Tour Overview
| Duration | 9 Days / 8 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Torres del Paine National Park — Chilean Patagonia (South America) |
| Price From | $2,495 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Premium Trekking — Refugios (Mountain Lodges) |
| Best Season | October — April (Patagonian summer) |
| Data Source | Adventure Life / Swoop Patagonia 2026 verified pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Santiago & Fly to Punta Arenas
Arrive Santiago, Chile’s cosmopolitan capital. Connect to a 3.5-hour flight south to Punta Arenas, on the Strait of Magellan — the historic gateway to Patagonia. The landscape from the air transforms from the green vineyards of central Chile to the wind-scoured steppe of the far south. Transfer to Puerto Natales (3 hours), a charming fishing town on the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) Sound — named by the sailor Juan Ladrillero in 1557 who was, indeed, losing hope of finding the Strait of Magellan. Evening: gear check and trek briefing. Dinner of Magellanic lamb (cordero al palo) and calafate sour. Overnight in Puerto Natales.
Day 2: Torres del Paine — Enter the Park
Morning drive 2 hours into Torres del Paine National Park (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, 2,422 km²). The park’s name comes from the Tehuelche words “torres” (towers) and “paine” (blue) — the Blue Towers that dominate the skyline are granite monoliths rising 2,850m, carved by glaciers over 12 million years. Arrive at the eastern entrance, hike into the Ascencio Valley, and climb to Refugio Chileno, nestled below the Towers. The approach hike (10km, 400m ascent) passes through lenga forests and across glacial streams with views of the Towers growing larger with every switchback. Overnight at Refugio Chileno (dorm or private room, hot showers, hearty dinner).
Day 3: Base of the Towers — The Signature View
Dawn start (4:00 AM in summer, later in shoulder season) for the 45-minute climb from the refugio to the Base of the Towers viewpoint. Arrive as the sun’s first rays hit the three granite towers — Torre Central (2,850m), Torre Sur (2,800m), and Torre Norte (2,600m) — turning them from gray to blazing orange. The glacial lake at their base, Laguna Torres, reflects the towers in crystalline turquoise. This is the most photographed view in Patagonia, and no photograph does it justice. The scale — 900m of vertical granite rising from the lake — must be experienced. After the sunrise, hike back down through the valley (18km total, 900m ascent/descent, 8-9 hours). Overnight at Refugio Chileno.
Day 4: Los Cuernos — The Horns of Paine
Hike along the northern shore of Lake Nordenskjöld (named after the Swedish explorer who mapped Patagonia in the 1890s) to Refugio Los Cuernos, nestled beneath the Cuernos del Paine — the iconic “Horns,” striped granite peaks with a dark sedimentary cap. The trail undulates through fire-bush (notro) forests with constant views of the lake, the Cuernos, and the French Valley glacier in the distance. Guanacos (wild llama relatives) graze on the slopes, and Andean condors ride thermal currents overhead. 13km, 5-6 hours. Arrive at Refugio Los Cuernos, possibly the most beautifully situated mountain lodge in South America. Overnight at Refugio Los Cuernos.
Day 5: French Valley — The Heart of the Massif
Day hike up the French Valley, the stunning glacial valley that splits the Paine Massif. The trail climbs 700m through lenga forest to the Mirador Británico, a natural amphitheater surrounded by granite walls: Cerro Paine Grande (the park’s highest at 3,050m), the Cuernos, and the hanging glacier of the French Valley — seracs constantly calving with thunderous crashes. The scale of the cirque is overwhelming — a 360° panorama of rock, ice, and sky. Descend, then continue across the park to Refugio Paine Grande on the shores of Lake Pehoé. 24km, 900m ascent, 8-10 hours. Overnight at Refugio Paine Grande.
Day 6: Grey Glacier — Ice of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field
Morning hike to the Grey Glacier lookout (11km round trip, 4 hours). The Grey Glacier is a 6km-wide, 30m-high wall of ice flowing from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field — the world’s third-largest ice mass after Antarctica and Greenland, covering 16,800 km². The glacier’s surface is a chaos of crevasses, seracs, and ice pinnacles in shades of blue impossible to capture on camera. Walk to the suspension bridges over the glacier’s outflow channels for the closest views. Optional: ice hiking on the glacier with crampons (extra cost, must book in advance). Afternoon: catamaran across Lake Pehoé to Pudeto, then drive back to Puerto Natales. Hot shower, proper bed, and celebration dinner. Overnight in Puerto Natales.
Day 7: Perito Moreno Glacier — Argentina’s Ice Giant
Cross the border into Argentina (2.5 hours from Puerto Natales). Drive to Los Glaciares National Park (UNESCO World Heritage). The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the world’s only advancing glaciers — it moves 2m per day, calving house-sized chunks of ice into Lago Argentino with sounds like thunder. Walk the extensive system of boardwalks and balconies at different levels for hours of glacier watching. The glacier’s face is 5km wide and 60m high — the scale is staggering. Watch for ice bridges forming and collapsing, a cycle that repeats every 2-4 years. Optional: mini-trekking on the glacier (1.5 hours on ice, crampons provided). Overnight in El Calafate.
Day 8: El Calafate & Estancia Cristina
Morning boat across Lago Argentino to Estancia Cristina, a remote sheep ranch established by British settlers in 1914, now converted to a lodge and museum. The boat journey threads between icebergs calved from the Upsala Glacier. Hike to the Upsala Glacier viewpoint for the largest glacier in South America (60km long, 10km wide). Afternoon: return to El Calafate, visit the Glaciarium (interactive glacier museum) and its Ice Bar constructed entirely of glacial ice. Farewell dinner with Patagonian lamb and Malbec wine. Overnight in El Calafate.
Day 9: El Calafate to Buenos Aires & Depart
Morning flight from El Calafate to Buenos Aires. Connect to international departure or extend in Buenos Aires (tango, steak, and Malbec in Palermo Soho).
Inclusions
- 8 nights: 2 Puerto Natales + 4 Refugios (mountain lodges) + 2 El Calafate
- All meals during the W Trek (breakfast, packed lunch, 3-course dinner)
- Torres del Paine National Park fees
- All refugio bookings (beds, hot showers, meals)
- Guided W Trek with certified mountain guide
- Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalks + boat trip
- Estancia Cristina visit + Upsala Glacier viewpoint
- Catamaran across Lake Pehoé
- All transfers: Punta Arenas-Puerto Natales round trip + Argentina crossing
- English-speaking guide throughout
