The W Trek is the 4- to 5-day route along the south side of the Paine massif in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, linking three out-and-back valleys: Base Torres in the east, the Francés valley in the middle and Grey glacier in the west. Built from CONAF’s own segment distances, the classic version from Hotel Las Torres to Paine Grande with all three side trips is about 76 km; ending at Grey and leaving by boat makes it about 65 km. The highest point is the Base Torres lookout at about 870 m. Altitude is no issue; wind, weather and the reservation system are.
This page is the route data. For the wider park guide see Torres del Paine guide; for other Chilean routes see Chile hiking trails.
W Trek at a glance
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 76 km (Hotel Las Torres to Paine Grande with all side trips); about 65 km ending at Grey |
| Days | 4 to 5 |
| High point | Mirador Base Torres, about 870 m |
| Low point | Lago Pehoé shore at Paine Grande, about 40 m |
| Park entry 2026-27 | CLP 48,500 (2-10 days, foreign adult), online only, 24 h ahead |
| Accommodation | Mandatory reservations for every night |
| Guide | Not required in summer; required in winter (2026: 27 April to 15 September) |
| Season | October to April |
Route and distances, east to west
| Section | Distance (CONAF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Las Torres to Chileno | 5 km | About 2 h, climbing into the Ascencio valley |
| Chileno to Guardería Torres | 3 km | Forest; CONAF Torres camp here (closed in 2025-26) |
| Guardería Torres to Mirador Base Torres | 1.4 km | About 1 h, steep moraine; CONAF rates it demanding |
| Hotel Las Torres to Cuernos | 11.6 km | Along Lago Nordenskjöld |
| Cuernos to Italiano | 5 km | Start of the Francés valley |
| Italiano to Mirador Británico | 5.4 km each way | The middle stroke of the W |
| Italiano to Paine Grande | 7.5 km | To the catamaran pier on Lago Pehoé |
| Paine Grande to Grey | 11 km | Out and back, or end at Grey |
Most people walk east to west: Base Torres first while legs are fresh, then Cuernos or Francés, the Francés valley, Paine Grande, and Grey as a last out-and-back. The catamaran across Lago Pehoé links Paine Grande with Pudeto and the road. Walking west to east works just as well; book the nights to match.
Reservations, operators and costs for 2026-27
Overnight treks need confirmed refugio or campsite reservations for every night: CONAF states that without them access to the mountain area is not permitted, and rangers check them on the trail. Two concessionaires run the accommodation: Las Torres Patagonia (Central, Chileno, Francés, Cuernos and Serón) and Vertice Travel (Paine Grande, Grey, Dickson and Los Perros). CONAF’s free campsites (Torres, Italiano and Paso) were closed for the whole 2025-26 season, and CONAF had not published their 2026-27 status by 8 October 2026. Book directly: Las Torres Patagonia and Vertice Travel. Official rules: CONAF reservation systems.
| Item | 2026-27 price (as published) |
|---|---|
| Park entry, foreign adult | CLP 48,500 (2-10 days) or CLP 32,400 (1 day) |
| Las Torres campsite, own tent | USD 50 pp Nov-Mar; USD 40 pp Oct and Apr (double occupancy) |
| Vertice campsite (Paine Grande, Grey) | CLP 9,000 / USD 11 pp |
| Las Torres refugio bed | From USD 230 Nov-Mar, USD 200 Oct and Apr, bed only; full board +USD 140 |
| Vertice refugio bed | Grey CLP 36,500 / USD 46; Paine Grande CLP 53,000 / USD 66 (basic bed) |
| Catamaran Pudeto-Paine Grande | CLP 28,000 / USD 31 per leg (Hielos Patagónicos) |
| Shuttle Laguna Amarga-Central | CLP 4,500 each way, cash (2025-26 rate) |
Park entry for foreign adults (18-59), in force since 1 May 2026: CLP 32,400 for one day, or CLP 48,500 for a pass of 2 or more days valid up to 10 consecutive days. Tickets are sold only online at pasesparques.cl, at least 24 hours before entry, and shown as a QR code at the gate. CONAF tariffs.
Rules on the trail
Park rules: walking the trails without daylight is prohibited; fire of any kind is banned outside designated cooking areas (Ley 20.653, with fines up to CLP 2,000,000, prison or expulsion); no smoking; no drones; stay on authorised trails; register at every ranger station you reach. Las Torres allows stoves only in the cooking shelters at Central, Serón and Francés, and not at all in the Chileno sector. CONAF says stream water can be drunk if you collect it upstream of the trail and away from camps. Source: CONAF Torres del Paine and the official route map.
When to go
The park’s summer season runs October to April (gates 07:00-21:00). December to February has the longest days and the fullest campsites; October, November, March and April are quieter and colder, and some camps open late or close early (in 2025-26 Cuernos and Serón closed on 30 March, Central and Chileno on 25 April). Winter rules change every year. In 2026 the winter regime started on 27 April: the W and Base Torres were open only with a specialised guide accredited by the Municipality of Torres del Paine (1 guide per 4 trekkers), the W was fully closed in June and July, and the guide requirement was lifted on 16 September 2026.
Getting there
Puerto Natales is the base: about 150 km by Ruta 9 or 80 km by the Y-290 gravel road (CONAF). Bus-Sur runs from Natales to the Laguna Amarga gate in about 2 hours (departures at 07:00 and 12:00 from September to April). From Laguna Amarga a cash shuttle runs to Central and the Welcome Center. Punta Arenas, 3 h 15 min from Natales by bus, has the main airport. More context: Chile travel guide.
W or O?
The O Circuit adds the north side of the massif and the John Gardner pass (about 1,200 m), takes 7 to 9 days and runs only from November to March, with strict cutoff times. Choose the W if you have 4 or 5 days or travel in October or April. The single most-hiked day, Base Torres, is also a day hike: see Mirador Base Torres.
Planning with us
In Chile, local tour service providers provide all services. Travellers often combine Patagonia with a Peru trek; for help fitting the two together, write to info@incatrailreservations.com.