How to Hike the W Circuit - Torres del Paine National Park
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- čas přidán 1. 02. 2019
- Recommended Backpacking Itinerary for the incredible W Circuit inside Torres del Paine National Park. An adventure to this legendary park is difficult to plan, but I'm trying to make it easier with this video on how to hike the circuit. Complete with step by step instructions for driving and hiking the area.
Check out my website! www.afineadventure.com
USEFUL RESOURCES
TREKKING PATAGONIA: A GUIDE TO YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
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Pudeto Ferry to Refugio Paine Grande
torresdelpaine.com/en/schedul...
Campsite Reservations:
Vertice Patagonia: www.verticepatagonia.cl/home
Fantastico Sur: www.fantasticosur.com/
CONAF: www.parquetorresdelpaine.cl/es...
Great video Andy!
Thank you for very useful and informative video. This exactly what i am looking for.
Great video ! Thank you
Great video! Thanks for putting it together. I had to cancel my trip there due to current travel restrictions but hoping to be able to plan again for next year. This time including the W Circuit :)
I'm glad you liked it Alejandro! I'm so sorry about your canceled trip, but hopefully it's fully safe to travel next year. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have as you plan your trip, and be sure to consider my book on Amazon!
Thanks for the helpful video! I am leaving in about a week to do the w trek in a similar itinerary as you've described. Also - love the shirt, I've got one just like it :]
You're welcome Jackie! Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions and have an awesome trip!
Excellent video. I have watched many videos about the TdP hikes and yours is by far is the most valuable in regards to planning and efficiency. My daughter and I are going to do a motorcycle adventure ride from Santiago, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina toward the end of the year. We want to spend 1 and perhaps 2 days maximum hiking in the park. Is it possible to see the Mirador de Las Torres and Glacier Gray if we only have 2 days to do it?
Hey thanks for the comment! Glad you liked the video. You definitely can do the Mirador de las Torres as a day hike. Either get a campground at Hotel Las Torres or El Chileno then hike up to the mirador and back down. Check out the Mirador Condor as a quick day hike with amazing view. Glacier Gray is also possible to see from day hikes around the park...or you could do a day tour from Paine Grande. your trip sounds amazing! check out my book Trekking Patagonia A guide to your own adventure for more info I have on hikes in El Chalten and Ushuaia.
Thanks for the helpful video. Really appreciated the animated visuals on the map showing the trek route. Do you happen to know how long it takes to get to the Mirador Los Torres from Refugio Central? Unfortunately we couldn't get a booking at Refugio Los Chilenos so we have to stay at Central.
Hey Masooma, I’m glad you liked the video. From Refugio Central to the Mirador will take around four hours with a decent pace. You can definitely do it, but if you want to make it by sunrise you’ll have to leave really early. Please let me know if you have any more questions and please consider checking out my book, Trekking Patagonia on Amazon!
Thanks for your swift response. Will do :)
Thanks so much for this great vid, i was just wondering if it's doable to go beyond W circuit at Camp Grey and have a nice bird view of the glacier, looks like it actually works! Have you met any rangers who prevent you from doing so? Coz i heard the O circuit can only be done counter clockwise.
Hey Matthew. I’m glad you liked the video! So we hiked beyond Refugio Grey north to the John Gardner bridge. We had no problem hiking clockwise on that part of the circuit. You can definitely add that to your W Circuit. I hope this answers your question. Let me know if you have any more questions and please consider checking out my book on Amazon!
Hi! :) Your video is very good and it helped me a lot!! I would like to ask how I can follow the boat trip that goes from Pudeto to Guardería Paine Grande?
Hey can you clarify your question? What do you mean by follow the boat trip? Hope I can help
Thanks for the great itinerary recommendations! Since you can take the Lago Grey boat direct to the Lago Grey campground, I'm curious why you recommend taking the boat to Paine Grande instead? Boating to Lago Grey would avoid the backtracking from Grey back to Paine Grande.
Hey! I honestly didn't know of the ferry that drops off directly at Refugio Grey, that might be new since I went or I didn't figure that out. Logistically for the W I think starting at Refugio Grey makes a lot of sense nice catch!
Hi! Great video! I have one question and hope you can help me. Do you think it is possible to hike in one day from camping las torres to camping paine grande but then leaving out mirador britanico? So leaving out most part of the french valley.
Hey yes I think it would be possible but a long day. Probably about 10-12 hours on the trail depending on your pace. Depending on time of year just the amount of daylight could be a factor. Starting very early, and having Camp Italiano as a backup could work.
Is east to west i.e camp day 1 at chileno and follow the route to Frances or curenos for day 2 and do the French valley and camp at Paine grande day 3 and do grey and mirador Gray day 4? What would you suggest east to west or west to east
Thanks for the info. Did you tent camp or stay at lodges?
Thanks!
Peter Ballentine I camped the whole time. Mostly because it is a lot cheaper then staying in the refugios. Please let me know if you have more questions and be sure to check out my book!
Hey Andy. Thanks for the helpful video. I’m renting a car and driving from El Calafate to TdP National Park.
