Recommended Routes

4 Nights hiking “the W”

The W — named for the shape of the trail — is a shorter hike which includes most Paine highlights.

click here for a larger map of the full Circuit

It is a good option for many. More than half of Paine hikers do the W rather than the Circuit.

You do not even need to carry a tent or stove to do the W though it is much cheaper to tent than to stay in the Refugios.

Campsites are free unless marked with a $ sign.

Our itinerary is identical to that in Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes to make for the easiest trek possible. We give a strong recommendation too for the alternative free camps in bold — in some ways they are even better than the pay sites.

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Night 0 - sleep in Puerto Natales

Night 1 - camp at Refugio Grey $
... (not to be confused with Hosteria Grey)
... from Puerto Natales, stay on the bus to Pudeto. Catamaran to Refugio Lago Pehoe, then trek to Refugio Grey.

Night 2 - camp at Refugio Lago Pehoe $ or Campamento Italiano
... you must backtrack the previous days route

Night 3 - camp at Albergue Los Cuernos $ (The Horns): sidetrip to Frances Valley
... a long day (including sidetrip with day pack only)

Night 4 - camp at Albergue El Chileno $ or Campamento Torres: sidetrip to Towers Lookout in the afternoon, and/or following morning. Additional sidetrip to Valle del Silencio (Valley of Silence) if time allows.
... another long day (including sidetrip with day pack only)

Night 5 - sleep in Puerto Natales

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The Circuit is better than the W.

But:

• if your time is short, or ...
• if you do not feel confident, or ...
• if you do not want to carry a tent or ...
• if you want to avoid the difficult John Garner pass

— do the W. We have yet to meet anyone who finished either trek disappointed.

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