Torres del Paine is best understood on foot. This trek follows the park's most celebrated line, the one known as the W: up to the granite towers that give it its name, along the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld under the Cuernos, deep into the French Valley and out to the edge of the Southern Ice Field at the Grey glacier. Four nights inside the park, in camps and refuges, mean every day starts where the walking is.
Day 1 · Puerto Natales
Highlight · Meeting the guide in the small port on the Última Esperanza sound.
The group meets its local guide in Puerto Natales, the small port on the Última Esperanza sound that is the gateway to the park.
Night · Puerto Natales
Day 2 · Into the park, to Las Torres
Highlight · A first night under canvas at the foot of the Paine massif.
By road into Torres del Paine, a World Heritage site and a paradise for flora and fauna, through the Laguna Amarga entrance to the Las Torres sector, where the first night is spent under canvas at the foot of the massif.
Night · Torres del Paine
Day 3 · The base of the towers
Highlight · Granite pinnacles more than a thousand metres tall above a glacial lagoon.
Walk · Base of the Torres · 13 km · 8 h
The emblematic walk of the park: to the foot of the Torres, granite pinnacles more than a thousand metres tall above a glacial lagoon. The way back leads to the night at the Chileno refuge.
Night · Torres del Paine
Day 4 · From Chileno to Los Cuernos
Highlight · Forest along the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld, ending right under the Cuernos.
Walk · Chileno to Los Cuernos · 11 km · 4–5 h · moderate
A day around the base of Monte Almirante Nieto and through the forest along the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld, to the Cuernos sector, right under the peaks of the same name.
Night · Torres del Paine
Day 5 · The French Valley
Highlight · Small avalanches breaking off the French glacier, with the Cuernos del Paine close above.
Walk · French Valley · 25 km · 10–12 h
The longest and hardest day. The trail climbs into the French Valley, as far as the group's pace allows, with small avalanches breaking off the French glacier and the Cuernos del Paine close above. It is easy to see why the valley is an icon for mountaineers and climbers. Then back to the main trail and on to the Paine Grande refuge.
Night · Torres del Paine
Day 6 · Grey glacier and back to Puerto Natales
Highlight · The Southern Ice Field, the Grey and Olguín glaciers and icebergs on the lake from the main lookout.
Walk · Grey glacier lookouts · 22 km · 9 h
A last walk to the Grey glacier lookouts: the first after an hour and a half, the main one two and a half hours further on, facing the Southern Ice Field, the Grey and Olguín glaciers and the icebergs on the lake. A short navigation and the road take the group back to Puerto Natales.
