W trek in Torres del Paine 3 days tour
The shortest and cheapest way to hike part of the W trek
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Briefing
The Torres del Paine W Circuit 3 Days includes all the necessary services to complete the route: transfers from Puerto Natales, entrance to the Park, full board accommodation and even a welcome kit.
You will cover part of the Torres del Paine W Trek tour (Patagonia), from the Central Sector to Paine Grande in only 3 days with this self-guided tour.
Lodging can be in camping (ready to use, with all the material) or in a shared room in refugio (mountain lodge). The first night you will stay in the Central Sector and the second night in the French Sector.
If your visit to Puerto Natales is short, this tour is what you need to get to know the Torres del Paine National Park and to do part of the famous W Circuit in only 3 days. With this short version of the W Circuit you will not be able to walk the entire route, so on the third day you will have to decide whether to go to the French and British viewpoints or to the first viewpoint of the Grey Glacier.
Tour details
Included
- Park access ticket
- Transfer by bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine (round trip).
- Catamaran ticket (Paine Grande - Pudeto)
- 1 night of lodging in Central Sector
- 1 night of lodging in Francés Sector
- Full board (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)
- Welcome Kit (towel + liner + refillable bottle + notebook + map)
Not included
- Lunch day 1
- Breakfast day 1
- Dinner day 3
- Beverages
- Guide (available as extra)
- Luggage porter (available as extra)
Important information
Lodging options:
Camping: includes all camping equipment: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent already set up. They are tents with capacity for 2 people and you will be assigned a tent just for you in case you are a single person.
Refugio: these are shared rooms with 4 or 6 beds and include sheets and blankets or sleeping bags, depending on the refugio.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation!
If you cancel at least 60 days before the start of the tour, you will receive a 100% refund of the amount paid. If you cancel between 59 and 45 days before the start of the tour, you will receive a 50% refund of the amount paid. After this time or in case of not doing the activity, no refund will be made and it will not be possible to modify the reservation.
Reservation modifications are subject to the cancellation policies indicated, applying the corresponding penalty in each case depending on how far in advance the cancellation is requested.
Tour itinerary
W Trek in 3 Days
Welcome W Trek in 3 Days
We know that a 3-day mountain route needs a good planning, that's why a briefing (explanation of the tour) is done in person or online.
In addition, a few days before your arrival in Puerto Natales you will receive an email with instructions to pick up your welcome kit (which includes tickets, map, metal bottle...) and solve any last minute doubts you may have.
DAY 1 Puerto Natales - Trekking Base Torres del Paine
Difficulty: High
Distance: 13,67 mi. (22 km)
Total approximate time: 9:00 hours
Positive elevation gain: 3517,06 ft. (1.072m)
Lodging: Central Sector
✨ Highlights: Base Torres Lookout Point
Access to Torres del Paine National Park
The first day of the 3-day W Torres del Paine trek starts early. You will have to go to the bus station in Puerto Natales, where you will take the bus to the park departing at 07:00 in the morning.
The bus will take you to the Laguna Amarga welcome center. There you will register as a visitor and enter the park.
Torres del Paine Base Trekking
Once inside the park, you will take a minibus to the Welcome Center, and from there you will start the Base Torres del Paine trekking.
The route of the first day will be the iconic ascent to the Base Torres viewpoint. 13.67 mi (22 km) of the route is divided into 3 parts: initial slope, descent, and final ascent.
The trail will start flat for 1.24 mi (2 km). You will cross the Ascencio Valley until you reach the first steep stretch. This will be followed by a 1.86 mi (3 km) of trail until you reach the Paso de los Vientos.
Lenga Forest - La Morrena - Base Torres Viewpoint
You will continue along a flat stretch of 2.48 mi (4 km.) that passes through the area of the Chileno Sector. You will enter an entirely different ecosystem when the trail crosses a lenga forest and ends at the beginning of the third section. We recommend you stop here and refill your water before facing the final stretch.
