This circuit can be done trekking from East to West (from Las Torres to Grey) or vice versa (from Grey to Las Torres), so depending on the direction in which you do this classic W circuit, the logistics of the porter service changes a bit.
The details of the logistics in both possibilities are described below.
In this case, you normally trek to the Base of the Towers viewpoint on the first day, being a round trip walk from Camping Las Torres and Refugio Central sector, so a porter is not necessary for this day.
On the second day you trek to Refugio Los Cuernos or Campamento Frances sector, depending on how the trip was organized or where there was availability. This day, very early in the morning, the porter takes a private transport to meet the passenger before they start trekking to deliver the dry bags and wait for the load. Then they meet again either in Los Cuernos or Frances to deliver the dry bags with the load.
The third day you trek into the French Valley and then continue to the Refugio Paine Grande sector. This day in the morning the porter meets the passenger again to receive their load. Then he waits for the passenger in Paine Grande, having a time limit since the porter must leave this day on the catamaran that leaves at 6:30 PM (this limit is because the porter must deliver the cargo and recover the dry bags before leaving).
If there is a problem with having a time limit to arrive, we can arrange another alternative for an additional cost. Please ask if you prefer this option.
The fourth day you usually trek to the Grey Glacier viewpoint or to the Grey refuge itself and return to Paine Grande to leave by catamaran the same day or the next day. In this case, since it is a round trip trek to Paine Grande, the passenger would not need the porter service, for this reason he leaves the day before.
In this case, normally you enter the first day with the catamaran to the Refugio Paine Grande sector and trek to the Grey glacier viewpoint or all the way to the shelter and return to Paine Grande to spend the night, so a porter is not necessary for this day
The second day you trek into French valley and then continue to the Camp Frances or Refugio Los Cuernos sector, depending on how the trip was organized or where there was availability. This day the porter takes a private transportation to reach the first crossing of the catamaran towards Paine Grande, arriving at 9:30 AM. There he meets the passenger to deliver the dry bags and wait for the load. At the end of the day, the porter will be waiting in the Frances camp or Los Cuernos sector with the load.
If you prefer to go trekking earlier and it is inconvenient to wait for the porter, it can be arranged differently and the porter comes up the day before for an additional fee. Please ask if you prefer this option.
The third day you trek to Camping las Torres and Refugio Central sector. In the morning the cargo is delivered to the porter and by the time you reach the destination, he will be waiting to deliver the cargo and recover the dry bags and return to Puerto Natales on the 7 PM regular bus.
On the fourth day you trek round trip to the Base of the Towers viewpoint and you can stay one more day or return on the last bus to Puerto Natales. As on this day you trek there and back, the porter is not necessary, for this reason he returns the day before.
- Dry bag that is provided to deposit and transport the load (15 kg maximum)
- Porter fees
- Costs associated with the porter to carry out on the circuit, such as transportation to and from the park, catamaran crossing, camping site, camping equipment and all the meals (which is carried by the porter himself and is cooked in each camp).
- None of the transportation, accommodation or food services of those who contract the services.
- Local guide service, since the porter treks alone on the trails and at a strong and constant pace.
- Tiping
Contact us providing basic information and we will respond informing you if there is availability and with the steps to follow to hire porter services.
To request porter services, please fill out the following form with basic and necessary information to check availability according to the indicated dates and be able to organize the necessary logistics.
We will respond as soon as possible!