Torres del Paine ‘W’ Trek

The 'W' so-named because of the shape of the route as it curves in and out of the Paine massif, is the classic Torres del Paine trek, taking you up close to all the most dramatic views.

The 4-day route leads right across the park via the towers and horns of the Paine massif, a natural masterpiece in rock that dominates the landscape and represents the focal point of the whole park. Starting on the east side you’ll reach the vertical granite peaks of Las Torres in a day, before enjoying views of the Cuernos from a multitude of angles as you pass glacial lakes, wild flower meadows and hanging glaciers.

It isn’t necessary to camp on this trek as there are basic but comfortable refuges along the way, offering a hot supper and a warm bed for the night. With a couple of extra days, you can tick off other iconic hikes such as the trek to the base of the granite towers after which the national park is named.