W Circuit: 72 kilometers among glaciers, valleys and towers
It is the best-known hike in Torres del Paine. Here is how it is done, when to go and what changed in 2026.
Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann · CC BY-SA 4.0What it is
The W Circuit links five sectors of Torres del Paine National Park: Grey, Paine Grande, Valle del Francés, Los Cuernos and Base Torres. Drawn on a map, the route forms a W. It can be walked in either direction.
According to a commercial guide from the operator Nomades, it is 72 km long and takes 4 to 5 days, with days of up to about 25 km. The technical difficulty is medium and the physical one medium-high. The trails are marked, the maximum altitude is 850 m and the cumulative elevation gain is around 3,500 m.
Where to sleep
There are campsites and mountain huts. The campsites have showers, a small store and kitchens. The huts offer shared dorms and are more comfortable and more expensive. In both cases booking is mandatory. Fires are not allowed at the campsites, so you need to bring a camp stove.
Getting there
Buses leave from Puerto Natales. The same guide mentions three daily departures for the 2026-2027 season, although the schedules can change. The stops are Laguna Amarga, Pudeto, Camping Pehoé, the CONAF administration and Lake Grey.
What changed in 2026
- Since 1 May, CONAF charges the entry in two ways: daily or for 2 to 10 continuous days. It is bought online only and in advance, at pasesparques.cl.
- The winter season began on 27 April, earlier than usual, because of the weather.
- CONAF closed the W Circuit in June and July. It also suspended boat trips on Lakes Pehoé and Grey. The trail to Base Torres stayed open, but only with accredited guides.
- On high-difficulty routes or in winter conditions, an authorized guide is mandatory, for example on the W and to Base Torres.
- In the 2026 season there is no access regulation on the trail to Base Torres, although CONAF will consider doing so in the future.
Before you go
- Book campsites or huts before buying tickets.
- Buy the entry ticket at pasesparques.cl.
- Confirm with CONAF the state of the trails and the date services reopen.
- The Nomades guide is a commercial source. Verify prices and schedules on the booking platforms.
Keep reading
Sources
- Nomades: Circuito W, todo lo que necesitas saber (fuente comercial, publicada 1 Nov 2023, modificada 31 Aug 2026)
- The Clinic: CONAF anuncia el cierre temporal del Circuito W (25 May 2026)
- CNN Chile: nuevo sistema tarifario de Torres del Paine (Apr 2026)
- El Mostrador: cómo funciona el nuevo sistema (10 Jun 2026)
- Revisado el 9 Oct 2026