we hike 30 minutes to the parking lot, where our private transfer will be waiting to take us to the hotel in Puerto Natales to check in and enjoy time at leisure. In the evening we get together at a nice restaurant for our final dinner and debrief.
Distance | 6 mi. |
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Duration | 5 hrs. |
Max. elevation | 1,200 ft. |
Lodging | double room in hotel with private bathroom |
Food | breakfast, lunch box |
After breakfast at the hotel, we will take you to the bus station or airport in Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas airport to continue with your journey or return back home.
Food | breakfast, lunch box |
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Please read our Reservation & Cancellation Policy and see below the program inclusions and exclusions.
- Entrance fee to Milodon Cave Natural Monument
- Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park
- Bilingual guide and assistant guide
- Ice hike tour on Grey Glacier
- All ground transportation during the program
- One way boat ride on Grey Lake
- 5 nights lodging at mountain hut in shared dormitory in Torres del Paine
- 2 nights lodging at centrally located 4 start hotel in Puerto Natales (double room - single occupancy rooms possible for a supplemental fee)
- All meals on trek
- Total meals: 7 x breakfast, 7 x lunch, 5 x dinner
- International and domestic / in country flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa, passport or medical expenses
- Personal expenses and equipment
- Kayak tour on Grey Lake
- Changes in the itinerary
- Laundry services
- Dinners in Puerto Natales and food not listed in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips for guide, assistant guide, drivers, staff, etc.
When you are ready to book, please fill out our form and we will send you secure payment instructions and program related information and documents.