PATAGONIA
Adventure
Torres del Paine trekking is a backpacker’s dream! Join our all female guide team on the iconic W Trek and journey between towering peaks and sleep under twinkling Southern Hemisphere stars. After the trek, we’ll kayak through turquoise waters and go ice hiking on one of the largest ice fields in the world. The Patagonian beauty (and wind) is guaranteed to blow you away!
HIGHLIGHTS
Hiking the W Trek and seeing the iconic Torres Del Paine granite towers with our fierce female led team
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Dining in refugios and sleeping under the stars - oh the views!
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Strapping on crampons to ice hike on the gorgeous Southern Patagonian Ice Field
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Kayaking around turquoise icebergs on Lago Grey
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Helping and learning about protecting the region with AMA Torres del Paine on one of our signature Give Back Days
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Experiencing the support, safety and sustainability that make adventuring with WHOA extra special
WHAT TO EXPECT
If you’re looking to challenge yourself and go on a introductory backpacking trip, this is the adventure for you! Tents and sleeping bags will be provided at every camp (read: you don't have to carry them), but you’ll be carrying about 20-25 lbs of your own personal gear (clothes, toiletries, sleeping bag liner, etc) in your backpack. It’s a great match for hikers who love being on their feet all day and camping under the stars at night, as well as anyone who wants to try their hand at backpacking! Please thoroughly read the Daily Breakdown and make sure you understand everything that comes along with doing this once in a lifetime trek!
CONDITIONS
VIEWS THAT'LL BLOW YOU AWAY
You haven’t experienced wind until you’ve experienced the wind in Patagonia! While our photos show lots of sunshine, don’t be fooled! Temperatures can get down right cold because of the wind chill. On top of the wind, you can get spontaneous rain showers (and rainbows), so layers and top notch gear are clutch here.
Throughout the trek there will be lots of rocky, steep up and downhills, some of which involve scrambling. This can wreak havoc on the knees and ankles, especially with a heavy pack on, so even if you don’t use one normally, we recommend bringing along a knee brace. Just because this trip isn’t at altitude, doesn’t mean it’s easy!
Bottom line, be ready to embrace what Mother Nature throws our way, and put on another layer (or take one off) and dance when the weather throws us for a loop! Remember, the difference between an adventure and an ordeal is your attitude!
TRAINING
IT DOESN'T GET EASIER, YOU GET STRONGER
We’re not going to sugar coat it, the W Trek is no joke. It might only be 4 days of hiking, but they’re long days with all your personal gear on your back (which is different than hiking with a daypack). There are no absolutes in adventuring, except this one: the better trained you are, the more enjoyable your experience will be! Stay active, break in your boots, and start wearing your loaded backpack on your training hikes ASAP.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 - BIENVENIDA
Arrive in Puerto Natales (PNT)
DAY 2 - VÁMoNOS!
Give Back Day with AMA Torres Del Paine
DAY 3 - THE TOWERS OF BLUE
Hiking the W + The Base of the Towers
19 km*
DAY 4 - Look up!
Hiking the W + Lake Nordenskjöld + Los Cuernos
14.5 km
DAY 5 - VIEWS FOR DAYS
Hiking the W + The French Lookout
20 km
DAY 6 - No OAR-DINARY DAY
Kayaking on Lago Grey
Hiking: 10.5 km | Kayaking: 2.5 hours
DAY 7 - Ice, Ice baby
Ice Hiking on Glacier Grey
Ice Hiking: 3.5 hours
DAY 8 - MÁS ADVENTURE
Puerto Natales
DAY 9 - ADIOS AMIGAS
Puerto Natales
*All distances and times are approximate!
WHAT'S INCLUDED
We plan our adventures with most of the logistics taken care of, so you can focus on lacing up your hiking boots and being your best adventure self! Click below for a complete list of everything that’s included on our Patagonia Adventure.
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
PATAGONIA ADVENTURE
$5,400
$5,400
TALK TO OUR TEAM
READY TO PATA-GO-nIA?
Connect with one of our Adventure Aficionados to answer all your Qs!
MAKE IT PRIVATE
Dates not quite right for you? Want to bring along your entire family? We can design a Patagonia trip on your timeline, with your rules. Our private trips have all the TLC that come standard on our group adventures, but are specially organized, personalized and maximized for you!
PAYMENT TERMS
Putting down a $750 deposit will reserve your spot on a WHOA Adventure! You’ll be invoiced and must pay in full at least 3 months before your adventure starts. All deposits are non-refundable.
THE ULTIMATE PATAGONIA
PACKING LIST
From the best hiking boots to our favorite daypacks, here’s all the gear you need to alpaca for Patagonia!
PATAGONIA ADVENTURE
DAILY BREAKDOWN
DAY 1
Bienvenida
PUERTO NATALES
Arrive to the colorful port town of Puerto Natales (PNT)* with a warm welcome from your WHOA team made up of fellow adventurers, guides, and GALs! Time depending, our guides will take us on a walk to get us acquainted with this charming fishing town located on the Fjord of Last Hope, a glacier-carved inlet filled with blue waters. In the evening, we’ll gather for our welcome dinner and a briefing for the adventure that lies ahead!
Included: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Vendaval or similar
*During the high season there are daily flights from Santiago (SCL) to Puerto Natales Airport (PNT) arriving in the late morning/early afternoon.
