Currently in Puerto Natales, ChileNext stop: Banff, Canada

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Trail notes · since 2019

Go further. Carry less.

Thru-hikes, summits and nights under the stars — with honest gear lists, real permit tips and the routes we’d do again tomorrow.

Latest expedition
Gear list
1,240Trail miles
14Summits
63Nights in a tent
9Countries hiked

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Hard days, worth every step

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Everywhere the boots have been

Tap a pin for trip reports. Shaded countries are the ones we’ve hiked in.

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Latest expedition · Nov 12 – Nov 21, 2024

Patagonia: the W Trek

Puerto Natales → Torres del Paine (W Trek) → El Calafate

Full trip report

Itinerary · Nov 12 – Nov 21, 2024

Five days on the W

  • 5 days
  • 12 places
  • $295 on the ground

  1. Day 1 · Tue, Nov 12

    Puerto Natales gear-up

    2:00 PM – 7:00 PM$60
    • Puerto Natales
    • Erratic Rock

    Rent trekking poles and a stove; the free 3 p.m. talk at Erratic Rock is gold.

  2. Day 2 · Wed, Nov 13

    Base of the Towers

    7:00 AM – 6:00 PM$35
    • Hotel Las Torres
    • Chileno
    • Mirador Base Torres

    12 miles round trip, the last hour is a boulder scramble. Go early for calm air.

  3. Day 3 · Thu, Nov 14

    Along Lake Nordenskjöld

    8:00 AM – 3:00 PM$40
    • Los Cuernos
    • Lake Nordenskjöld

    The wind here is famous for a reason. Pack a buff.

  4. Day 4 · Fri, Nov 15

    French Valley

    6:30 AM – 6:30 PM$40
    • Campamento Italiano
    • Mirador Británico

    Hanging glaciers crack and thunder all day. The longest, best day.

  5. Day 5 · Sat, Nov 16

    Grey Glacier

    8:00 AM – 5:00 PM$120
    • Paine Grande
    • Refugio Grey
    • Grey Glacier

    Book the glacier kayak a day ahead; the ice is bluer up close.

Estimated on-the-ground cost$295

Trip budget

What the W cost us

Total$4,10010 days
Per day$410everyone together
Per person$2,0502 travelers

Two people, including the bus from Puerto Natales and the glacier kayak.

Snowy peaks above a sea of clouds at sunrise

Destination guide · Chile

Torres del Paine

Granite towers, glaciers and wind

Local time
Weather now
Best time to visit
October to April
Daily budget
Pricey
Visa for US citizens
Visa-free up to 90 days
Language
Spanish
Currency
Chilean peso (CLP)
Time zone
America/Punta Arenas

Read 1 story from Torres del Paine →

Logbook

Seven years of trips

From the first overnight in the Sierra to the W Trek. Filter by year.

  1. Apr 20 – May 1, 2026

    American Southwest Loop

    Salt Lake City → Moab → Capitol Reef → Bryce → Zion → Monument Valley

    • 12 days
    • 2 destinations
    • $3,400

  2. Nov 3 – Nov 14, 2025

    Japan in Autumn Color

    Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka

    • 12 days
    • 1 destination
    • $6,200

  3. Nov 12 – Nov 21, 2024

    Patagonia: the W Trek

    Puerto Natales → Torres del Paine (W Trek) → El Calafate

    • 10 days
    • 1 destination
    • $4,100

  5. Feb 2 – Mar 1, 2023

    From the Andes to the Cape

    Lima → Cusco → Machu Picchu → Cape Town → Sydney

    • 28 days
    • 3 destinations
    • $8,900

The pack

Our 3-season gear list

Base weight 14 lb. Tick it off as you pack, then print it for the trailhead.

0 of 28 packed— ready to go!

Shelter & sleep 0/4
Layers 0/6
Navigation & safety 0/5
Kitchen & water 0/5
Feet 0/4
Extras 0/4

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Tours we’d trust with our lives

Small groups, certified guides, fair prices.

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