Torres del Paine W Trek & Santiago — Self-Launched
8 days · Chilean Patagonia
G Adventures charges £2,950
No-markup version: ~£1,175 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of G Adventures' 8-day Santiago + W Trek trip. You'll fly south to Punta Arenas on a budget Chilean airline, bus to Puerto Natales, and walk the classic 5-day W route through Torres del Paine — Base Las Torres, French Valley and Grey Glacier — sleeping in CONAF campsites and mountain refugios that you book directly. Finish with the catamaran across Lago Pehoé and a night back in Santiago. No group, no guide fees: just you, a daypack and some of the best scenery on earth. Costs below are rough estimates for a solo traveller in shoulder season (Nov–Mar); book refugios/campsites 3-6 months ahead as they sell out.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Land at Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) and take the Turbus/Centropuerto airport bus (CLP 2,000–3,000, ~£2.50) or a shared transfer into the centre rather than the CLP 25,000 taxi. Stay in Barrio Bellavista or Lastarria — close to bars, food and the metro. Spend the evening wandering Bellavista's street art and grabbing a completo or a cheap set-menu dinner.
🚌Turbus/Centropuerto airport bus ~£2.50; metro CLP 800 per ride
🛏Hostel dorm in Bellavista/Lastarria (~£15/night)
- →Airport bus to city centre
- →Evening stroll in Barrio Bellavista
- →Cheap local dinner (completo / menú del día)
Santiago → Punta Arenas → Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales
Fly south on a low-cost Chilean carrier (Sky Airline or JetSMART) from SCL to Punta Arenas — book 4-8 weeks ahead for fares around £70-110 one way including bag. From Punta Arenas airport take the local bus or shared shuttle into town (CLP 3,000-5,000), then a Bus Sur or Buses Fernández coach to Puerto Natales (2.5-3 hrs, CLP 8,000-12,000). Check into a hostel, buy gas canisters, snacks and any rental gear (poles, waterproofs) on Eberhard or Baquedano street, and attend the free evening 'how to do the W' briefing that most hostels run.
🚌Flight SCL→PUQ ~£85 one way; airport shuttle ~£4; Bus Sur coach to Puerto Natales ~£9
🛏Hostel dorm in Puerto Natales (~£16/night)
- →Domestic flight to Punta Arenas
- →Coach to Puerto Natales
- →Gear rental and trip briefing
Bus into the park — Base Las Torres
Torres del Paine National Park
Take the early 07:00 bus from Puerto Natales to Laguna Amarga park entrance (~2 hrs, CLP 10,000-15,000 return or one way) and pay the CONAF park entry (CLP 25,000 / ~£21 for foreigners, valid for multiple days). Drop unneeded luggage at your Puerto Natales hostel first. Hike from Hotel Las Torres / Chileno up the Ascencio Valley to Mirador Base Las Torres (~19-22 km return, 8-10 hrs) for the money shot of the three granite towers over the turquoise lagoon. Sleep at Camping Chileno or Refugio Chileno (book via Vertice Patagonia / Fantástico Sur months ahead — ~£20-28 dorm or ~£10-12 camping pitch).
🚌Public bus Puerto Natales→Laguna Amarga ~£9 one way; park shuttle to trailhead ~£3
🛏Refugio Chileno or Camping Chileno (~£22)
- →Bus to Laguna Amarga
- →Pay CONAF park entrance
- →Hike to Mirador Base Las Torres
- →Sunrise/sunset at the towers
Chileno → Los Cuernos
Torres del Paine National Park
Easy morning down to the valley floor, then traverse east along the shore of Lago Nordenskjöld, with the Cuernos horns reflecting in the lake most of the way. About 14-16 km, 4-6 hrs. Stop for photos at the Nordenskjöld lookout and refill water at streams (all drinkable). Overnight at Camping Los Cuernos / Refugio Los Cuernos — one of the most scenic pitches in the park, with basic meals available if you pre-order.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping or refugio dorm at Los Cuernos (~£20)
- →Traverse Lago Nordenskjöld shoreline
- →Cuernos del Paine viewpoints
- →Wildlife spotting (condors, guanacos)
Los Cuernos → French Valley → Paine Grande
Torres del Paine National Park
Big day: an hour past Refugio Italiano you drop your big pack at the ranger station (Campamento Italiano) and climb light into the French Valley to Mirador Británico for 360° views of the granite amphitheatre — roughly 25 km and 9-11 hrs in total. Descend to Lago Skottsberg and roll into Refugio/Camping Paine Grande (Vertice) for the night. Book the dorm or campsite online; the refugio has a shop, hot showers and a bar.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping or dorm at Paine Grande (~£22)
- →French Valley / Mirador Británico side trip
- →Pass Refugio Italiano and Lago Skottsberg
Grey Glacier → catamaran → Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales
Leave your pack at Paine Grande and hike the fast out-and-back to Mirador Glaciar Grey (~11 km return, 3-4 hrs) for front-row seats on the blue ice wall — or push on to Refugio Grey if you have legs left. Back at Paine Grande, catch the 18:30 (or 12:30) catamaran across Lago Pehoé to Pudeto (CLP 25,000-30,000 / ~£22, book on arrival or via Hielos Patagonia) and take the connecting bus back to Puerto Natales. Shower, laundry and a big steak dinner in town.
🚌Catamaran Pehoé→Pudeto ~£22; bus Pudeto→Puerto Natales ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm in Puerto Natales (~£16)
- →Mirador Glaciar Grey hike
- →Catamaran across Lago Pehoé
- →Bus back to Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales → Punta Arenas → Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Morning bus back to Punta Arenas (2.5-3 hrs) with a wander around the waterfront and Plaza Muñoz Gamero if time allows, then fly north to Santiago. Check into the same or a new hostel and spend the evening exploring the Lastarria / Bellavista area, or head up Cerro San Cristóbal by funicular (CLP 3,000) for sunset if you still have energy.
🚌Bus Puerto Natales→Punta Arenas ~£9; flight PUQ→SCL ~£85; airport bus ~£2.50
🛏Hostel dorm in Santiago (~£15)
- →Coach to Punta Arenas
- →Flight to Santiago
- →Cerro San Cristóbal sunset (optional)
Santiago & departure
Santiago, Chile
Final morning: Mercado Central for a cheap seafood lunch, the Museo de la Memoria (free) or the street art walk in Barrio Brasil, then the airport bus back to SCL for your onward flight. Note: keep your stamped immigration receipt (PDI slip) — you'll need it to leave Chile.
🚌Airport bus ~£2.50
🛏None
- →Mercado Central
- →Free museum or street art walk
- →Airport bus
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,175 | £2,950 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,775 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,175
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Torres del Paine W Trek & Santiago — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,175 per person for 8 days in Chilean Patagonia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,175 — a saving of roughly £1,775 (60%) per person.
How long is the Chilean Patagonia trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Chilean Patagonia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Chilean Patagonia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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