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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.

I've put what I learned into one practical, firsthand guide about what I wish I'd known before we 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

The season runs October - April. 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. This trek is considered moderate to hard.

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

A firsthand guide to getting more out of your W Trek.

This isn't an encyclopedia of Patagonia or another generic booking manual. There is value in providing a blueprint since I've had friends say, "I don't have time to do the research. Just tell me where to go and what to do."

This is 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
Our Puerto Natales experience and what worked for us
What I would do differently
Options if you have only 3 or 4 days
How we approached a self-guided trek - and why we chose to have a local company handle the reservations and transportation
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.

Waterturtle doesn't book W Trek trips or manage reservations. Our guide is about firsthand experience - what we learned, what we'd prioritize, and what we'd do differently.

Want Someone Else to Handle the Booking and Logistics?

We used Hello Patagonia, a Puerto Natales-based company, to handle the booking and logistical side of our trek - including accommodations, meals, transportation and park logistics - while we hiked independently.

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, I hope this gives you a better idea of what the adventure is really like - and how to start planning your own.

WaterTurtle Travel - Adventure Better
Firsthand travel guides for active travelers.