See a different side of the iconic W Trek in Torres del Paine as few have ever seen or experienced it before. Trek into the heart of a Patagonian winter wonderland on this ultimate 6-day experience that takes you to the park’s iconic highlights such as the base of the Towers, French Valley and Grey Glacier. It’s a snowy trip (the use of crampons is highly recommend in some areas) made for true adventurers and those ready to explore Patagonia in a wild and rustic way!
(Available from June to August).
In the morning, you will be picked-up from the Punta Arenas Airport and head towards your hotel in Puerto Natales, a lively town on the shores of Last Hope Sound (Ultima Esperanza). Here you'll have some time to relax, have lunch or dinner with your guide and get ready for the adventure to come!.
The adventure starts with a long day of hiking! After a refreshing night sleep, we’ll get in the van for a 2 hour ride and head to the trailhead of the Tower Base hike.
We’ll head up through the Ascencio Valley, located on the Tower's eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. Our 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, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley to finally head towards Grey Hotel to have dinner and spend the night.
Today we have another long hike ahead of us (this one is less demanding than Base Torres), once we are all set, the excursion begins with a short drive from Grey Lake to the Serrano entrance point of the park, allowing some time to enjoy the beautiful winter views. Once we arrive at the Serrano entrance point, we’ll embark on a 7 hour (17 km) hike into the Park with the Paine Horns on the horizon until we reach our destination for the night, the Refugio Paine Grande which lies on the shores of Lake Pehoe at the base of the mighty Paine Massif. We’ll then spend the evening relaxing over dinner.
After breakfast at Refugio Paine Grande, we will begin the challenging trek into the French Valley along a steep trail that leads to the very heart of the Paine Massif. How far we go depends on our 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 we will be treated to fantastic views of the valley. We continue to ascend the upper section of the valley where we will be able to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley's geological formations. After our upward trek, we will pause for a picnic and relax for a while. This day's trek will end as we descend through the same trail back to Refugio Paine Grande.
This morning we’ll have our last breakfast inside the Torres del Paine National Park, enjoying the views Pehoé Lake has to offer to then sail in the boat ride that crosses the lake to Pudeto. Afterward we’ll board a van and take a route along the southern shore of Nordenskjold lake. Our first stop is the two-hour round-trip walk to El Condor Lookout from the shores of Pehoé lake. We go gently uphill through the steppe vegetation; a great opportunity to learn about the local flora. Here we witness the piercing blue of Pehoe Lake and the Paine river. On a clear day, we can see the immensity of the Southern Patagonian ice fields in the distance. Later, we’ll head toward Salto Grande waterfall, with its impressive cascading waters falling from Nordenskjold lake into Pehoe Lake. From here it's a short walk to Cuernos viewpoint, with a panoramic view of the mighty Horns. We re-energize while taking in the whole Paine Mountain range and its stunning snow capped peaks.
After taking a final look at these stunning winter sceneries we’ll head back to Puerto Natales, where dinner awaits us, here we’ll have the opportunity to talk about the experience and also share some photos!
Today it is time to board the transfer back to the Puerto Natales Airport and take the flight to Santiago, in time to head back home or your next winter destination.
Located in Puerto Natales, Hotel Big Sur has concierge services, non-smoking rooms, a terrace, free WiFi throughout the property and a bar. This 3-star hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. At the hotel rooms include a private bathroom and bed linen. Guests at Hotel Big Sur can enjoy an American breakfast.
Located in Torres del Paine, Hotel Lago Grey offers free WiFi access. Rooms here are all fitted with heating, private private bathroom and satellite television. At Hotel Lago Grey guests will find an ample complimentary buffet breakfast. There is an on-site restaurant and a bar.
Located on the shores of Pehoé Lake, with beautiful views of the Paine Horns and the Paine Grande Hill. It is the starting point of the route to the French Valley and the path to the Grey Glacier.
Important notes:
This trip starts in Punta Arenas Airport and ends in Puerto Natales' Airport.
Important Note: This trip departs ONLY on Thursdays due to operational considerations regarding the navigations inside the Park.
Fixed Departures are available on specific Thursdays from May to August.
>> Do you want a private departure for this trip? We can do it, just send us an email.
In Torres del Paine and throughout Patagonia, transport is in minivans that normally seat up to 8 & 14 people.
The Patagonian Andes is very exposed to winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. In addition, the strong marine influence and the effect of the Southern Patagonia Icefield make the weather hard to predict.
Winter’s temperature range is between -2ºC/28ºF and 6ºC/43ºF. June, July, and August are the wettest months in Torres del Paine and sub-zero temperatures are common. Nevertheless, the winds are relatively mild in winter.
Essential equipment includes:
Please Note: This list is just to give you an idea of what you will need. We will send you a more detailed list prior to the departure date of the program.
The weather in Patagonia can be difficult to plan around at times. We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary as well as modify, change, or eliminate parts of the itinerary at the discretion of the trip guide based upon operational considerations.
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Updated October 4th, 2022
Dear Traveler,
We are very happy to announce that there are currently no travel restrictions in Chile.
Together with the above mentioned, it is mandatory to comply with the following requirements:
In case you have any questions, we will be happy to help you!
Best,
The Team at Cascada Expediciones & EcoCamp Patagonia