Torres del Paine W Trek

This is a step-by-step guide to trekking the W from West to East. Each step links two campsites or refugios. Most trekkers don't stop at all of them (some are now closed), but choose breaks according to their fitness and timetable. Very fit and fast hikers may complete the W in two days, but everyone else will take five to seven. 

Drivers should make sure they have plenty of petrol as there are no petrol stations in Torres del Paine and only one on the way there. The 24-hour service station In Cerro Castillo, also has a store, satellite Wi-Fi and a facilties for motorhomes. It is sometimes sold out.

There are three main bus stops in the Park: 

The Park Entrance at Laguna Amarga (2 hrs 15 mins), where you must pay an entrance fee.

The Cataraman Dock at Pudeto (3 hrs 15 mins) 

The Conaf Administration Centre (4 hrs 15 mins)

You can take either the catamaran to Paine Grande Mountain Lodge at the start of the W or hike there. Leave the bus as follows: 

Leave the bus at Pudeto. From there take the Catamaran across Lake Pehoe to Paine Grande Mountain Lodge (run by Vertice Patagonia). See their website for up-to-date  Sailing times. 

The journey takes about 30 minutes. Reservations are not strictly required, but may be necessary in high season, when the catamaran fills up quickly. 

Visit the Salto Grande waterfall nearby if you have to wait for the catamaran. 

Leave the bus at the Administration Centre. From here you can hike to Paine Grande Mountain Lodge (5 hrs, 18 km). The trek is not one of the most interesting and most people prefer to take the catamaran across Lake Pehoe. Note that since September 2016, this route to the start of the W Trek is closed in high summer (December to February), but you may still leave the W via this route.

7 hrs (22 km)

A good but long warm-up hike, this trail rises gently to Grey Glacier Mirador (lookout), a climb of only 175 metres. At the top you will see the mighty Grey Glacier splutter great splinters of ice into the river below. The warmer the weather the better the show, which is backlit by the immense Southern Ice Field. 

2.5 hrs (7.6 km) 

Another nice nearly flat trail rising to only 170 metres, this one takes you along the shores of two of Torres del Paine's famous turquoise lakes. First Lago Pehoe and, after about 45 minutes, Lago Skottsberg, the spiky peaks of the Paine Massif getting closer and closer. After two to three hours and 7.6km the trail will take you across a bridge to Camp Italiano (now closed), which is set in woodland. You may be able to leave your pack here while you hike to the French Valley and back.

2.5 hrs (3.7 km) 

This is where the trekking starts to get harder as the trails climbs 800 metres up into the ribs of the Paine Massif into the French Valley. The rewards are staggering though. Massive hanging glaciers are set into vast curtains of granite, the remnants of a solidified magma chamber pushed up to the earth's surface millions of years ago. Add shaking and rumbling as slabs of ice crash down the valley and it's easy to see why the French Valley is many hikers' favorite. 

30mins (2km)
A moderately difficult hike with some steep and muddy sections. 

2 hrs (3.5 km) 
 
The trail now heads down to the shores of Lake Nordenskiold, another dazzling blue lake, to Refugio Los Cuernos (run by Las Torres , which sits in the foothills of Los Cuernos (The Horns).

4.5 hrs (11 km) 

Straightforward trekking through foothills to Refugios Central and Norte run by Las Torres.

2 hrs (5 km) 

This is the first leg of the climb to the famous Towers (Las Torres), the three iconic granite pegs that give Torres del Paine its name. The trail is quite up and down to begin with before climbing in earnest to Refugio El Chileno (run by Las Torres) in the Valley Ascencio. 

2 hrs (4.2km) to Base of Towers Lookout