Fitzroy Trek

Introduction
Southern Patagonia Argentina

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.

Accomodation

3 star Hotels
Chalten: our first option will be Hostería Senderos.
Calafate: our first option will be Hostel Lar Aike.

Option:  4 star Hotels
Chalten: our first option will be Hosteria El Puma.
Calafate: our first option will be Hotel Kosten Aike. 

Riding

Itinerary

Day 1, The Patagonic Adventure Starts…
Los Glaciares NP, Argentina
We wake up early and start driving to Cerro Castillo border crossing to Argentina. In Castillo we board a regular bus to Calafate, a small town set on the edge of Los Glaciares NP amidst dramatic scenery and natural beauty. If there are other travel fellows starting from Calafate we will meet them in town. After some hours on the bus, we arrive to Calafate, where a local guide meet us and give us a general explanation about the trip while we have lunch; after this we have a couple of hours to explore the down town. From the bus terminal we embark on about a 4 hour regular bus ride to Chalten, The drive is on isolated dirt roads across the pampas and along the northern end of Lago Viedma. Chalten is a tiny outpost beside the National Park at the foot of impressive Mount Fitzroy. Once we’ve checked in at the hotel, its time to get a well-deserved rest, which will be needed for the next couple of days!
Day 2, A precious hike to Laguna Torre
Los Glaciares NP, Argentina
We do a full day hike along Cerro Torre Trail to Laguna Torre, an extremely pretty mountain lake with majestic Mount Torre in the background. After breakfast, we walk eastward, following the trail through beech forests and bogs to a pleasant encounter with Fitroy River. We continue advancing and reach Camp Base de Agostini and then do a short hike to Laguna Torre, escorted in the west by Cerro Torre and the Adela range. Icebergs can be seen peacefully floating on Laguna Torre as the wind pushes them to the coast. We stop at different points to take in the magnificent view and enjoy a picnic. Later, we return to Chalten following the same trail. There is an optional day trip for those wanting to trek on Torre Glacier. Those taking this exciting option get up earlier and do it apart from the main group. Upon returning from the trek, the evening is free for you to enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Chalten’s cozy restaurants.
Day 3, The Challenge: Monte Fitzroy, Mountain of Mountains
Los Glaciares NP, Argentina
Today’s trek is to Laguna Los Tres with the best available view of Monte Fitzroy - THE landmark in Los Glaciares NP! Once again, a big breakfast and lots of enthusiasm is required. We begin our hike by heading towards silent Laguna Capri, passing just beside its northern corner. Then we follow the Fitz Roy Trail up to Rio Blanco, passing Poicenot, the mountaineering camp. Finally, a short but steep trail will take us to Laguna de Los Tres to take in one of the park’s most marvelous natural scenes! The turquoise-blue of the Lagoon is a stunning sight and this is of course is magnified by the accompanying view of Fitz Roy’s spires and glaciers. You will probably experience a Torres del Paine flashback. If Torres del Paine is the king mountain of Patagonia, Fitz Roy is surely the beautiful queen! Time for a picnic. In such a memorable place the food can not help but taste better than ever! When everyone is ready, we will hike back to Laguna Capri and continue along the trail back to tiny Chalten. We return with time to recover and enjoy our last night in this beautiful park.
Day 4, Last steps in Chalten
Los Glaciares NP, Argentina
This morning we will trek to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado and we will have covered the best spots of the Park. After some hours of challenging trek we will reach the western bank of the Massif with superb views of Cerro Torre and the picks around Mount Fitzroy. We come back to Chalten in the afternoon to sadly prepare our luggage and start our way back to Calafate. We are transferred to the terminal and board the regular bus back to Calafate, following the same road filled with Argentinean pampas that welcomed us some days ago. We will arrive in Calafate late at night with little time to have dinner. Nevertheless we will probably be exhausted after today’s adventure and will go straight to bed!
Day 5, The Big Daddy is on the Way: Glacier Perito Moreno
Calafate, Argentina
Once we finish enjoying an early breakfast we board the minibus and start the drive that will takes us to Perito Moreno Glacier. After a couple of hours we will reach Los Glaciares NP and continue driving to Bajo de las Sombras Bay sector, where we board the boat that will sail approximately twenty minutes on Lago Rico reaching the south wall of the glacier. In the other side the guides give us a short talk about the formation of glaciers together with other interesting details about local geology. From this point we do a short walk to the edge of the glacier where we are given the crampons to be fitted to our shoes. Now we start the ice trekking adventure! Although we feel somehow strange walking with the crampons, it will take us just a few minutes to get used to it. As we walk ahead we face terrific views of the glacier and surroundings. Our trek finishes with a little ice bar serving whisky on freshly shopped millenary ice from the glacier, a cute touch. After the walk and having lunch we continue on to the footbridges with multiple view points of the glacier’s superb north wall with its incredible cracking walls. Here we are left free to enjoy the surroundings at our own leisure. After the thrilling encounter with the glacier, we drive back to Calafate. This is our final night together and the tour leader will ask us for feedback on the trip. It’s time to review our personal notes, socialize, look for a great farewell dinner and exchange contact info with new friends. After celebrating our last night we return to the hotel for a sweet overnight.
Day 6, Adios!
Calafate, Argentina
Today we finish this memorable trip, Adios Patagonia! Hopefully we will meet somewhere else. After having breakfast, a transfer will take us to the airport and we are free to continue traveling on our own or taking another extension with Cascada.

