W Trek Alternatives: Our Top 4 Patagonia Routes

The iconic W Trek through Patagonia's Torres del Paine National Park is among South America's most famous multi-day hikes. Winding through glacial valleys and alongside turquoise lakes with imposing mountain backdrops, it's easy to see why the route is considered one of the continent's greatest treks.

At Skyhook, we offer two trips to the circuit: the Guided W Trek and the Self-Guided Torres del Paine W Trek. Both start from the Laguna Amarga entrance to the Grey Glacier, and you can even go kayaking or ice walking between the glaciers.

However, with its rising popularity comes challenges like high human traffic on the trails, especially in the summer (peak) season. So, if you want a variation on the classic route, we want to introduce you to the best W trek alternatives.

Here are our top picks!

The O Trek is the best Patagonia and Torres del Paine W trek alternative. It is a 130km (80 mile) route that encircles much of Torres del Paine National Park's rugged interior.

It includes the shorter point-to-point W, so you hike for more days. Like the W trail, this Paine Circuit is unsupported (without porters), meaning you will carry all your O trek gear for longer distances daily. However, the circuit allows multi-day loops and more flexibility for creating your backcountry tour.

You begin from the Ascencio Valley on the park's eastern edge and follow trails that circle the iconic Paine Massif. The biggest highlight on the trail is the fantastic views from Mirador Las Torres, overlooking the granite spires that give the park its name. Their imposing profiles soar overhead, bathed in the fading alpenglow of sunset.

The O trek is also famous for wildlife encounters. You may spot guanacos grazing on the slopes, majestic Andean condors riding thermals overhead, or even a stealthy puma slinking across the trail.

You can camp under a canopy of brilliant stars along the O Circuit's length or book more comfortable refugios to stay in. However, book refugios in advance regardless of your best time to hike Patagonia, as they can fill up pretty early into each hiking season

Ready to go hiking? Skyhook offers a Self-Guided Torres del Paine O Circuit tour and a Guided Torres del Paine O Trek.

Both these tours take up to seven days, with the main difference being you will have a certified guide in the latter but get to hike on your terms if you go for the first option.

The Q Trek extends outwards from the classic O Circuit. After circling the Paine Massif along the O Circuit's routes, it continues further south from Refugio Paine Grande for another glorious day of hiking. It offers a one-of-a-kind, multi-day backcountry immersion in Patagonia's wild heart.

You'll trek little-travelled footpaths that trace the shores of Lake Pehoe, a walk considered one of Patagonia's most breathtaking landscapes.

Towering peaks like Cruz del Paine's distinctive shark-fin profile rise dramatically from the lake's emerald waters, with their rocky ramparts seeming to thrust skyward with every step. Stretches wind beneath these hulking monoliths, rewarding you with frame-worthy views at every turn.

On a good day, you might spot diverse avian residents and terrestrial mammals roaming the region. Some include the dapper black woodpeckers who hunt for insects amongst the evergreen southern beech forests. Guanacos, the shaggy relatives of camels, frequently graze along the shoreline. Andean Condors also frequent your skyline as they ride thermals above.

Want to expand your horizons beyond Torres del Paine's boundaries? The nearby Fitz Roy Trek in Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park is the best alternative.

This multi-day trek spans scenic and glaciated terrain cantered around the iconic Fitz Roy spires and Cerro Torre's spires. These spires are the highest in Patagonia's Andes and dominate views along each route segment.

You'll be treated to views of glittering alpine lakes like the famed Laguna de los Tres, whose mirror-like waters perfectly reflect the sheer flanks and chiselled ridgelines of Fitz Roy's shapely massif.

You might also be lucky to spot frequent wildlife sightings, such as grazing guanacos or massive Andean condors riding updrafts swirling around the protruding granite spires.

Evenings are for well-earned tranquillity at campsites like Camping Rio Blanco and Camping Zapata, all with the Fitz Roy massif forming an ever-present backdrop. With its relatively lower elevation than Torres del Paine's heights, the Fitz Roy Trek may be easier on some days.

When you are short on time yet still craving sweeping Patagonian panoramas, we recommend hiking the Mirador Condor route.

It's an easy Torres del Paine day hike that starts from the shores of Lake Pehoe and continues on a steady but moderate ascent through dense lenga beech forests on lower slopes. This woodland provides ample shade and offers opportunities to spot Patagonia's diverse birdlife at eye level.

As you gain elevation, the terrain mellows out, levelling off into broad granite slabs and meadows with clear sightlines in all directions. Press a short distance further, and the lookout's promontory unveils itself on the cliff's sheer edge - the appropriately named Mirador Condor. You're in for an unadulterated 360-degree spectacle below, making every step worthwhile.

For instance, Lake Pehoe stretches out to the north, with its glassy waters mirroring the craggy peaks surrounding it. At the same time, vibrant wildflower meadows blanket the glacially carved valleys radiating outwards.

But the colossal granite spires of the Paine Massif demand your attention to the south. The distinctive Torres rise like sentinels, their orange-hued ramparts jutting vertically into the Patagonian sky. On clear days, you may even glimpse the rivers of ice clinging precariously to their flanks - remnants of the massive glaciers that once entombed them.

Scan the skies and craggy outcrops, and you may spot the Andean Condors gliding amongst the pinnacles.

While the classic W Trek captures the essence of Torres del Paine's wilderness, these alternative routes reveal how much splendour remains to be discovered.

Hiking in Patagonia promises unforgettable adventures at every turn of each trail - from immense glaciated spires and serene alpine lakes to verdant old-growth forests and endless stretches of solitude.

Whether you're an experienced trekker seeking multi-day backcountry epics or a day hiker craving scenic views, the options extending beyond the W Trek are tailor-made to ignite your spirit of exploration. Happy trekking!