7-day W Trek tour

Highlights

Highlights

• Trek on some of Patagonia’s best trails and pass by picturesque landscapes.
• Take a relaxing boat ride to Grey Glacier, one of the park’s top attractions. 
• Spend some of your nights at EcoCamp Patagonia, the world’s first sustainable dome hotel. It’s a chance to snack on tasty food made from local ingredients, mingle with new friends from around the world and sleep in your own cozy eco-dome.
• Enjoy the trek by only carrying your daypack while our porters take your backpack.
• Recommended trek for active hikers. 

Included

Included

• All ground transport as indicated in the itinerary.
• One expert English/Spanish speaking trekking guide.
• Torres del Paine National Park entrance fee.
• Accommodation as detailed in the itinerary.
• Boat crossing over Grey Lake.
• Sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, sleeping mat & tent.
• Porter service.
• All meals detailed in the itinerary.
• Transportation to/from EcoCamp according to our Transfer Schedule.

Not included

• Flight tickets.
• Insurance (appropriate health & travel insurance is mandatory).
• Voluntary tipping to guides and staff.
• Cash for buying extra drinks, snacks or souvenirs.
• Personal items.

Accommodation

EcoCamp Patagonia (Nights 1, 4, 5 & 6)

Ecocamp Patagonia is located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile with views of the majestic granite Paine Towers. It was the first geodesic dome hotel in the world, offering an upscale camp at the domes inspired by the region’s ancient nomadic inhabitants. 

EcoCamp Patagonia Suite Dome
(Heating & Private bathroom, 28m²/300ft²)

Suite domes were designed to further our goal of providing comfort in a natural setting with minimal environmental impact, and also maintain the hotel’s familiar and cozy vibe. The domes have comfortable double or twin beds, a wood stove and a private bathroom with a state-of-the-art composting toilet.

EcoCamp Patagonia Suite Dome Loft
(2 floors, Heating & Private bathroom, 37m²/398ft²)

Suite dome lofts are two-storey domes which fit up to four people and have comfortable double or twin beds both up and downstairs. These domes, ideal for families or groups of friends, come with a wood stove, a private terrace and a private bathroom with a state-of-the-art composting toilet.

EcoCamp Patagonia Superior Dome
(Heating & Private bathroom, 23m²/250ft²)

Spacious, comfortable and equipped with private bathrooms, Superior Domes are the optimum choice for trekkers wanting that bit more space and comfort at the end of a long day’s walk. Each Superior Dome has comfortable queen-size or twin beds, a propane heater, skylight windows and a private bathroom with a sophisticated composting toilet.

EcoCamp Patagonia Standard Dome
(Heating, Shared bathroom, 10m²/108ft²)

EcoCamp Standard domes were the world's first lodge accommodation in geodesic shape. They are resistant to the strong Patagonian winds and come equipped with two single beds (doubles on request, as in the photo), cozy fleece blankets, and feather quilts. There is a radiator for heating, which can also be used to hang your clothes for drying There are windows in the ceiling for stargazing. Standard domes include shared bathrooms which are large, comfortable, and gender divided.

Campsite at Los Cuernos or El Francés (Night 2)

Depending on the itinerary, guests will have the opportunity to camp at either the picturesque El Francés or Los Cuernos Sector during their stay. Both locations offer stunning views of the surrounding landscapes and are perfect for immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Torres del Paine National Park.

Optional upgrade to the shared dormitories inside Refugios are available upon request, please ask to your Travel Experience Designer for more information.

Los Cuernos Campsite & Refugio

Shared dormitories in Refugio Los Cuernos

Francés Campsite & Refugio

Shared dormitories at Domes in Refugio Francés

Campsite at Paine Grande (Night 3)

Accommodation in tents for 2 people will be provided in the corresponding shelter facilities. The shelters are heated and have a very comfortable feeding area where abundant meals are served. Alternatively, guest houses or lodges have rooms for 4 to 6 people. The beds are single bunk beds (sleeping bags and fleece blankets are provided) while the bathrooms are also shared and have hot water.

Optional upgrade to the shared dormitories inside Refugios are available upon request, please ask to your Travel Experience Designer for more information.

Paine Grande Campsite & Refugio

Paine Grande's Shared Dormitories

An optional upgrade to the shared dormitories inside Refugio Paine Grande can be requested. Please review availability and prices with your Travel Experience Designer.

Facts

Departures

Regular departures are available every Monday from October to April.

Departures require a minimum of 2 participants. If a given departure isn't available, you will be put on a waiting list.

Starting / finishing point

This trip starts on Monday and finishes on Sunday with pickups and drop-offs in Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or El Calafate. Please visit our Weekly Transfer Board for details of EcoCamp pick up and drop off times.

Can't find availability for this program?

If you can't find availability or are looking for something that better fits your preferences and itinerary, we have the perfect solution for you!

Discover our exciting W Trek - Brush Variant program, sailing from the fjords to the heart of the Paine Massif, with stunning views of three magnificent glaciers and virgin forests.

Departures are every Friday from November to March. Don't hesitate to explore this incredible experience by clicking here.

