Compare Torres del Paine W Trek Self Guided – 5 Day Package Lodging in Refugios by Keteka vs Patagonia Short Break - Torres Del Paine by Intrepid Travel

Day 1: Visit the Torres of Torres del Paine

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Hike: Puerto Natales – Refugio Chileno

In the morning, you will leave Puerto Natales heading towards Torres del Paine National Park. After arriving in the park, you will begin to casually walk up Almirante Nieto, a mountain that takes you to an incredible view of Lake Nordenskjold and the Asencio Valley.

You will arrive at Refugio Chileno a few hours after lunch. This is where you will be spending the night, so you will check into the refugio and leave your things there, before continuing on the hike. After a short rest in Chileno, you will hike one hour through a dense Lenga forest. After leaving the forest, you will approach a moraine and climb to see the amazing granite peaks known as the Torres. After a bit of time admiring the view you will return back to Chileno to have dinner and sleep.

Day 2: Hike along Lake Nordenskjold

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Hike: Refugio Chileno – Refugio Cuernos

You will have breakfast in the morning before then heading off to hike again. You will set off from Refugio Chileno and walk for around four hours toward Refugio Cuernos, which is located on the coast of Lake Nordenskjold and the foot of the impressive Cuernos of Paine.

On the way, you will border Almirante Nieto and pass by Lake Nordenskjold. You will have a few rivers to cross by hopping across rocks and also catch views of glaciers upon the mountain tops that are hovering over you. Finally you see the Cuernos! They are monstrous peaks, you will spend the night at the foot of them in Refugio Cuernos after a breathtaking journey.

Day 3: Explore the French Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Hike: Refugio Cuernos – Refugio Paine Grande

Just after breakfast you will begin the hike toward Camp Italiano. This camp is just two and a half easy hours away. The trek begins on a windy beach but you will eventually escape into the valley and find that the wind is a little calmer

You will leave your backpack at Camp Italiano once you arrive there and continue into the French Valley with just a small day pack. You will hike across a moraine and through a forest until you finally arrived at a clearing. Whilst the wind will be very strong here, you will be blown away even more by the spectacular views of Lake Nordenskjold, Skottberg and Pehoe behind you. Ahead of you, you will be able to see the shocking hanging glacier called the French Glacier, as well as many of the peaks that are the reason why this park has become famous. After leaving the lookout, you will return to gather your backpacks and continue to Refugio Paine Grande where you will spend the night.

Day 4: Admire Glacier Grey

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Hike: Refugio Paine Grande – Glacier Grey

After a restful night’s sleep and an energizing breakfast, you will be ready to hike again. Today you will hike a short two hours up through a small forest to the first lookout of Grey Glacier. You will be able to experience the wind coming off the Southern Ice Field and see both the ice field and Glacier Grey!

You will continue walking for 2 more hours until finally reaching Refugio Grey, which is tucked away in a small valley in a wooded area that is protected from the wind. You will check into the refugio and then have time to continue towards Glacier Grey. If you like you can get up close to the Glacier at Camp Guardas or you can rest along the beach. You will return to Refugio Grey for dinner and a warm bed. (You can also opt for additional excursions in the afternoon or morning while staying in Refugio Grey — see “Additional Extras” below.)

Day 5: Return to Puerto Natales

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Hike: Glacier Grey – Puerto Natales

After four days hiking on the famous Torres del Paine W Trek, you will have the morning to walk around Glacier Grey. You will board the Grey III boat in the afternoon. You will enjoy your afternoon by admiring the glacier from up-close and take remarkable photographs of the surroundings. Just after 16:00 hrs you will begin your journey towards Puerto Natales and on to your next adventure!

