🚨Limited availability. Book in advance to secure your spot.

  • Tour details
  • Itinerary
  • What to bring
  • FAQs
  • Reviews

Torres del Paine W Trek 6-Day Tour

The full version of the W circuit with overnight stay in the Grey Sector

11 reviews
  • two girls arriving at the base viewpoint torres
  • girl with her back to the lake
  • girl on her back on top of a rock in front of a lake
  • girl climbing the rock moraine
  • girl walking alone in torres del paine
  • lake grey viewpoint in torres del paine
  • viewpoint glacier grey
  • hiking on grey glacier ice
    Grey Glacier Ice Hike (⭐EXTRA)
  • Kayaking Grey Glacier
    Grey Glacier Kayay (⭐EXTRA)
  • camping central torres del paine
    Camping Central
  • refugio torre central torres del paine
    Refugio Central
  • refugio torre central torres del paine
    Refugio Central
  • refugio torre central torres del paine
    Refugio Central
  • refugio torre central torres del paine
    Refugio Central Dinner
  • refugio torre central torres del paine
    Refugio Central Breakfast
  • lunch box w trek
    Lunch Box
  • lunch box w trek
    Lunch Box
  • hotel las torres patagonia
    Hotel las Torres Patagonia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • hotel las torres patagonia
    Hotel las Torres Patagonia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • hotel las torres patagonia
    Hotel las Torres Patagonia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • hotel las torres patagonia
    Hotel las Torres Patagonia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • hotel las torres patagonia
    Hotel las Torres Patagonia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • hotel las torres patagonia
    Hotel las Torres Patagonia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • camping los cuernos torres del paine
    Los Cuernos Cabins
  • Refugio los Cuernos torres del paine
    Refugio los Cuernos
  • Refugio los Cuernos del paine
    Refugio los Cuernos
  • camping frances torres del paine
    Camping Frances
  • camping frances torres del paine
    Camping Frances
  • camping frances torres del paine
    Camping Frances
  • camping paine grande
    Camping Paine Grande
  • camping paine grande
    Camping Paine Grande
  • refugio paine grande
    Refugio Paine Grande
  • refugio paine grande
    Refugio Paine Grande
  • refugio paine grande
    Refugio Paine Grande
  • camping grey torres del paine
    Camping Grey
  • refugio grey vertice
    Refugio Grey
  • refugio grey vertice
    Refugio Grey
  • refugio grey vertice
    Refugio Grey
1 / 38
Puerto Natales
6 days
Spanish and English
Starts: From Puerto Natales Rodoviario bus station at 2:15 PM on DAY 1
Ends: At the Puerto Natales Rodoviario bus station at 9:30 PM on DAY 6
Free cancellation!
Briefing

The Torres del Paine W Trek 6-Day Tour is the most complete version of the W route. Unlike the classic 5-day trek, this tour includes an extra night of lodging in the Grey Sector. Thanks to this, you will have a full day to enjoy this area of the park, and if you are up for it, you can add one of the two activities (available as an extra) to your reservation: Kayaking or Ice Walking on the Grey Glacier. 

The W Trek is a 6-day self-guided tour that includes 5 nights of lodging in Torres del Paine National Park with full board and transfers from Puerto Natales. You will sleep two nights in the Central or Chilean Sector, one night in the French or Horns Sector (depending on availability), one night in the Paine Grande Sector, and one night in the Grey Sector.

The accommodations for the first 3 nights are assigned according to availability. You can also select the type of accommodation that best suits your needs: 5 nights in CAMPING, 5 nights in REFUGIO, or the combined option of 2 nights in HOTEL + 3 nights in REFUGIO.

