The W-Trek: ultimate guide to Patagonia’s most iconic multi-day hike

19 May 2025

At the distant edge of the world, deep in the windswept wilderness of Patagonia, a trail weaves past turquoise lakes, ancient glaciers, and towering granite spires, parading through some of the most rugged and breathtaking landscapes on the planet. The W-Trek is Torres del Paine’s most iconic hike, five days of wild beauty that has a way of pulling even non-hikers into the mountains to experience the raw soul of Patagonia firsthand.

The W-Trek was actually the first overnight backpacking trip I ever did as an adult (back in December 2014) and, in many ways, it’s the trail most responsible for igniting my love of long-distance hiking! I’ve since returned to Torres del Paine on three occasions, hiking the full O-Circuit through the park and even hosting a group hiking trip on the W in March 2023 (where I met my fiancé!)— even all these years & backcountry alpine trips later, I’m still totally in awe of the raw beauty around every bend in this trail.

In this post, you’ll find everything you need to hike the W-Trek independently: a full 5-day itinerary, campsite bookings, transport logistics, packing tips, and real-world trail advice based on A LOT of personal experience on this route.

🏔️ Read my W-Trek packing list & check out my custom Torres del Paine GPS map for route navigation!

What's in this guide

Floating ice around Glacier Grey in the west of torres del Paine

About Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Named for its iconic towers (Torres) and the striking blues of its rivers, lakes, and glaciers (Paine means “blue” in indigenous Tehuelche), Torres del Paine National Park is Chilean Patagonia’s crown jewel, a place where serrated granite peaks rise from rolling pampa, glaciers calve into electric-blue lakes, and the wind can knock you sideways without warning.

Spanning nearly 2,000 square kilometres, the park is part of the greater Southern Patagonian Ice Field, one of the largest non-polar ice masses in the world, and home to some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the planet. The absolute best way to experience Chilean Patagonia is by hiking through Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, and of all the routes that crisscross this wild terrain, none is more iconic than the W-Trek.

W-Trek (Purple) compared to the O-Circuit (green)

About the W-Trek

This iconic 5-day route traces a “W” through the southern reaches of Torres del Paine (shown in purple on the map above), linking up its most jaw-dropping highlights into a single route: Glacier Grey, the hanging glaciers of the French Valley, and the soaring granite spires of Las Torres. It’s not just the most famous hike in Chile, it’s one of the BEST multi-day treks anywhere in the world!

With well-marked trails and a mix of refugios and campsites, the W is accessible to nearly anyone with a sense of adventure— but don’t let the creature comforts fool you. Between the long days, unpredictable weather, and the weight of a full pack (if you’re carrying your own gear), the W-Trek still packs a proper challenge and you’ll earn every single jaw-dropping view on this epic 80km trail.

Duration: 5 days
Total distance: 83km
Total elevation gain: 3,480m
Difficulty: moderate (no technical terrain, but heavy packs & wild weather make it a proper challenge)

Like the sound of a longer 8-day trek? Check out my O-Circuit Trail Guide for the full loop around Torres del Paine!

Beautiful autumn colours on day 3 of the W-Trek near Cuernos

Planning your W-Trek adventure

When to hike the W

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine is open year-round and (unlike the O-Circuit), the W-Trek can be hiked in both the main season (November to March) and shoulder months (September, October, April), depending on campsite availability.

Conditions are still most favourable during the Southern Hemisphere summer, when trails are fully operational and weather is slightly more predictable, but every month offers something special:

October – early November: early-season hiking with fewer crowds, cooler temps, and lingering snow in some areas; a few Refugios may open (e.g. Chileno, Central), but services are limited, so check with operators and be ready for basic conditions
Mid-November – February: peak season with long daylight hours, stable trail conditions, and all Refugios open; expect high winds, busy trails, and campsites that book out months in advance, but mostly clear skies and the lowest chance of precipitation
March: my absolute favourite time in Patagonia, with golden landscapes, fewer hikers, and colder temps, but still fairly stable weather; this is the sweet spot between the main season and the shoulder season!

