This glacier reached out to the sea just over a century ago but, as its name suggests, has now receded to a point where it's hanging on the edge of a cliff, releasing its frigid meltwater in cascading waterfalls. You'll also walk past the massive Glacier Grey (part of the Patagonian Ice Field), dip into the glacier-lined French Valley, and camp along the turquoise waters of the park's glacier-fed lakes. Amble through a massive kingdom of blue ice on a guided trek through the Exploradores Glacier in Chilean Patagonia. The four-day, 43-kilometer journey through Cerro Castillo National Reserve takes you around the castle-like spires of the park's namesake mountain. Wild surfing beaches, oceanfront campsites, and waddling Humboldt penguins are the main attractions luring visitors to Pan de Azúcar National Park. Therefore, it is important that you are accustomed to walking long distances and be in good physical shape. Typically, the W trek will require 4 nights. On both trails the accommodation is either in tents, refugios or dome tents, with options to also stay at one or two hotels and the ECO Camp. To avoid the crowds the best time to visit is before mid November or after March. A Scottish privateer and Royal Navy officer, he spent more than four years marooned on an uninhabited island off the coast of Chile in the South Pacific. On the way up the trail passes by Refugio Chileno and from Refugio Chileno it is 2hrs to the base. It covers approximately 55km, but this distance is divided into sectors where strategically located refugios offer accommodation for the night. We can also add in kayak and/or ice hiking at Grey Glacier into the rest of your Patagonia or full South American Itinerary. By far the most popular hike in all of Patagonia, this 71-kilometer route is absolutely heaving with backpackers at the height of summer (January through February) but is otherwise a tranquil and breathtaking romp through some of Patagonia's biggest highlights, from the soaring granite spires of Paine Grande to the horn-like rocks of Los Cuernos. The path is a mixture of turns and twists, ups and downs, across and sometimes through streams, through woods, and a few sectors that require a scramble up and over rocks. There are serviced camp sites, refugios, and in one place: Cuernos, there are also private cabins, all of which you can book through us. The entire area boasts a great deal of coastal vegetation thanks to the camanchaca (sea mist) that rolls in from the Pacific. These are the Tierra Patagonia, Explora Salto Chico and Awasi Lodge Patagonia. This unique geography makes Chile a feast for the eyes and an all-around hiker's paradise with some of the best day hikes and multi-day treks in South America. It is sometimes called the “0” because the path is “circular”. You'll get views of the Puyuhuapi Fjord and the milky green Tempanos Lagoon before the hanging glacier finally comes into clear view. It's also one of the most isolated countries on the planet, as the Pacific Ocean forms its western border, and the towering Andes separate it from Argentina to the east. It is this incredible scenic “miracle” that draws people in from all over the world and what makes it a “must see” destination. Discover destinations, find outdoor adventures, follow the journeys of our travel writers around the world, and be inspired. Select Max. Budget:$0-1000$1000-2000$2000-5000$5000-10000$10000-15000$20000-50000$50000-100000, Special Requests (Special Requests, Health Issues), Torres del Paine Explora Salto Chico Hotel, Classic Sef-Guided W Trek with Puerto Natales, Classic Self-Guided W  Trek with El Calafate, three top-end luxury-level “World Class” hotels. There are three key valleys on the W Trek that most trekkers want to experience and these are: the Grey Valley on the western end, where the middle is filled with water creating Grey Lake; in the central sector where the the French Valley is – home to hanging glaciers and incredible views; and on the eastern side is the Ascencio Valley filled with wooded sides, a river on the valley floor, hanging glaciers and the fabled Torres Base at the end (called so because it is the base of the vertically-sided, needle-like towers). Be prepared, however, for technical mountain passes, tricky stream crossings, and hikes over loose scree. The full distance of the trekking path is around 55km and daily treks vary from between 4hrs to 10hrs in walking time. Torres Del Paine W Trek Torres del Paine is for those who love nature and the outdoors.