Torres del Paine W-Trek - Self Guided

Starting from Puerto Natales early this morning around 7am we will take a public bus (approx 3 hours) all the way to Torres del Paine National Park. Please make your own way to the bus station. We will drive through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias), and chances are we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (rare South American ostrich). The bus arrives to Laguna Amarga the main entrance to the park where you connect with a shuttle to the Refugio Torre central. Today is a big walk (8 - 10hrs round trip, 22km) to the base of the Torres del Paine (or towers). Start the trek to the base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter the Ascencio Valley. The walk will be uphill for one hour before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech forests, glaciers and waterfalls. You’ll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (900m), excellent for picture taking. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch to add to the enjoyment. After being awed by the towers you’ll start the descent, following the same path back to Refugio Las Torres. Dinner will be served in the Refugio. Distance: 22km, 8-10 hours (You will only need to carry your day pack, you can leave your main luggage at the refugio.) Overnight: Refugio Las Torres or camping. PLEASE NOTE: You will need to arrive in Puerto Natales the day before the start of the trip and attend a trip briefing around 5. 30 to 6pm at our local partner's office.

Meals: L,D

After breakfast at the Refugio you request your packed lunch and start the hike to Refugio Los Cuernos. As we leave the hut we will arrive at Inge lagoon. Chances are high on this path that you may see the flight of an Andean condor or eagles hunting hares or small rodents. You follow a well marked trail ascending around (200m) the base of Almirante Nieto Mountain (2750m), crossing the Bader River to arrive at Refugio Los Cuernos where you will stay overnight. Distance: 13km, 5-6 hours (You will need to carry your main pack and day pack.) Overnight Refugio Los Cuernos or Domos Frances or camping.

Meals: B,L,D

After a breakfast in the Refugio and once you have request your packed lunch you will start the day with a 2-hour walk going to an undulating path until reaching the French River for your first glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then you will ascend (300m) for one hour through a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach the French valley viewpoint gifting us with a magnificent view of both mountains and lakes. Your way back will be the same until you reach the entrance of the valley where you will continue on a different path around the South-West side of Paine Grande, the highest peak in the Park, through native forests of Chilean fire bush and evergreen beech, up to the shore of the Pehoé Lake. Dinner will be served in the Refugio. Distance: 18km, 8-9 hours (You will need to carry your main pack and day pack.) Overnight: Paine Grande Refugio or camping.

Meals: B,L,D

Today you will begin early this morning with the hike to the Grey Glacier. Initially ascending 200m up a winding narrow path leading to Laguna Los Patos, where you will observe the first glimpses of the South Patagonia Ice Field with its many unclimbed mountains. Continue through forests and rivers, with possible sightings of spectacle and flying steamer ducks, up to the glacier viewpoint. Optional Ice Hike or Kayak (we suggest to book this in advance, additional cost applies). Distance: 11km, 4-5 hours (You will need to carry your main pack and day pack until Refugio Grey. You can leave your main pack there and continue with a day pack to the Grey Glacier lookout point.) Overnight: Refugio Grey or camping.

Meals: B,L,D

The morning is at your own leisure. Options include an additional hike to the hanging bridges for a magnificent view of Grey Glacier (8km, 3 hours), an ice trek on Grey Glacier or kayaking on Lake Grey (both at an additional cost). At 1pm you will take a boat in front of the glacier in the hope of seeing icebergs calve (2 hour boat ride). The return journey offers views of Paine Grande with its impressive ice mushrooms and we sail through icebergs of different tones of blue. A private transfer will be waiting for you to drive back to Puerto Natales on a different road with great views of the Paine Mountain from a different perspective. The trip concludes on arrival in Puerto Natales (accommodation in Puerto Natales not included). Please don't book flights or transfers to your next destination before the following day. PLEASE NOTE: During shoulder or low season, the boat on Grey Lake operates based on the number of bookings and may not run daily. In all seasons, including high season, it may also be affected by weather conditions, such as strong winds in the summer months, which could result in temporary closures. If the boat is not operating on day 5 of your trip, we will walk back to Paine Grande Refugio today and take a ferry from there. It crosses Lake Pehoe in 35 minutes and arrives in Pudeto where a car transfer will be waiting for you (4 hours hiking, 11km, 35 minutes by Catamaran, 2 hours transfer back to Puerto Natales). We will confirm your final itinerary at the trip briefing the day before the start of the trip.

Meals: B,L