Introduction: W-Trek Day 5

Today’s plan is straightforward but rewarding. We’ll hike from Chileno to the iconic Las Torres lagoon, take in the breathtaking views, and then make our way back down to Central, where we’ll catch a shuttle to Laguna Amarga before taking the bus back to Puerto Natales.

This final hike is one of the most scenic of the W-Trek, with stunning views of the Torres peaks as a grand finale before heading back to civilization. This guide will detail the W-Trek Day 5. If you are looking for other stages, we’ve got you covered:

• Torres del Paine Guide: The Best 5-day W-Trek
• W-Trek Day 1: From Puerto Natales to Grey Glacier 
• W-Trek Day 2: From Grey Glacier to Paine Grande
• W-Trek Day 3: From Paine Grande to Frances
• W-Trek Day 4: From Frances to Chileno 

Trail Stats at a Glance

Today, we follow the W-Trek from Paine Grande to Grey Shelter/Camping

• Total Distance: 14 km (+660 m, -960 m)
  • Chileno to Las Torres ranger station: 2,8 km, +200 m
  • Campsite to Las Torres Lagoon: 1,4 km, +300 m
  • Chileno to Central: 5,6km (+160 m, -460 m)
• Highest Point: 865m
• Lowest Point: 140m
• Estimated Time: 6 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Required Booking: Room in Puerto Natales or Central
• Best Time to Start: 7 a.m

Mapping the W-Trek Day 5

Morning in Chileno

With the early morning light painting the landscape, we woke up around 6:40 AM, packed our gear, and carefully made our way down from the tent platforms on the cliffside—a bit of a hassle but worth it for the experience.

Once down at the shelter area, we enjoyed breakfast outside, where a few foxes wandered nearby, completely unbothered by our presence. The sky had cleared, and the morning was crisp and peaceful. As the saying goes, after the rain comes the sun!

We grabbed two cups and hot water from the shelter, helping ourselves to a much-needed coffee. Sitting outside was beautiful, but the number of flies buzzing around was unreal.

Once finished, we dropped our main bags at the shelter—a perk for those staying at the campsite—and packed only extra layers and food for the trek to Las Torres Lagoon.

Trail to Las Torres

Trail to Ranger camp base

We set off at 8:14 AM, making our way through a scenic yet challenging trail. The path wound through the forest, with constant ups and downs, keeping our legs engaged the entire time.

By 9:10 AM, we arrived at the ranger camp, which marks the base of the final uphill climb to Las Torres Lagoon. From here, the real challenge awaited us—the steep ascent to one of the most iconic viewpoints in Patagonia

Trail the lagoon

We reached Las Torres Lagoon at 10:05 AM, standing in front of the famous Torres del Paine peaks.

This final stretch was more challenging, as the trail consisted of a steep, rocky ascent with no flat sections to catch a break. Despite the effort, the breathtaking view of the lagoon and the towering granite spires made every step worth it.

The lagoon

The lagoon was stunning, with its turquoise waters mirroring the towering granite peaks above. It reminded us of the landscapes we had seen in El Chaltén, yet the sheer scale of Las Torres made it feel even more impressive.

We spent over an hour soaking in the view, chatting with a fellow traveler from New York City, who had just started her three-month adventure through South America.

One of the highlights was watching a group of Korean travelers arrive. One of them was particularly hilarious, posing dramatically for photos and bringing an infectious energy to the moment. We even ended up taking pictures for them, capturing their joy as they reached this iconic viewpoint.

Return

Trail back to Chileno

We left the lagoon at 11:15 am and made our way back down, reaching the ranger camp by 12:14 pm and arriving at Chileno by 1pm.

By this time, the trail was packed—it was incredible to see how many people were making their way up. Compared to the peaceful morning we had, the trail now felt like a highway of hikers, with groups stopping for breaks, taking photos, and making their ascent slowly.

We were glad we had started early, as the crowds definitely took away some of the magic of the final stretch to Las Torres.

Trail to Central

Back in Chileno, we took about an hour to relax, enjoy the view, and have lunch. It felt great to sit down and take in the last bit of scenery before heading back down.

Around 2:15pm, we started our descent toward Central. The trail had a short uphill section from Chileno to the intersection with the Central/Frances split, but after that, it was all downhill—a much easier walk compared to the morning trek.

By 3:50pm, we arrived at Central, right at the information center, where the shuttles run between Central and Laguna Amarga.

Return to Puerto Natales

We bought two tickets for the next shuttle to Laguna Amarga (3,000 CLP each, ~€3.15) and then waited at the information center until 6:00pm for our bus back to Puerto Natales.

The information center is also a coffee shop and souvenir store, with WC facilities available, and they accept credit cards for payments.

Our shuttle left at 6:05pm, and we arrived at Laguna Amarga by 6:18pm.

Since we had already purchased our bus tickets in advance, we boarded right away when the bus arrived. However, for those who hadn’t, tickets were available for purchase on the spot.

The bus departed around 6:45pm, and we arrived in Puerto Natales at 8:40pm—marking the end of our Torres del Paine adventure!

Alternative

An alternative option is to wake up early and start hiking around 5:30am to catch the sunrise at Las Torres Lagoon. This would not only offer an incredible view of the towers glowing at dawn but also allow for a quieter, more peaceful hike with fewer crowds.

We noticed this possibility as some hikers were already making their way down while we were still heading up.

Additionally, taking this approach would give you the chance to finish the hike earlier and catch an afternoon bus back to Puerto Natales, saving time for a more relaxed evening or an onward journey.

Where to stay to hike Torres Del Paine

You have 2 main options for where to stay before hiking in Torres Del Paine National Park. You can either stay in Puerto Natales, which is the budget option. In that case, we would recommend staying at:

• Budget: Puma House
• Mid-Range: Toore Patagonia
• High-Range: Hostal Boutique Factoria Patagonia

Or you can stay directly in the national park, which has some amazing and unique options, such as EcoCamp Patagonia. Located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, EcoCamp Patagonia offers a truly unique stay in charming geodesic domes inspired by the region’s ancestral dwellings. Or the Konkashken Lodge, where you can stay in beautiful cabins.