KIRAN GOES PLACES
Destination Guide
Patagonia Travel Guide
Torres del Paine is why people come to this corner of Patagonia: granite towers, turquoise lakes and glaciers packed into one national park near the bottom of the world. The W Trek is how most people see it properly, four days walking hut to hut or camp to camp through French Valley, past Los Cuernos and up to the towers themselves.
Quick Facts
Recommended trip time
4-5 days for the W Trek, plus travel time to and from Puerto Natales
Popular Spots
Torres del Paine (W Trek), Puerto Natales
Best season
November to March, the Southern Hemisphere summer, for full trail access and the longest daylight.
Main Language
Spanish
Currency
Chilean peso (CLP)
Daily budget
$60-80 within Torres del Paine (independent/backpacker travel)
Watch: Patagonia
4 Days, 4 Seasons: Hiking the Full W Trek Circuit in Patagonia
10 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Booking the W Trek, Patagonia
All Patagonia Posts
30 January 2026
Forgetting Our Lunch and Still Making It to the Base of the Towers, Patagonia
A sleepy bus from Puerto Natales, a footbridge over glacial rapids, forgotten cheese sandwiches, and a cloudy first look at Las Torres.
1 February 2026
The Sunrise Most Hikers Skip, and the Longest Day of the W Trek, Patagonia
A 4:30am hike back up to Las Torres for sunrise, then 23km along a turquoise lake past Los Cuernos to Camping Frances.
3 February 2026
Four Seasons in One Day: Crossing the French Valley, Patagonia
A hanging glacier, an autumn forest that looks like a fairytale, two lookouts, and wind strong enough to whip a lake into tornadoes.
7 February 2026
The Day We Walked On Top Of and Inside a Glacier in Patagonia
A storm blew away tents overnight, then a hike along Lake Grey and an ice hike onto the Grey Glacier itself, crevasses and an ice cave included.
1 March 2026
4 Days, 4 Seasons: Hiking the Full W Trek Circuit in Patagonia
Granite towers at sunrise, a lake that never seems to end, the Cuernos up close, and a walk on the Grey Glacier. The full 4-day W Trek, start to finish.
13 February 2026
The W Trek in Patagonia, Without a Single Word
No talking, just the trail. Granite towers at golden hour, a turquoise glacial lake, lenga forest, and a walk onto the Grey Glacier itself.
17 February 2026
10 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Booking the W Trek, Patagonia
Flights, buses, catamarans and a campsite booking system split across two rival companies. What I had to figure out before the W Trek.
Common Questions
How long does the W Trek take?
Four days is the standard circuit: Las Torres on day one, the long 23km day past Los Cuernos to Camping Frances on day two, the French Valley on day three, and Grey Glacier, including an ice hike, on the final day.
When's the best time to hike the W Trek?
Seasonal flights into Puerto Natales, the gateway town, run roughly October to April, which is effectively the trekking season. Book campsites well ahead if you're going during high season, since they sell out.
Is the weather really that unpredictable on the W Trek?
Yes, genuinely. Torres del Paine is famous for throwing every kind of weather at you within a few hours, the local saying about four seasons in a single day holds up, especially crossing the exposed, notoriously windy ground near Lago Skottsberg.
How do campsite bookings work on the W Trek?
Campsites are split across two separate, rival companies, so you can't book the whole route through a single system. It's worth mapping your entire route before booking a single night, since availability across both companies affects which direction and pace actually work.
Can I do the ice hike on the Grey Glacier as an add on?
Yes, it's worth thinking about booking separately from the core trek. It involves crevasses and an ice cave, and comes after a hike along Lake Grey on the trek's final day.
How do I actually get to the start of the W Trek?
From Puerto Natales, if starting in the east, it's a bus to Laguna Amarga then a private, cash only shuttle to the welcome centre near Hotel Las Torres, where the trail begins. A catamaran is involved on other legs, worth booking online in advance.