We have a fantastic & unique experience for you - this unforgettable 5 day version of the W Trek.
Be amazed by the skyrocketing mountains,
deep blue glaciers, and hauntingly beautiful forests of Torres del Paine
National Park on this 5 day experience of the world-renowned W Trek, all
completed with EcoCamp’s unique blend of adventure and comfort!
Traveling through Patagonia, Torres del Paine, and Chile our fantastic partner in the region has dedicated staff on the ground to take great care of our clients and offers an experience unlike most!
Highlights
- Famous W trek in Torres del Paine National Park
- Unique Fauna and Flora
- Base of the Towers
- French Valley
- Glacier Grey
- Ecocamp Patagonia
- Start/Finish your trip in El Calafate (Argentina), Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales (Chile)
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Travel from Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Calafate to Torres del Paine NP
- Day 2: Trek Valle del Frances trail
- Day 3: Trek Pehoe - Grey trail
- Day 4: Trek to the Towers
- Day 5: Drive to Punta Arenas
Day 1, The Patagonian Adventure starts!
Torres del Paine NP, Chile
- The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas or Punta Arenas airport in the morning and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia, located in the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park.
- Alternatively, you can start your trip in Calafate.
- En route you will make a stop in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of "Seno de Ultima Esperanza", where you will enjoy a hearty local lunch.
- The journey is scenic and highly atmospheric, featuring many wild birds and wonderful Patagonian landscapes.The day ends with your arrival and overnight stay at EcoCamp Patagonia, with a prime view of the majestic Torres.
- Sunset is usually around 11pm during the summer months, meaning that there will still be enough daylight for you to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon once you arrive.
Overnight at EcoCamp Patagonia
Day 2, The Paine Massif's Heart: Valle Frances
Torres del Paine NP, Chile
- After breakfast you will drive toward Pudeto dock where you'll board the catamaran to Pehoe, from here you will begin the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), along a steep trail that leads to the very heart of the Paine Massif. How far in you will go depends on our group's trekking rhythm.
- A swifter walk will lead us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif, where you will be treated to fantastic views of the valley.
- You will continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley where you will be able to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley's geological formations.
- After your upward trek, you will pause for a picnic and relax a while.
- This day's trek will end as you descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest which will take you to Refugio Paine Grande, located on the peaceful shores of Lake Pehoe.
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*An optional trek to Mirador Británico is also available.
- N.B.The excursion to French Valley varies throughout the season depending on the catamaran connecting Pudeto and Refugio Pehoe:
- From October 1st to November 15th and from March 16th through April the navigation operates only once a day, therefore the hike will be limited and only reach Italian campsite. (From November 16th to March 15th the excursion operates on a regular basis)
Overnight in Refugio Paine Grande
Day 3, Glacier Grey
Torres del Paine NP, Chile
- This day will see you hike from Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern side of the glacially beautiful Lake Grey.
- You will feast on a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails right to the huge, crystalline facade of Glacier Grey, where you will have plenty of time to marvel at the calving glacier.
- From the southern end of Glacier Grey you will transfer to EcoCamp.
- Be aware that boat trips can be cancelled if the required minimum of 10 passengers is not reached. If either is the case, you will trek up to the sightseeing point and profit from wonderful, panoramic views of the Glacier instead.
- Then you will return on foot to Paine Grande and take a catamaran to Pudeto’s dock, where you will be picked up and driven to EcoCamp.
Overnight at EcoCamp Patagonia
Day 4, The big challenge: Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine NP, Chile
- The goal of the penultimate day of your 5-day trek will be to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park!
- You will walk from EcoCamp towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley on the Tower's eastern face.
- Mountain ridges, beech forests and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley.
- Your big challenge comes in the form of the steep moraine, a huge mass of boulders which will lead us to that iconic base-view of the Towers - Three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice.
- After a tough uphill climb, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us, with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch?
- After feasting on the view and our picnic, you will then backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner.
Overnight at EcoCamp Patagonia
Day 5, Adios Torres del Paine!
Punta Arenas, Patagonia, Chile
You will board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight.