Trekking in Southern Patagonia

Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park is among the great scenic wonders of the world! This is a pilgrimage which all passionate mountain-lovers must do at least once in their lifetime. This extraordinary trip brings you to the very heart of both of these legendary regions. We begin in remote reaches of Los Glaciares Park with spectacular views of Cerro Torre, FitzRoy and the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. We transfer from the airport in Calafate to the cute mountain hamlet of Chalten. The next 3 days are spent hiking and exploring both FitzRoy and Cerro Torre.

FitzRoy Massif
FitzRoy rises eleven thousand feet into the air and proclaims its greatness over the surrounding ice lands. The FitzRoy mountain range is visible for hundreds of miles, and the village of El Chaltén is blessed with this excellent view.

Cerro Torre
It is called the tower for its sharp spires and subtle silhouette. Higher than FitzRoy, it is perhaps the most well known mountain of the southern Patagonian range. The magnificent mountain is composed of four granite needles that form a complexity of rare beauty and harmony.

Glacier Perito Moreno
On Day 5 we drive back to Calafate and explore the magnificent Glacier Perito Moreno. It’s walls tower over two hundred vertical feet (forty meters) from the ground, where the ice meets the Lago Argentino, or Lake Argentina. At this height, equivalent to that of a fifteen- story building, the glacier maintains a commanding presence for approximately five kilometers of horizontal distance. At times the glacier will form an imposing panoramic wall, stretching as far as the eye can see in either direction. We spent our last night in the comforts of the Kau Yatun Lodge and enjoy a true Argentinian Asado.

Day 1:
Arrive in Calafate and transfer directly to Chalten – Today we will continue across the Patagonian steppes for 3 hours to the tiny village of El Chaltén. This is a remote corner of Patagonia, but thanks to the growing interest in mountaineering and hiking this town (with less than 100 year-round residents) has sprung up in recent years. El Chaltén is the gateway to Northern Glacier National Park. From town and our hotel there are impressive views of Rio de Las Vueltas and the famous FitzRoy Massif (11,703’). An impressive 40 percent of this park is covered in ice fields and there are 47 glaciers. We’ll have the afternoon free to relax and perhaps see a bit of the town. We will spend the next 3 nights at our hiking base, the Destino Sur.

Day 2:
Trekking to Cerro Torre (6-7hrs round trip). We start with a short uphill section until reaching the first viewpoint. From here the Cerro Torre and valley entirely visible in its entirety. For those willing to walk further, our guide leads you to Laguna Torre, approximately 9km away from town. The trail runs through a glacier-originated valley. The lagoon features the Torre Glacier calving on the far side, and the Cerro Torre group & spires rising in the background. Lodging & dinner at the Destino Sur.

Day 3:
Trekking from Chaltén to FitzRoy. The FitzRoy trail climbs gently along the slopes of Cerro Rosado and along the “Chorrillo del Salto” valley, a beautiful mountain stream with rapids and waterfalls. We’ll pass Laguna Capri, a beautiful lagoon in the forest with full views of the FitzRoy spires and glaciers. For keen hikers, it is possible to continue to Rio Blanco (base camp for climbers) and to Laguna de los Tres, which is the end of the trail and one of the highlights of the National Park. The sight of the spires and glaciers from here are breathtaking. It’s 2 hours from town to Laguna Capri, 1 more hour to Rio Blanco and a 1 hour steep climb to Laguna de los Tres. (6-7 hours hiking.) Lodging & dinner at the Destino Sur.

Day 4:
Option 1: Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. It’s 12km from El Chaltén. After 4 hours of trekking, we reach one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Glaciares Park. When the day is clear we can enjoy the view of both Cerros, the FitzRoy and the Torre at the same time. (7 hours hiking.)

Option 2: Lago del Desierto. It’s 37km from El Chaltén. A bus will pick us up from our hotel and 1 hour later we arrive to Lago del Desierto. From here we have two options: the first, to trek one hour to Lago Huemul and its fabulous glacier. The second option is to take a boat to the other side of the lake where we spend 1 hour on an easy trek. The bus will be waiting to take us back to town. Trekking time: 2 hours. In the morning the excursion begins at 8:30am and ends at 2:30pm. In the afternoon there’s a starting time of 3:00pm and we finish at 8:30pm. Lodging & dinner at Destino Sur.

Day 5:
After breakfast we will drive 3 hours back to Calafate and begin our tour to Glacier Perito Moreno, one of the most spectacular glaciers in the Southern Patagonian ice field. Walking along the terraces you get a close view – great for photos, and you may even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of ice calving into the lake! Lodging and dinner at the Hosteria Los Hielos.

Day 6:
Depart

Please note: this is a sample itinerary and can be customized to fit your travel needs. If you want more time exploring the mountains of Southern Patagonia, we can arrange for you to visit Torres del Paine National Park as well!

IN EL CHALTEN

Destino Sur

El Chalten is a charming mountain town nestled next to Los Glaciars National Park with views of the magnificent FitzRoy Massif, including the famed Cerro Torre and Cerro FitzRoy. During your down time, enjoy strolling the main street where there is an abundance of locally-owned shops, cafes and restaurants, many that brew their own beer on the premises!

The Destino Sur is located a mere 500 m from Los Glaciars National Park, and is your base camp while in El Chalten. Enjoy the mountain views from your well appointed alpine style room. Enjoy a full breakfast buffet each morning to fuel you for your day ahead!

IN CALAFATE

Hosteria Los Helios (or similar)

The charming 4-star Hosteria Los Hielos Hotel is located on Redonda Bay and features views of Argentinian Lake. The common living room offers views of the Patagonian landscape.

All rooms in Hosteria Los Hielos include a private bathroom, seating area, cable TV, wifi, a safe and views of the lake.

Guests enjoy a daily breakfast with sweets and homemade pastries made with regional fruits. They can also relax in the garden and library. Services include a 24-hour front-desk, a tour desk and currency exchange. Hosteria Los Hielos Hotel also features a hot tub and a sauna as well as a fitness center and bicycles.

A glimpse into your time in Chalten, staying at Destino Sur