Tour details

Included

  • Park access ticket
  • Transfer by bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine (round trip)
  • 5 nights lodging in CAMPING, REFUGIO or HOTEL + REFUGIO
  • Full board
  • Welcome Kit (towel + liner + refillable bottle + notebook + map)
  • Catamaran ticket Paine Grande - Pudeto

Not included

  • Lunch day 1
  • Dinner day 6
  • Beverages
  • Guide
  • Luggage porter

Important information

Lodging

  • CAMPING accommodation is private in double tents.
  • CAMPING Chileno accomodation has an additional cost.
  • Lodging in REFUGIO is shared in rooms with 4 to 6 beds.
  • Lodging at the HOTEL is in a private room. The option REFUGIO + HOTEL includes 2 nights at Hotel Las Torres Patagonia ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

Torres del Paine W Trek 6-Day Tour

🧭 Self-guided Trek

📆 September 30 - April 26

🗻 Moderate difficulty

Welcome kit W Torres del Paine W Trek 6-Day Tour

We know that when planning a 6-day trek many doubts may arise, that's why we have made a video that we will share with you together with your booking confirmation so that you can enjoy your adventure to the fullest. 

In addition, a few days before your arrival in Puerto Natales you will receive an email with instructions on how to pick up your welcome kit and answer any last-minute questions you may have.

informative briefing in puerto natales

DAY 1 Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine National Park

Lodging: Central Sector or Chilean Sector

2:15 PM

Access to Torres del Paine National Park

The first day of the 6-day W Torres del Paine Trek starts after lunch. You will have to go to the bus station in Puerto Natales, where you will take the bus to the park departing at 14:15. 

The bus will take you to the Laguna Amarga welcome center. There you will register as a visitor and enter the park.

welcome center torres del paine

Central Tower Lodge

Once inside the park, you will take a minibus to the Welcome Center, and from there you will walk to your lodging. If it is the Central Sector, you will arrive in a few minutes, if it is the Chilean Sector, the first walk will take about an hour.

Upon arrival, you will check in, and you will be given your dinner and breakfast schedules. Both are always served in the dining room of the lodge, even if you are staying at a camping site. You will be accommodated in the place where you will spend the first two nights.

Around 6:00 PM you will be settled in, and you can take the opportunity to take a short walk around the area or have a complimentary drink at the bar while enjoying the views.

💬

The tour includes the first two nights in the Central Sector or the Chilean Sector. The Chilean Sector is assigned when the Central Sector is full, especially if you are traveling in high season. The Chilean Sector only has Camping accomodaion and it has a supplement cost. In case you have the Chilean Sector assigned for the first night, you will have to take the 7:00 AM bus instead of the 2:15 PM bus.

sector central torres del paine

DAY 2 Torres del Paine Base Trekking

Difficulty: Medium - High

Distance: 13,67 mi. (22 km) from Central sector / 10,5 mi. (17 km) from Chilean sector

Total approximate time: 9:00 hours

Positive elevation gain: 3517,06 ft. (1.072m)

Lodging: Central Sector or Chilean Sector

Highlights: Base Torres Lookout Point

Breakfast at Refugio Central

Previously, at check-in, you will be assigned a time for breakfast between 7:30 - 8:30. At the end, you will pick up your lunch-box, which will be your lunch during the route. As you will return to sleep in the Central Sector, you will only have to carry in your backpack what you need for the day.

💬

The lunch box consists of specific foods for physical activity: nuts, cereal bars, fruit, a sandwich, and some sweets.

Breakfast at Central Sector

Torres del Paine Base Trekking

The route of the first day of the trek will be the iconic ascent to the Base Torres viewpoint. 13.67 mi (22 km) of trekking is divided into 3 parts: initial slope, descent, and final ascent. 

The hike will start flat for 1.24 mi (2 km). You will cross the Ascencio River Valley until you reach the first steep stretch. This will be followed by 1.86 mi (3 km) of trail until you reach the Paso de los Vientos.

wind pass

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 Chilean Sector. Then, suddenly, you will enter an entirely different ecosystem: the trail crosses a lenga forest and ends at the beginning of the third section. We recommend you take the opportunity to make a stop here and refill your water before facing the final stretch.

