
TORRES DEL PAINE
W TREK ECOCAMP
Join our 7-day trekking trip in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, starting from Punta Arenas and ending in Punta Arenas or El Calafate, including daily activities and accommodations along the way.



DETAILED ITINERARY
Let’s begin the trip of a lifetime! We’ll start with a morning pick-up from your hotel or the airport in Punta Arenas and drive to EcoCamp Patagonia, located in the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park. On the way to EcoCamp, we’ll make a stop in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of Last Hope Sound (Ultima Esperanza) where we can enjoy a hearty lunch of local food. This scenic journey ends with our arrival at EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park with a prime view of the majestic Paine Towers.
Meals: Lunch & dinner. Accomodation: EcoCamp Patagonia.
We’ll dive into our Patagonian adventure with a pleasant walk along the Cuernos Trail which leads to the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. During this warm-up walk, we will have the opportunity to admire the park’s exquisite flora and fauna and take in the views of the horn-like peaks of slate that sit atop the gray granite of the Paine Massif. The trek may end at Refugio Los Cuernos, a small and cozy mountain guesthouse located on the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. Or it will end at Domo el Francés, located between Cuernos and Italiano camping sites, with an amazing view of Nordenskjöld Lake. The evening is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Accomodation: Refugio Cuernos or Domo El Francés (depending on availability)
Walking time: 4.5 hrs
Distance: 12km – 7.5mi
Max. Altitude: 244m – 800ft
Get your boots ready for today’s challenging, yet rewarding, trek. After breakfast at Refugio Los Cuernos, we'll begin hiking along a steep trail leading into the very heart of the Paine Massif - the famed French Valley.
How far we’ll go depends on our group's trekking rhythm. A swifter walk will lead us to the French River’s hanging bridge, located at the foot of the south-eastern face of the Massif. We will then continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley's geological formations: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress).
After our upward trek, we will pause for a tasty picnic and relax for a while. The day's trek will end with a descent through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest to Refugio Paine Grande.
Please note: An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is also available.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande
Walking time: 10 hrs
Distance: 26km – 16 miles
Max. Altitude: 686m – 2,250ft
Today we will hike from the Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern side of Lake Grey. We will feast on a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails to the huge, crystalline facade of Glacier Grey. From the southern end of Glacier Grey, we will transfer to EcoCamp. Due to the temperamental weather of the region, boat trips across the lake may occasionally be canceled or if the required minimum of 15 passengers is not reached. If this is the case, we will trek up to the sightseeing point to enjoy wonderful, panoramic views of Grey Glacier instead.
Afterward, it is time to return on foot to Paine Grande and take a catamaran to the dock, where we will be picked up and driven to EcoCamp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Accommodation: EcoCamp Patagonia
Walking time: 4 hrs
Distance: 11km – 7mi
Max. Altitude: 244m – 800ft
Today is the big day! the walk to the base of the famous Paine Towers. We will walk from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley on the Tower’s eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests, and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley.
Our big challenge is the steep moraine, a huge mass of boulders that lead to that iconic base of the Towers, the three gigantic granite monoliths that are the remains of a great cirque sheared away by glacial ice.
After a tough uphill climb, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch? After feasting on the view,we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner and some tasty Chilean wine.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Accommodation: EcoCamp Patagonia
Walking time: 9 hrs
Distance: 22km – 14mi
Max. Altitude: 914m – 3,000ft
On the sixth day, we'll opt for a less strenuous trail in order to counter our exhausting efforts of the previous day. After breakfast, we will make a leisurely car journey towards Laguna Azul, home to many wild guanacos and ñandús. We will pause occasionally to admire the views of the Patagonian steppe and the Towers from its many perspectives.
At Laguna Azul, we will hike to the lookout point where we will be treated to a gorgeous view of both the lagoon and the granite towers. After lunch, we will drive to the northern shore of Sarmiento Lake where the Fauna Trail begins. As we hike northbound, we will spot an impressive range of Patagonian fauna on the vast plains, and maybe even the occasional puma print! We will pass the charming Goic lagoon and, after approximately 5 km of relaxed walking, we will reach the Laguna Amarga ranger station where we will be picked up and driven back to Ecocamp to celebrate with a farewell dinner.
*Please note: if there are more than 6 travelers in the group, there is an option to split into two groups, with one group (or the whole group if everybody's in the mood!) cycling to Laguna Azul!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Accommodation: EcoCamp Patagonia
Walking time: 3hrs
Distance: 6km – 4mi
Max. Altitude: 180m – 590ft
On to the next adventure!
Today we will board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch an evening flight onwards.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch.

FAQS
All ground transport - private and domestic - as indicated in the itinerary.
Boat crossing on Grey Lake.
4 nights accommodation in EcoCamp.
1 night accommodation at Camping Paine Grande.
1 night in Camping at Los Cuernos or El Francés.
Park fees for Torres del Paine National Park.
One expert English speaking trekking guide.
Sleeping bag for refugios if needed.
Transportation for your luggage within the park (while trekking you will carry just your day pack).
Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches/Box Lunches, 6 Dinners.
Transportation to/from El Calafate (This includes bus tickets and a van from your hotel to the bus terminal).
Flight tickets.
Insurance (appropriate insurance is mandatory).
Voluntary tipping to guides and staff.
Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp. Bring cash to buy extra drinks, snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine National Park.
Personal items.