Winter W Circuit (6 days)

May to August, 2017:

• For Chileans and resident foreigners in Chile: CLP$ 899.000 per person.
• For non-resident foreigners in Chile: USD$ 1,440 per person.

1. Select the departure date from the calendar.
2. Select the number of people.
3. Click on "Add to cart".
4. Pay the full price of the tour online.

• Transportation:
  • Private round trip shuttle form Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine.
  • Catamaran connection from Pehoé Area to Pudeto.
• Accommodation in refugios (includes sleeping bag or sheets, depending on the availability):
  • 1st night in the Refugio Torre Central.
  • 2nd night in the Refugio Torre Central.
  • 3rd night in the Refugio Los Cuernos.
  • 4th night in the Paine Grande Lodge.
  • 5th night in Regufio Grey.
• Meals:
  • Breakfast.
  • Box lunch.
  • Dinner.
• Bilingual guide (Spanish and English).

• Breakfast and lunch the first day, nor dinner the last day.
• Entry ticket to the Torres del Paine National Park (CLP$ 4,000 for Chileans and CLP$ 11,000 for foreigners).
• Health insurance.

• A 40 liter backpack for all the circuit.
• A 20 to 25 liter rucksack for during the day treks.
• Waterproof jacket and pants.
• Polar warm clothes (Polartec or similar).
• Thermal clothing (first layer).
• Short and long sleeved T-shirts.
• Trekking shoes.
• Enough batteries (energy is produced in a sustainable way, so there are no sockets to charge batteries).
• Earplugs.
• Flip-flops (for showers and rest).
• Flashlight.
• Lock.
• Towel.
• Winter hat and gloves for cold temperatures.
• Cap to protect yourself from the sun.
• Sun block.
• Sunglasses.
• Ziploc bags or similar (to store the garbage).
• Hiking poles.

Beginning: Day 1 at 2:00 pm at the office in Puerto Natales.
End: Day 6 at 5:00 pm at the office in Puerto Natales.

Day 1: Transportation to the Torres del Paine National Park. We will gather at 2:00 pm at the office in Puerto Natales, where we will take our private transportation to go towards the Torres del Paine at 2:30 pm. We will traverse 112 km in 2 and half hours, with a stop in Cerro Castillo. At 5:00 pm we will get to the Portería Laguna Amarga. Here we can buy the entry ticket to the park, if you still haven't bought it. Then, we will board our vehicle again to go to the Refugio Torre Central, where we will have dinner and pass the first night.

Day 2: Base Torres Viewpoint (19 km, 8 to 9 hours). We will begin the day with a 1 and half hours trek that will take us to the Refugio El Chileno. As we make the hike, we will have views of the surrounding lakes and the hanging glacier of the Almirante Nieto Mount. After that, we will advance for 1 hour through a lenga forest to reach the moraine base, which we will have to climb for 45 minutes to the Base Torres Viewpoint. From this place we will have a privileged view of the South Tower, Central Tower, North Tower, Cóndor Nest and the Tower Glacier.

Day 3: Refugio Torre Central Trek – Refugio Los Cuernos (11 km, 4 to 5 hours). The recommended time to begin the day is at 7:00 am with the breakfast. Then, we will begin a soft hike to go round the Paine Massif, surrounding the base of the Almirante Nieto Mount. In this path we will see the Nordenskjöld Lake, some hanging glaciers and the local flora. After 4 to 5 hours of walking, we will reach Los Cuernos Area to get installed, have dinner and rest.

Day 4: El Francés Valley Trek and Pehoé Area (25 km, 10 to 12 hours). As recommendation, we should have breakfast at 7:00 pm to begin the trek at 7:30 am. The first 2 hours of this path are soft, continuing with the views of the Nordenskjöld Lake until reaching the Italiano Camp. Here, the general recommendation is to contact the Forest National Organization (CONAF by its Spanish acronym) staff, to leave the backpacks and begin the ascent just with a rucksack (water, food and warm clothes). This will begin by the valley of the Francés River to the Francés Glacier Viewpoint and lasts 1 and half hours. Then, we will go on until reaching the Británico Viewpoint. From this place we will see the Paine Grande, Catedral, Hoja, Máscara, Espada, Aleta de Tiburón and Cuerno Norte hills. After watching this natural wonders, we will go back to the camp by the same track, and then we will go to the Pehoé Lake, until the Paine Grande Lodge. It should be noted that the ascent to the first or second viewpoint is determined by the weather, the conditions of the tracks and the guide's interpretation, who is the leader of the group.

Day 5: Grey  Glacier Trek (11 km, 3 to 4 hours). After breakfast, it would be good to leave at 8:00 am to walk during 1 and half hours towards the first viewpoint, from where it is possible to see the Grey Glacier. We will be boarding the west coast of the Grey Lake for 2 hours, until reaching the main viewpoint, from which we will have spectacular views of the glacier, the Olguín Chain and the ice floes. The arrival to the Grey Area is programmed for noon, so we would have the afternoon to make a 2 hours trek towards the Dos Puentes Area, after the guide's evaluation of the weather and physical conditions of the passengers, because the trek is very difficult. On the other hand, we can have the afternoon free until dinner and then resting in the Refugio Grey.

Day 6: Return to Pehoé Area and Puerto Natales (11 km, 3 to 4 hours). We will begin our return at 8:00 am by the same track towards the Pehoé Area. We have to calculate the times, because we should be at noon to set sail in the catamaran for crossing the Pehoé Lake until Pudeto. In this place, we will take our private shuttle back to Puerto Natales, reaching at the office at 5:00 pm.

• How much time in advance should I book the program?
  Because the program is highly demanded, we recommend you to book at least 1 month in advance. If you want to know the availability of the program before paying, write us to reservas@denomades.com.

• Should the non-resident foreigners in Chile pay some tax not included in the program price?
  No. In Chile there is a tax law to promote tourism that allows non-resident foreigners get an exemption not to pay 19% tax. For that, at the moment of the check-in in every refugio, they must present their passport and their immigration card (delivered by International Police at the moment of entering Chile). In case of not presenting this documents, the tax will be charged in cash (Chilean pesos) in every refugio.

• How is the infrastructure in every refugio?
  All refugios have the same level of infrastructure. They have mixed gender rooms, with 4 to 8 beds each (2 to 4 bunk beds) and have heating 24 hours a day. Bathrooms are segregated and have warm water in showers and washbasin 24 hours a day.

• Is it possible to buy food or other items in the refugios?
  Yes. All refugios have cafeterias and grocery stores where it is possible to buy food, personal hygiene items and objects for your trip, among other things. Paying methods accepted by the refugios are cash (Chilean pesos) and credit or debit card.

• Are there sockets available to charge electronic devices?
  Rooms don't have sockets available. There are a limited number of sockets in the dining rooms, so they might be unavailable when you need them. That's why we recommend you to optimize the battery use and take external batteries with you.

• Is there Wi-Fi in the refugios?
  Yes. The Wi-Fi service is not included in the program price and it is payed directly in every refugio. Depending on the speed and usage time, the price goes from USD$ 4 per 30 minutes.  

• What are the transport options to go from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales?
  There are different bus companies that make the route every day. To get to know the departure times you must check the information published in their websites (Bus-Sur, Buses Pacheco and Buses Fernández). Also, you can make the trip in a private transfer service. To check the prices of the private transfer service, write us to reservas@denomades.com.