The W Trek in short
The W Trek is the most popular multi-day route in Torres del Paine. It is named for its shape on the map. The three points of the W are the Grey Glacier, the Valle del Francés and the viewpoint at Base Las Torres. It is a 3 to 5 day walk. Those are planning figures, not a promise for every pace, and the weather decides more than the plan.
You cannot simply turn up and walk it. Nights in the mountain refugios and campsites must be reserved in advance, and without those reservations you do not get access to the matching mountain area. The park ticket does not replace a night. If you only want to see the park, the day tours from Puerto Natales need no bed.
Our picks: the W Trek
With tents set up and park entry included, or as an express version with nights in Puerto Natales.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Five-day W trek with camps and glacier boat
- Park entry
- Set-up camping gear
- Lago Grey catamaran
Park entry, transport from Puerto Natales, set-up tents with sleeping bags and mats, and the catamaran on Lago Grey with a view of the glacier.
Check availability →
W Trek Express in five days
- Three hiking days
- Private transfers
- Four nights' accommodation
Three hiking days to Base Las Torres, the French Valley and Grey, private transfers, three nights in Puerto Natales and one night camping. Only the first hiking day is guided.
Check availability →W Trek tours and guided options
Guided treks, day hikes on the W sections and boat trips, with live prices and availability.
The W Trek route
Three arms, each with its own character.
Grey Glacier
The western arm leads to the lake and the glacier front. The Grey sector has its own refugio and campsite. Boat and kayak trips on the lake run in a separate season, and they are booked on their own.
Grey Glacier →Valle del Francés
The middle arm climbs the valley to the Mirador Francés and, higher up, the Mirador Británico. The upper section is steep and stony. Paine Grande to Italiano is 7.5 km and about 2.5 hours, and Italiano to Mirador Británico is 5.4 km and about 3 hours.
Valle del Francés →Base Las Torres
The eastern arm leads to the lake under the three towers. As a day hike it is about 22 km and 8 to 9 hours.
Base Las Torres hike →The lake crossing is a separate booking. The catamaran between Pudeto and Paine Grande takes about 30 minutes and costs CLP 28,000 per person and direction in 2026. See the Lago Pehoé page for details.
Reservations, registration and where you sleep
What you must arrange before you walk.
Reserve every night
Refugio and campsite nights on the W are reserved in advance, and the confirmations are needed at entry. Book the nights before you buy transport you cannot change.
Two groups of operators
One group runs the west and north sectors Paine Grande, Grey, Los Perros and Dickson. Another runs the east side, Central, Chileno and Serón, and also the Francés campsite. You book each sector with the operator that runs it.
Refugios and camping →Camp only where it is allowed
You may sleep only at designated campsites. There is no free tent night on the trail or at a viewpoint. Refugios offer dormitory beds and camping, but a refugio is not a private hotel room.
Register with the rangers
Report your arrival at every ranger post. At Paso and Los Perros you also report when you leave.
Park ticket
You also need a park ticket. A multi-day pass for 2 to 10 consecutive days exists since 1 May 2026 and costs CLP 48,500 for an adult foreign visitor.
Entrance fee →What a night costs and offers
Examples from 2026/27, not a park-wide price list.
| Option | Months | Example price |
|---|---|---|
| Own pitch at the Francés campsite, double occupancy | November to March | From $50 per person |
| Own pitch at the Francés campsite, double occupancy | October and April | From $40 per person |
| Fully equipped tent at Francés, double occupancy | November to March / October and April | From $160 / $150 per person |
| Half board / full board at that campsite | Outside Christmas and New Year | $90 / $140 per person |
Other sectors have other prices, and meals are not automatically part of a pitch price. Some refugios have a restaurant and bar, shared cooking areas, partial electricity and paid Wi-Fi. Los Perros has no restaurant. For most hikers, a mix of booked refugio nights and a few camping nights keeps the cost reasonable.
Winter, wind and rules on the W
The season is not the same all year.
Winter regulation
In the cold months the W is not open for free walking all year. The regulation brings a guide requirement, and the 2026 version foresaw a closure of the W in June and July. Do not plan a self-guided winter trek without checking the current rules.
Best time to visit →Wind and sudden weather
Rain, wind and snow can follow one another quickly. Gusts in the Valle del Francés can be dangerous, and rangers can close or limit a section. Turn back if you are exhausted, if visibility is poor or if the gusts are strong.
Weather →Fire, water and drones
Open fires are not allowed, and cookers may be used only in the cooking areas. Swimming in lakes, lagoons and rivers is forbidden. Recreational drone flights are forbidden too.
Stay on the path
Use the official trails and follow ranger instructions. Do not cross swollen rivers carelessly. There is no promise of a fixed rescue time in this remote terrain.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that fit around a W Trek.
W Trek: frequently asked questions
How many days does the W Trek take?
It takes 3 to 5 days. A shorter plan means longer walking days. A longer plan gives more weather buffer.
Do I have to reserve the W Trek?
Yes, for the mountain nights. Reservations in the refugios and campsites are required, and without them you do not get access to the matching area. Entry alone does not replace the nights.
Can I walk the W Trek in winter?
Only under the winter regulation, which includes a guide requirement and a temporary closure of the W in midwinter. Do not assume free access. Check the current rules before you plan.
Can I camp anywhere along the W?
No. Sleeping is allowed only at designated campsites. Free camping on the trail or at a viewpoint is not allowed.
Does the W Trek include the Mirador Británico?
The Valle del Francés arm leads to the Mirador Francés and, higher up, the Mirador Británico. The upper part is steep, so allow extra time and good weather.