DAY 2
Vámonos!
TORRES DEL PAINE
We’ll kick off our adventure bright and early and head to Torres del Paine National Park. When we arrive we’ll pack our lunches before spending the day working with the AMA Torres Del Paine, a local NGO that works on conservation, community development, and sustainable tourism initiatives in Torres del Paine National Park. The project we work on changes from trip to trip, depending on where there is greater need. On previous trips, we've assisted with monitoring a reforestation project in the park and worked to build a new accessible trail in Torres del Paine National Park. No matter the project know you're helping to leave Torres del Paine National Park better than you found it! Afterward, we’ll hop in the van and head over to Central Campsite. Once we’re settled we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and spend our first night sleeping under the stars.
Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Central Camp
DAY 3
The Towers
of Blue
THE BASE OF THE TOWERS
Approx. Distance: 19 km
Hiking Time: 8+ hours
Today we’ll lace up our boots, and begin making our way on the W circuit! First stop: the three iconic granite towers that gave the park its name - Torres del Paine. (Paine is the Teheulche Indian word for blue, so it translates to Towers of Blue.) The hike will take us up Almirante Nieto, into the Ascencio Valley, and through a dense Lenga forest before we arrive at the emerald lake at the base of the towers where we will behold the majesty of these famous spires!
Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Central Camp
DAY 4
Look Up!
LAKE NORDENSKJÖLD + LOS CUERNOS
Approx. Distance: 14.5 km
Hiking Time: 5+ hours
Today our journey gets more colorful as we make our way through the varied flora and fauna along the stunning, turquoise, Lake Nordenskjöld. Along the way, look up to catch glimpses of glaciers and mountain tops hovering above, especially the famous monstrous peaks of Los Cuernos, or The Horns, named for their jagged shape and unique coloring that is a product of million year old eruptions and erosion. Just another breathtaking natural wonder of Torres del Paine that you have to see to believe!
Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Francis or Los Cuernos Camp
DAY 5
Views for Days
THE FRENCH LOOKOUT + PAINE GRANDE
Approx. Distance: 20 km
Hiking Time: 7+ hours
Today we’ll reach the heart of the W Trail as we make our way towards the French Lookout, a natural amphitheater framed by tower mountains that were created by glaciers millions of years ago. We’ll take a moment to observe the sights and echoing sounds of ice calving off the walls of this valley - it’s truly unforgettable! We’ll end our long and rewarding day of hiking along the shores of Lake Pehoe.
Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Paine Grande Camp
DAY 6
No OARdinary
Day
KAYAKING LAGO GREY
Approx. Hiking Distance: 10.5 km
Hiking Time: 8+ hours
Kayaking Time: 2.5 hours
Today we’ll trek along the Lake Grey ridge, and get our first look at the spectacular Grey Glacier (Also, due to the openness created by the lake, we’ll experience more of those famous blustering winds!). In the afternoon, weather permitting, we’ll grab kayaks and hit Lago Grey. Gliding near the glacier on the water will give us a completely different and unforgettable perspective of the Grey Sector!
Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grey Camp
DAY 7
Ice, Ice Baby
ICE HIKING GLACIER GREY + GREY III CATAMARAN
Ice Hiking Time: 3.5 hours
In the morning, we’ll take zodiac boats across Lago Grey, grab ice axes, strap on our crampons, and get up close and personal with Grey Glacier for some ice hiking! Right after our ice hiking adventure we’ll grab our packs and board the Grey III catamaran for a scenic boat ride. With pisco sours in hand, we’ll marvel at the ancient blue ice and enjoy our final moments in Torres del Paine National Park. After walking our packs over Grey Beach we’ll board our bus and head back to Puerto Natales.
Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Vendaval or similar
DAY 8
Explore
like a Local
PUERTO NATALES
Today we'll have time to relax and explore Puerto Natales like the locals do. This colorful port town is full of entrepreneurs who share a deep connection with nature and the beauty it holds. Through the personal connections of our local guides, we'll meet some of these small business owners and hear their stories. Later that evening, we’ll celebrate our amazing adventure and last night together with a toast and a special Chilean feast at our celebration dinner!
Included: Breakfast, Celebratory Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Vendaval or similar
DAY 9
Adios Amigas
PUERTO NATALES
All good things must come to an end! After breakfast, we’ll pack up, say our goodbyes (for now), and transfer to Puerto Natales Airport (PNT)*.
Included: Breakfast
*This day is a departure day, and you can depart at any time. If you are flying back to Santiago to catch an onward flight it is recommended to leave ample time (a minimum of 3 hours) between flights.
Itinerary subject to change based on availability and unforeseen conditions, but that's part of the adventure! Even when things change, trust you'll be well taken care of with WHOA quality, professionalism, and TLC!
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It’s of the utmost importance to us that any giving back we do is sustainable and fills a need that is of value to our partners. For that reason, our visits and partnerships can and do vary depending on the season, the organization's needs, and the abilities and desires of our group. Bottom line, in each case, we do our best to seek out local partners that are doing great, sustainable work, and we work closely with them to understand their needs to create an experience that will truly be of value to them and you!
“I have now completed three very different WHOA adventures, and each has been so amazing. There's always the face value part of the trip I know I'm going to get...but then there's the people and the experiences that shape it that you can't predict. This company attracts a certain type of person and it's a privilege to be able to interact with such amazing groups of strong, intelligent women.”