Torres del Paine
W Trek +
Brush Lake
7 Days from 4800 ex Puerto Natales
Accommodation
3 nights camping,
1 night hotel,
2 nights Eco-Camping (Glamping)
Transportation
Mostly by foot
Transfers via vehicle & boat
Included Meals
6 Breakfasts
7 Lunches
6 Dinners
Trip Grade
Category 3
High Heart Rate Holiday
There’s a gentle crunch underfoot as we pad our way across the valley floor, a fresh fall of snow having blanketed the landscape in a sea of white.
Then it hits me.
But for my own panting, that crunching is the only sound at all.
There’s not a breath of wind.
My breath unfurls before my face, like curls of smoke in the cold winter air.
The patchy blue sky appears threatened at any moment by a haze of dark grey hovering above.
At any moment could this place feel like purgatory, but wow, is it beautiful!
“On South America’s southern frontier, nature grows wild, barren and beautiful. Spaces are large, as are the silences that fill them.
For the newly arrived, such emptiness can be as impressive as the sight of Patagonia’s jagged peaks, pristine rivers and dusty backwater oases.“
Lonely Planet
Double parked! That’s how we like to think of this variant on the classic W trek which sets foot in not only Torres del Paine, but the stunning Bernardo O’Higgins National Park as well!
Allow yourself to be humbled by awe inspiring glaciers (no fewer than four, unless the clouds close in), on this W Trek adventure with a twist.
With a greater emphasis on camping, this trek provides greater immersion in the park, includes a stay at the incredibly located Lago Grey Hotel, whilst still give travellers a taste of the wonderful experience that is the EcoCamp Patagonia.
“In Patagonia, the isolation makes it easy to exaggerate the person you are: the drinker drinks; the devout prays; the lonely grows lonelier, sometimes fatally.”
Bruce Chatwin, In Patagonia
Pricing
Based on a double/twin share. Please advise if you are travelling as a single, as a single supplement may be required.
Departs Fridays from October to April. Contact us for additional dates and pricings.
Upon booking, we will need to confirm availability with the Ecocamp before confirming your reservation.
The Journey
The trip begins with a morning pickup at 7AM from your hotel in Puerto Natales*. We will take a short, scenic drive to the port. Once arriving, we’ll board a boat to travel to the Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers, where we will marvel at the incredible beauty of Patagonia’s icy giants. After we are dropped off at the Puerto Toro dock, it’ll be time to begin our W trek!.
Starting with a 4 to 5 hour walk through the mystical Nothofagus forest, we may encounter diverse flora and fauna in this wet, rainy environment. We’ll finish off the day with an unbelievable panoramic view of Tyndall Glacier and the Macizo of Torres del Paine, before heading to our Brush Lake campsite and settling in for the night.
*This program begins early in the morning at Puerto Natales, therefore, you will need to arrive the day before in order to meet the transfer into the Park. If you arrive in Punta Arenas the day before, you might join our regular transfer to Puerto Natales as long as your schedule fits our Transfer Schedule.
(L, D)
After a great night in the wilderness, we will depart from Lago Brush, passing by Lago del Jote and heading up to Río Serrano where we will be picked up by a van that will take us to Hotel Lago Grey Hotel*, where we will have dinner and spend the night. (B, L, D)
*In the event that Hotel Lago Grey is unavailable, a similar, alternative hotel will be used.
Today we will take the 9 AM navigation to Refugio Grey, from where we will hike toward a lookout to take in the views of the immense Grey Glacier and then we’ll walk along the shores of Grey Lake to the northern side of Lake Pehoe.
The day’s trek will end with a soft climb through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest to Paine Grande´s Campsite.
*During Low and Shoulder Season (October and April), the boat trip to Glacier Grey may be canceled, if this is the case we will offer you a comparable alternative within the park.
(B, L, D)
After breakfast at Paine Grande, we will begin the challenging trek along a steep trail leading into the very heart of the Paine Massif – the famed French Valley. A swifter walk will lead us to the French River’s hanging bridge, located at the foot of the south-eastern face of the Massif.