Pay for your Park entry in advance on the CONAF website

Park entry for Torres del Paine

Although there are no “permits” required for the W-Trek, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee for Torres del Paine National Park online in advance. As of 2025, park entry costs 46,200CLP ($49USD) for adult foreigners spending more than 3 days in the park.

When you’re paying online, this is the option you want -> EXTRANJERO: MÁS DE 3 DÍAS / ADULTO +18 AÑOS, PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDAD Y ADULTO MAYOR)

Adult foreigner ticket for 3+ days in the park

Supported vs unsupported hiking on the W-Trek

There are a few different ways to hike the W-Trek, depending on how much comfort you want, how much weight you’re willing to carry, and what gear you have with you in Patagonia. I’ll describe all the camping and catering options in more detail in the following sections, but here are your main options:

UNSUPPORTED (carrying camping gear + stove/food): the cheapest and most self-sufficient approach, but also the heaviest; you’ll need to carry all your gear and food for 5 days, so a solid backpacking setup and good fitness are essential! ~$200-300 per person.
SEMI-SUPPORTED (fully-equipped tent + carrying stove/food): hike without any camping gear by booking a tent that’s already set up at each campsite, but save a bit of money by still cooking your own food. ~$400-900 per person.
SUPPORTED (fully-equipped tent/dorm + full board in Refugios): the most expensive and least rugged option, staying inside shared bunk rooms or fully-equipped tents and eating all meals in the huts; you’ll still do all the hiking, but you can just carry a lightweight daypack. ~$800-1300 per person.

This guide is written specifically for adventurous, self-supported trekkers carrying all their own gear and camping for 5 days, but the tips throughout apply regardless of your chosen style of adventure! I’ve done both the W-Trek and O-Circuit completely unsupported, but on the group hiking trip that I hosted in 2023, we carried all of our own gear and opted for full-board in the huts to keep mealtime simpler for 12 people, so I have experience with both types of trips.

hosting a group hiking trip on the W in 2023!

Reservations for the W-Trek

When I first hiked through Torres del Paine in December 2014, I showed up with zero reservations and no advanced planning, but things were very different by the time I returned in 2023 to do the W-Trek again… Camping and refugios along the route are now managed by two private companies, and you’ll need to make separate reservations through their websites several months in advance to secure accommodation for each night of the trek.

Las Torres Patagonia (formerly Fantástico Sur) manages campsites at:
- Central
- Serón
- Francés (alternate option for night 3)
- Cuernos (night 3)
- Chileno (night 4)
Vértice Patagonia manages campsites at:
- Dickson
- Los Perros
- Grey (night 1)
- Paine Grande (night 2)

Campsites don’t always open for booking at the same time each year (usually sometime between June and September for the following season), so set a calendar reminder and check frequently. The most in-demand camps (Chileno and Cuernos) tend to sell out first, and particularly during the high season (Dec/Jan), you need to be SNAPPY if you want to book your first-choice dates for the entire W-Trek.

Camping at Cuernos on Night 3 of the W-Trek

Camping on the W-Trek

Camping options along the W-Trek range from basic tent platforms (carry your own tent, sleeping bag, and mat) to semi- or fully-equipped camping (where you can rent some or all of the necessary camping gear directly from each campsite). I’ve summarised current prices for the 2025-2026 season in the table below to give you an idea of how these options compare in price for this exact 5-day itinerary.

$126 per person (average: $32 per night) if you’re sharing a tent
$206 if you’re camping alone (average: $52 per night)
~2.5x higher if you want to rent a tent + sleeping mat (still carrying your own sleeping bag)
~4x higher if you are renting ALL camping gear (a tent + sleeping bag + sleeping mat)

Half/full-board on the W-Trek

All of the campsites along this route also offering catering options for breakfast, lunch (take-away box), and dinner for an additional cost. These too must be reserved in advance at the time of booking your accommodation. I ate a few meals in the refugios when hosting my group hiking trip in 2023 and can attest that the food is typically delicious, although extremely expensive!