The trail becomes blurred in this section and for almost 1.24 mi (2 km) you will find your own path between large rocks. The slope is hard but the reward is even better: the viewpoint Base Torres del Paine.

moraine

Views of Torres del Paine

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 your accommodation, where you will have free time to rest, take a shower, have a drink at the bar, and have dinner.

💬

The Chilean sector is located 3.1 mi (5 km) away from the Central sector, so if you stay in the Chilean sector on night 1 or 2, your route will be shorter.

💙

Howlanders Tip

To avoid the large groups that arrive from Puerto Natales to do this route in one day, we advise you to start walking early and you will find the trail much quieter.

2 people at the base torres lookout

DAY 3 French Sector Trekking

Difficulty: Medium

Distance: 8 mi. (13.2 km) to Cuernos sector / 10,5 mi. (17 km) to French sector.

Total approximate time: 4:30 hours to Cuernos sector / 6:30 hours to French sector. 

Positive vertical drop: 1115,49 ft. (340 m.) up to Cuernos sector / 1706 ft. (520 m.) up to French sector. 

Lodging: French Sector or Cuernos Sector

✨ Highlights: Lake Nordenskjöld

Lake Nordenskjöld

After breakfast, the third day of the 6-day Torres del Paine W challenge begins. This will be the least demanding stage. It has very little elevation gain and the trail is in very good condition. During this day 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.

Lake Nordenskjöld

French Sector in Torres del Paine

Undoubtedly, this is the best day to enjoy the scenery without rushing. You will walk for 4:30 or 6:30 hours (depending on your accommodation). 

Both the French sector and Cuernos are sectors with the smallest and coziest refuges and campsites. Many travelers do not reach them because they are not accessible by boat or bus. Some travelers prefer to stay in the French sector to subtract some miles from the next day's route, while others prefer to enjoy the Cuernos Sector, our favorite sector because of the lodge's atmosphere (and let's be honest, it has the best cuisine 😉).

💬

Please note that if you stayed at Sector Chileno on night 2, you have to add 3.1 mi (5 km) to the route.

👇

The 6 day Torres del Paine W Trek tour includes the third night of lodging in the French Sector or Cuernos Sector depending on availability. If you prefer to stay in one of the two sectors, please let us know when you make your reservation and we will do our best to adapt your program.

dinning room of refuge cuernos in torres del paine

DAY 4 French Valley Trekking

Distance: 16,7 mi. (27 km) from Cuernos sector / 14 mi (23 km) from French sector.

Total approximate time: 10 hours from Cuernos Sector / 8 hours from French Sector. 

Positive elevation gain: 3215,22 ft. (980 m.) from Cuernos sector / 2624 ft. (800 m.) from French sector. 

Lodging: Paine Grande Sector

✨ Highlights: French Lookout + British Lookout.

*The indicated data are taken considering the complete route from Cuernos Sector to Británico viewpoint. If you do not climb to this viewpoint you will have to subtract 7 km and 250 m of elevation gain from the route.

Italian Camp - French Lookout

The penultimate day of the 6-day W Circuit is one of the most demanding if you want to visit the French and British viewpoints. You can also skip it and go directly to the Paine Grande sector, where you will stay that night. If you eliminate the viewpoints from the route, you subtract 8.1 mi (13 km) from the route and practically all the elevation gain.

The first section between Cuernos and French is a flat 2.49 mi (4km). It continues with a 0.87 mi (1.4 km) stretch to the intersection where the trail splits, one trail ascends to the French and British lookout and the other continues to Paine Grande. If you decide to visit the viewpoint, you will walk 0.62 mi (1 km) to the "Campamento Italiano". It 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 climb 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.

frences viewpoint

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 918 ft (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.

