Patagonia Trek – Glaciers and National Parks

We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check in at your accommodation. You get the rest of the day to enjoy the town and later you have your welcome dinner.

After breakfast we take our bus for the 220 km long drive to El Chaltén, a small and picturesque village at the foot of Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre massif. We make a stop half way to enjoy local pastries and hot coffee. Once in El Chaltén, we will meet fellow travellers coming up North and start our trek. We carry in our packs only the necessary items for this 2 nights and 3 days in which we’ll overnight in our Full Camp inside the National Park.
What we don’t need is left behind at our office and you will find it back at your accommodation when we arrive back to El Chaltén on day 4.
We hike up a gentle slope on Fitz Roy trail to gain height over the River de las Vueltas valley up to the first viewpoints over Fitz Roy massif. From these first viewpoints, another 2 hours of gentle walking across bogs and forests take us to our camp, from where we will enjoy a spectacular view of all the Fitz Roy group spires rising from the surrounding glaciers.

Hike to Laguna Capri. 3.5 Miles
Altitude El Chalten: 404 meters above sea level
Altitude Laguna Capri: 300 meters above sea level
Elevation: 300 meters
Walking time: 3 hours.

Lodging at Poincenot Campsite in double tent (rural area)
Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the camp ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable igloo type tents for 1 or 2 passengers, with insulation mat and sleeping bags. The camp also features a spacious dinning tent, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware. The sanitary services are latrine-type (rural area).

Transfer (private) from your ACCOMMODATION to AIRPORT (AEROPARQUE)

Early in the morning, before the first coffee, we can try to catch the morning. It’s a spectacular start to the day but the day offers so much more.
After breakfast, carrying only day personal items such as our parka, gloves, our camera, water bottle and box lunch, we hike along Fitz Roy trail up to Rio Blanco, climbers basecamp to the east side of the mountain. From here a steep 1 h trail leads us to one of the most spectaculars viewpoints of the National Park: Laguna de los Tres, with its zephyr blue colour, lies at the foot of the massif, offering full close up views of Fitz Roy massif spires and glaciers. Each wall rises something from 600 to 1500 metres above the surrounding glaciers. Fitz Roy, with its 3405 metres above sea level, is considered the “King of Patagonia” and also considered one of the three most beautiful mountains on Earth (together with Alpamayo in Perú and K2 in the Karakoram). We hike back to Laguna Capri in the late afternoon. Walking time is 5 to 6 hrs.

Lodging at Poincenot Campsite in double tent (rural area)

Hike Fitz Roy Trail to Laguna de Los Tres: 11 miles roundtrip
Altitude Laguna de Los Tres: 1170 Meters above sea level
Elevation: 1070 meters from Camp Poincenot
Walking time: 5 to 6 hours.
Hike Fitz Roy Trail to Laguna de Los Tres: 11 miles roundtrip

The gigantic power of its massive water falls constantly roaring in a huge moisting cloud and painting the horizon with mellow rainbows, is one of the most magnificent natural spectacle on earth, which makes us realize how tiny we are in front of its force. For those seeking for adventure, a concrete platform allows breathtaking views from inside the falls. Among the various local tours, the Macuco Safari and a visit to the Bird’s Park are strongly recommended. The Brazilian side of the Falls: guests may get to the marvelous Brazilian falls by walking through the wooden footbridges elevated over the river. Take photographs of the breathtaking panoramic views from the observation deck. A 40 minutes walk to admire the series of astonishing cascades up to the foot of “Floriano Fall”. At the end of the path, an elevator brings visitors up.

ARGENTINA FALLS

Visit to Argentinean side of the Iguazú Falls, located within Iguazú National Park. With 67.000 hs, they are made up of 275 falls thundering down from a 70-meter average height. In this section of the rainforest, we can find a huge variety of ferns, orchids, begonias, birds and butterflies. We are on our way to Estación Central, where we will take a train to Estación Cataratas and/or Estación Garganta del Diablo. From this site, we can choose:

• Upper Circuit: 800 mts trail raised above the ground surface, so as not, to block or scare away local fauna as they go by. Highlights: Dos Hermanas, Bosetti, Bernabé Méndez, and M’Bigua waterfalls. Timerequired for this ride: 1 h. Difficulty range: low, no stairs
• – Lower Circuit: 1.600 mts trail walk above the ground surface. Highlights: Dos Hermanas, Alvar Nuñez, San Martín, Bosetti and Peñon of Bella Vista waterfalls (from Peñon we get a view of Garganta del Diablo -Devil’s Throat- and Cañón del Rio Iguazú inferior). Time required for this ride: 2 hs. Difficulty range: moderate, with stairs.
• Garganta del Diablo: departing from Estación Cataratas, the train takes us to Estación Garganta. The walk along the footbridges demands 1200 mts to delight us with the spectacular balcony of the most important waterfall of the National Park: Garganta del Diablo. Time required for this ride: 2 hs. Difficulty range: low, no stairs.

GREAT ADVENTURE (shared)

The Great Adventure offers an exciting experience within the Iguazú National Park and in Lower Iguazú River. It is divided into 2 parts: firstly, the sailing on the semi-rigid boats to reach San Martin, Bosetty, Tres Mosqueteros and Cañon de Garganta del Diablo falls and down the river rapids up to Puerto Macuco (3 kms from the Waterfalls); secondly, an 8 km ride in a special truck along the rainforest, observing the local flora and fauna with the aid of specialized guides. Feel and experience the Waterfalls in this tour!

