Torres del Paine W Trek: Popular and Pristine

• Start/end locations: The first stop inside the park gates will be Pudeto Port. From here, trekkers are transported by boat to the starting point of the W Trek, which is Refugio Paine Grande. The end point is Hotel Torres. It’s also possible to hike the trail in the opposite direction, starting at Hotel Las Torres and finishing at Refugio Paine Grande.
• Difficulty: Medium. The W trail requires a certain level of physical fitness and athleticism. There are steep areas and certain sections of the trail that are more challenging than others, however, you do not have to be in professional-athlete-like shape to successfully complete the trek. 
• Trek duration: 4 – 5 days. The total trek is roughly 60km.
• Remoteness: Not Remote. The trails are wind through the well-preserved wilderness, but they’re clearly marked and accommodate plenty of hikers. There are several small supply stores, campgrounds, and infrastructures the entire length of the trail.
• Accommodation type: Free and Paid Campsites, Refugios, shared accommodation shelters, and Luxury Hotels,. The W trek route definitely has the most options when it comes to accommodations in Torres del Paine, but it is highly recommended to make reservations months in advance. Proof of reservation is required when entering campsites.
• Best season:
  • Summer (November – March) is considered best for any Torres del Paine trek because of the sunny and mild weather. Average temperatures hover around 12 – 15°C / 54 – 58°F.
  • Spring (September – November) is also a lovely time to witness the park’s transformation from winter to spring. The weather can however be windy and temperatures will likely drop to 1 – 3°C / 34 – 37°F at night.
  • Winter (June – early September) is not the most popular time to tackle the W Trek, but it’s doable with a guide for those who are up for the challenge. The temperature drops to -3 – 5°C / 26 – 41°F.
  • For a seasonal overview of the country, check out our travel guide on the best time to visit Chile.
• Permits required: There is a park entrance fee that is required to be made in cash (Chilean Pesos) at the front entrance. Find out more about it in our guide to Torres del Paine treks.
• Insider Tip: This has become an extremely popular hike, so during the high months between October and April, the trails are very crowded. Although the days are shorter, if you're looking to avoid crowds, visit during the winter. It's when the guides fall back in love with the park. When we were visiting the Granite Towers which will have 800-100 hikers during the busy season, we only saw one other hiker. — by Esther and Jacob from Local Adventurer

The average amount of time spent on the W trail in Patagonia is 5 days and 4 nights. Below is an example of the most common itinerary, spending five days and four nights to complete the trek by moving west to east on the “W”.

Day 1: Boat from Pudeto Port to Refugio Paine Grande. From here, walk 11km to Refugio Grey. About 2km prior to reaching Refugio Grey, there will be a lookout point for viewing Glacier Grey called Mirador Grey. Upon reaching Refugio Grey, there are options to view the east and south sides of the glacier by walking no more than an extra kilometer. Stay the night in the Refugio Grey or adjoining campsite.

Day 2: Depart Refugio Grey and return to Refugio Paine Grande (RPG). Continue past RPG another 7.5km to Camp Italiano, one of the two free campsites on the trail. Spend the night here.

Day 3: Leave your heavy gear and take only a day pack with you for this section. You will return to the camp before heading to the next stop. Depart Camp Italiano for a roundtrip journey of 11km to Valle del Frances. View the spectacular valley and Glacier Frances before returning to Camp Italiano.

From Camp Italiano, continue an additional 5.5km to Los Cuernos to spend the night. Here you have several accommodation options: Refugio Los Cuernos, Camp Los Cuernos, or the more luxurious Los Cuernos Cabanas.

Day 4: Depart from Los Cuernos and trek 11km toward Camp Torres, which sits at the base of the famous Las Torres. Set up camp here, then hike the 1km up to Mirador Torres to get a look at the famous towers. Return to camp and spend the night.

Day 5: In the morning, hike up to Mirador Torres again to see a sunrise view of the towers. Return to Camp Torres, then embark on the final leg of the journey to Hotel Las Torres, about 8km away. From here you will be able to catch a shuttle bus to take you out of the park.

TIP: On both Day 4 and 5, leave your heavy gear and take only a day pack to trek to Mirador Torres. You will pass through the Camp Torres on the return and can collect the rest of your things then.