To give you an idea of budget, half-board (breakfast & dinner) = $313 for all 4 nights of the W-Trek, while full-board = $455 (breakfast, lunch, dinner). In contrast, you can pack your own freeze-dried backpacker food for ~$50 for the entire circuit, which is what I’d recommend for experienced hikers who are able to carry a full pack.

Meal options at Las Torres campsites (Cuernos, Chileno):
- Full board (breakfast, box lunch, dinner): $130
- Half board (breakfast, dinner): $90
- Breakfast only: $35
- Dinner only: $65
Meal options at Vértice campsites (Grey, Paine Grande):
- Full board (breakfast, box lunch, dinner): $95-100
- Half board (breakfast, dinner): $65-68
- Breakfast only: $29-30
- Dinner only: $46-48

Essential resources & maps

Thanks to the popularity of the W-Trek, the entire route is well-marked and easy to follow. Still, a map and a GPS track are super useful to monitor your progress and stay motivated!

Map of Parque Nacional Torres del Paine: the National Forestry Corporation in Chile (CONAF) publishes a great map of the park, clearly showing the entire W-Trek and providing distance estimates between locations. Although it’s not super helpful for on-trail navigation, it’s an excellent resource for planning and visualising the route before setting off.
I built a complete GPS map for the O-Circuit (which also works for the W-Trek!), with precise daily tracks based on each day of hiking through Torres del Paine. Download the JSON or GPX file for offline use on the trail using your smartphone & CalTopo (by far the best GPS app at just $20/yr).

Start the W-Trek by Taking the catamaran acorss Lago Pehoé

Getting to & from the trailhead

Getting to Puerto Natales

To hike the W-Trek, your first step is getting to Puerto Natales, a charming and well-equipped town in southern Chile that serves as the main hub for Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. Most travellers fly into Santiago and then connect via a domestic flight to Puerto Natales (or alternatively to Punta Arenas, followed by a 3-hour bus).

Puerto Natales is perfectly set up for trekkers, with excellent hostels, gear rental shops, supermarkets, breweries, and frequent buses into the park. It’s the ideal place to stock up, plan logistics, or just relax before heading into the wild!

✨ Read my guide to Puerto Natales, Chile

Where to stay in Puerto Natales

I’d recommend spending at least a couple of nights in Puerto Natales before and/or after the W-Trek. Not only is it a great place to recover from 5 days of hiking, but it’s also a springboard for more adventures in Chilean Patagonia— kayaking through fjords, white-water rafting, scenic drives into Torres del Paine, and rock climbing, just to name a few!

My top pick for accommodation is Wild Hostel. I’ve stayed here on several occasions in a private room and love the cozy vibe, delicious food, and relaxed atmosphere; it’s well located, walking distance to great restaurants and gear shops, and makes an awesome base for both pre/post-hike downtime!

Getting to the trailhead at Pudeto/Paine Grande

To begin the W-Trek from Paine Grande (west to east), you’ll need to catch a bus from Puerto Natales to Pudeto and then take the catamaran across Lago Pehoé to the trailhead:

Buses depart Puerto Natales at 7am and arrive to Pudeto at 10am; tickets cost 14,000CLP ($15USD) and can be booked in advance through Bus Sur, Buses Gómez, or Buses Base Torres
From Pudeto, hop on the Lago Pehoé catamaran to Refugio Paine Grande— the ferry takes 30min and departs at 8.30am & 10.30am
It’s not possible to reserve the ferry in advance, so arrive early during the busy season to line up; the catamaran costs 35,000 CLP ($37USD), payable IN CASH
Take your first steps on the W-Trek from Paine Grande towards Glacier Grey!

the W-Trek ends at Central/Hotel Las Torres

Getting from Central back to Puerto Natales

From the end of the W-Trek at Central/Hotel Las Torres, catch a shuttle to the park entrance at Laguna Amarga + then a bus back to Puerto Natales, available each afternoon (buses typically depart Laguna Amarga round 3pm).

the finale: Las Torres at sunrise on Day 5 of the W-Trek!