If you are taking the extension to finish in Punta Arenas:

Day 6, Heading to Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas, Chile
Once we are ready an early transfer will take us to the Calafate bus terminal. There we board the public bus going to Puerto Natales, arriving in this town around midday. A Cascada representative will wait for us and will take us to the office for refreshing ourselves and help us looking for a nice restaurant in town. When we feel at ease we go boarding the next public bus going to Punta Arenas city, where another Cascada representative will wait for us to arrange the transfer to the hotel. The evening is free and we have dinner on our own. We will definitely look for some of the local delicious dishes like Centolla (king crab) or asado de cordero (lamb BBQ). We go back to the hotel to enjoy our last night in Patagonia.
Day 7, Adios!
Punta Arenas, Chile
Today we finish this memorable trip, Adios Patagonia! After having breakfast, a transfer will take us to the airport and we are free to continue traveling on our own or taking another

Physical Demands
The trip rated moderate: recommended for people in good physical condition in the habit of walking long distances and camping outdoors. All passengers over 65 years old are requested to send ahead a medical examination that states that they are able to safely accomplish moderate hiking.

Group Size & Guiding Staff
8-12 travelers is the most typical group size plus guiding staff.
Maximum is 14 clients. Guide to passenger ratio: 1:6

Rates and Dates for Fitzroy Trek

Dates Note: Weekly from Sunday to Saturday in season. Can easily be combined with our 7 day Torres del Paine trek.

Other Info
Meeting: El Calafate
Airport: El Calafate
Transfer: El Calafate - with optional drop off in Punta Arenas

Climate:

The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Patagonian Andes very exposed to the saturated winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. Also, the strong marine influence makes the weather hard to predict. In spring or early summer fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, bringing rain and eventually snow. Even in summer (December to march) you should come prepared to find cold- strong winds (up to 80 km/hr) and rainfalls. The summers average temperature is 11ºC/ 52ºF (24 ºC max, 2ºC min). 

Best season for this program is from November to April.

Day backpack (10lt), mountain backpack or duffel bag (70 liters), waterproof trekking boots, waterproof parka & pants, inner isolating layer (fleece or wool), three changes of clothes, sun hat, sun screen, hiking socks, sandals (for after hikes), bathing suit, sunglasses, towel (optional), ski poles (optional), long underwear, extra change of socks, flashlight/headlamp, extra insulating layer (fleece, wool, or expedition weight long underwear.