British Lookout

Skottsberg Lake

To finish the route on the fourth day of the trek, you will return by the same path and pick up the backpack from the "nursery". Afterwards, you will continue walking the remaining 5.6 mi (9 km) to the Paine Grande refuge with a slight negative slope that your legs will appreciate. You will also 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, the largest refuge in Torres del Paine and with a unique location in front of Lake Pehoé.

💬

Please note that if you stayed in the French Sector the night before, subtract 2.35 mi (3.8 km) from the route.

Skottsberg Lake

DAY 5 Grey Glacier Trekking

Difficulty: Medium-High

Distance: 6,8 mi. (11 km.)

Approximate time: 4-5 hours

Positive elevation gain: 2296,59 ft. (700 m.) 

Lodging: Grey Sector

Highlights: Grey glacier viewpoint and suspension bridges.

👆 To be taken into account

Unlike the classic W trek of 5 days, this complete version of 6 days divides the last stage of the route into two days. This will allow you to enjoy more calmly and at your own pace what is surely the most impressive sector of the park: the Grey Sector.

On day 5 you will trek from Sector Paine Grande to Sector Grey 6.83 mi (11 km), and on day 6 you will trek from Sector Grey to Sector Paine Grande 6.83 mi (11 km).

One more day, you will have breakfast in the common dining room of your lodging and the trek will begin💪.

paine grande sector

Paine Grande Sector → Lago Grey Viewpoint

The route will start bordering the Cerro Paine Grande and its hanging glaciers. You will have already seen them from the Paine Grande sector itself because of its more than 9840 ft (3000 m) of altitude.

The first stop will be the viewpoint of Grey Lake, where you can see many pieces of glacier floating from Glacier Grey. Take advantage of today's quieter day to rest and take pictures.

Grey Sector

The trail continues until you reach the Grey Sector, where you will spend the night and you will be able to see the Grey Glacier up close.

mirador lago grey

DAY 6 Paine Grande Trekking - Puerto Natales

Difficulty: Medium

Distance: 6,8 mi. (11 km.)

Approximate time: 4 hours

Lodging: not included (return to Puerto Natales)

🛶 Kayaking Glacier Grey (Optional activity)

💧 Ice walking (Optional activity)

Highlights: Glacier Grey

Grey Glacier: Kayaking or Ice Hike

The route of the last day of the tour will be one of the shortest and easiest of the circuit.

🙋‍♀️👇

Our recommendation: take the morning off and enjoy the Grey Glacier. You can do it walking quietly, resting on the terrace of the Grey Refuge, or enjoying one of the two activities that the 6-day W trek has available as an extra:

  • Grey Glacier Kayak (Duration 4 hours - Departure 8:00 AM)
  • Grey Glacier Ice Hike (Duration 5 hours - Departure 9:00 AM)

👉 These activities are not included in the tour price, if you want to do one of them you just have to select it as Extra during the booking process. It is not possible to do both activities on the same day due to lack of time.

grey glacier kayak

Paine Grande Trekking

Whether you have decided to rest or enjoy one of the two activities on the Grey Glacier, you will then begin the last trek of this 6-day trek: Trekking to the Paine Grande Sector from the Grey Sector.

Paine Grande 🚢 Pudeto 🚌 Puerto Natales

A very quiet route of 6.83 mi (11 km) and only 4 hours of duration. You will walk along the mountainside through forests of Antarctic beech (ñirre), coigües, and notros. Once in Paine Grande, you will go to the pier to take the catamaran that will take you to Pudeto (the catamaran ticket is included in the price of the tour). In Pudeto, you will board the bus that will take you back to Puerto Natales, where you will arrive at 9:30 .

🚨

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.

pehoe wharf in torres del paine

What to bring to Torres del Paine W Trek 6-Day 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
  • Intermediate layer: 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 Torres del Paine W Trek 6-Day 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 a private service with us.

Questions & Answers

Torres del Paine W Trek 6-Day Tour tour reviews with Howlanders

Loading...
from
Chat