PATAGONIA
W TREK 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. Before the trek, we’ll ice hike on one of the largest ice fields in the world and kayak through turquoise waters. The Patagonian beauty (and wind) is guaranteed to blow you away!
BOOK NOW
$5,700
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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! Below is a list of everything that’s included on our Patagonia Adventure:
INCLUDED:
3 nights in Puerto Natales lodge (double occupancy)
5 nights camping under the stars in Patagonia's most picturesque campsites. Tents, sleeping bags, and mats will be provided for you at each camp. (tents are double occupancy)
Private transfer from/to Puerto Natales Airport (PNT) on adventure start/end dates
Amazing Patagonia specialized local female guides by your side for the entirety of the adventure (6:1 client:guide ratio)
Passionate WHOA guides and GALs (Group Adventure Leaders) to make sure you feel mentally and physically prepared leading up to and during your adventure
Hearty meals as indicated in the Daily Breakdown (all vegetarian friendly)
An epic ice hiking excursion on Grey Glacier, weather willing (ice axe, cramp-ons and helmet will be provided)
A guided kayak excursion on Lake Grey, weather willing (life jacket and splash guard provided)
Catamaran ride on Lake Pehoe
Special Welcome Dinner and Celebratory Dinner at the end of the adventure
All activities listed as included in the itinerary
Park permits
Tips for drivers, hiking, ice hiking and kayaking guides
Tons of WHOA TLC!
1% for the planet, as in 1% of what you pay goes towards grassroots environmental groups making a difference in their local communities
Offsetting of this trip’s negative impact on the environment and carbon footprint, from the transportation to lodging to meals*
NOT INCLUDED:Flights
Early arrival accommodation and transportation
Gear (not listed as included above)
Travel Insurance (mandatory)
Visas (if applicable)
Additional food/drink/tips
*For our carbon offsetting, we do our best to crunch the numbers and accurately calculate the carbon footprint the best we can with the information that we have. It’s not a perfect system and carbon offsetting isn’t an exact science, but we believe it’s more important to take action now, in every way that we can. All our offsetting programs are certified by our partners at Sustainable Travel International. At the moment, our traveler’s international airfare to the destination is beyond our scope, and not included. Flights are the largest carbon emitter on most of our adventures, so we encourage all our travelers to consider doing it independently through the airline or with our partners at STI. -
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. All prices are listed in USD.
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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! Get in touch with now, and let us help you plan your adventure of a lifetime in Patagonia.
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 through local community projects
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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 an 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 surrounded by mountains 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!
We rated our Patagonia trip a 4 out of 5 on the WHOA Adventure difficulty scale because the hiking days are long, and the terrain is very rocky with a lot of steep ascents and descents.
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 downright 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 sound like simply 4 days of hiking, but they’re long days with all your personal gear on your back. 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 a loaded backpack (up to 25 lbs) on your training hikes ASAP. If you’re looking for more tips check out our expert 6 step training guide.
GET IN TOUCH
Or leave us a message below. We’re here to answer all your questions and help you plan your adventure of a lifetime!
THE ULTIMATE
PATAGONIA PACKING LIST
From the best hiking boots to our favorite daypacks, here’s all the gear you need to adventure around Patagonia!
PATAGONIA
DAILY BREAKDOWN
NOTE: All times and distances are approximate!
DAY 1
PUERTO NATALES
Arrive in the colorful port town of Puerto Natales (PNT)* with a warm welcome from your WHOA guide team! In the afternoon we’ll do a pack check, and there will be time to get 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 briefing on the adventure that lies ahead!
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Stay: Hotel Veat 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
COMMUNITY CONNECTION + GIVE BACK
We’ll rise bright and early to join a group of local women open-water swimmers for a beach cleanup. Together, we’ll share stories and collect litter along the beautiful beachfront of Puerto Natales, and help preserve the coastline where these swimmers train. This morning is more than just a cleanup, it’s a moment to connect with the local community and leave a tangible mark on this remarkable place!
After saying goodbye to our new friends, we’ll enjoy lunch in Puerto Natales before setting off toward Torres del Paine National Park. After about two hours by van, we’ll transfer to a boat to cross the stunning Pehoe Lake, arriving at Paine Grande Campground. Here, we’ll settle in and spend the evening surrounded by the iconic Patagonian landscapes, ready to rest and prepare for more adventures ahead!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Van Time: 2 hours
Boat Time: 30 mins
Camp: Paine Grande
DAY 3
ICE HIKE ON GLACIER GREY
Today we’ll lace up our boots and begin making our way on the W circuit. First stop: Glacier Grey! We’ll trek along the Lake Grey ridge and get our first look at the spectacular Southern Patagonian Ice Field and the massive glacier. (Also, due to the openness created by the lake, we’ll experience some of those famous blustering winds!) In the afternoon, 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!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Hike Distance: 7.5 mi / 12 km
Elevation Gain: 800 ft / 245 m
Hike Time: 5+ hours
Ice Hike Time: 3+ hours
Camp: Grey
DAY 4
KAYAK ON LAGO GREY
After a relaxing morning we’ll grab kayaks and hit Lago Grey. Gliding near the glacier and past spectacular blue icebergs on the water will give us a completely different and unforgettable perspective of the Grey Sector! After our kayaking adventure we’ll grab our packs and walk back towards the Paine Grande Campground.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Kayak Time: 2 hours
Hike Distance: 7.5 mi / 12 km
Elevation Gain: 800 ft / 245 m
Hike Time: 5+ hours
Camp: Paine Grande
DAY 5
The French Lookout
Today we’ll reach the heart of the W Trail as we make our way towards the French Lookout, a natural plateau framed by mountains and active glaciers. 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 Nordenskjold before making our way to the next camp.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Hike Distance: 11 mi / 18 km
Elevation Gain: 1,200 ft / 365 m
Hike Time: 9+ hours
Camp: Los Cuernos
DAY 6
Nordenskjold Lake
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! Towards the end of the hike we enter the Silencio Valley and take the nights rest in the forest.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner
Hike Distance: 7.5 mi / 12 km
Elevation Gain: 600 ft / 183 m
Hike Time: 5+ hours
Camp: El Chileno
DAY 7
Las Torres del Paine
Today we’ll hike to the three iconic granite towers that gave the park its name–Torres del Paine. (Paine is the Tehuelche Indian word for blue, so it translates to Towers of Blue.) We’ll trek deeper into the Ascencio Valley through a dense Lenga forest before arriving to the emerald lake at the base of the towers, and the perfect place to behold the majesty of these famous spires! After taking it all in, we’ll hike back down the mountain with full hearts to complete the last section of the W. At the bottom, a van will await to take us 2 hours back to Puerto Natales where hot showers and beds await!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch
Hike Distance: 8 mi / 13 km
Elevation Gain: 1,200 ft / 365 m
Hike Time: 7+ hours
Van Time: 2 hours
Stay: Hotel Veat or similar
DAY 8
Puerto Natales
Today is a free day to choose your own adventure—or simply slow down and enjoy the light rhythms of Puerto Natales. In the afternoon, we’ll take you on a guided visit with local female artisans. Here, you’ll hear their stories, learn about their craft, appreciate the traditions woven into their work, and maybe even find a special memento to take home. Tonight, we’ll celebrate our amazing adventure with a toast and a special Chilean feast at our celebration dinner!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Celebration Dinner
Stay: Hotel Veat or similar
DAY 9
Departure
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 Meals: 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!