Day 1 Puerto Natales

Welcome to Patagonia! Few places on earth offer up such dramatic and breathtaking landscapes, the most iconic of which are contained within Torres del Paine National Park and Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, which you’ll be exploring over the next days. Your adventure begins at Puerto Natales airport, or at Puerto Natales bus station where you’ll be collected by a local representative and transferred to your hotel in the little city of Puerto Natales, sitting on the "Seno de Ultima Esperanza" (Bay of the Last Hope). Our adventure begins at 6 pm with the welcome meeting where you will meet our local representative. It is important that you try and arrive in Puerto Natales before this time. If you get here early enough we suggest taking a walk along the Costanera, leading to the historic remains of the Braun & Blanchard wharf (it’s especially beautiful at sunset). If you want to wet your whistle, the city is dotted with establishments serving up excellent Chilean wine and locally produced craft beer. Note: Confirmation of your arrival information is needed in advance. If you arrive from Puerto Natales Airport, or Puerto Natales Bus Station please inform your Intrepid agent and your transfer from there to your hotel will be arranged accordingly. Should you choose to arrive in Puerto Natales from El Calafate via public bus, the bus ticket will be sent to you in advance by email. Please inform your Intrepid agent to arrange for the bus ticket.

Day 2 Torres del Paine National Park

Today, after breakfast you’ll be joined by a local guide to explore the remarkable and diverse landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978. Stop off on the way at the Milodon Cave, an enormous cavern where remains of prehistoric mammals like the mylodon, an extinct ground sloth, have been found. Continue on to Cuernos de Paine, the towering granite spikes of Torres del Paine National Park. From here, walk to Salto Grande – at 15 metres high, this is the park’s largest waterfall. Take some time to admire the powerful cascade tumbling into the beautiful turquoise lake below. Next up is a visit to Lago Gray, a picturesque lake fringed by the icy blue Grey Glacier. Hike through a coigue Forest, crossing suspension bridge over the Pingo River and eventually ending up at the beach. Here you can observe icebergs of different shapes and colours floating in the lake, caused by the melting of the Grey Glacier. After an exciting day, return to Puerto Natales for an evening at leisure. Note: All entry tickets to National Parks are included, your local guide will have them and present them in the parks for you.

Day 3 Balmaceda & Serrano Glacier Navigation

Today begins at 7.30am at Puerto Bories pier, from where you’ll sail through the Senoret Channel and the Ultima Esperanza fjord. Cross into the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, the largest park in Chile and home to giant glaciers, lush vegetation, soaring waterfalls and loads of wildlife, including Andean condors, marine otters and cormorants. Sail past the seriously impressive Balmaceda glacier, hanging from the mountain of the same name. Dock at Puerto Toro and walk about a kilometer through a native forest filled with coigues, murtilla de magallanes, chaura and lichens. Walk towards the foot of the Serrano Glacier, following the edge of an iceberg-filled lake formed by its melt. Finally, enjoy an aperitif with glacial ice and have lunch at a typical Patagonian estancia before returning to Puerto Natales for the evening.

Day 4 Trek to Torres del Paine National Park

If you’re up for a serious challenge, an 8-hour serious trek to Base Torres is included today, serving up the most impressive views of Torres del Paine’s granite towers and glacial lagoon. You will contemplate the imposing towers, a wonder of nature. Be sure to have your camera ready as these are scenes you won’t want to forget! Enjoy an included dinner this evening to celebrate your adventure. If, on the other hand, feel that the long trek would be too strenuous for you and would like to take things easier then you can opt for our complimentary panoramic half-day tour of Puerto Natales. This beautiful half-day excursion will help you understand the origin of this centenary city. You will learn about the toponymy of its surroundings, its history and little known details. Admire and contemplate the coast of the Señoret channel with the mountains that surround it. Your tour will start at the old Puerto Bories Cold Storage Plant, an important manufacturing industry that marked the emergence of the city in the early twentieth century, now a National Historic Monument. Next will also visit the remodeled waterfront, the main square, the fishermen's dock and the artisanal village. And on the way be sure to take some time and admire the the coast of Señoret channel with its encircling mountains. Your tour will finish with a Pisco Sour at Rooftop in Puerto Natales.

Day 5 Puerto Natales

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you'll be dropped off at the Puerto Natales bus station, from where you'll have the option to take the local bus to El Calafate on the Argentinean side of Patagonia (bus ticket included). If you are flying out today, from El Calafate, please make sure you choose a flight in late afternoon, after 3 pm. If you would prefer to begin your trip in El Calafate and end in Puerto Natales, please get in touch ahead of time so your bus ticket can be arranged.