*5-day W-Trek itinerary

Covering 83km and nearly 3,500m of cumulative elevation gain through Torres del Paine’s southern reaches, this recommended west to east itinerary gives you maximum scenery, perfect overnight stops, and time to enjoy every highlight along the way. Starting at Paine Grande and ending at Central (below Las Torres), here’s exactly how the W-Trek unfolds, day by day:

Day 1: Paine Grande to Grey + suspension bridges (6.5hrs; 20.5km; +980m)
Day 2: Grey to Paine Grande (3hrs; 13.5km; +460m)
Day 3: Paine Grande to Cuernos via Mirador Británico (9hrs; 23.5km; +1070m)
Day 4: Cuernos to Chileno (5.5hrs; 12.5km; +670m)
Day 5: Chileno to Central via Mirador Las Torres (5hrs; 13km; +660m)

hiking towards Refugio Grey in the shadow of Paine Grande

Day 1: Paine Grande to Grey + suspension bridges

Trail time: 6.5hrs (3.5hrs without suspension bridges)
Distance: 20.5km (10.5km without the suspension bridges)
Elevation gain: +980m, -950m (+400m, -370m without the suspension bridges)

After catching a bus to Pudeto and the catamaran across Lago Pehoé (see info about getting to the trailhead above), the W-Trek officially begins with an easy day from Refugio Paine Grande to Refugio Grey. It should only take a little over 3hrs to cover the 10.5km to Grey, ascending gradually along the shores of Lago Grey towards a high point approximately halfway (+280m) and then undulating pleasantly for the remaining distance to the refugio.

Once at Grey, drop your backpack, set up camp, and then continue north to the 3 extension bridges overlooking the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. These bridges are one of the highlights of the longer O-Circuit through the park and, with plenty of time up your sleeve after today’s short hike, you should be able to visit at least one (but better yet, all 3). The views only get more incredible as you go and it’s approximately 30min between each bridge:

Refugio Grey to the lower suspension bridge: 2km, +150m
lower to middle suspension bridge: 1.5km, +150m
middle to upper suspension bridge: 1.7km, +170m

upper Suspension bridge over Glacier Grey

lower suspension bridge (closest to Refugio Grey)

⛺️ Night 1: Rifugio Grey

Rifugio Grey is located right along Glacier Grey, the largest glacier in the park and almost certainly the most impressive ice field you’v ever seen. There are showers, an indoor cooking area for backpackers, and a bar area that serves draught beer, basic cocktails, and some hot food a la carte— even if you’re preparing your own food on the trail, this can be a fun place to socialise and grab a cold drink after your first day!

Miradores (viewpoints) near Refugio Grey

Day 2: Grey to Paine Grande

Trail time: 3hrs
Distance: 13.5km
Elevation gain: +460m, -490m

Today’s hike is incredible short, which means ample time to visit the miradores (viewpoints) that overlook Glacier Grey, about 10min from camp— enjoy at least an hour here before hiking onwards, as there’s truly no hurry!

Once on the trail, look back at receding views of Glacier Grey as you ascend gradually alongside the dramatic silhouette of Paine Grande, retracing the same route you followed on Day 1 to reach Refugio Grey. After about 1.5hrs, the trail begins dropping all the way to Paine Grande.

🥾 4-DAY W-TREK ITINERARY

Although it’s possible to condense this itinerary into 4 days/3 nights by combining Day 1 & 2 (hiking from Paine Grande to Grey and back to Paine Grande in a day, skipping the suspension bridges), the weather in Torres del Paine is SO unpredictable that it’s better to leave a little extra space in your itinerary with the 5-day itinerary described here. The suspension bridges (part of the O-Circuit that I’ve included here) are also SUPER worth the extension and offer the best views of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field on the entire trek!