For almost 1.25 mi (2 km) you will find your own path between big rocks. The slope is hard but the reward is even better: you will reach the viewpoint Base Torres del Paine.
Torres del Paine Base Viewpoint
From this viewpoint you can enjoy views of the famous granite towers that give the national park its name and the Torres del Paine Lake.
Central Sector
After the break, you will start your way back along the same trail, until you reach the Central Sector, where you will have to check in at the reception of the refuge and you will be assigned your time for dinner and breakfast the next day. Afterward, you will have free time to rest, shower, have a drink at the bar, and have dinner.
DAY 2 Francés Sector Trekking
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 10,5 mi. (17 km)
Total approximate time: 6:30 hours.
Positive elevation gain: 1706 ft. (520 m.)
Lodging: Francés Sector
✨ Highlights: Lake Nordenskjöld
Breakfast Central Sector
If you are staying in CAMPING or REFUGIO, you will have breakfast at Refugio Central at the time assigned at check-in (between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM). At the end, you will pick up your lunch box.
After breakfast, you will start the second day's trek, one of the least demanding of the 3-day W circuit.
Lake Nordenskjöld
After breakfast, the second day of the express version of the Torres del Paine W trek begins. This will be the least demanding day. You will encounter very little elevation gain and the trail is in very good condition. You will walk along the Nordenskjöld Lake, cross a small river, and walk some stretches along the beaches that form next to the lake.
Almirante Nieto Mountain - Cuernos del Paine
During most of the day the background scenery will be Cerro Almirante Nieto and the Cuernos del Paine.
Francés Sector in Torres del Paine
When you arrive at the Francés Sector of Torres del Paine National Park, you will find yourself in one of the most welcoming refuges of the W route through Chilean Patagonia.
DAY 3 👆💬 To be noted
🔴OPTION 1: Trekking French & British Lookout Point
🔵OPTION 2: Trekking 1st Grey Glacier Viewpoint
The third and last day of the W Trek in 3 Days you will have to choose between one of the two treks proposed below. Being a reduced version of the W route, it is not possible to reach both viewpoints due to lack of time.
Leaving from the Francés Sector, OPTION 1 will be the French Valley Trek to the British Viewpoint. From here, you will start your way down to Paine Grande, where you will take the catamaran that will take you to Pudeto.
With OPTION 2, you will leave the Francés Sector, and passing through Paine Grande, you will reach the first viewpoint of the Grey Glacier. Then you will return to Paine Grande to take the catamaran.
⭐ If you want to do both treks and reach both viewpoints it is necessary to take a longer tour. Here you can see all the available options.
DAY 3 🔴 OPTION 1 Trekking French & British Lookout Point
Difficulty: Medium-High
Distance: 14 mi (23 km)
Total approximate time: 8 hours.
Positive elevation gain: 2624 ft. (800 m.)
✨ Highlights: French Lookout + British Lookout.
Italian Camp → British Lookout
After breakfast, the day begins with a gentle hike from the Francés Sector to the Italian Camp. From the Francés Sector, you will take a 0.87 mi (1.4 km.) trail that will take you to the intersection where the trail splits, one trail ascends to the French and British viewpoint and the other continues to Paine Grande.
You will take the ascent to the viewpoints, and walk 0.62 mi (1 km.) to the "Campamento Italiano". This camp is for the exclusive use of CONAF park rangers and offers a "nursery" service, where many travelers leave their large backpacks so as not to carry them during the hike up to the viewpoints.
From there, the hike to the French lookout begins, a 1.55 mi (2.5 km) walk with 984 ft (300 m) of elevation gain.
Torres del Paine British Lookout
When you reach the French viewpoint, you can continue to the British viewpoint. The route is 1.86 mi (3 km) long with 920 (280 m) of elevation gain. When you reach the viewpoint, you will find a rocky area where you can climb to take the best picture of the British viewpoint and enjoy the best views.
