Fitzroy Trek in Patagonia   

To complement any trip on the Chilean side of Patagonia there is "Los Glaciares National Park" in Argentina. Los Glaciares is one of the most scenically impressive national parks in South America. This vast reserve protects around 2300 square miles of the Patagonian Andes, including over 40 major glaciers. The northern section of the park is dominated by the incredible, world-famous form of the Fitzroy Massif, with its sheer, 6000-foot rise from the glaciers at its base. There are numerous spectacular mountains rising above the immense Lago Viedma, including Fitzroy 3405m (11,072'), and Cerro Torre 3128m (10,280'). The latter is such a steep and difficult granite needle that its summit was not climbed until 1974. The southern section is one of the world's glacier wonderlands (40 percent of the park is covered by glaciers). About a dozen glaciers flow east to feed two huge lakes, Lago Viedma and Lago Argentino, and there are another 190 glaciers not connected to the park's giant South Patagonis Icefield.
We will spend several days exploring and hiking through these places of outstanding beauty that have made of Patagonia a true hiker's paradise at the ends of the earth.
This trip in Los Glaciares N.P. has been designed as the perfect complement to our regular seven day trip in Torres del Paine that both finish on Sunday, with direct connection from the Torres del Paine National Park to Argentina - or meet us in El Calafate on Sunday afternoon.

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Rates are inclusive meals as indicated, superior hotel overnights, English speaking guides.
7 days/ 6 nights  $ 1,395
Single: +$285 for hotel overnights in Calafates and Puerto Natales only
2008/09 departure dates:
The trip starts every Sunday morning (October to April) from Puerto Natales or from Torres del Paine for clients finishing the 7 day trip with us (PAT 025). If you are already in Argentina, you can meet us in el Calafate.
Best season for this program is from November to April.
Airport:  Punta Arenas or El Calafate
Meeting: Puerto Natales or El Calafate
Transfer: from Puerto Natales and drop off in Punta Arenas.
From and to El Calafate in Argentina only
- deduct $100  (5 nights)
Superior Accommodations:  
- Calafate: Michelangelo or similar.
- Chalten: Hostal el Puma or similar.
- Puerto Natales: Aquaterra or similar.
for Standard Hotel option: deduct $139
- Calafate: Pioneros or similar.
- Chalten: Fitzroy inn or similar
- Puerto Natales: Francis Drake or similar