If you do combine day 1 & 2, your new stats from Paine Grande To Grey and back are 24km with 860m of gain and loss. Including time to explore the miradores around Glacier Grey (but excluding the suspension bridges), this should take ~7-8hrs, which can be tight (but overall doable) if you get off the ferry at Refugio Paine Grande at 11am.

⛺️ Night 2: Refugio Paine Grande

Paine Grande is by far the largest refugio on the entire circuit, housing several hundred tents and providing extensive indoor lodging for hikers and over-nighters. Dinner is served buffet-style across multiple seatings to accommodate all the guests, but it still manages to be a hectic affair (thankfully the food is VERY good). There are heaps of showers with hot water, a large indoor cooking area, and the most spacious bar on the trek (upstairs from the main dining), which serves draught beer, basic cocktails, pizza, and burgers. There’s a bit of a party vibe here, so come prepared for noise and lots of backpackers!

Day 3: Paine Grande to Cuernos via Mirador Británico

Trail time: 9hrs
Distance: 23.5km
Elevation gain: +1070, -1030m

Possibly the most varied day on the entire trek, I loved watching the scenery transition from the misty shores of Lago Pehoé, to the dramatic glaciers of Valle Francés, to the rocky beach of Lago Nordenskjöld, and finally the beautiful lenga forests beneath Los Cuernos!

Begin by ascending gradually along Lago Skottsberg (gaining just 250m over 7.5km) from Paine Grande to Guardería Italiano, a ranger station and now-defunct campsite at the base of Valle Francés. Detours into this scenic valley form the centre of the “W”, and it’s absolutely worth heading up to at least one of the two miradores!

The best view is from Mirador Británico (~5km, +700m from the junction), offering incredible views of the rocky cirque and its many glaciers.
For those short on time or energy, Mirador Francés is a shorter option (2km, +300m from the junction), with great views back over the valley and hanging glaciers.

view of the hanging glaciers at Mirador Valle Francés

French valley mountain views from Mirador Británico

After returning to Italiano, continue east along the shores of Lago Nordenskjöld, passing Camping Francés after 2km. This section of the hike features spectacular views of the shale-capped granite peaks of Los Cuernos, among the most iconic sites in all of Patagonia. Detour to the rocky beach below and dip your toes in the water before the final, tiny burst to Refugio Cuernos!

⛺️ Night 3: Refugio Cuernos

The best night on the circuit, this is a small but well-appointed campsite with fantastic views of Los Cuernos. The vibe is relaxed, the food is spectacular (they often serve salmon!), and the tent views are unbeatable. Wifi is available for purchase, plus hot food a la carte and bar drinks.

⛺️ ALTERNATIVE CAMPSITE FOR NIGHT 3: FRANCÉS

Cuernos is a spectacular campsite (when I brought a group of trekkers here in 2023, it was easily everyone’s favourite night of the trek!), but if you want to space out day 3/day 4 a bit better OR if all campsites are booked at Cuernos, you can easily swap for a night at Francés.

This shifts about 3.5km and less than 100m of elevation change from day 3 to day 4. Other than that, it has very little impact on the overall itinerary— both campsites are operated by Las Torres, both offer camping and dormitory accommodation inside the refugio, and overall ammenities are similar.

following the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld

Day 4: Cuernos to Chileno

Trail time: 5.5hrs
Distance: 12.5km
Elevation gain: +670m, -350m

The penultimate day of the W-Trek begins gradually along the milky-blue shores of Lago Nordenskjöld, following a scenic and undulating path through windblown grasslands and lenga forest. With fewer crowds and wide-open views, this stretch is surprisingly peaceful considering its proximity to the park’s most famous site.

