The W Trek is a multi-day hiking route in Torres del Paine National Park, Chilean Patagonia. It is a mesmerising trail through the Patagonian mountains, and it is famous for two things: its panoramic views and its hefty price tag. Most tour companies charge around $1,600 USD for a 5-day guided W Trek, but the trail is moderate and easy to follow so it is perfectly possible to hike independently for a fraction of the cost.
I recently had an incredible time hiking the W Trek solo. Torres del Paine is the most awe-inspiring place I have ever visited, and I met so many amazing people along the way. My total spend was £330 GBP (approx. $430 USD), including tickets, transport from Puerto Natales, food and accommodation. I booked everything last-minute and all the camping spots were fully booked, so with some planning, I could have done it even cheaper. Here I share tips to help you tackle this trail on a budget.
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- 🗺️ Awesome Patagonia Itineraries
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- 🎒 How to Pack for a Hiking Trip
Contents
Hiking Patagonia’s W Trek on a Budget 🥾
When to Hike the W Trek 🌤️
Spring, summer and early autumn (October to April) are the best times to hike the W Trek. December to March is peak season.
The trail is not open to independent hikers during winter (May to September).
When to Book the W Trek 🗓️
The best way to save money on the W Trek is to book independently and in advance, ideally three to six months before your trip. Booking through a tour company is easier than booking independently, but it is much more expensive.
👉 Also read: The Best Time to Visit Patagonia
How Long is the W Trek? ⏳
The W Trek covers 80 km (50 miles) and is usually trekked over four or five days.
I decided to make the trek cheaper by completing it in three days rather than the usual five. This was certainly doable, and it meant I had the trails largely to myself as I was hiking longer days, but I would recommend cutting it down to four instead of three days to lessen the daily mileage.
Choosing a Direction to Hike the W Trek ↔️
To book independently, first, choose your direction:
- West to east (starting at Paine Grande and ending at Base Torres) is the most popular and ends with sunrise at the iconic towers.
- East to west (starting at Central/Chileno and ending at Grey Glacier) can be easier to book last-minute.
A great 4-day west-to-east itinerary looks like this:
- Night 1: Paine Grande
- Night 2: Frances
- Night 3: Chileno or Central
If you are short on time, cut Paine Grande for a 3-day trek; for a longer experience, add Grey as an extra night. If hiking east to west, simply reverse the route.
💡 Top tip
Use Torres Hike to check the itineraries and campsite availability. You can either book directly through each operator or via Torres Hike (which adds a small fee).
👉 Also read: Breathtaking Hikes in Patagonia
Accommodation on the W Trek ⛺
You will need to have all your accommodation confirmed before entering the park. Accommodation is managed by two different companies:
- Vertice Patagonia (for the western section — Paine Grande and Grey)
- Las Torres (central and eastern sections — Frances, Cuernos, Chileno and Central)
The cheapest way to stay on the W Trek is to bring your own tent and camp at designated sites (wild camping is strictly prohibited). If you prefer a bit more comfort, or if you have booked too late to get a tent pitch, pre-set tents and refugio dorm beds are the next most affordable options.
Since I booked last-minute, I used a mix of both. Prices were higher, but I was impressed with how clean and comfortable the facilities were in the refugios.
💡 Top Tip
Paine Grande is around one-third the price of most other refugios, so try to stay there instead of Grey on your first night.
Some hikers use Paine Grande as a base for two nights by visiting Grey Glacier on day one and Mirador Británico on day two, before returning to Puerto Natales and doing a day trip to see the Towers. This route does not technically cover the full W Trek, but it is a clever way to see the highlights for much less.
Top Tips for Booking the W Trek on a Budget 💡
Flights ✈️
Puerto Natales is the main gateway to Torres del Paine, but Punta Arenas, which is just two hours away by bus, often has much cheaper flights. For me, flights to Punta Arenas cost half of those to Puerto Natales, so I flew there and took the bus with Bus Sur for $9 USD.
Gear 🔦
Gear rental in Puerto Natales isn’t cheap, so buy as much as you can before arriving in Patagonia. I rented hiking poles, crampons, and a head torch from Rental Natales for three days. The equipment was great quality, but it would have been cheaper to purchase my own gear in Santiago.
Before starting my trek, I stayed at Last Hope Hostel, a sociable, welcoming place with an incredibly helpful owner. He keeps a huge box of hiking and camping gear left behind by past guests, which anyone can borrow for free. There were plenty of good sleeping bags and tents available here.
👉 Also read: The Perfect Patagonia Packing List
Getting To and From the Trail Head 🚌
After booking your accommodation, you will need to buy your park entry ticket online for $35 USD and book transport from Puerto Natales to the park via Bus Sur. I contacted Bus Sur via WhatsApp and they helped me to book everything smoothly.
If you are hiking west to east, you will need to book a bus to Pudeto for around 7 am and the catamaran from Pudeto to Paine (departs daily at 10–10.30 am). For the return journey you will need to book a bus from Laguna Amarga to Puerto Natales (runs daily at 3 pm and 8 pm). Do this in reverse if hiking east to west.
Food on the W Trek 🍲
When you book your accommodation for the W Trek, you have the option to add on your meals. These consist of a simple breakfast, packed lunch and a hot dinner and cost approximately $90 USD per day. Whilst it is certainly nice to not have to carry and cook food for yourself, these meals are incredibly overpriced.
If you are travelling on a budget, I recommend buying groceries in Puerto Natales before the trek and bringing your own food with you. There are plenty of supermarkets and camping shops in Puerto Natales selling a selection of dehydrated meals. All the campsites and refugios have free hot water available so you don’t need to bring much cooking equipment.
If you really don’t want to carry food on the trek, it is cheaper to buy meals in the restaurants at the refugios than it is to add on meals ahead of time.
Final Thoughts on the W Trek 💭
With a bit of research and forward planning, the W Trek can absolutely be done on a budget. It is one of the most beautiful trails in the world, and every penny (and blister) is worth it!
Have you hiked the W Trek? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
Victoria Wilson
Victoria Wilson is a writer, climber and solo traveller based in the UK. Read more of her articles on Linktree.