Minimum: 2   Maximum: 20  hikers
-- Guide to passenger ratio: 1/8

TRIP ITINERARY:
Day 1: (Sunday)
Pto. Natales - Cerro Castillo - Calafate - El Chalten - Fitzroy
We will start early in the morning from Torres del Paine and drive onwards to the Cerro Castillo border crossing. (Clients not doing Torres del Paine with us start Sunday morning from Puerto Natales.) There, we will meet the regular bus to Calafate (287 kms/180 miles), a small town set on the edge of Los Glaciares National Park amid dramatic scenery and natural beauty. Once in Calafate, we will have lunch with time afterwards to explore the main street and the town’s center.  From Calafate, we will take the regular bus and continue on about 4 hours to Chalten (220 kms/138 miles). We drive on isolated dirt roads across the pampas and along the northern end of Lago Viedma to reach the settlement of El Chalten, a tiny outpost beside Parque Nacional Los Glaciares at the foot of the impressive Mount Fitzroy. We will arrive in late evening to Chalten and overnight at Hostería in Chalten. (B).
Day 2-3: Parque Nacional Los Glaciares
We will have the next three days to explore the park. We shall undertake two main walks into the nearby mountains. One may take us to the Fitzroy Base Camp (about 6-7 hours) and the other in the direction of Cerro Torre (6-7 hours), but this will depend on weather conditions at the time. Most of these hikes are on well-established trails so that shorter options are often available. While hiking in the park, the trails will take us to places as Laguna Torre, the base camp of Cerro Torre climbs, Laguna Capri and Laguna Madre, Laguna de los Tres- directly in front of Fitzroy, and Piedras Blancas. The scale of the scenery- with its jagged peaks and glimpses of glaciers suspended between them- makes these walks extremely rewarding. (B, L-)
Day 4: Fitzroy - Calafate
We will start the day with a walk that follows the banks of the Rio Eléctrico with some of the most beautiful Beech forests in Patagonia. Afterwards, we are transferred to Chalten Bus Station on time to board the regular bus back to Calafate. Overnight in Calafate at Hostal Libertador, Lar Aike or similar. (B)
Day 5: Calafate – Perito Moreno
Today we will have the Perito Moreno Glacier excursion, a 60m-high relic of the Ice Age, creates a unique geographic event approximately every three or four years. As it advances, it pushes out across the surface of the lake, cutting the lake into two separate sections. As water pressure builds up on one side over the years, the glacier eventually explodes open with a torrent of water and a fury of calving icebergs. Although this spectacular event no longer occurs as cyclically as it did during the past 50 years, the Moreno Glacier is constantly moving, calving, and crackling an incredible sight and sound at any time.
We will start our excursion early in the morning (around 8 AM) to have the area to ourselves, with no rush and plenty of time for bird watching and photography. After our scenic drive through the National Park accompanied by an expert guide, we will arrive at the Moreno Glacier. However, unlike the regular tours, we will not go straight to the regular panoramic points. Instead, we start by marveling at the glacier's much less-traveled north face in all its splendor- watching and hearing giant chunks of ice plummet into the waters of Lake Argentino. Our guide will answer all questions about the area, as we walk in front of Moreno Glacier on a nature walk. We will then continue on to the footbridges area where we break so you have time to enjoy at your leisure. At the end of the tour, we have the option of boarding a boat that goes in front of the Iceberg Channel (Not included – option can be arranged). After the thrilling encounter with the Moreno Glacier, we head back to Calafate and arrive around early evening. (B, L-)
Day 6: Calafate - Puerto Natales
Early morning- we take the regular bus to Puerto Natales (5 hours). Arrive around 1PM with enough time to visit the town.  Overnight in hotel Aquaterra, Francis Drake or similar. (B)
Day 7: Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas
Transfer from your hotel in Puerto Natales to the bus station and board the regular bus that will leave you at Punta Arenas' airport on time for your departure flight. (B)

What is included - 
The trip starts every Sunday morning from Puerto Natales or from Torres del Paine for clients finishing a 7 day trip with us. Included
- 3 nights Hosteria or Hotel at El Chaltén, B&B W/private bathroom.
- 2n Hotel in Calafate B&B w/private bathroom.
- Domestic bus:
P.Natales/ Calafate/ P.Arenas and Calafate/ Chaltén/ Calafate;.
- Perito Moreno regular Exc.
- Park Fees
- Piedra del Fraile Entrance Fee
- 1 bilingual trekking guides each 8 pers at Chalten.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary: B=breakfast, L=lunch, L-=boxLunch, D=dinner 

Hotels; - Calafate : Michelangelo or similar. - Chalten: El Pilar or similar. - Puerto Natales: Aquaterra.

Mount FitzRoy is also known as
El Chalten, meaning "smoking mountain", by the local Tehuelche Indians perhaps because of its fiery red colour at dawn. The steep towers of granite soar to 3,405m and is a favorite with rock climbers. It was named after the captain of the Beagle, the famous ship which took Charles Darwin around the world.

What you need to bring
Day backpack (10lt), mountain backpack or duffel bag (70 liters), waterproof trekking boots, waterproof parka & pants and ski poles (optional). We will send you by E.Mail detailed pre-departure information containing all extra information necessary to plan and participate in the trip: Personal equipment you should bring, climate conditions, estimated allowance for extra meals, beverage and souvenirs, domestic flights schedules and costs, etc.