The W Trek in Torres Del Paine
The W Trek is Torres del Paine most famous hiking route, which can be walked in a variety of ways, from a multi-day trek to a series of day hikes.
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Why go to Torres del Paine in winter?
- Experience a whole new side of Torres del Paine, as the park empties of summer visitors and dons its beautiful winter coat of snow
- Hike the W Trek with barely another soul on the trail, taking your time to enjoy the snowscapes
- Wrap up to go horse riding, mountain biking and even kayaking, all of which remain on offer in some areas of the national park
- Look for pumas descending into the valleys to look for food and are more easily spotted against a white backdrop
- Winter is perfect for travellers with a flexible mindset, as daily itineraries can change quickly because of the weather
Hiking to Lake Pehoé in winter
Hiking in the snows of Torres del Paine
Winter kayaking on Lago Grey
Horse riding to the Paine Massif in winter
Sunrise over the Paine Massif from Refugio Paine Grande
Glacier Grey in winter
Lake Pehoé in the snow
What to do in Torres del Paine in winter
Hiking
The W Trek remains open throughout the winter, offering the opportunity to hike some of Torres del Paine’s most iconic trails with barely another hiker about (though you’ll need to be accompanied by a guide).
The Base of the Towers, French Valley and Grey Peninsula routes are all open, but the refugios between them are not, so some days will start with a transfer from your hotel to the trailhead. As well as being prepared for hiking in the snow, this also means that you’ll need to be fit enough to walk comparatively longer distances during the shorter daylight hours.
The O Circuit and more off the beaten track routes are closed throughout the winter.
Winter hike to the Towers
Adventure activities
Mountain biking in winter
Horse riding, kayaking and mountain biking are all of offer in Torres del Paine in winter in certain areas of the park.
Horse riding Follow the Serrano River to reach the Tyndall Glacier lookout point where your horse can rest as you take in views of the Southern Ice Cap stretching into the distance.
Kayaking Paddle Lago Grey to floating icebergs so close you can run your fingers over their surface, and follow the twisting Grey River to stunning views of the Paine Massif.
Mountain biking Take a fat bike to Laguna Amarga, past the dazzling Blue Lagoon and Cascada Paine waterfall, accompanied only by he crunch of snow under your tyres and the calls of waterbirds.
Swoop says
After a while on the French Valley hike, I stopped looking out for other hikers. There simply weren't any – it felt like Torres del Paine had been turned into our own private winter reserve.
Lauren Valenzuela Patagonia Sales Consultant
Puma watching
Torres del Paine has the highest number of pumas in the world, making it a sought-after destination for puma tracking.
While you can see pumas all year round, particularly in the more sparsely visited eastern sector of the park, winter can be an excellent time to see them. They descend from the mountains in search of food, appearing along hiking trails they would normally avoid in summer due to the presence of people.
Their beautiful golden colours stand out against the white snow in winter, and their tracks leave constant reminders of their activity.
Puma watching in winter
Swoop says
While the winter weather can be as unpredictable as any other season in this part of the world, and you’ll need to be prepared to be flexible with your itinerary, Patagonia’s famous winds are almost completely absent during winter. On a crisp blue sky day, the winter snows look absolutely magical.
Customer Tips
“ There are very few Trekkers out in the winter so if you’re planning on going but not a confident camper/trekker then definitely book in a guide with Swoop. ”
Morwenna Customer
“ We were very lucky with weather, but I probably didn't understand the extent how weather conditions could impact this trek so much. So tip would be, be prepared for anything! ”
Sarah Customer
Where to stay in Torres del Paine in winter
Many hotels and refugios close during the winter in Torres del Paine, so there is a reduced choice of place to stay. On the other hand, reduced demand means that you won’t find the room availability problems faced by summer visitors.
The central location of Hotel Lago Grey makes it a good choice as a base for the winter W Trek. The luxury Explora Torres del Paine is a little further south and offers one-of-a-kind views of the entire Paine Massif in all its frozen grandeur. Estancia Cerro Guido offers extraordinary wilderness – both it at Explora have great dedicated winter programmes.
Of the Torres del Paine refugios, only Paine Grande and Refugio Grey are open in winter.
Explora Torres del Paine in winter
What our customers think of Torres del Paine in winter
Hiking up the Torres in a driving snow was pretty awesome; on top of the fact that the winter weather limited the number of people on the trail, we only saw one other hiker.
Travelled: July 2017
Philip - Virginia, US
Patagonia was amazing! We were wary of visiting in the middle of winter, but we are so glad that we avoided the crowds and could enjoy the peacefulness of the area.
Travelled: August 2016
Stuart & Sandra -
The trek was unbelievable!!! The best hike I've done. We had a world class guide who was very informative and took care to make sure everyone was OK and spent time to really answer people’s questions.
Travelled: November 2015
Sarah -
I loved my time in the park! The itinerary was great, Swoop was great, thanks again for helping me have such an amazing experience in Patagonia.
Travelled: July 2013
Thomas -
Review:
Winter in Torres del Paine: FAQs
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Can I still hike in winter?
Yes, though you will have to be accompanied by a guide for safety.
The W Trek trails are passable in winter, although more of a challenge to hike because of the snow. As not all the refugios are open, you'll be doing the W Trek as day hikes, and some days will start with a transfer to the trailhead. This means you'll be walking faster days than in summer due to the shorter daylight hours, so you'll need to be fit.
Flexibility is key, as unexpected weather conditions can lead to changes to your itinerary.
The Full Circuit and other off-the-beaten-track trails aren't used in winter, and there is no service in the refugios in these more remote areas.
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What about other adventure sports?
You can still kayak, horseback ride and mountain bike your way around a snowy Torres del Paine, but excursions are limited. There are no multi-day trips, but half and full day trips are available in certain areas of the park.
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Is accommodation still open?
Only a few of the hotels and lodges remain open in winter season, as most places close for the season. A number of hotels and lodges remain open.Those refugios that remain open offer reduced services. Beds and showers will be available, but heating cannot always be guaranteed.
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What about solo travellers?
Most of our trips run with a minimum of two travellers, so if you are travelling on your own we will do our best to align your travel dates with other confirmed groups that you can join. Flexibility in your travel dates will increase your chances of finding a trip, and you may need to wait a little longer to secure your space in order to allow time for more groups to confirm their departures.
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Is travelling to and from Torres del Paine harder in winter?
Transfers from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine still run in winter. Some services in the national park are reduced however, such as the Lago Grey catamaran which only runs a couple of times a week.
Transport links between Puerto Natales and El Calafate in Argentina (for Los Glaciares National Park) are reduced compared to summer, and buses do not run every day. Our specialists will be able to advise the best way to get between the two parks.
Explore more of Torres del Paine
The O Circuit Trek
The O Circuit is a great trek for experienced hikers, spending over a week to explore both Torres del Paine’s most popular sights and its quieter trails.
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Luxury hotels & lodges in Torres del Paine
For those seeking to explore Torres del Paine in true style, luxury hotels and lodges offer a taste of refinement in the wilderness.
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Hiking in Torres del Paine
World class hiking and trekking awaits in Torres del Paine National Park. From the iconic W Trek to the park’s most hidden corners, each valley, peak and pass is a treasure.
Discover MoreSwoop. Your adventure story.
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