Torres del Paine W Trek

The W Trek is the signature multi-day route of Torres del Paine — Chile's flagship national park in southern Patagonia — and the most-walked thru-hike in South America. The "W" name describes the route's shape on a map: three trails fanning into three valleys beneath the Cordillera del Paine, each climbing to a separate viewpoint (Grey Glacier, Mirador Británico in the French Valley, and the Torres themselves), connected by traverse paths along the lake shores.

Most hikers walk the W from west to east over five days. Day 1 is a catamaran across Lake Pehoé to Paine Grande, then a long contour along the Grey Glacier's terminal moraine to Refugio Grey, with views of the floating icebergs in Lago Grey. Day 2 retraces the Grey leg back to Paine Grande and continues to Campamento Italiano. Day 3 is the French Valley day — a steep, rocky climb up to Mirador Británico in the heart of the Cuernos massif, with hanging glaciers crashing off Paine Grande every few minutes, then a long traverse to Los Cuernos. Day 4 walks along Lago Nordenskjöld to Refugio Chileno. Day 5 begins pre-dawn for the steep climb up the Ascencio valley to Mirador Las Torres for sunrise on the three granite towers, then the long descent to Hotel Las Torres and the bus out.

Bookings are required for every night — refugios (full board, dorm beds), camping platforms with hired tents, or bring-your-own camping at marked sites. There are two concessions: Vértice runs Grey and Paine Grande, Las Torres runs Cuernos, Chileno and Central. Reservations open in mid-year (June–July) on each operator's site and the popular dates fill within hours. CONAF (the park service) also requires a separate park entrance ticket and itinerary registration. The walking season is October to April; outside it the catamaran doesn't run and the high valleys are snowbound. Patagonian weather is the wildcard — 100 km/h winds and horizontal rain are normal, even in summer. Pack as if for a Scottish winter, and start each day early.