Torres del Paine W Circuit

Information

Distance

80.0 km

Duration

4–5 days

Max elevation

870 m

Country

Chile (CL)

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous (strong Patagonian winds, the Base Torres climb; low altitude)

Best Season

October–April (Patagonian summer); peak December–February

Permits & Fees

CONAF reservations are required online (entry ticket ~USD 48 for stays of 3+ nights); cabins and campsites must be booked well in advance via the CONAF online booking system

Description

The Torres del Paine W Circuit is an iconic multi-day trek in Chilean Patagonia, tracing three 'arms' of a W shape through Torres del Paine National Park. Over 4–5 days and ~80 km, hikers visit the granite towers of Base Torres (viewpoint at 870 m), the cliff-flanked French Valley (Valle del Francés) with its waterfalls and seracs, and the edge of the turquoise Grey Glacier at Lago Grey. CONAF online bookings are mandatory well in advance, as mountain lodges and campsites fill up fast from December to February. Patagonia's fierce winds are both the trail's defining challenge and its character.

Trail Highlights

The granite towers of Torres del Paine (Base Torres), the French Valley (Valle del Francés) with waterfalls and ice seracs, the edge of Grey Glacier at Lago Grey, the trail along Lago Nordenskjöld, and views of the Paine Grande peak.