Torres del Paine W Trek Accommodation

Torres del Paine W Trek Accommodation

and Serviced Camping Options

Types of Accommodation along the Torres del Paine W Trek Trail

Torres del Paine W Trek accommodation comprises a mix of refugios, domes, cabins and serviced camping. The actual trail will involve nightly stop offs at some, or all of these places: East to West – Chileno or Central, Cuernos or Frances, Paine Grande and then Grey.

Important to note is that here at Experience Chile we only offer an all-inclusive W Trek itinerary. This program includes Torres del Paine Park entry tickets, transport in and out (regular bus), the catamaran, if required, accommodation and meals. With regards to accommodation, it will include either premium camping, refugios, domos, cabins or regular, standard camping.

Here, below we will explain the accommodation options at each place along with a link to the presentation page of the said accommodation.

Definitions of Type of W Trek Trail Accommodation

Most important is that on this page we will talk about the definitions of the accommodation, as well as the different options when trekking the W trail from East to West, therefore, if you are going from West to East simply reverse the order of the information below.

W Trek Trail Map with Accommodation Locations

Scroll down for a map showing the locations of where the W Trek accommodation is located along the W Trek trail.

W Trek Reservations through Experience Chile:

request@experiencechile.org

Accommodation Definitions

on the W Trek Trail

About a Refugio

Effectively a refugio is a hostel with dormitory rooms and bunk beds. One of the advantages to a refugio is that guests can mix together, exchange stories and make new friends in the dining room as well as, in larger refugios, in the lounge areas. Also, in some refugios there are bar areas.

It should be noted that all refugios have communal shower and WC units, segregated by gender.

On the W Trek, the refugios are at: Central, Cuernos, Frances, Paine Grande and Grey..

What is a Dome?

As you can determine from the name, a dome refugio is a building with a roof in the form of a dome. Within the dome are bunk beds, as there are in a refugio, but here at Domos Frances the design is such that there are partitions between the sets of double decker bunk beds. Therefore, the sleeping arrangements here offer more privacy than a usual refugio. Another advantage of these domes is that the dorm ventilation is better due to the higher ceilings.

At Frances, meals are taken in a communal dining unit and each dome has its own shower and WC unit. In addition to the domes at Frances we offer Premium camping too.

What is Premium Camping?

In particular, this type of camping is at a superior level, only available at some places. The actual tents are of a better quality than the standard type of tent and, in addition, they are pitched on top of high-raised platforms. Because of the distance off the ground, the general air temperature is a little higher than at ground level – less of a draft, for example, and small, wild animals can freely pass by underneath, thus reducing the negative impact of camping on the local, natural environment. Experience Chile only offers Premium Camping (and not any other type of camping) at: Chileno, Central, Cuernos and Frances.

Cabin Description

Usually sought after on the W Trek are the small, private cabins at Cuernos. These cabins are small huts in the shape of a low-ceiling A frame roof. However, the “quaintness” does not stop there because each hut also has a small, log-burning stove in the corner to warm up the entire “tiny house”.

Also, another nice aspect of the Cabins at Cuernos are the outdoor, small, wooden deck areas from where you can sit, relax and admire the view.

About 80mts downhill from the cabins is the Refugio Cuernos and here is where all cabin guests come to take their meals. With regard to bathroom facilities, cabin guests have their own, communal, but segregated shower and WC unit in the area of where the cabins are located.

Torres Base Trail Head

Torres del Paine W Trek accommodation along the W Trek trail offers the options positioned at intervals along the trail. At the eastern end, near the Welcome Centre, which is the trail head that leads up to the Torres Base, we have:

Hotel Las Torres, ECO Camp (only for all-inclusive multi day itineraries), Refugio Central, Premium Camping Central and further up the trail head to the Torres base there is only Premium Camping Chileno.

At Cuernos & Frances

The next stop, hiking east to west, is at Cuernos, and here there is a refugio, private cabins (for two people each), as well as Premium Camping. However, a little further along is Frances and here there are Dome-structured refugios and Premium Camping.

Paine Grande and Grey

Paine Grande

The trek from either Cuernos or Frances will inevitably go via the French Valley, or, if you are tired you can cut this out, or just go halfway into the valley. However, the next stop will be Refugio and Camping Paine Grande. It should be noted that the camping at Paine Grande is regular, standard level camping, which means tents pitched at ground level.

Grey

Finally, if you have stayed at Paine Grande and wish to finalize the western arm of the W, you will arrive to Grey. Here at Grey is a fine refugio along with standard (regular) camping in tents pitched at ground level.