Planning the W Trek in Patagonia: A Complete 2026 Guide

Trip at a glance

• Distance: roughly 80 km over 5 days

• Season: October to April

• Direction: most hikers go west to east

• Cost: $220 to $290 per night in refugios; $25 to $40 for camping

• Permits: park entry, refugio bookings, and shuttle (all mandatory)

Permits and reservations

You need three things:

• Park entry via pasesparques.cl (about $49 for foreigners, non-transferable)

• Refugio or campsite bookings for every night (no wild camping allowed)

• Shuttle from Puerto Natales

Refugios are split between Vertice (Grey, Paine Grande, Dickson) and Las Torres Patagonia (Central, Chileno, Frances, Cuernos). Both open reservations in July or August for the next October to April season. Popular nights sell out within days.

The classic five-day route

• Day 1: Shuttle to Paine Grande, hike to Refugio Grey (11 km) with side trip to the glacier viewpoint

• Day 2: Back to Paine Grande, up the French Valley to Britanico viewpoint, down to Refugio Frances (26 km, hardest day)

• Day 3: To Los Cuernos or Central (11 to 15 km)

• Day 4: Pre-dawn hike to Mirador Las Torres (18 km round trip)

• Day 5: Shuttle out

Weather and gear

Patagonian weather changes every 40 minutes. Non-negotiable gear:

• Genuinely waterproof shell (not water-resistant)

• Waterproof pants, gaiters, gloves (even in January)

• Trekking poles (essential for the Torres day)

• Broken-in boots (trails are rocky, muddy, often flooded)

• Two merino base layers to rotate; skip fresh clothes

• 30% to 40% more snacks than you think

Refugio vs camping

• Full refugio with three meals: $220 to $290 per person per night

• Camping with your own tent, meals a la carte: $25 to $40 per site

• Pre-pitched tent with sleeping bag: $90 to $130

For a first W trek, refugios win. After 20 km in the wind, a hot shower is worth every peso.

Before you book, make sure your policy covers multi-day hiking. See our Best Travel Insurance for Adventure & Outdoor Trips.