W Trek Stuff You Should Know
Essential Things to Know About
the W Trek Trail in Torres del Paine
Requirement for Guides on the
Torres del Paine W Trek
It should be noted that hiking the W Trek in Torres del Paine can be done on your own. For example, self-guided, which is what most people do, or with a personal guide if you prefer. Even so, in the event that you are in a group of six or more people the local rules stipulate that you must have a guide for every six people in your party. Most important is that if you are more than 6 people, from the 7th person to the 12th person you can have an assistant guide. In other words, you have one official guide plus his assistant. Moreover, this requirement repeats itself for every 6 people in your group.
Who Sets the Rules?
The Municipality in Puerto Natales that has jurisdiction over Torres del Paine National Park laid out the rule on the 28 September 2021 in its “Municipal Order” Art 10, 1.1.Naturally Experience Chile can arrange guides for you.
Torres del Paine W Trek
How Long Does it Take to Hike the Trail?
Guided or Self-Guided?
Above all, the 4- or 5-night W trek can be guided or self-guided. However, it can also be done as an “express” trek over 3 nights and 4 days. In addition, all meals, as well as accommodation and transport are included. Moreover, you do not need to carry a large backpack, or even a sleeping bag (as that is provided).
Therefore, you just need a day pack and your essentials, along with the right clothes and footwear.
Above all a Typical W Trek Trail Itinerary Involves
1 – Transfer to TDP Welcome Centre, arriving AM. Hike to Torres Base and back 9hrs. Night Central area. Option for second night at Central.
2 – Hike to Cuernos, 5hrs, or Frances. Night Cuernos or Frances area.
3 – After that, you will hike to Paine Grande, 4 to 5hrs direct. On the other hand, 9 or 10hrs if via the French Valley. Night Paine Grande.
4 – Optional hike to Grey 4hrs, then return 4hrs and depart on Catamaran. Or a night at Grey. Consider adding in Kayak and / or Ice Hike at Grey. Can depart grey also by boat to Hotel Grey.
5 – Transfer back to Puerto Natales.
To Email Us Use: request@experiencechile.org for a W Trek custom luxury Torres del Paine itinerary.
SEASON 2023 – 24
Most Important – Key Change to the
W Trek Trail Accommodation
Basically, for the coming W Trek season, there will no longer be accommodation in the Refugio Chileno. However, there will still be an option to stay at Chileno, but in Premium Camping only. In addition, the refugio called Torre Norte is to close and to be used for staff accommodation only.
Refugio Central
Therefore, for trekkers seeking overnight accommodation at the trail head that leads up to the Torres Base, you will need two nights at Refugio Central, if arriving in the afternoon to Torres del Paine. Nevertheless, if you arrive to Torres del Paine early AM, you can trek up to the Torres Base and then back down to Refugio Central (9hrs). In this case you will need only one night at Refugio Torre Centra. Another key point is that this is located beside the Welcome Centre and the trail head that leads up to the Base.
Above all, contact us for All-Inclusive W Trek Itinerary Reservations at: request@experiencechle.org
Sights Along the Torres del Paine W Trek Trail
Among the Key Questions Answered Below are these:
1. Where is the Torres del Paine W Trek?
2. What Should I bring for the W Trek?
3. When is it considered to be the best time to Hike the W Trek?
4. What are the Iconic destinations on the W Trek?
5. How Long Does It Take to Walk the W Trek?
6. Which is Better: The W Trek or the Circuit Trek?
7. What are the best Accommodation Choices on the W Trek?
8. Why Would I need a Guide for the W Trek?
9. How do I book accommodation in Hotels, Refugios and Camping on the Torres del Paine W Trek?
Some Amazing Images of Torres del Paine
Which Direction on the W Trek Trail is Best to Hike?
Most important is to decide on which direction you want to hike the W Trek Trail. For this reason, many clients ask us, “is it better to hike west to east, or east to west?”. Basically, our reply is that in reality is does not matter that much. Markedly, the only real difference is that the prevailing winds usually blow from west to east.
Therefore, if walking west to east the wind will, mostly, be behind you. However, the direction you will be able to walk will, mostly, be determined by the availability in the various refugios and serviced camping sites.
Looking Down
Moreover, much of the time is spent looking down at the trail ahead of you, therefore, unless you take time to stop and appreciate what is around it does not matter which direction you walk. In addition, if you do take your time, and stop to look around, you will see all that there is to see wherever you have started from.
Our Email: request@experiencechile.org for W Trek programs and itineraries.
Peak Season the Torres del Paine W Trek
Generally, the busiest months in Torres del Paine are December, January and February. Therefore, the trekking route, and Torres Del Paine National Park, will be more crowded during this time.
On the other hand, October, November, March and April are normally the best months to embark on the W-Trek. If your schedule is flexible, we recommend visiting the park in April because it is quieter and there is less wind.
Book Six Months to a Year Ahead
Above all, bookings should, ideally, be made up to six months, or longer, like a year in advance in order to secure your spot. In brief, Torres del Paine W Trek reservations can be made through us. However, if you have limited time, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can build a custom travel itinerary that suits your exact needs.
Our EMAIL is: request@experiencechile.org
Torres del Paine W Trek Low-Season
It should be noted that the winter months of Chilean Patagonia (late April to early September) present challenges to itinerary design that need to be worked around. For example, the days are shorter, and the weather is generally colder, leading to a high likelihood of snow on the roads and trails.
Only Guided
For this reason, un-guided tours are not available as a result and many hostels scale back their opening hours and services offered to compensate for the reduced quantity of tourists. However, if the Patagonian winter is still the only time you can make it, or you just love a challenge, we can still easily create your custom itinerary to work around these restrictions.
Nonetheless, many people love Torres del Paine in the Winter – it is far quieter than in the summer.
Our Direct Request Email is: request@experiencechile.org
Below is the Sunrise Reflecting on the Cuernos and Torres of Paine
The last time when our staff were in Torres del Paine, we took this photo below:
The Above Torres del Paine Picture
As can be seen in the above picture, the beautiful orange colours of the sunrise reflect off the clouds as well as the light hitting the Torres behind the Cuernos (the foreground mountains).
First thing to remember is that the W Trek Trail is nestled at the foot of the Central Massif seen in the photo above and extends around to follow the shores of Grey Lake on the west, and into the French Valley in the middle (the part in between the giant Cuernos Mountain and the Paine Mountain), and then up and along the Ascensio Valley on the east that leads to the vertical, granite towers at the end. That is the path known as the W Trek and, in length, is about 63km (39 miles). This trail is broken into manageable hiking sectors, marked by accommodation lodges (or hostels), where hikers can rest and eat.
Our Email is: request@experiencechile.org
Plan for Logistics
If hiking east to west, you will need to arrive to the Laguna Amarga entrance in Torres del Paine. Whereas, if hiking west to east, you will need to arrive to Refugio Grey either by boat from Hotel Grey, or get to Refugio Paine Grande by catamaran from Pudeto and then walk to Refugio Grey.
There is also an option coming from either the east or the west, which is to start at Paine Grande or end at Paine Grande, making the trek an “express” 3-night itinerary, opposed to the usual 4-night itinerary.
Our EMAIL is: request@experiencechile.org
For Even More Description Information Please Click Through Here:
Torres del Paine W Trek West to East / and W Trail East to West
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