The Original Torres del Paine W Trek

Day 1: Roundtrip Hike to Las Torres Lookout Point

Starting from Puerto Natales at 7:00 AM, we drive all the way to Torres del Paine National Park. We will drive through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias), and chances are we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the nandu (rare South American ostrich). We will follow an unpaved road heading to Refugio Las Torres to spend our first night.

Upon entering the park we will have excellent photographic and birding opportunities as we drive alongside lagoons frequented by Chilean flamencos and black-necked swans. Leaving our backpacks at the Refugio, we start the trek to the base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter the Ascencio Valley. The walk will be uphill for one hour before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech forests, glaciers and waterfalls. We'll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (900 M), again great for picture taking. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch to add to the enjoyment.

After being awed by the towers we'll start the descent, following the same path back to the hut. Dinner will be served in the Refugio.

Transfer: 2 hour private transfer

Length of hike: 8-10 hours, 18 km

Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Night at Refugio Torres Central or supported camping (tent set up with sleeping bag and mat provided)

Day 2: One Way Hike to Los Cuernos Lookout Point

We will start early morning to enjoy, weather permitting, a magnificent dawn filled with orange-pink colors. As we leave the campground we will arrive at Inge lagoon. Chances are, on this path, we may see the flight of an Andean condor or eagles hunting hares or small rodents. We follow a well mark trail ascending around (200 M) from the base of Almirante Nieto Mountain (2750 M), crossing the Bader River to arrive at Refugio Los Cuernos where we will stay overnight.

Length of hike:  6 hours, 12.5 km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Night at Refugio Los Cuernos or supported camping (tent set up with sleeping bag and mat provided)

Day 3: One Way Hike to Pehoe Lake, via The French Valley

We will start our day with a 2-hour walk going to an undulating path until reaching the French River for our first glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend (300 M) for one hour through a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach the French valley viewpoint gifting us with a magnificent view of both mountains and lakes. We will lunch here with good possibilities of seeing avalanches from the hanging glacier or simply observe the west side of the Cuernos (2600 M), Espada (2400 M) and Fortaleza (2800 M).

Our way back will be the same until we reach the entrance of the valley where we will continue on a different path around the South-West side of Paine Grande, the highest peak in the Park, through native forests of Chilean fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the shore of the Pehoe Lake.

Length of hike: 8-9 hours, 18 km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Night at Refugio Paine Grande or supported camping (tent set up with sleeping bag and mat provided)

Day 4:  One Way Hike to Glacier Grey - Optional Ice Hike or Kayak

We will begin early morning with our hike to the Grey Glacier. Initially ascending 200m up a winding narrow path leading us to Laguna Negra, a place where we will observe the first glimpses of the South Patagonia Ice Field with its many unclimbed mountains.

We will advance through forests and rivers, with possible sightings of spectacle and flying steamer ducks, up to the glacier viewpoint. We will have lunch at this place to see, if we are lucky enough, ice calving from the huge glacier wall. At this stage optional ice hikes or kayaks can be enjoyed - extraordinary ways to see the glacier. These must be booked in advance, please contact our Travel Specialists.

Length of hike: 4 hours, 11 km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Night at Refugio Grey or supported camping (tent set up with sleeping bag and mat provided)

Day 5: Navigation in front of Glacier - Transfer back to Natales 

Spend the morning in a leisurely fashion. Hike above the Glacier, down to the lake, or simply relax on the refugio terrace. 

Straight after lunch we set out on an exciting adventure by boat. We will navigate for a while in front of the glacier in the hope of seeing icebergs calve. Our return journey offers views of Paine Grande with its impressive ice mushrooms and we sail through icebergs of different tones of blue. We will then take a transfer back to Puerto Natales.

Transfer: 2 hours by boat on Lake Grey

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch