Difficulty
Moderate to high (63 km – 39 mi)
DURATION
4 days / 3 nights. Prefer the full route? See the O Trek here.
Where you'll go
Torres del Paine National Park
Season
October – April
Mode
Self-guided
A journey through the most breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia
This trip is for those who dream of Torres del Paine but only have a few days.
The self-guided W Express condenses the best of the park’s most iconic circuit into just four days of trekking.
Base Torres, the French Valley, and the Grey Glacier await you on a well-marked route, where every day is a new postcard: glacial valleys, lenga forests, turquoise lakes, and the Patagonian wind.
You walk at your own pace. We take care of the rest: lodging, meals, transportation, maps, and a welcome kit to prepare you for the adventure.
You can sleep in premium campsites or cozy mountain lodges—whichever you prefer.
A deep, accessible experience that’s 100% connected to nature.
Itinerary
Puerto Natales to Base Torres Viewpoint
Your adventure begins early, with the 7:00 a.m. bus departing from Puerto Natales toward Torres del Paine National Park (approx. 2.5-hour journey).
Once you arrive at the Central Sector, you’ll be able to store your luggage and get ready for your first big hike.
The trail climbs through the Ascencio Valley, crossing hanging bridges and lenga forests, until you reach the Wind Pass, offering panoramic views of mountains, lakes, and valleys.
You’ll then continue along a rockier, more demanding stretch—also the most thrilling part: the final ascent to Base Torres, where the iconic granite towers rise dramatically over a glacial lagoon.
An unforgettable image to start this journey.
- Hiking time: 8–10 h
- Distance: 19,4 km (11,8 mi)
- Elevation gain: 750 m (2460 ft)
- Difficulty: High
- Overnight: Central Sector
Central Sector to French Sector
After a demanding day, today’s route is slower paced and invites you to take it all in.
The trail follows the edge of Lake Nordenskjöld, with its turquoise waters and the towering Mount Almirante Nieto accompanying you for much of the way.
As you progress, the landscape fills with contrasts: hanging glaciers, rock formations, and vast wind-swept slopes.
Condors often fly overhead, and you’ll hear the sound of water flowing through the many small streams that cross your path.
Halfway through the day, the Arriero River offers the perfect spot to rest, refill your bottle, and just be.
You’ll end the day at the French Sector, from where your exploration into the heart of the W Circuit will begin.
A gentler day, but no less memorable.
- Hiking time: 4,5–6,5 h
- Distance: 13,5 km (8,4 mi)
- Elevation gain: 80 m (260 ft)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Overnight: French Sector
French Valley
Today you’ll head into one of the park’s most impressive places: the French Valley, a natural amphitheater surrounded by granite walls, hanging glaciers, and peaks sculpted by the wind.
The hike starts off easy, crossing wooden walkways through native forest.
As you venture deeper into the valley, the landscape becomes more vertical and challenging.
You’ll cross the river by the Italiano Camp and begin the ascent to the viewpoint, where the scene opens up into an unforgettable panorama: the French Glacier cascading over rocks, surrounded by the peaks of Paine Grande, Catedral, and Espada.
If you’re lucky, you’ll hear the echo of ice calving and crashing in the distance.
A demanding day—but for many, the true heart of the W Circuit.
- Hiking time: 7–8 h
- Distance: 15 km (9,3 mi)
- Elevation gain: 712 m (2336 ft)
- Difficulty: High
- Overnight: French Sector
Grey Glacier Viewpoint – Pehoé Lake Navigation – Puerto Natales
Your final day in the park is no less spectacular. From the French Sector, you’ll walk toward the Grey Glacier viewpoint, passing through forests, exposed slopes, and natural lookouts revealing the massive Paine Grande.
As you approach the viewpoint, you’ll begin to see floating chunks of ice that have broken off the glacier.
The trail ends with a wide view of Grey Glacier, a thousand-year-old ice tongue descending from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
From there, you’ll return to the Paine Grande Sector and take the catamaran across Pehoé Lake—a short but scenic ride through turquoise waters.
Once at the dock, the bus will be waiting to take you back to Puerto Natales, where you’ll arrive around 9:00 p.m.
A deeply transformative journey.
- Hiking time: 7–8 h
- Distance: 15 km (9,3 mi)
- Elevation gain: 280 m (920 ft)
- Difficulty: High
Everything you need to know
What's included and pricing
Included
- Personalized orientation session (1 hour): includes a 30-minute online session before your trip to answer general questions, and a 30-minute in-person meeting at our office in Santiago to review the map, gear, and final details.
