Torres del Paine: The Circuit & The “W”

Torres del Paine.

The Circuit in Torres del Paine is one of the best trails for hiking in the entire world. The Circuit is approximately a 9-day hike with days of camping or staying comfortably in refugios* and some of the most beautiful sights one will ever see.  The entire Circuit is approximately 68 miles in length.  The W trek is 4-5 days and covers the bottom southern portion of the Circuit.  The trail goes along in a W shape as you see some of the very best of Torres del Paine.

Although many people attempt the Circuit and the W on their own, hiring a guide makes the entire trek much more manageable.  Also, at certain times in the season, portions of the Circuit and W may be closed or too difficult unless one travels with an experienced guide.

We also offer shorter adventures and tours in Torres del Paine lasting from 2-4 days in length, in addition to the full Circuit and W described below.  Contact us for more info on these expeditions.

2022 “W” Trek Complete Exclusive All-Inclusive Program.

November 2022.  Start – Saturday, November 24, 2022  |  End Date Thursday, November 29, 2022

February 2023.  Start – Friday, February 1, 2023   |    End – Wednesday, February 6, 2023

Day 1.  Arrival and Welcome. Arrival in Punta Arenas airport.  Participants must arrive at airport by 5 am.  Private Transport to Puerto Natales.  Check in at luxury hotel on the fjord (included).  After check in, you will have the day to rest, explore Puerto Natales and prepare for your trekking adventure which will begin the next morning.  Lunch on your own in Puerto Natales.  Welcome dinner that evening with the group.

Day 2. Towers of Paine.  Early rise and breakfast. After meeting your guide in the morning, you will head with your group by bus to Torres del Paine National Park.  Upon arrival, you will head out hiking up Valle Asencio to Refugio Chileno, where we will check in.  After lunch, we head out with water and snacks deeper into the valley to see the famous Towers of Paine.  After seeing the Towers, we will head back to the refugio for the evening.  Dinner in the Refugio.

Day 3. Cuernos of Paine. After resting up and enjoying breakfast, we pack up and head out towards Refugio Cuernos. After approximately 4.5-5 hours of hiking and enjoying lunch along the way, we arrive at Cuernos, where we will check in to our cabins.  Make sure and bring a swimsuit, because after we check in we will have time to enjoy the wood fired hot tub, along with wine and appetizers.  Dinner in Refugio Cuernos.

Day 4. The French Valley. Early morning rise and breakfast before we head out to see the incredible French Valley.  We will stop at many breathtaking viewpoints along the way.  On our hike, you will see a waterfall, jaw dropping avalanches (from a safe distance), a forest, and impressive geological formations.  After hiking to the first viewpoint for the French Valley and enjoying lunch on the train, we head to Lodge Paine Grande, on Lago Pehoe for the evening.  After checking in at the Refugio, we have dinner together.

Day 5.  Grey Glacier and farewell to Paine.  After breakfast in the refugio, we head out to the first viewpoint for Glacier Grey.  After enjoying a snack and incredible views of the glacier and giant icebergs, we head back to Paine Grande.  At Paine Grande, we will board the catamaran and enjoy breathtaking views of Torres del Paine, as we say farewell to the park.  After a transfer, we head back to Puerto Natales for the evening.  Night at luxury hotel in Puerto Natales.  Farewell dinner in Puerto Natales.

Day 6. Back to Punta Arenas.  Morning transfer to Punta Arenas airport with arrival by 12:30 p.m.  Here you will say farewell to your guides.  End of program.

Price:  $2985 USD per person, double occupancy***  Price includes guide, porter assistance, and two nights in luxury hotel on fjord in Puerto Natales.  Airfare not included.

Contact us  for availability. *** Single person/single occupancy program price is $3265.

Custom Tours.

For our clients who are unable to join our All-Inclusive program, we also offer custom and/or private W and Circuit adventures, leaving throughout the season.

Typical Custom Circuit Itinerary.

Day 1. Arrival in Punta Arenas (or Puerto Natales Airport).  Private transfer to Puerto Natales.  In Puerto Natales, you will meet your guide, do a gear check and prepare for your hike.  Night in Hostel.

Day 2. On our first day trekking, we wake early for our transfer to Torres del Paine.  Upon arrival in Paine, we take a catamaran across Lake Pehoe to Lodge Paine Grande.  During your journey to our starting point for the hike, you will get your first taste of Torres del Paine:  a glimpse of the Torres from the distance, the Paine Mastiff, an impressive waterfall, and the radiant turquoise Lago Pehoe.  Once we arrive by boat at Paine Grande/Pehoe, we begin our Circuit.  We start with a short 2.5-hour hike to Campamento Italiano: the beginning of the French Valley.  At Italiano, we set up camp for our first evening in Paine. After getting settled, we take a short hike to a viewpoint to see the impressive Glacier Frances up close.  After taking in the glacier, we return to camp, rest, and enjoy dinner.

Day 3.  This day, we visit one of the most beautiful valleys in the world, the French Valley.  In the morning we wake early and head on an uphill hike into the French Valley.  We will stop at two breathtaking viewpoints along the way.  On our hike, you will see an impressive waterfall, jaw dropping avalanches (from a safe distance), a forest, and impressive geological formations.  After lunch at the viewpoint, we return to Italiano to pack our things and head to Campamento Cuernos for the  evening.  This day takes approximately 6 hours.

