The WaterTurtle Guide to the W Trek in Patagonia

A firsthand guide to exploring one of the most spectacular places to hike in the world
2026 Edition

Five days. 60+ miles. One of the most spectacular places we’ve ever hiked.

When my daughter called and asked if I wanted to go hiking in Patagonia, my answer was pretty simple: "Hell yes!"

A few months later, we were standing beneath the granite towers of Torres del Paine National Park, beginning five days on one of the world's great treks.

We hiked more than 60 miles through a landscape of turquoise lakes, glaciers, jagged mountains and windswept valleys. We climbed to Base Torres, hiked deep into the French Valley to Británico, crossed suspension bridges above Grey Glacier and spent our nights in refugios along the trail.

We also experienced something Patagonia is famous for: weather that doesn't particularly care about your plans.

And that was part of the adventure.

Now I'm putting what I've learned into one practical, firsthand guide about what I wish I knew before I went.

The WaterTurtle Guide to the Patagonia W Trek

This isn't a generic collection of things pulled together from the internet.

It's based on my own travels, photographs, trip reports and experiences, combined with the research I've done to turn those experiences into a practical guide for planning your own trip.

Why Hike the W Trek?

The W Trek is a great combination of big adventure and manageable logistics. You don't need to be a mountaineer. You don't need to carry a tent or a week's worth of food. And you don't necessarily need a guide walking beside you.

But you should be comfortable hiking long days, climbing several thousand feet and dealing with rapidly changing weather.

The reward is extraordinary.

Over five days, the trail takes you to three of Torres del Paine's defining landscapes:

Base Torres
The famous granite towers rising above a glacial lake.

French Valley & Británico
A spectacular high-alpine valley surrounded by cliffs, glaciers and the unmistakable peaks of Los Cuernos.

Grey Glacier
A massive river of ice stretching toward the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

And between those destinations are miles of scenery that would be highlights almost anywhere else.

Our W Trek

We hiked the W for five days and four nights in late March.

Our actual GPS totals came to more than 60 miles and approximately 15,100 feet of cumulative elevation gain, including several optional extensions and viewpoints.

We slept in refugios each night, carried relatively light packs and let a local Patagonia specialist handle the complicated reservations and transportation. That allowed us to concentrate on the part we actually traveled halfway around the world to do:

Hike Patagonia.

What I Wish I Knew Before We Went

There is plenty of information online about the W Trek.

What I found harder to find was the practical advice you usually get from a friend who has already done it.

Which direction would you hike?

Which optional extensions are actually worth the extra miles?

What's it really like staying in the refugios?

How difficult are the days?

What happens when Patagonia's wind changes your plans?

What should you pack?

Would you add Británico?

Would you hike beyond Grey Refugio?

Would you book everything yourself or let someone else deal with the logistics?

Those are the questions I wanted to answer after our trip.

So I put together the guide I wish we'd had before we left.

The WaterTurtle Guide to the W Trek - Torres del Paine National Park • Patagonia, Chile

The insider's guide to getting the most out of your W Trek.

This isn't an encyclopedia of Patagonia or another generic booking manual.

It's a practical guide built around our actual five-day trek and what I would tell a friend who was planning the same adventure.

Inside the guide you'll find:

The 5-day W Trek itinerary I would choose
Our actual daily mileage and elevation
Which direction I would hike and why
A day-by-day account of our trek
The three trail extensions I would prioritize
Base Torres, French Valley, Británico and Grey Glacier advice
What the refugios were really like
The gear I would pack
Patagonia weather strategy
Puerto Natales recommendations and logistics
What I would do differently
Options if you have only 3 or 4 days
Advice for arranging the logistics without giving up the freedom of a self-guided trek
Tons of photos from our actual trip

Digital Guide — $29

Instant PDF download. Read it on your phone, tablet or computer, or print the pages you want to bring with you.

Want Someone Else to Handle the Logistics?

We used Hello Patagonia, a Puerto Natales-based company, to arrange the logistical side of our trek.

They handled the accommodations, meals, park transportation and other reservations while we remained completely self-guided on the trail.

I liked that combination.

Hello Patagonia handles the logistics. WaterTurtle helps you know what to do with the time you're given.

WaterTurtle readers who decide to book with Hello Patagonia can use our promotional code (and receive a free Hello Patagonia gift): waterturtle

Enter waterturtle in the promo-code section of their contact form.

WaterTurtle Media may receive a commission from qualifying bookings through our Hello Patagonia partnership at no additional cost to you.

EXPLORE THE W TREK WITH HELLO PATAGONIA

Is the W Trek Worth It?

For us, absolutely.

What I remember most isn't one viewpoint.

It's waking up and watching the first red light hit the Torres Towers. Walking beside the brilliant blue water of Lago Nordenskjöld. Hearing an avalanche in the French Valley that sounded like thunder. Crossing suspension bridges above Grey Glacier. Meeting hikers from around the world in the refugios. And then getting absolutely hammered by Patagonia's famous wind on our final day.

The W gives you the framework.

Patagonia decides the details.

That's part of what makes it such a great adventure.

If the W Trek has been sitting on your someday list, today is someday. It's time to make it happen.

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Firsthand travel guides for active travelers.