Important notes

During Low and Shoulder Season (October and April), the boat trip to Glacier Grey may be canceled, if this is the case, the itinerary will be modified sou depart from Paine Grande through the Pehoé Lake navigation or Las Carretas trail.

If refugios are unavailable, alternative accommodation will be provided in tents or domes with prior notice.

If you choose a Standard Dome and you are traveling alone, you can share the dome with another person of the same gender and pay the double base price. If you want the dome to yourself, you need to pay a Single Supplement.

Accommodation in the refugio will be provided in comfortable tents or domes, including mat, sleeping bag and a polar fleece liner; our team will set up and dismantle all this. The campsite provides satisfactory bathroom facilities. Meals will be served inside the refugio.

Please note: During Shoulder and Low Season (October and April) the Towers Base Trek excursion might be canceled due to weather conditions and safety concerns.

Physical demands

This is the right trip for energetic people who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. During this trek you will walk a total of 77kms /48,5mi. On the map, in the itinerary section, click on the walking person icon for daily information.   

To enjoy this trek it is essential to be in shape before you arrive. It is not wise to regard this trek as a means of getting into shape or losing excess weight. Start a program of conditioning well before departure.

Group size guiding staff

• 9 travelers is the most typical group size, plus guiding staff.
• Maximum 12 clients.
• Guide to passenger ratio: 1:6

Children policy

Those aged 13 years or older are welcome and are considered adults.

Children between 10 and 12 might be accepted in this program if their legal guardian sends a formal letter stating that the child is prepared for such an intense trekking trip and authorizes us to hire a private guide in case the child cannot perform well during the trek.

Children under 10 years of age cannot participate in this trip.
This trip doesn’t offer a special discount for children.

Transport

In Torres del Paine and throughout Patagonia transport is in minivans that normally seat from 8 to 14 people. Pick up/ off times will be confirmed locally by our operations team. An exclusive toll-free emergency number will be available for anyone needing additional support while they are in Chile.

Weather

The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Patagonian Andes very exposed to the winds that circle the Antarctic landmass, making the weather hard to predict. Fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning; even in summer (December to March), you should come prepared to find strong cold winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfall. Summer’s average temperature is 11ºC (52ºF), ranging between 2 to 24ºC (35 to 75ºF).

What you need to bring

Passengers need to be prepared for summer and winter all at once. We recommend the following:

• A day backpack (30 liters - to carry a camera, glasses, raincoat, etc).
• Trekking or hiking boots.
• Extra shoes for evenings or in case others get wet.
• Waterproof jacket.
• 2 pairs of wool socks.
• Fleece jacket or sweater.
• Shorts or comfortable loose pants.
• Sun protection (glasses, hat, lip balm, and screen).
• Optional Capilene underwear for the upper and lower body.
• Cash to buy extra drinks, snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine National Park.

Porter service and luggage handling

Who are the porters?

The porters are people who will help us with the logistics of transporting luggage during our trip. They will be in charge of carrying items such as: tents, sleeping bags, mats/insulators and dry bags*. They will transport these items from Ecocamp or the camps occupied during the trek, to our next stops, making sure to arrive on time so that we can find these items at our disposal once we arrive at the camps/refugios.

*Dry bags: Dry bags, as their name indicates, are waterproof bags in which we can store the items that we will not need during the walks and keep them dry and insulated while the porters transport them. The dry bag limit (regulated based on the weight that is healthy for porters to carry) is 15 Lt. and 5 Kg/11 Lb. each (in case there is more than one dry bag on your trip).

These bags will be labeled with your name so that they are not confused with those of other members of your group.

Dry bag logistics for the 7 Days W Trek

Upon arrival at EcoCamp, the guides will give a briefing to explain in detail the logistics of the dry baga and the next day's activity.

On the 7 Day W trek you will be given 1 dry bag, which you must fill with your belongings on day 1 of the itinerary upon arriving at Ecocamp. This bag will have the following organization/logistics.

Day 2: On day 2 of the itinerary, this bag will be transported from EcoCamp to Camping Cuernos or Francés (depending on availability), where it will wait for you with your belongings for that evening.

Day 3: On day 3 of the itinerary, this bag will be transported from EcoCamp to Camping Paine Grande, where it will wait for you with your belongings for that evening.

Day 4: The dry bag leaves from Paine Grande to EcoCamp, where you can have it when you arrive in the afternoon.

Tips for assembling dry bags

Taking into account that you will only have access to 1 of the 2 dry bags during your trip (when your trip includes 2), we recommend the following to have optimal access to your items:

• In dry bags, store items that you will only need during the nights in refugios, for example: Change of clothes (underwear, pants, t-shirts, first layers, socks).
• Sleeping bags and insulators/mats are NOT stored in the dry bags, these will be transported separately by the porters.
• Do not store items that you will need every night such as personal hygiene items or medications; we recommend that you carry these items in your daily backpack.
• Do not store items that are too large or heavy, remember that these must be transported by the porters and have a limit of 5Kg/11Lb.
• Do not store flammable or too delicate items that could cause accidents for those transporting the dry bags.
• Avoid storing food in dry bags as it can ruin the bag and also spoil the food.

Itinerary modifications

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 at the discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations. The trip guide can modify, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based upon these safety/weather considerations.