Skottsberg Lake
To finish the route of the fourth day of the circuit, you will return by the same path and pick up the backpack from the "nursery". Afterwards, you will continue walking the remaining 9 km to the Paine Grande refuge with a slight negative slope that your legs will appreciate. You will cross a sector that suffered a fire a few years ago where the tree trunks create a somewhat gloomy landscape.
Paine Grande Refuge
You will skirt part of the lake until you finally reach the Paine Grande Sector.
Paine Grande 🚢 Pudeto 🚌 Puerto Natales
Once in Paine Grande you will have to go to the pier to take the catamaran that will take you to Pudeto (the catamaran ticket is included in the tour price). In Pudeto, you will board the bus that will take you back to Puerto Natales, where you will arrive at 21:30.
🚨
It is important that you calculate your walking time well and that you arrive at the pier at least 20 minutes before the departure of the catamaran. The exact departure time will be confirmed at the briefing.
DAY 3 🔵 OPTION 2 Trekking 1st Mirador Grey
Difficulty: High
Distance: 19,57 mi. (31.5 km.)
Approximate total time: 8-10 hours.
Positive elevation gain: 885,82 ft. (270 m.)
✨ Highlights: 1st Mirador Grey
Francés Sector → Paine Grande Sector
After breakfast in the dining room of the Refugio Francés and picking up your lunch box, you will start the route along the Skottsberg Lake until you reach the Paine Grande Sector.
This first stretch will be calmer, as you will hardly find any slope. Upon arrival at the Paine Grande Refuge, the real challenge will begin: climbing up to the first Grey Glacier viewpoint.
1st Grey Viewpoint
You will skirt around Cerro Paine Grande, enjoying the spectacular hanging glaciers. You will walk among Nirres, Coigües and Notros. When you leave the grove, you will reach the end of your path: the first viewpoint over Grey Lake. From here you will be able to admire the magnitude of this glacier and see its ice floes floating on Lake Grey.
Take advantage of this idyllic location to enjoy your lunch box, and after the break, you will start your way back to Paine Grande.
Paine Grande 🚢 Pudeto 🚌 Puerto Natales
Once in Paine Grande, you will have to go to the pier to take the catamaran that will take you to Pudeto (the catamaran ticket is included in the tour price). In Pudeto, you will board the bus that will take you back to Puerto Natales, where you will arrive at 21:30.
🚨
It is important that you calculate your walking time well and that you arrive at the pier at least 20 minutes before the departure of the catamaran.
What to bring to W trek in Torres del Paine 3 days tour
- Passport
- PDI: Migratory card (foreign travelers not residing in Chile)
- Accommodation reservation ticket
- Hiking pants: thin or short.
- Long hiking pants for extra warmth
- First layer: thermal T-shirt
- Middle layer: polar fleece or similar
- Outer layer: waterproof jacket
- Warm jacket or fleece
- Cap or hat
- Mountain footwear (waterproof boots if possible)
- Resting slippers
- Sandals (for showers)
- Personal hygiene products
- Flashlight and battery (especially useful in campgrounds)
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Walking sticks
- Cash (USD or CLP)
- Medium trekking backpack (40 liters approx.)
- Small trekking backpack (15 liters) for use in the sections with return to the same sector.
- Long/short sleeve T-shirts
Where does the tour W trek in Torres del Paine 3 days tour start
The tour starts in the city of Puerto Natales. If you are traveling from Santiago de Chile the best option is to take a flight to Punta Arenas, and from there you can take a bus that in only 3:15 hours will take you to the bus station in Puerto Natales or hire a private transportation service with us.
If you are traveling from El Calafate (Argentina), there are buses that connect directly to Puerto Natales in a 5 hour trip or you can book with us the transfer from El Calafate to Puerto Natales or the direct transfer between El Calafate and Torres del Paine.
Questions & Answers
My dates are not available, is there an alternative?
Yes, Howlanders will do everything possible to help you to do this route, offering you different dates, itinerary modifications, etc... do not hesitate and contact us.