After ~7km, you’ll reach the turn-off to Central/Hotel Las Torres, where you’ll end the trek tomorrow. From here, begin the steady climb into the Valle Ascencio, gaining a majority of the day’s (very modest) elevation en route to the final campsite at Chileno, perched above the roaring Río Ascencio and surrounded by dramatic canyon walls and groves of twisted trees.

hiking up the Valle Ascencio towards Chileno

📸 MIRADOR LAS TORRES

Depending on timing, eager photographers can ascend to the viewpoint at the Base of Las Torres this afternoon AND tomorrow for sunrise— this is what I did the first time I did The W and it was incredible to see the Towers in 2 very different lighting conditions! Note that the trail to Las Torres closes at 4pm, so if you want to experience this viewpoint in the afternoon, you’ll need to make an EARLY start from Cuernos this morning. From Chileno, ittakes 1.5-2hrs to ascend to the viewpoint and 1-1.5hrs to return to camp.

⛺️ Night 4: Rifugio Chileno

Since the closure of the free Campamento Torres (where I stayed the first time I completed the W, but which now functions as a ranger station), Chileno is the closest campsite to the iconic mirador at the base of Las Torres (just 1.5-2hrs). This is my second favourite campsite of the circuit— largely thanks to the steaming hot showers (you can’t beat this water pressure!), the great food, and the palpable energy. The indoor area is small but lively, packed with overnighting photographers and hikers at the final stage of their adventure, all excited to see Patagonia’s most coveted view.

Torres del Paine on fire at 7.30am (in March)

Day 5: Chileno to Central via Las Torres

Trail time: 5hrs
Distance: 13km
Elevation gain: +660m, -960m

The final day of the W-Trek is all about the Torres del Paine (The Towers)— most hikers aim to reach the famous viewpoint at the base of Las Torres for sunrise, when soft alpenglow paints the granite spires an electric shade of orange. If skies are clear, it’s easily one of the most jaw-dropping views in the entire world and VERY worth the early wake-up.

To time it right, plan to leave Chileno between 4–5.30am depending on your pace and sunrise time, typically 6:30–7am in Patagonia’s summer months and closer to 7.30am in the shoulder season. The trail to Las Torres climbs steadily in the dark for 1.5–2hrs, so bring a headlamp and plenty of warm layers, but leave your big pack at the campsite below!

After about 1hr on a dirt trail (2.8km, +200m from Chileno), you’ll reach Guardaría Torres, a former campsite that currently serves as a ranger station. From here, the route steepens significantly and gains 300m in little over 1km, eventually transitioning to a boulder field and loose scree as you cover the remaining distance to the edge of Lago Torres.

It’s no wonder this is one of the most famous views in the world— seeing the early morning light hit the top of Las Torres is quite literally mind-blowing and easily one of my all-time favourite hiking moments. Heaps of day-hikers make the trip up to the Base of the Towers, but there’s really no feeling like seeing them at the end of 5 days on the trail. Soak it up!!

sunrise at Torres del Paine can be brutally cold– but so worth it!

the iconic towers illuminated at sunrise

📸 TIPS FOR HIKING TO LAS TORRES

– the hike from Chileno to Las Torres takes 1.5-2hrs (4km, +500m)
– the best lighting is right around sunrise, so get an early start— leave Chileno between 4–5.30am, depending on your pace and time of year
– it can be FREEZING at the mirador (especially if there’s wind), so bring all of your warm layers— a down jacket is 100% essential
– this is one of the most popular viewpoints in Patagonia, but it’s not just a single viewing platform— spread out in the boulder field (safely!) to get photos without other hikers & experiment with creative angles

When you’re ready, retrace your steps to Chileno, pack up camp, and hike 4km downhill to Central/Hotel Las Torres to catch the shuttle and bus back to Puerto Natales. The W-Trek ends with a final look back at the massif you’ve just spent 5 days hiking alongside— dirty, tired, and wildly fulfilled!

condor over paine Grande on day 1 of the W-Trek

What to expect on the trail

Campsites on the W-Trek

Camping in Torres del Paine has changed a LOT since I first did this hike in 2014… all campsites on the W-Trek now offer basic but decent amenities, including flush toilets, showers (though water pressure and temperature can vary), and a designated cooking shelter or indoor area for stove use, which is very clutch when cooking in that infamous Patagonia wind!

