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South America · Chile

W Trek

Torres del Paine National Park, Magallanes, Chile

Distance
43.5 mi470.0 km
Days
4–6 days1
Season
Oct–Apr2,3
Lodging
Huts and tent1,2
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Hikes / South America / W Trek

Where these numbers come from

Public sources, official ones first, each numbered and listed under Sources, checked Nov 2026. Anything they don't give is left out.

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Relief map

The route

A multi-day trek along the south side of the Paine massif, named for the shape traced by its three valleys: Ascencio (to the Base Torres), Francés and the Grey glacier valley. It runs beside Lago Nordenskjöld under the Cuernos del Paine and is a demanding route with days of up to eight hours.1,2

Relief map of W Trek: the route from OpenStreetMap drawn in red, labelled Las Torres and Paine Grande.

Route drawn from OpenStreetMap (La Ruta del W, read Nov 2026). © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (SRTM, GMTED) on AWS. A sketch for planning, not for navigation.

Before you go

The basics

Start
Estancia Cerro Paine (Las Torres sector), past the Laguna Amarga gate, is one of the main starting points1
Finish
Refugio Paine Grande, then the catamaran across Lago Pehoé to Pudeto for buses back to Puerto Natales4
Direction
One way (a linear route, not a loop). The tourism board's itinerary runs from the Las Torres sector west past Los Cuernos and the French Valley to Paine Grande, with Grey Glacier as an out and back from there.4
Distance
70 km, as the national tourism board's day-by-day W itinerary gives it.4
Days
The national tourism board gives four to six days.1
Usual difficulty
Described as demanding, with hiking days of up to eight hours; CONAF rates the climbs to Mirador Británico and Mirador Base Torres as demanding (exigente).1,2
Best time
the park's summer season runs October to April; snow is a risk May to September, when several W sections may only be walked with an accredited guide2,3
Permits
Buy the park entry ticket ahead online through Pases Parques, the official park pass site. Every night on the W needs a confirmed booking at a refugio or campsite; without one you can't start the route. In winter, follow the park's winter rules and use only accredited guides.1,3
Getting there
Fly to Punta Arenas, then about 3 hours (250 km) by bus or car to Puerto Natales, the base town; Puerto Natales also has an airfield with flights mainly in high season. Buses leave Puerto Natales at 7:30 and 14:30 for Laguna Amarga, Pudeto and the park administration. By car it's 129 km on Ruta 9 and Y-150 to the Laguna Amarga gate. There's no fuel in or near the park.1,2
Lodging
Huts and tent
Concession refugios (Paine Grande and Grey on the W, reachable only on foot or by boat) with campsites; every night must be booked. Hotels with road access sit at Pehoé, Lago Grey and Explora.1,2

From the sources

Safety

Rescue numbers

  • Emergency: 130 (CONAF, the park authority)
  • VHF radio 143.800 MHz for emergencies inside the park

Source 2

Phone signal

  • Mobile signal (Movistar) only at Villa Monzino, which also has a landline public phone
  • Emergency VHF channel 143.800 MHz inside the park

Source 2

Insurance

  • The UK government says insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency

Source 5

Bail-out points

  • Catamaran across Lago Pehoé between Paine Grande and Pudeto (suspended in winter closures)
  • A 17 km, about 5 h trail links Paine Grande with the park administration without the boat
  • Medical post at the park administration; hospitals at Cerro Castillo (54 km from the main gate) and Puerto Natales

Source 2

From the sources below, checked Nov 2026. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.

Their films and versions

Creators who've done it

1 creator so far: Kraig, as part of a longer trip.

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Your time

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Typical: 4–6 days (the hike's facts).

Ask this hike

Planning questions about W Trek, answered only from this page's facts, the creators' versions and hikers' public tracks, with where each answer comes from. When the data doesn't say, the answer says "not given".

    From hikers

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    Answered from the data

    Questions people ask

    How many days do you need for W Trek?

    4–6 days. The national tourism board gives four to six days.

    From Chile Travel, Sernatur national tourism board (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    How long is W Trek?

    43.5 mi (70 km). 70 km, as the national tourism board's day-by-day W itinerary gives it.

    From chile.travel, checked Nov 2026. [4]

    When is the best time to hike W Trek?

    Oct–Apr. The park's summer season runs October to April; snow is a risk May to September, when several W sections may only be walked with an accredited guide.

    From CONAF, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (official); Pases Parques, official park pass sales (official), checked Nov 2026. [2] [3]

    Do you need a permit for W Trek?

    Buy the park entry ticket ahead online through Pases Parques, the official park pass site. Every night on the W needs a confirmed booking at a refugio or campsite; without one you can't start the route. In winter, follow the park's winter rules and use only accredited guides.

    From Chile Travel, Sernatur national tourism board (official); Pases Parques, official park pass sales (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [3]

    How do you get to W Trek?

    Fly to Punta Arenas, then about 3 hours (250 km) by bus or car to Puerto Natales, the base town; Puerto Natales also has an airfield with flights mainly in high season. Buses leave Puerto Natales at 7:30 and 14:30 for Laguna Amarga, Pudeto and the park administration. By car it's 129 km on Ruta 9 and Y-150 to the Laguna Amarga gate. There's no fuel in or near the park.

    From Chile Travel, Sernatur national tourism board (official); CONAF, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]

    Where do you sleep on W Trek?

    Huts and tent. Concession refugios (Paine Grande and Grey on the W, reachable only on foot or by boat) with campsites; every night must be booked. Hotels with road access sit at Pehoé, Lago Grey and Explora.

    From Chile Travel, Sernatur national tourism board (official); CONAF, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]

    What's the emergency number on W Trek?

    Emergency: 130 (CONAF, the park authority). VHF radio 143.800 MHz for emergencies inside the park.

    From CONAF, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (official), checked Nov 2026. [2]

    Sources

    1. Chile Travel, Sernatur national tourism board (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    2. CONAF, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    3. Pases Parques, official park pass sales (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    4. chile.travel · official · checked Nov 2026
    5. www.gov.uk · official · checked Nov 2026

    Facts are written in our own words from these pages; nothing is copied. Rules, fees and closures change: check the official page before you go.

    Plan this hikeThe route