Circuit W Torres del Paine National Park 🏔️

Torres del Paine National Park is the eighth wonder of the natural world, a place with some of the southernmost trekking on the planet. The park extends over 227,298 hectares, there is a lot of fauna that inhabits the Park (cougars, foxes, condors, guanacos, huemules, quirquinchos, ducks, flamingos, woodpeckers, chingues, rheas, caranchos, among other species), which coexist before the presence of the Cuernos del Paine, lakes, forests, rivers and waterfalls.

One of the most complex decisions during your visit to Torres del Paine is the choice of the O or W circuit. The first thing you should know is that they owe their name to the route that each route has and you should always consider the weather conditions in your area. stay in the Park, since the conditions are usually very changeable. Ojos Viajeros gives you all the tips to determine if the "W" is the option you need.

CIRCUIT W

The W circuit includes a route of about 80 kilometers with a peak height of about 870 meters above sea level, which is recommended to travel in 5 days. This trek is classified as intermediate difficulty.

Day 1, Trekking Mirador Base Torres: We leave early in the morning from Puerto Natales, to arrive early at the Torres del Paine National Park, pay the entrance fee and register. Here the adventure begins, setting up your camp in the Central Sector, where you will sleep tonight, also this way you can lighten the weight a little during the day. The trekking consists of going up to the Base Torres Viewpoint, where you can take one of the most iconic photos of the park, then descending the same path to the Central Sector. The road is endless and this route has about 16 kilometers that can take up to 8 - 9 hours round trip. Accumulated difference, 1,060 meters.

Day 2, Border Lake Nordenskjöld: We set up camp in the Central Sector and today's mission is to reach the French Sector or Cuernos Sector , making a walk of about 14 kilometers, for about 5 - 7 hours, this route borders Lake Nordenskjöld , where you can enjoy its deep turquoise color. Accumulated difference, 530 meters.

Day 3, Trekking Valle del Francés: Walk to the Valle del Francés round trip, then continue walking a couple of kilometers to the Paine Grande Sector , Where are you going to camp tonight? You will travel 20 kilometers for 10 hours throughout this day. Accumulated difference, 815 meters.

Day 4, Trekking Mirador Gray Glacier: This day includes an 11-kilometer route passing along the side of Lake Gray, reaching the viewpoint of the fascinating Gray Glacier, here you can see one of the most impressive places in the Torres del Paine National Park. This tour will take you about 4 - 5 hours, in this sector there is a lot of wind, we recommend you be prepared for that type of weather. Tonight you will have to stay in Sector Gray. Accumulated difference, 260 meters.

Day 5, Return Paine Grande Sector - Puerto Natales : This day corresponds to the return from the Gray Sector to the Paine Grande Sector, this journey lasts about 4 - 5 hours, it is 11 kilometers, practically the same as on the way out. It is important to leave early, to arrive on time to the catamaran that crosses Lake Pehoé to Puerto Pudeto, where you will leave the park heading towards Puerto Natales, ending this beautiful journey. Accumulated difference, 260 meters.

Tips: Remember to reserve your campsites, shelters or catamaran tickets in advance, bring the necessary food for your trekking days, remember to use the appropriate equipment (waterproof boots, hat to cover your ears) according to the weather conditions (wind, rain and even snow), a trekking tent suitable for strong gusts of wind and that can withstand 1,500 - 2,000 millimeters of water ideally. The best months to visit this Park are between October and April, although in the middle of summer there are more hours of sunlight.

To get to the park there are 3 ways, buses that operate in the area, renting a car in Puerto Natales or privately in your own car, in all cases, you must arrive at the Laguna Amarga entrance, where you must register and pay the fees. input.

Tell us about your experience touring the Patagonian landscapes of the Torres del Paine National Park. What advice would you give to other travelers?

If you are looking for a different experience in the Torres del Paine National Park, a photographic experience for amateurs or professionals, if you want to take those unique postcards at sunrise and sunset, in our Adventure section we have the ideal expedition for you.