All of these campsites are also attached to refugios with indoor accommodation, hot meals (at a shocking premium), wifi for purchase, and some limited charging stations for electronics. In many ways, these upgrades have removed the wilderness element from the W-Trek, but they’ve also made the route more accessible for those without backcountry experience, so *shrug* this is where we are now.

Navigation on the W-Trek

The W-Trek is incredibly well-marked— you’ll find clear signage at trail junctions, distance markers, and enough regular foot traffic that it’s difficult to get off-route.

If you’re someone who loves to know where you are at all times, I built a complete GPS map for the O-Circuit (which also works for the W-Trek!), with precise daily tracks based on each day of hiking through Torres del Paine. Download the JSON or GPX file for offline use on the trail using your smartphone & CalTopo (by far the best GPS app at just $20/yr).

Terrain on the W-Trek

Despite the wild landscape, terrain on the W-Trek is fairly mellow— over the entire 5 days, you’ll rarely stray from a defined path and most of the hiking is on firm, easy-to-follow dirt or gravel trails.

The only somewhat challenging sections are the boulder field leading up to the Torres lookout (about 30min of loose rock) and the suspension bridges over Glacier Grey, which include some steeper, uneven terrain— though you’ll likely be doing those without your full pack. Sturdy boots and trekking poles are definitely helpful, but for the most part, the W is just good, honest trail walking with outrageous scenery the whole way.

pleasant terrain between Grey & Paine Grande, typical of the route

Trail conditions near Cuernos– again, fairly representative!

Wild weather in Patagonia

Far more than the physical trail stats or the terrain along the W-Trek, it’s the wild, unpredictable Patagonia weather that makes this hike challenging. You can easily experience sun, rain, snow, and 100km/hr winds all in the same day, and even in the middle of summer, conditions can turn brutal without warning (especially at higher elevations or exposed sections of trail near the Base of the Towers).

Pack for every season: a full waterproof shell, warm base layers, a down jacket, and gloves/beanie are essential. And even if you’ve never used trekking poles in your life, THIS is the time to start— sometimes poles are the only thing keeping you upright when the wind starts gusting and it can be downright dangerous to do the W-Trek without them!

🏔️ Check out my full packing list: Complete W-Trek & O-Circuit packing list: what to pack for Patagonia’s best multi-day trek

quick rain shower on the route between Paine Grande & Grey

Food & water access

Water is incredibly easy to access on the W-Trek— you’ll cross fresh streams and glacier-fed rivers every few hours, and nearly all of it is clean enough to drink without filtering. This is one of the few long treks where water is never really a concern!

As for food, every campsite offers hot meals, usually booked in advance, and some have à la carte options like pizza, burgers, or pasta (especially at Paine Grande and Grey). You’ll also find mini-markets at several sites where you can buy beer, wine, snacks, and even fuel, though prices vary.

Vértice camps are considerably cheaper than those run by Las Torres Patagonia— you can score a pack of Oreos for 2,000CLP ($2), a stack of tortillas for 4,000CLP ($4), and a fuel canister for 5,000CLP ($5). I wouldn’t rely on these shops for your meals, but they can be a great way to supplement if you’re feeling munchy!

W-Trek packing list

Check out my complete W-Trek packing list for detailed descriptions of each item and more information about what I recommend packing!

After five days of wild wind, glacier views, and hard-earned kilometres, finishing the W-Trek feels like a true accomplishment. I hope this guide helps you plan an epic adventure into the heart of Torres del Paine!

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TAGS:patagonia trail guides

brooke beyond

Hey, I'm Brooke and I'm obsessed with getting off the beaten path, exploring backcountry gems & travelling beyond the ordinary! I left Australia 5 years ago after finishing a PhD in Biomechanics & have been travelling the world full-time ever since (joined by my life/climbing partner, James). Whether it’s road-tripping through Mexico, climbing alpine peaks in the Andes, scuba diving in the Red Sea, or tackling epic via ferrata in the Dolomites, I hope this blog will inspire your future adventures & help you find wonder in every corner of the globe. xx bb