We will then continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley’s geological formations: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress).
After our upward trek, we will pause for a picnic and relax for a while. Then we will finally start our hike back to Los Cuernos or Francés campsite, where we will have dinner and spend the night. (B, L, D)
Once we have finished breakfast, we will continue our journey to Ecocamp Patagonia along the Cuernos trail, which will take us along the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold.
Today’s walk is less strenuous yet richer in the diversity of terrain that we will cover. It will, therefore, be the perfect opportunity to take in the park’s charming flora and fauna and learn more about the vast variety of species along the way.
We will pause throughout the walk-in and eat our box lunch, rest our legs, and admire the stunning surroundings.
The trek ends as we arrive at Ecocamp where we will enjoy a hearty dinner and prepare for tomorrow’s big challenge. (B, L, D)
Today is the big day — the walk to the base of the famous Paine Towers. We will walk from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley on the Tower’s eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests, and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley.
Our big challenge is the steep moraine, a huge mass of boulders that lead to that iconic base of the Towers, the three gigantic granite monoliths that are the remains of a great cirque sheared away by glacial ice. After a tough uphill climb, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch?
After feasting on the view, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner and some tasty Chilean wine.
(B, L, D)
We board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight to Santiago.
Alternatively, we board an early morning vehicle to the border to continue our journey to El Calafate (for those travelling on to Argentina). (B, L)
Season
September through to April
NOTE: Children must be a minimum 16 years old
Includes
- 2 nights at EcoCamp Patagonia (Standard Domes – Upgrades Available to Suite or Superior rooms)
- 3 nights camping or Refugios (condition dependent)
- 1 night at the stunningly located Hotel Lago Grey
- Transfers as indicated in the itinerary
- Park fees for Cueva del Milodon and Torres del Paine National Park
- One expert English speaking trekking guide
- The porter service for this trip (see note in Pre Departure Information)
- All meals as indicated in itinerary (Breakfast – B, Lunch – L, Dinner – D)
Excludes
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance (this is mandatory)
- Personal spending money
- Tips for General Guides
- Any meals not listed as included
- Domestic Flights (to Punta Arenas return or one way)
Your Guides and Safety
An excellent guide can make the difference between a trip of a lifetime and just an ordinary trip. Our handpicked professionals come from a range of backgrounds. Each has extensive outdoor experience, a knowledge of the mountains in which you’ll walk, and a passion for the beautiful country that is Chile.
The guide will ensure that your trip is truly inspiring, a huge amount of fun, and safe. All guides are trained in Safety First Aid and are connected to our Chile and Melbourne offices by satellite phone.
Accommodation - EcoCamp
This is predominantly a glamping expedition, but with something of a twist.
Eco Camp Patagonia is more akin to a glamping experience, so look forward to one of the more comfortable camping experiences of your life. We only use Superior Domes which have an attached ensuite. Upgrades from this are available on request.
Some nights will be spent in Refugios along the trail. These are basic, but clean and provide us welcome shelter from the elements.
NOTE: Current COVID protocols may restrict the use of refugios, in which case tent accommodation will be utilised.
Accommodation - Hotel Lago Grey
Hotel Lago Grey may only be for the one night, but with it’s stellar location providing lake and mountain views, it’s unusual indeed for anyone to wish their stay wasn’t longer.
Most rooms provide views, otherwise it’s ample decking, bar and dining room provide the perfect vantage points from which to savour the surrounds.
Extra Nights Accomodation
The Eco Camp in Torres del Paine is an amazing place and many people like to stay on for a few more days after their expedition to soak up the atmosphere and to explore the region further.
If you would like to extend your stay please let us know and we can arrange this for you.
“This vast, sparsely populated and simply astonishing region encompassing virgin forests; snow-tipped Andean crags that serve as a dividing line between the two countries; myriad glacial lakes; and immense stretches of pampas (grasslands).
Most of Patagonia’s biggest attractions are outdoorsy – from epic road trips and multi-day treks, to glaciers, prehistoric art and penguin colonies”
Anna Kaminski, Freelance Travel Writer
