Patagonia - Torres Del Paine W Circuit

The W Circuit within the UNESCO-World Heritage site, Torres del Paine, draws hikers from around the world. If you're at a loose end next Christmas and New Year, join our small group for a 7 day, 6 night, Patagonian adventure during the Southern Hemisphere's summer.

The W circuit is a well-trodden hiking trail that takes the shape of a “W” when seen on the map below. It covers approximately 35 miles, but this distance is divided into three sectors with strategically located Refugios (hostels). The three key valleys on the W Trek are:

• the Grey Valley on the western side;
• the French Valley in the center;
• the Ascencio Valley on the eastern side.

The itinerary below includes a hike to the Torres base, the area beside the lagoon at the feet of the iconic three needle-carved, vertically-sided towers of granite rock; the French Valley with its hanging glaciers and steep-sided valley walls, and the amazing Grey Glacier coming down to meet Grey lake where it calves into blue icebergs. And, of course, the stunning natural scenery that accompanies the W Trail we'll be following.

Itinerary (tbc):
12/23 - JFK to Santiago-SCL (overnight non-stop flight)
12/25 - Santiago to Punta Arenas (3 1/2 hour AM flight). Hotel in Punta Arenas for Christmas dinner
12/26 - Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine (3 hour AM bus ride). 2 1/2 hour hike to Refugio Chileno (optional 4 hour afternoon hike to Torres base).
12/27 - 5 hr hike to Refugio Cuernos (optional extra 4 hour sunrise hike to Torres base)
12/28 - 5 hour hike to Refugio Paine Grande (optional extra 5 hour detour via French Valley)
12/29 - 4 hour hike to Refugio Grey
12/30 - Hike and catamaran to Pudeto, then bus to Hotel in Punta Arenas
12/31 - Punta Arenas to Santiago. (Morning- 3 1/2 hr flight).
12/31 - SCL to JFK (10 1/2 hour non-stop overnight flight)

If you'd like more information, please join the wait list or message me. You'll be asked for your email address - I'll follow up with you from there. Note: It's possible to extend your trip (e.g. go south from Punta Arenas to Magellan Straits or Antarctica).