If you are fit and willing to put in extra kilometers every day, it’s possible to complete this circuit in 4 days and 3 nights. See the alternative itinerary below, starting east and moving west:

Day 1: Arrive to Hotel Las Torres in the morning, hike to The Towers and then spend the night in Refugio Chileno or adjoining campsite.

Day 2: From Refugio/Camp Chileno, hike along the picturesque Nordenskjold Lake and spend the night at Refugio Cuernos.

Day 3: Departing from Refugio Cuernos, trek to the Valle del Frances and then spend the night in Refugio Paine Grande.

Day 4: From Refugio Paine Grande, continue onto the Glacier Grey round-trip trek, finishing back at RPG. From here you can catch the boat back to Pudeto and exit the park.

Alternatively, if you wish to make this Torres del Paine trekking even longer, start at Hotel Las Torres and when you reach Refugio Grey in Glacier Grey, instead of turning back and finishing at RPG, you can simply continue past Refugio Grey. This is where the O Circuit, also known as the Full Circuit, picks up. Learn more about the O trek in our guide to Torres del Paine O Circuit. 

There are three different entrance gates to the National Park, but visitors who want to access the W Trek should go through the newly opened Rio Serrano entrance. This entrance is the closest to Puerto Natales at 50 kilometers.

The most common mode of transport from Puerto Natales to the Rio Serrano entrance is by bus. There are buses running several times a day by multiple different companies. Be aware that the last bus from Puerto Natales to the Rio Serrano entrance leaves around 2:30 pm. If you arrive to Puerto Natales in the late afternoon or early evening then you'll likely have to spend the night there and take a bus to the park the next morning.

Buses running from Puerto Natales to Rio Serrano (and onto Pudeto Port) by Bus Sur Company go at 7:00 am, 11:30 am. Buses Jose Maria also have two buses at 7:00 am and 2:30 pm. There are several other bus companies (Buses JB, Buses Gomez, and Buses Juan Ojeda), but their schedule from Puerto Natales to Rio Serrano entrance could not be confirmed.

Here are some basic things to pack for the W trek in Torres del Paine:

• Thermal underwear/bottoms and tops
• Lightweight hiking pants
• Lightweight hiking shorts
• Long-sleeved breathable shirt
• Short-sleeved breathable shirt
• Fleece zip-up
• Light-weight waterproof jacket
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Travel towel
• Synthetic hiking socks
• Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support
• Wet wipes
• Water purification tablets or device
• Flashlight
• Multi-tool knife
• Mini First Aid kit

For more information on suitable trekking gears, read our guide to equipments needed when trekking.

• Book in advance! No matter the season, accommodations are consistently full. Even free campsites require a reservation. Be on the safe side, and make bookings months in advance.
• The trail is facilitated with drinking water that is deemed to be safe. 
• Base yourself in Puerto Natales before and after the trek. It is a great place with plenty of accommodation options, restaurants, trekking gear stores, and local trekking companies. 
• Pack light. If you don’t want to carry camping gear like a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, you can rent (in advance) from the campsites. Refugios offer hot meals, so you can still eat there while camping.
• Stock up on supplies outside the park. Everything inside the park is very expensive.
• Trails are well marked and there are plenty of people around (during high season), meaning it’s perfectly safe to make the journey without a guide. However, it is great to have a guide who is aware about the topography and can lead you to safety when emergencies such as forest fire or bad weather occurs. Plus, they also provide more information, facts, and history about the gorgeous sights you’re seeing. There are plenty of W trail tours available; you can join one.
• You can hike the W Trek in Torres del Paine in either direction (east to west or west to east).
• There are daily cut-off time allocated for most trails, after which one cannot continue with the hike. If you are trekking independently, plan your itinerary carefully and make accommdation bookings accordingly. Check the time-table below:

The Torres del Paine W Trek is popular around the world and it’s not hard to see why. Conquering the W Trek is an amazing lifetime achievement. With incredible natural sights, straightforward trails, well-preserved wilderness, and decent accommodation options and facilities, what’s not to love?

While the Torres del Paine treks are the most popular trekking trails in Patagonia, there are other lesser known treks that are equally, and often more rewarding. Take a look at our list of best treks and hikes in Patagonia to learn more! Since Patagonia is notorious for unpredictable weather, do check up on the best time to visit Patagonia before planning your trip. You can also get in touch with one of our travel experts to customize a trip to Chile that includes your preferred trek.

If you're looking for other treks around the world take a look at these 15 treks, recommended by Travel Wise.