5 Days / 4 Nights
Get ready for your next challenge!
This circuit is named after the “W” shape it draws on the map, as it connects several highlights of the park. It extends approximately 71 kilometers and can be completed in a period of 4 to 6 days, depending on the pace of each hiker.
During the tour, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the park’s famous granite peaks, such as Torres del Paine, the Northern Horn, and the Main Horn, as well as glaciers, rivers, lakes, and forests.
Due to the popularity of the W Circuit, we recommend making reservations in advance, especially during the high season (November to March) to ensure a place in the refuges and camps.
Base of Las Torres del Paine
VFrench Valley
Grey Lake Viewpoint
Nordenskjold Lake
| Kind of trip | Crossing |
| Coordinates | S50º 57.968′ W72º 52.011′ |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Distance | 71 km aprox |
| Maximum altitude | 1201m |
| Lenght | 5 days |
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We want to advise you. We want your experience visiting Torres del Paine to be memorable and that’s why we have a team of professionals who are here to help and advise you on your trip.
In the box on the left you can find some of the alternatives we have to make the famous trekking of the W, within the Torres del Paine National Park. We invite you to review the different options and if you have any questions or want to see other alternatives you can contact us here.
We have options: lodging only in campsites, only in shelters and combining both. The W Circuit is much better prepared, always giving the option of sleeping in shelters or well-equipped cabins. There are restaurants, small shops, WIFI and first class cabins.
Differences between the W and the O?
If you check the maps of each circuit you will see that the W is also part of the O Circuit, so if you dare to do the latter you will do both circuits. In the W Circuit you visit the main attractions of Torres del Paine National Park, it is less time and bearable than the O. Review here the options of the O Circuit that we have for you. This circuit is more advanced and you will need a higher physical demand, but without a doubt it is an unforgettable experience.
We want to talk to you, get to know you, know what you need and thus be able to help you choose the best alternatives for your trip. The interesting thing is that we offer you different alternatives to connect all the points of the W Circuit: you can start sailing by the Grey Lake, arriving directly to the Las Torres Refuge, leaving by the beautiful waters of the Pehoé Lake to arrive to Pudeto, place where it is possible to take the bus back to Puerto Natales and several other combinations, which will allow you to create an unforgettable memory of this incredible experience.
In short, there are 5 days in which we will cover different stretches that you will love according to your choice at the time of purchase. We will take you through the vast Patagonian plains to different refuges that adjoin the main attractions of the park: lenga forests, the base of the towers, trails where the sky of Lake Nordenskjöld contrasts abruptly with the diverse range of green flora of the place, hanging glaciers, you can witness the impressive avalanches, the immensity of nature at unimaginable levels. You will get to know Grey Lake, its glacier, places where the mountain range, the water, the iceberg and the sand merge into a shocking picture. Without a doubt, a trip that will be unforgettable, unpredictable and majestic. In addition, as many say, you will feel a personal satisfaction of internal growth after traveling more than 60 kilometers during 5 days of trekking, an achievement that you will never forget.
If your dream is to come to Torres del Paine and know the main wonders of this national park, the W Circuit is ideal. Together with GreatChile, our official tour operator in Torres del Paine, we will travel together for 5 days about 70 kms of intense trekking. You can choose to sleep in the comfortable refuges if you want to meet and share with other tourists, or if you are an adventurous tomo y lomo, stay in the campsites under the starry mantle of Patagonia.
Before leaving you must take into account your luggage: the best thing to do is to walk with a comfortable and light backpack, with only what is necessary for the long walks during the 5 days. Once here, let yourself be carried away by the adventurous spirit that is breathed in Torres del Paine and get ready to know the Eighth Wonder of the World like never before.
If we talk about basic equipment for months like july, august or september, we recommend you:
✓Transfer by regular bus from Puerto Natales to the Torres del Paine National Park, round trip.
✓ 1 night of accommodation in the Central Sector.
✓ 1 night in Sector Francés or Cuernos (depending on availability).
✓ 1 night in Paine Grande Sector.
✓ 1 night in Grey Sector.
✓ Camping includes: tent and mountain sleeping bag and insulating mat.
✓ Shelter includes: armed bed or simple bed (with sleeping bag).
✓ All meals:
Breakfast: Days 2, 3,4 and 5.
Lunch (box lunch): Days 1,2,3 and 4
Dinner: Days 1,2,3 and 4
✓ Catamaran Lake Pehoé to Pudeto.
✓ Entrance to Torres del Paine National Park.
Circuit Available from October 1, 2023 to April 25, 2024
NOT INCLUDED:
✓ Guide in self-guided program
✓ Services not indicated in this Program
✓ Additional activities
✓ Medical or travel insurance
✓ Tips
✓ Drinks
✓ Day 1: Transportation to Torres del Paine, lodging in Central Sector. Trekking to Base Torres
The trekking to the Base of the Towers is one of the most popular and exciting routes in the Torres del Paine National Park. This trekking is considered of medium to high difficulty. Although the trail is well defined, it features steep sections and uneven terrain that requires a certain level of physical fitness and hiking experience. The last section of the ascent is especially challenging, with a steep climb over loose rock.
At the end of the journey, we will enjoy impressive views of the Torres del Paine, a set of three granite peaks that rise majestically over a glacial lake. It is a spectacular landscape and one of the iconic points of the park.
✓ Day 2: Trekking to the French or Cuernos Sector, lodging in the French or Cuernos Sector.
We will enjoy panoramic views of the imposing Cuernos del Paine and we will pass through beautiful valleys, rivers and forests, which makes the tour very picturesque.
This trekking is considered of medium difficulty. The trail is well marked and does not present large unevenness, but there are sections with uneven and rocky terrain that require attention and good balance. It is important to have adequate physical condition and basic hiking experience.
✓ Day 3: Trekking in the Paine Grande Sector, lodging in the Paine Grande Sector.
We will enjoy panoramic views of the majestic Cuernos del Paine as we move away from them. Also, we will pass by Lake Nordenskjöld and walk along its shores, which provides beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.
The average duration of the trek is 4 to 6 hours, depending on the pace and the stops you make along the way.
✓ Day 4: Trekking to the Gray Glacier Viewpoint, lodging at Camping Grey.
Durante el trekking hacia el Mirador Grey, obtendremos vistas panorámicas del imponente Glaciar Grey, uno de los atractivos más destacados del parque. Además, caminaremos a lo largo de la costa del Lago Grey, con vistas espectaculares del lago y las montañas circundantes.
El trekking desde Paine Grande hasta el Mirador Grey tiene una distancia aproximada de 22 kilómetros ida y vuelta. La duración promedio del trekking es de 8 a 10 horas, dependiendo del ritmo y las paradas que realices a lo largo del camino.
✓ Day 5: Catamaran tour of Lake Pehoe, departure from Paine Grande to return to Puerto Natales by Regular Bus to Puerto Natales Rodoviario.
The catamaran trip on Lake Pehoé lasts approximately 30 minutes, depending on wind and lake conditions. During the catamaran trip on Lake Pehoé, you will be able to enjoy panoramic views of the mountains and the impressive landscapes of the Torres del Paine National Park. The lake is known for its turquoise color and the natural beauty that surrounds it.
**Circuit Available from East to West and vice versa**
**Ask for special values for guided tours**