- Self-guided trekking to Base Torres, Los Cuernos, French Valley, and the first viewpoint of Grey Glacier (1 hour from Paine Grande sector)
- 3 nights of accommodation (camping or lodge)
- All meals included (breakfast, box lunch, and dinner)
- Round-trip bus transfers from Puerto Natales to the park
- Exit catamaran across Lake Pehoé
- National park entrance fees
- Welcome kit
Not included
- Guide
- Porter
- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Drinks
- Tips (optional)
- Any item not listed under “Included”
Price per person – Self-guided tour
Foreign travelers
Camping: includes premium 2-person tent with sleeping bag, pillow, and sleeping mat
- USD 2376 (1 person)
- USD 1320 (2 people)
- USD 1672 (3 people)
- USD 1320 (4 people)
- USD 1531 (5 people)
- USD 1320 (6 people)
Mountain Lodge: includes bed in a shared room with 6 to 8 beds and sleeping bag
- USD 1760 (1–6 people)
Chilean and residents. Contact us to book
Camping: includes premium 2-person tent with sleeping bag, pillow, and sleeping mat
- CLP $1.523.500 (1 person)
- CLP $847.000 (2 people)
- CLP $1.072.500 (3 people)
- CLP $847.000 (4 people)
- CLP $982.300 (5 people)
- CLP $847.000 (6 people)
Mountain Lodge: includes bed in a shared room with 6 to 8 beds and sleeping bag
- CLP $913.000 (1–6 people)
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a self-guided service, which does not fall under Chile’s adventure tourism regulation. However, Ecordua takes care of the logistics, coordination, and support to ensure that your experience is safe, well-organized, and meets our quality standards.
Traveler tip
🏕️ ¿Camping or Mountain Lodge?
If you’re looking for more peace and a deeper connection with nature, we recommend the equipped camping option. Tents are exclusively for your group and set up in quieter areas of each sector, allowing you to disconnect from the noise and fully reconnect with the experience, the surroundings, and yourself.
Common areas are still available if you want to socialize, eat, or relax with other travelers, but you’ll always have your own private tent to rest at your own pace.
Camping also offers greater availability than mountain lodges, making it easier to secure your spot—especially during high season.
Good to know: all tents are pre-assembled at each sector, so you won’t need to carry or pitch them yourself. When you arrive at camp, your space will be ready and waiting.
By contrast, mountain lodges offer shared rooms (usually 6 to 8 beds) and are located closer to high-traffic areas, which can mean less privacy and more noise at night.
🗓️ About your travel dates
Spring (October to December) brings blooming flowers and longer days, while autumn (March and April) paints the park in red hues and significantly reduces visitor numbers.
Map
Regulatory Compliance
How should I prepare for the trip?
Before your trip, we’ll send you a complete welcome kit with everything you need: packing list, logistical details, maps, and more. We also include a personalized orientation session with 30 minutes online before your trip to resolve general questions, and 30 minutes in-person at our Santiago office to go over the itinerary, gear, and any final concerns.
Our goal is for you to feel prepared, relaxed, and confident about what to expect.
Is the date confirmed upon booking?
This is a pre-booking. We’ll confirm availability for your selected date within 3 business days. If your chosen date isn’t available, we’ll offer alternative options.
If none of them work for you, we’ll issue a full refund—no questions asked. We recommend waiting for confirmation before purchasing any flights or bus tickets.
Do I need previous trekking experience?
You don’t need to be a mountaineer, but good physical condition is important. This is a moderate to high-difficulty trek, with long hikes, elevation gain, and uneven terrain. If you exercise regularly and enjoy being active, this is an achievable and highly rewarding experience.
Will there be many people on the trails?
It depends on the time of year. During summer (December to February), there are more visitors, while in spring and autumn the trails tend to be quieter. Even so, you’ll always find moments of connection with nature and breathtaking views.
What is the cancellation policy?
The following penalties apply to the total amount of your booking:
- 90 days or more before arrival – No penalty
- Between 89 and 70 days – 20% penalty
- Between 69 and 45 days – 50% penalty
- 44 days or less – 100% penalty
If you need to cancel or modify your reservation, contact us as soon as possible. All requests must be made in writing and will be processed according to the schedule above.
If you have any other questions, contact us—we’ll be happy to help.
Do you still have doubts?
Don’t worry, we are here to help you.
Write to us and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
Download our brochure with all the details about this tour, including itineraries, recommendations and what you need to know to fully enjoy this experience.