Day 4.  After another early rise, we head towards the Towers of Paine.  This will be our longest day.  During our hike, we will see the Cuernos of Paine to our left and the luminescent, turquoise Lago Nordenskjold to our right.  Once we reach the Asencio Valley, we head upwards towards the Towers.  Our day ends when we reach Campamento Torres, near the base of the Towers of Paine.  Here, we set up camp, enjoy dinner, relax, and prepare for our next day.

Day 5. The next morning, we wake before dawn and head out on a short hike without our packs to catch sunrise at the famous Towers of Paine.  After enjoying sunrise, we return, pack up and head towards Campamento Serón.

Day 6. From Campamento Serón we head out on one of our shorter days towards Campamento Dickson.  On this day, we will have a beautiful uphill hike followed by a leisurely hike through wetlands and rolling hills until we reach Campamento Dickson, a beautiful refuge surrounded by a peaceful lake.

Day 7. From Dickson, we head out for a 4-hour hike to Campamento Perros.  Before we reach Perros, we will hike through quiet forests and see a beautiful waterfall.  Just before we reach Perros, we will have an opportunity to see Glacier Perros up close.  That night, we camp at Perros and prepare for our next day.

Day 8.  From Perros, we head out towards Glacier Grey.  This is arguably our most challenging day as our trek leads us up and over John Garner Pass. Once we reach the top of Paso John Garner, we will stop for a moment to take in the awe-inspiring Glacier Grey and celebrate our accomplishment.  Afterwards, we begin our descent, through forest and hill to Campamento Grey.  That evening, we relax, set up camp, and watch the icebergs float by us on Lago Grey.

Day 9. From Grey, we begin our journey back.  We head out towards Lago Pehoe, over forest, rocks, all the while enjoying breathtaking views of the awe-inspiring glacier.  Towards the end, we begin to see vivid landscapes and finally the luminescent Lago Pehoe.  From Pehoe, we take the catamaran to our transfer and the transfer back to Puerto Natales for the evening.  This concludes the Circuit.  Evening in Hostel.  Transfer to airport the next day.

Typical Custom “W” Itinerary:

For those who prefer a shorter hike or have time constraints, the bottom/southern portion of the Circuit, called the W, can be done in less time.

Day 1. Arrival in Punta Arenas (or Puerto Natales Airport).  Private transfer to Puerto Natales.  In Puerto Natales, you will meet your guide, do a gear check and prepare for your hike.  Night in Hostel.

Day 2. On our first trekking day, we wake early for our transfer to Torres del Paine.  Upon arrival in Paine, we take a catamaran across the lake Paine Grande.  During your trip to our starting point, you will get your first taste of Torres del Paine:  a glimpse of the Torres from the distance, the Paine Mastiff, an impressive waterfall, and the radiant turquoise Lago Pehoe.  Once we arrive by boat at Paine Grande/Pehoe, we begin the W.  We start towards Glacier Grey.  The entire way up, you get to soak in the impressive Glacier Grey.  That evening, we set up camp at Grey and relax while watching icebergs pass by on Lago Grey.

Day 3.  This morning, we pack up at Grey and head back towards Pehoe.  After Pehoe, we head towards the beginning of the French Valley, past the luminescent green Lago Skottsberg.  That evening we rest in Campamento Italiano.

Day 4.  On our third day, we wake up early and visit one of the most beautiful valleys in the world, the French Valley. We will stop at two breathtaking viewpoints along the way.  On our hike, you will see an impressive waterfall, jaw dropping avalanches (from a safe distance), a forest, and impressive geological formations.  After lunch at the viewpoint, we return to Italiano to pack our things and head to Campamento Cuernos for the  evening.  This day takes approximately 6 hours.

Day 5.  After another early rise, we head towards the Towers of Paine.  This will be our longest day.  During our hike, we will see the Cuernos of Paine to our left and the luminescent, turquoise Lago Nordenskjold our right.  Once we reach the Asencio Valley, we head upwards towards the Towers.  Our day ends when we reach Campamento Torres, near the base of the Towers of Paine.  Here, we set up camp, enjoy dinner, relax, and prepare for our next day.

Day 6. The next morning, we wake before dawn and head out without our packs to catch sunrise on the famous Towers of Paine.  After enjoying sunrise, we return to our campsite, pack up and head back to Puerto Natales for the evening.

Additional Info:

Depending on your fitness/comfort/adventure level, the following are all possible additions:

  • Staying in refugios
  • Ice hiking/kayaking/horseback riding
  • Hiring porters to carry your gear (approx $120 per day)

Custom Tour Prices.

The “W” – Starting at $1790**

The Circuit – Starting at $2200**

**Contact us for information about group discounts.  Starting prices do not include hotel accommodations or transportation to and from airport.

All custom adventures include guide, food, equipment, and transportation to and from Paine.   The refugios, ice hike/kayak and porters, and airport tranfers are all modifications which may be added at additional cost.

Availability.

Summer season (October – March)

November 2022 “W” Trek Complete Exclusive All-Inclusive Program- some spaces available.  Reservation booking period closes on September 1, 2022.  Contact us now to reserve.

February 2023 “W” Trek Complete Exclusive All-Inclusive Program- spaces available.  Book now to guarantee your spot.

 Contact Us  for information regarding custom W and Circuit Adventures.  Groups departing regularly.

Winter season (April – September)

We offer programs all winter long.  Winter is a beautiful time to see the Park, with almost no other trekkers.   Contact us for more information on our winter Torres del Paine adventures.