Can I do the 3-day W Circuit tour in the opposite direction?
Yes, it is possible to start in Paine Grande and the Grey Glacier area and finish in Base Torres, just contact us to request this modification.
What are the lodges in Torres del Paine National Park like?
The lodges are very well equipped, with large common areas to rest and have a drink. All of them have a large dining room that is also used by travelers staying at the campsite. They also have a bar where travelers meet to chat and have a drink. Finally, the showers in the refuges are better and do not have schedules, as the showers in the campsites have a schedule of use. We have created a post for you to get to know the different lodges in the park.
Do I have a private room in the lodges?
Normally all the rooms in the lodges are shared with approximately 6 people, have good beds, a reading light and a plug next to the bed. Although there are some private options in some sectors, such as the cabins in Sector Cuernos.How are the campsites in Torres del Paine National Park?
There are two types of camping depending on the sector. In some sectors they are tents mounted on wooden structures, in others, they are "glamping", a large tent raised off the ground, very similar to those used in safaris to install on top of the 4x4. In addition, all campsites have their own toilets and showers (with limited opening hours) and a common kitchen, which you will not have to use, as the tour includes all meals served in the dining room of the lodge. You can see the different types of camping in the pictures of the tour, also in the following link you can see the campsites in each sector.
Is lunch included and where do you eat at lunchtime?
Yes, the tour includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast and dinner are served at the lodge, even if you are staying at a campsite. A "lunchbox" is provided for lunch that you will pick up at breakfast time and that you will be able to enjoy along the tour.What food is included in the lunch box?
The lunch box consists of specific foods for physical activity: nuts, cereal bars, fruit, a sandwich, and some sweets.What documentation do I need to bring to access Torres del Paine National Park?
To access Torres del Paine National Park, you must present your valid passport, as well as the park entrance ticket and the documentation to reserve lodging in the different sectors, which will be given to you the day before at the Puerto Natales office, and if you are a foreign traveler not residing in Chile, you must present the immigration card that is given to you when you enter Chile at each lodging.Do I have to carry all my luggage to Torres del Paine?
No, from Howlanders we recommend you to take only what you need to do the trek for 6 days and leave the rest of the luggage in the luggage room of your accommodation in Puerto Natales.Do I have to carry my backpack for the entire tour?
During most of the route, you must carry your backpack, except in the 3 areas where you return by the same route: ascent to Torres base, ascent to British/French viewpoints, and ascent to Grey Glacier.Where do I leave my luggage in that case?
You can leave your luggage either in your accommodation or in the "nurseries", which despite not being guarded are considered safe because travelers are respectful and there are no security problems or theft. However, we recommend that you take your valuables with you.Can I do the W Circuit 3 days with a guide or porter?
Yes, if you want to walk the W circuit trails with a private professional mountain guide (exclusively for your group) or a porter to help you carry your backpack, just contact us.
Is the porter service only offered for 2 days?
Yes, since it is not necessary to include this service on day 1. On day 2 you will take your luggage from Central to Frances and on day 3 from Frances to Paine Grande, where you will take the catamaran out of the park.
What is a self-guided tour?
It is a route in which you do not have a guide and you will walk at your own pace. This self-guided tour is very easy to follow since the paths are very well indicated and a map is provided explaining both the route and the areas where it takes place.Where does the bus to Torres del Paine National Park leave from?
The bus leaves from Puerto Natales station, which is known as 'Terminal Rodoviario'. Puerto Natales is a small town, so you can walk there in less than 20 minutes or take a cab.Do I have to carry a lot of water?
No, just make sure you bring a refillable bottle, the one provided in the welcome kit, for example. Drinking water is available at the refuges and campsites and during the tour, you can refill your bottle directly from the rivers, as it is drinkable and cool 😊.Do I have to carry my camping equipment during the tour?
No, the tents are set up at the campsites, and upon arrival, you will be told which tent you have been assigned, which will already be set up and equipped with a mat and sleeping bag.
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