Was it easy to park at Refugio Central and was it free? I’m worried about finding a parking spot in the park for 5 days! I’m doing the W in a couple weeks! Thanks!
acupofchai Hey I’m glad you found the video helpful. Parking at Refugio Central is very easy and was free when I went. My trip was in November so it might be more crowded when you’re going but hopefully parking still will be available and free. Feel free to shoot me any other questions and have a great trip!
ahhh should i i go on Late March??? Im worried i might die from i dont know, cold and wind... because i'll be doing it soo
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Hi! Thanks for the video. I am wondering if there are any lockers along the way to keep bags in if you are returning to a site later on in the day?
Kelly Faller hi! Good question. I never asked myself but I bet that the Refugios have some type of storage option inside but I’m not totally sure! Let me know if you have any other questions.
@@afineadventure703 Thank you! I will look into it.
Do I need get permit in advance to get in Torres del Paine Natl park?
Hi, from Puerto Natales to Pudeto, do we buy our entrance tickets to the Park in Pudeto, or in Laguna Amarga? I heard the bus from Puerto Natales stops in Laguna Amarga first before Pudeto so I'm not sure where to buy the tickets to the park. Thank you!
Hey Mia. Yes the bus first stops at Laguna Armaga. It's a separate bus to Pudeto. When I went we were able to simply buy the second ticket on the bus. But it might be different now.
LAGUNA AMARGA
Can you camp anywhere, or only in designated areas
You can only camp in designated areas with TDP
So I have to ask about food. Is there food at the park, what did you do to stay fed and how difficult is the overall trek. I'm going in Dec/Jan and I'm mostly worried about food.
Thanks.
Ricardo del toro Hey! Thanks for the question. There is very limited food inside TDP. Most of the Refugios offer real cooked food that is a bit pricey. The best place to get food for the trek is in Puerto Natales. There is a big grocery store there where we bought all our food. Let me know if you have more questions!
Also I would say the overall trek is pretty medium in terms of difficulty. Really not too challenging if you have some decent backpacking experience you should be fine!
@@afineadventure703 Thank you for the response, I really appreciate it. Yeah.. my main concern is the food but it's good to know that Refugios sell food and I can get stuff at a grocery store. I'm wondering, when did you? I know the weather can be unpredictable and I have to plan for that. Thanks!
@@ricardo_del_toro Are you asking when did I go? I was in Torres Del Paine at the end of November. Weather definitely changes all the time down there you'll be changing clothes all the time.
Do the Refugio’s offer private rooms.
Did you stay in Refugio or tent
@@gearjunkie3412 Hey Steve. I stayed in a tent throughout my time in Patagonia. I do not believe the Refugios offer private rooms. Only mixed dorms. But if you contact Vertice Patagonia and Fantastico Sur they will be able to give you a for sure answer. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with!
Hi mate,
I’m just wondering why it says from refugio grey to paso is 5hrs and then around 2hrs to the John garner bridge, this is according to the official map. However you say you did this in the morning as a 3hr round trip. Can you give me some more info on this pls as this is definitely something I want to do. Thanks
Hey Cody. It only took us 90 minutes or so to hike from Refugio Grey up to the John Gardner bridge. So it was about 3 hours of total hiking round trip, plus maybe a half hour or so to hang out by the bridge. Depending on your pace it could be four hours round trip... We did that round trip hike in the morning and then hiked from Refugio Grey down to Refugio Paine Grande in the afternoon. Let me know if this helps and if you have any more questions.
Are okay great. Yeah the map is obviously a little miss guiding then, were you really having a crack at it? It looks like it goes uphill a bit. Also do you recommend ordering meals from the refugios? Can you get hot water to make oats and what not for breakfast? Also we couldn’t get accommodation at grey we’ve tried shuffling the dates but still doesn’t work. We’ve found a way of doing it backwards do you think this is doable?? Sorry for all the questions mate
@@codydelaney2988 No worries dude keep the questions flowing, I'm sure other's have the same. Ordering meals from the refugios is definitely a luxury. We only had dinner at one of the refugios, El Chileno. Food was really good and means you don't have to cook or carry that food on your back. Only downside is cost, they were a bit expensive. Every refugio/campsite had access to water, but it wasn't hot. You'll have to boil it yourself if you are camping. I definitely think you could hike it backward. But I do remember some talk when I was there about the rangers only allowing the circuit to be hiked counter clockwise, however, there were plenty of people hiking the W in both directions. This might be more enforced this year I am not sure.
Just to clarify I mean doing the W trek back to front starting at refugio central heading up to the mirador then heading towards grey. Any thoughts if this is possible?? Thanks again 🙏🏻
@@codydelaney2988 Yeah that's what I thought you meant. When we were there, hikers were doing the W in both directions. (starting or ending at Refugio Central). I don't think you will have a problem starting at Central and ending at Paine Grande.
Thanks for the video! do u have an instagram?
Hey Emersom, glad you liked the video! You can find me on Instagram at a_fine_adventure
A Fine Adventure thank you! i just followed u!! cant wait for this Patagonia W Trek. Might hit u up with more questions if u dont mind.
I appreciated the visuals but the pronunciation of Paine and other names was pretty brutal to hear. Still overall a useful video. All the best
Sorry about that! Hope the content was helpful enough.
very good video, but very bad pronunciation of Spanish, especially the letter r hahaha.