It’s possible to walk the W Trek in either west to east or east to west directions. Getting to the W Trek from Puerto Natales, Chile Be aware of the opening hours if you choose this option as you will only be able to drop off or pick up your items during specific hours. If they don’t have storage available, you can store your items at the bus station. Ask your hotel or hostel if it is possible to store some of your items while you do the W trek. Storage can be arranged with your guiding service if you hire a guide, with your hostel/hotel depending on where you are staying or you can rent storage at the bus station. Ideally, your backpack won’t weigh more than around 30 lbs. It’s also possible to securely store gear you won’t need during the trek. Most stay open until 8 or 9 pm, allowing you to organize any kit requirements even if you arrive later in the day. Perhaps even more helpfully, this once small fishing village has a number of stores where hikers can rent any equipment they may need. Puerto Natales has a good cluster of hostels and hotels that are well used to welcoming those starting or finishing hiking the W Trek. Puerto Natales – The Gateway to Torres del Paine National Park However, most European, North American and Australian passport holders require nothing more than six months validity on their passport for tourist visits of less than 60 or 90 days (dependent on nationality). If coming from Argentinian Patagonia, you should arrange your visa for Chile ahead of time. There is also an opportunity to rent a car and drive yourself. Long distance buses cover the distance from Punta Arenas in around three hours, or around 7 hours from El Calafate including border formalities. Limited flights connect the airport at Puerto Natales with Santiago, and it’s often easier to fly to either Punta Arenas further south in Chile, or even to El Calafate, just across the border in Argentina.įrom either of these latter airports, you’ll then have to head to Puerto Natales by road. It lies more than 1800 miles south of the Chilean capital, Santiago.
The standard gateway to the W Trek is the town of Puerto Natales, Chile.
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Getting Started: Where to Fly Into and How to Get There The route is also at its busiest during these months, which some trekkers find takes away from the overall experience of solitude and isolation Patagonia is renowned for. This is particularly true for the high season, which lasts from December to February. Independent hiking is complicated by the fact that places at refugios need to be reserved ahead of time, and can be fully booked months in advance. This coincides with the southern hemisphere’s summer months and is also great to combine with a visit to the beautiful Atacama desert. Hiking the W Trek is open right throughout the year, but if you’re planning on heading along it independent of guides and tour groups you’re limited to the period between October and April. You will not have cell service while hiking the W trek so make sure your loved ones are aware. Keep in mind that the cost is much higher because it is satellite internet. Many of the refugios even have wifi so you can catch up on communication with loved ones. Most contain a small shop selling basic items. Refuges also have heating and electric lighting, and a communal dining room for eating meals sheltered from the elements. The upside of this arrangement is that you’ll have access to shared bathroom facilities, which generally include hot showers ideal for soothing sore muscles after a day’s walk. Still, if you require the comfort of your own bed inside a warm, cozy lodge then make sure to book even further out because those rooms book up the fastest. Tents provided at the refuge are meant for the colder weather, rain and wind so they are warmer than tents you may be used to. Lodging at the refugios are either tent camping or a shared room inside the lodge. Keep in mind that these often get booked up a year in advance so make sure to plan ahead to get the best spots at your favorite refugio. Camping is only permitted with designated refuges, or refugios at Torres del Paine National Park. Most of this multi-day hike will require overnight camping in tents or at a designated lodge, with hostels and hotels accessible at the start and end of the trek.
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