Introduction: W-Trek Organisation
There is a total of 7 possible accommodations on the W-trek:
- Refugio & Camping Grey
- Refugio & Camping Paine Grande
- Camping Italiano
- Dome & Camping Frances
- Refugio, Cabins & Camping Los Cuernos
- Refugio & Camping Chileno
- Refugio & Camping Central
All of them are private and must be booked directly with the company owning them. There is a total of 3 companies:
- Fantastico Sur
- Vertice
- Conaf
Table of Contents
Our W-Trek
The W-trek as explained is the Torres del Paine introduction post, is a 5 days 4 nights trek. During those, the possible accommodation will at:
- Refugio & Camping Grey
- Refugio & Camping Paine Grande
- Dome & Camping Frances
- Refugio & Camping Chileno
Those are the options we took. There are of course some alternatives:
- Refugio, Cabins & Camping Los Cuernos instead of Frances
- Refugio & Camping Central instead of Chileno
We are going from East to West in the W-trek (same way as the O-trek).
We believe that it makes more sense to stay in Frances instead of Los Cuernos as during the 3rd day you have the longest day and 22km from Paine Grande to Frances. If you want to go directly to Los Cuernos, you will have to add another 2km on top of the 22km.
Central is the biggest station of them all. But in our W-trek, it made no sense to get there. As the distance between Frances and Central or Frances and Chileno is almost the same. Also going to central will make you hike an additional 5km the last day.
Fantastico Sur
Is owning the accommodation at Frances, Los Cuernos, Central and Chileno. In order to book with them you have to go on their website (https://www.fantasticosur.com/mountain-lodges/) and chose “book per night”.
You will then have to select the place you need, input the date and select the type of accommodation you want.
Once done, you will have to proceed and validate your order, once done you will receive an email with a PayPal link in order to pay for it. Once done, you will receive a confirmation.
The type of accommodation is (November to March):
- Camping spot: 21 USD per person. 11 USD more if you are alone.
- Fully-equipped campsite: 49 USD per person
- Fully-equipped Bed in dorms: 116 USD per person
- Cabin (only Los Cuernos): 180 USD per person
Vertice
Introduction
Is owning the accommodation at Grey and Paine Grande. Here to book, you need to directly contact them at [email protected]
You can check availability though online at: https://www.vertice.travel/alojamientos/
Here is what we sent to them
Hola,
Acabamos de reservar el alojamiento con Fantastico Sur.
- Camping Chileno: Full Equipo from 04-03-2020 to 05-03-2020
- Domo Francés: 2 Camas Simples from 03-03-2020 to 04-03-2020
Nombre de los pasajeros:
- Alexandre Recchia, fraces, passport N°
- Kristina Vesovic, serba, passport N°
Cantidad de los pasajeros 2
Fechas a reservar & Sectores a reservar:
- Grey: 1-2 de Marzo. Cama Armada x2
- Paine Grande: 2-3 Marzo. Camping Full Equipo doble
We then had to confirm from his email and pay from another one with a paypal link. And that was done.
Grey
The type of accommodation is (season 2019/2020) for Grey
- Camping spot: 9 USD per person.
- Fully equipped campsite: 69 USD per person
- Bed in dorms (without sheets, pillow): 37 USD per person
- Fully equipped Bed in dorms: 87 USD per person
Paine Grande
The type of accommodation is (season 2019/2020) for Paine Grande
- Camping spot: 11 USD per person.
- Fully equipped campsite: 71 USD per person
- Bed in dorms (without sheets, pillow): 57 USD per person
- Fully equipped Bed in dorms: 87 USD per person
CONAF
Own Italiano camp site, a free camping spot where you must come with your gear. When we were there it was closed.
Time to organise it
We organise it the 24th of February for a W-trek from 1st to 5th of March, so a week in advance. At this time, we managed to get:
- Refugio & Camping Grey: 2 fully equipped bed in dorms
- Refugio & Camping Paine Grande: 1 fully equipped tent
- Dome & Camping Frances: 2 fully equipped bed in domes
- Refugio & Camping Chileno: 1 fully equipped tent
And it cost us:
- Refugio & Camping Grey: 174 USD
- Refugio & Camping Paine Grande: 112 USD
- Dome & Camping Frances: 232 USD
- Refugio & Camping Chileno: 98 USD
Conclusion
That was the cheapest we managed to get. Renting a camping spot wasn’t possible any more even if we had changed the date a couple of days around. Only Chileno had availability of a camping spot but it’s not worth renting all the gear in Puerto Natales for one night and then carrying it.
People we met along the trek and that got a camping spot all organise their trip 3 or 4 months in advance.
“Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.” — Peter Hoeg
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
