Torres del Paine W Trek Winter season

Puerto Natales

The Torres del Paine Winter Tour includes the first night of lodging in Puerto Natales so that you can start early the second day of the tour (Base Torres Trekking).

On the first day of the tour you will not do any guided trekking and you will be able to discover the city of Puerto Natales at your own pace.

Before starting the tour you will need to have a good planning of your route. During the day, your guide will give you a briefing (informative meeting) in which you will learn all the details of your itinerary. You will arrange the meeting time directly with the guide a few days before your arrival in Puerto Natales.

Puerto Natales to Portería Laguna Amarga

You will have an early breakfast at the hostel and pick up your lunch-box for half a day. Afterwards, a private transfer will pick you up and you will head to the park. Accompanied by your guide, you will enter Torres del Paine National Park through the main entrance - Laguna Amarga - and register as a visitor.

The private transport will take you to the Welcome Center, located just 5 minutes from the Central Refuge, from where you will start the trek.

Base Torres Trekking

From the Central Sector, and always accompanied by your guide, you will start the route ascending through the Ascencio Valley.

Following an immense field of giant rocks you will arrive at one of the most emblematic viewpoints: the Base Torres viewpoint. At an altitude of 900 m.a.s.l., you will have in front of you the 3 granite towers that give the park its name.

Here you will enjoy a well-deserved break to enjoy your lunch-box and recharge your batteries before heading back down. You will go down the same path until you reach the Welcome Center where the transport will be waiting to take you back to Puerto Natales.

💙 HOWLANDERS TIP

The landscapes of Torres del Paine change dramatically from winter to summer. The weather is more stable and with less chance of wind and rain this season is a favorite for photographers. By visiting Base Torres in winter you will have the privilege of seeing the frozen lagoon and it is more likely that the sky will be clear and you will have the imposing towers of Paine in sight at all times 📸

🎒 TO KEEP IN MIND

You will sleep the first two nights at Hostal Factoria in Puerto Natales. So the second day of the tour you can leave your luggage in the hostel room and make the trek comfortably carrying only a small backpack.

During the winter season in Torres del Paine temperatures are low and the trails leading to the viewpoint may be snowy. Remember to bring the appropriate equipment and clothing and always follow the guide's safety instructions.

Grey III Navigation

You will have breakfast at the hostel and pick up your lunch-box. The private transfer will pick you up and you will be on your way to the Grey Hotel.

*Thedeparture time of the sailing is subject to availability and will be indicated in the final confirmation of your reservation.

You will check-in to board the Grey III at least one hour before departure time. You will then take a short 30-45 minute walk from the hotel to the boarding area through Grey Beach and let the ship sail!

You will sail aboard a comfortable and modern boat that will take you to the Grey refuge. The trip takes about an hour. In front of you you will have icebergs floating in the gray water of Grey Lake, views of the Glacier, Cerro Paine Grande and the Paine Massif.

Upon arrival at the Grey sector you will check-in at the refuge and you can leave your luggage in your assigned room. The refuge rooms are shared and have bunk beds.

The third day of the tour does not include any guided route and is designed for you to quietly enjoy the navigation and the incredible landscapes that the Grey sector offers in winter.

However, from Howlanders 💙 we encourage you to make your experience even more complete by taking a short hike to discover the surroundings of the Refuge. The guide will not accompany you on this hike.

Starting from the Grey Hut and following the signs you will easily reach the famous hanging bridges of the Grey Glacier. For us, the best viewpoint of the Grey Glacier. You will return to the Refuge by the same way. You will need about 3-4 hours to complete this route.

Grey Refuge

Enjoy breakfast in the dining room of Refugio Grey in front of a unique view of Torres del Paine in winter and do not forget to ask for your box lunch at the end.

Load your backpack, and be very attentive to the indications of the guide, who begins the guided route to the Paine Grande sector. A few minutes after starting to walk you will find the Southern Ice Fields and ice floes floating on the Grey Lake.

Paine Grande Refuge

The hike will ascend through a mountainous forest until you reach the Grey Glacier viewpoint. At this point of the trail you could face extreme wind conditions even in winter. Remember to always follow the guide's safety instructions. You will follow the trail until you reach Laguna Los Patos, from where you will begin the descent through a narrow and windy valley that will take you directly to the Paine Grande refuge. A well-deserved rest!

Paine Grande Refuge

The fifth day's route will be round trip, starting and ending at the Paine Grande refuge. You will have breakfast in the common dining room of the refuge, and after picking up your lunch-box, the adventure will begin.

Valle Frances Trekking

You will leave the Paine Grande refuge in the company of your guide and bordering the Skottsberg lake you will arrive at the Italian camp after about 2.5 hours of walking. From the Italian camp you will start the route through the French Valley.

A steep trail will take you first to the French lookout point. From there, you will have an incredible view of the Cuernos del Paine dyed in white. With this scenery in the background, you will enjoy your box lunch and a well-deserved rest. You will descend along the same trail to the Italian camp and from there you will follow the path to the Paine Grande refuge.

🎒 TO KEEP IN MIND

You will sleep the fourth and fifth night at Refugio Paine Grande. So on the fifth day of the tour you can also leave your luggage in the refuge room and make the trek comfortably carrying only a small backpack.

Carretas Trail from Paine Grande

You will enjoy the last breakfast in front of the winter landscapes of Torres del Paine in the dining room of Refugio Paine Grande and you will pick up your lunch-box at the end.

You will also pick up all your luggage, and after carrying your backpack you will start the last guided route of the Torres del Paine Winter Tour to the Las Carretas trail. Enjoy a unique route very little traveled by travelers who embark on the W circuit. You will also have the privilege of walking it in winter with the snow-capped mountains in the background.

Return to Puerto Natales

The Carretas Trail ends in the administration sector, where a private transfer will be waiting to take you back to Puerto Natales. After a trip of approximately one and a half hours by road you will arrive back to the city, ending this winter adventure in Torres del Paine.