Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Puerto Natales
You'll arrive in Puerto Natales and get settled into your accommodation whenever you're ready. Come evening, head to the W-Trek offices for a briefing where they'll cover National Park info, safety rules, and what to expect on your self-guided trek. It's worth paying attention since you'll be handling most of the navigation yourself.
- Start point
- Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, Magellan and the Chilean Antarctic 6200000, Chile (Puerto Natales)
- Day 2
W Trek Day 1: Hike to Base of the Towers
This is a long day. You're leaving Puerto Natales at 6:30 AM from the bus station for a 2-hour ride to Laguna Amarga. From there, a shuttle takes you to the Welcome Centre and Refugio Torre Central where you'll drop off your main pack. Then the real hiking starts: 1.5 hours climbing up through lakes and scenery, a quick break at Refugio El Chileno, a walk through old lenga forest, and finally the tough 45-60 minute boulder moraine scramble to reach Base of the Towers Lookout with views of three granite towers. Head back down the same route to Torre Central for dinner and sleep.
- Meals
- Lunch (Box lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Base of the Towers Lookout (Mirador Base las Torres)
- Park entrance fee
- Bus from Puerto Natales to Laguna Amarga
- Shuttle from Laguna Amarga to Welcome Centre and Refugio Torre Central
- Rest at Refugio El Chileno
Landmarks Base of the Towers Lookout (Mirador Base las Torres) Mount Almirante Nieto Laguna Amarga Refugio El Chileno 
- Day 3
W Trek Day 2: Trek to Refugio Francés
After breakfast, you'll start hiking around 9:00 AM on a moderate route that skirts the Paine Massif and Mount Almirante Nieto. Most of the day you're walking along the turquoise shoreline of Lago Nordenskjöld, where you can see the lake and hanging glaciers. Look out for red ciruelillo and notro trees along the way (they're more visible from December on). Pass through the Los Cuernos area and finish at Refugio Francés for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Refugio Torre Central to Refugio Francés
- Views of Lago Nordenskjöld
- Views of hanging glaciers
Landmarks Lago Nordenskjöld Paine Massif Mount Almirante Nieto Los Cuernos 
- Day 4
W Trek Day 3: The French Valley
This is your toughest hiking day but also the most rewarding. Leave at 8:00 AM and head out without your main pack. Walk to Campamento Italiano, which is where French Valley starts. From there you climb for 1.5 hours through the Francés River valley up to Mirador Francés, where you'll see the hanging Francés Glacier. Continue another 1.5-2 hours deeper into rocky and forested terrain to reach Mirador Británico. The views from up there show a granite peak amphitheater that makes the effort worth it. Take the same path back to your refugio for dinner and rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Valle del Francés (French Valley) and Mirador Británico (British Lookout)
- Views of Mirador Francés (French Lookout) and hanging Francés Glacier
Landmarks Mirador Británico (British Lookout) Mirador Francés (French Lookout) Valle del Francés (French Valley) Campamento Italiano Francés River - Day 5
W Trek Day 4: Grey Glacier Lookout & Return to Puerto Natales
Early breakfast, then hike 2-2.5 hours from Refugio Francés to Paine Grande Lodge. Drop off your main pack and choose between two Grey Glacier options: the 3-hour round trip to the first viewpoint or the 5-6 hour option if you're fast, which gets you closer glacier views. You need to be back by 6:00 PM for the catamaran check-in at the pier. The 6:30 PM boat crosses Lago Pehoé for 30 minutes to Pudeto, then a bus heads back to Puerto Natales, arriving around 10:00 PM. Find your own way to your accommodation after that.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch)
Included Activities
- Trek from Refugio Francés to Paine Grande Lodge
- Catamaran crossing of Lago Pehoé
- Bus from Pudeto to Puerto Natales
Optional Activities
- Option A: Hike to Grey Glacier First Viewpoint (approximately 3 hours round trip)
- Option B: Hike to Grey Glacier Main Lookout (approximately 5-6 hours round trip for faster hikers)
Landmarks Grey Glacier (Glaciar Grey) Lago Grey Lago Pehoé Paine Grande Lodge - Day 6
Departure from Puerto Natales
Have breakfast and check out. Your W Trek tour services end here.
- End point
- Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, Magellan and the Chilean Antarctic 6200000, Chile (Puerto Natales)
- Meals
- Breakfast
