Introduction: W-Trek Day 3
With around 22km to cover, today is the longest day od the 5 we spent in the park. The program is to leave Paine Grande to reach Italiano (a free camping area, closed at the moment), drop our bag there, and then hike all the way to Britanico.
From there, we will come back to Italiano and head to Frances where we will stay overnight.
- Paine Grande to Italiano: 7,5km
- Italiano to Britanico: 5,4km
- Italiano to Frances: 0,5km
Approximative distance.
Table of Contents
Paine Grande to Italiano
Trail
Based on the map, this trail is 7,5km and can be done in 2,5h (2h30min). We left at 8:15am and arrived at 10:25am, so 2h10min. At this time, Tina knees also were hurting and mine started. Even though I was fine in the morning, the pain came back.
This part of the trail is quite flat with only a few up/down hills. Not too hard and really enjoyable as the view all along is amazing.
Italiano
Owned by CONAF and supposed to be free camping spot. But there was at most a couple of tents and it seems closed.
We dropped our main bags there and kept on only with the 20L one. There are also WC available there and fresh water from the river directly.
PS: if you see people cleaning their cooking stuff there, tell them that it’s made be drinkable water and not a cleaning area.
Time to get all of this done (there was some bags reorganisation to do), we left from Italiano at 10:55am.
Trail to Britanico
This trail is the tough part of the day going to Britanico and come back. The trail is 5,4km for 3 hours (one-way)
Italiano to Mirador de Frances
Mirador de Frances is not Frances shelter/camping nor its area but it’s a viewpoint toward Frances Glacier on the way to Britanico.
The main part of this trail will be along the river before going in the forest. The river part is quite demanding as it’s mostly a rocky road.
We made a lunch break around 12pm just before the Frances lookout on an amazing rock with tonnes of colors before reaching Frances lookout and admiring avalanche from the glacier.
Mirador Frances to Britanico
Britanico is actually made of the 2 points, one being Britanico itself which is a beautiful rocky area in the middle of the forest surrounded by mountains and the other is Britanico viewpoint which is a bit further and higher.
The trail to go to Britanico was better but it was longer and is mostly now within the forest.
Also, now on some map Britanico doesn’t appear anymore.
Return to Italiano
We left the lookout around 2:30pm and went we reached back Britanico we made another stop there to enjoy it. For us, it was even better than the viewpoint. It is huge and open. The perfect spot to chill.
Another great spot to make a small break is along the river on the way to Britanico.
We were back at Italiano around 5:25pm
Domos Frances
The camping area is mostly located uphill while the domes are downhill. We headed straight for them and checked in.
We then headed to our beds, dropped our bags, took a nice hot shower and got our dinner ready. With our knees, it was ok until Italiano but after day this day was really hard, so I got ourselves 2 cold beers and some Crispy rolls that I love.
Inside
The domes were super cool. It’s made for 8 people with double bunk beds. But there are separated making them private enough.
Each bed has its own light and USB charger. There is a pillow and a sleeping bag for each as well. There are 220V in the common area of the dome
Each dome has one WC for men and one for women, and the same for the shower. In the shower there is soap and shampoo.
Outside
There is a small minimarket where the reception is but nothing too fancy.
The common area is in the dining room. Only accessible after the food service at 7pm and 8pm. So around 9:30pm. There is no kitchen, but you can cook on the table around the site.
The available table around are quite limited but offer a great view.
Drinkable hot and cold water are near the reception
Video
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley
Looking where to Stay before and after?
Unique Stay near the Park
- Lodge: Cabañas Lago Tyndall
- Tiny House: Torres del Paine
- Lodge: Konkashken Lodge
Or in Puerto Natales:
- Budget: Puma House
- Mid-Range: Toore Patagonia
- High-Range: Hostal Boutique Factoria Patagonia