Today we hike around Laguna Capri to get to the Lagoons Madre and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet Cerro Torre trail. The trail runs along beech forest, bogs and shrub land. From the camp, a short hike takes us to Laguna Torre, enclosed by moraines and with the Glacier Grande calving in its west side. It is usual to see icebergs pushed by the wind in the coast of the lagoon. The thin and elegant 3128 metres of Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background complete this spectacular view. In the afternoon we hike back to El Chalten along Cerro Torre trail.

Hike Camp Poincenot – Laguna Torre – El Chalten: 13 miles roundtrip
Altitude Laguna Torre: 634 meters Above sea level
Elevation: 234 meters
Walking time: 7 to 8 hours.
Hike Camp Poincenot – Laguna Torre – El Chalten: 13 miles roundtrip

This mountain, 1500m tall, is located immediately south of Cerro Torre valley and offers some of the best views over the different group of mountains, glaciers and lakes that features the area. From the lower terraces to the summit, you can get spectacular views of Fitz Roy, Torre and the spectacular glacier valley in between both. From the summit the bonus is the sight of Paso del Viento and some of the mountains that stick out from the Patagonian Icefield. According to the group capacity, we choose the lower terraces or try the summit, a long but gentle climb in scree. The lower part of the mountain is covered by shrub land and forest. We are back in Chalten by late afternoon.

Hike El Chalten – Loma del Pliegue Tumbado: 12 – 13 miles
Altitud Loma del Pliegue: 1298 meters above sea level
Elevation: 894 meters
Walking time: 7 to 8 hours
Hike El Chalten – Loma del Pliegue Tumbado: 6 miles

This day is at leisure to visit the town or to go on optional excursions around the area.
We recommend the optional excursions offered in the town such as Viedma Ice trek. Trekking on glacier, using crampons. This activity is physical demanding, but allow us to enjoy a trek on ice and a boat trip in Viedma Lake. Also, you can discover the town or other optional excursions with less physical effort.
In the late afternoon, we return to El Calafate.

Overnight Lodge

We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Icefield, a big sheet of ice that with its 22.000 square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq. km) and Greenland (1 M sq. km). Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes this an unforgettable experience.
Overnight Lodge

It’s an early start to the day with a 6 hrs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get around Sierra de Los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo. After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. Once we entered the Park, we go for a short 1 to 2 hs walk to get familiar with the landscape, the wind and the rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds will be available for our eyes and cameras. There will also be plenty of flowers for you to appreciate and photograph. Back in the bus, we reach our camp at the foot of Paine massif.
Altitude Las Torres Full Camp: 100 meters above sea level
Walking time: 1 to 2 hours
Lodging at Las Torres Full Camp
Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the camp ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable igloo type tents for 1 or 2 passengers, with insulation mat and sleeping bags. The camp also features a spacious dinning tent, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware (area with sanitary services).

Early in the morning we start walking towards the bridge over the Ascensio River, head trail for the world famous Paine towers. We “warm up” hiking a steep one hour slope, to get inside the valley itself, a narrow “V” shape alpine valley coming from inside the Paine massif. A gentle downhill leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cosy and comfortable mountain lodge, which can be a good turnaround point for those not willing to make a full day hike. We then walk in a gentle slope along the river side and inside beech forest. A final climb on moraine take us to the Towers viewpoint: a glacier origin lagoon and the three towers rising vertically 1000m from the glacier. The lack of breath will be either because the climb and the sight!!!! We go back to our camp on the same way we came.

Lodging at Las Torres Full Camp in double tent (area with sanitary services)

Hike to Refugio Chileno: 4 miles round trip (4 hours walking)
Hike to Las Torres: 11 miles round trip (8 hours walking)
Altitud Las Torres foot: 866 meters above sea level
Elevation: 766 meters from Camp Las Torres
Walking time: 7 to 8 hs

We start the morning with an early 1hr drive which takes us to Port Pudeto to board the catamarán that crosses Lake Pehoe twice a day. Once at the far side of the lake, we leave unnecessary items in our tents and we set out to the French Valley trail. The trail skirts Paine Grande south slopes and Lake Skottberg, to take us after 2 and a half hours of continuous ups and downs, to the hanging bridge upon the French River. This breath-taking location is at the foot of both the 2700mts South East face of Paine Grande (to the west) and the Horns, with its characteristic black sedimentary topping, to the east. We continue walking 1 h further by Italian camps to reach breath-taking viewpoints over the area. After lunch and photos we retrace our steps back to Paine Grande Full Camp.
Full Camp Refugio Pehoe in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Hike up French Valley: 11 miles round trip
Altitude Pehoe Refuge Full Camp: 100 Meters above sea level
Altitude French Valley: 763 meters above sea level. (intermediate viewpoints)
Elevation French Valley: 663 meters from Pehoe Refuge
Walking time: 5 to 6 hs

Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe valley across ridges to reach Grey valley. This magnificent valley flows down 60 km from the Patagonian Icefield, featuring the huge glacier calving down in the grey colour lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the westerns slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park. From the high sections of the trail, many different viewpoints allow us to see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rising far in the distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall, and of course lake and glacier Grey. We reach the main viewpoint, a rocky point somewhat 2hrs away from Pehoe, with views over the Lake and Glacier Grey and the surrounding glaciers and mountains. We come back along the same trail, crossing bogs, shrub lands and forest. By noon we take the boat to cross Lake Pehoe back and then we go to our accommodation in Puerto Natales, a picturesque fishermen town located in the shores of the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) fiord.

Hike to Grey Lake viewpoint: 2.4 miles roundtrip
Altitude Grey Glacier viewpoint: 465 meters above sea level
Elevation: 365 meters from Pehoe Refuge
Walking time: 4 to 5 hs
Hike to Grey Lake viewpoint: 2.4 miles roundtrip
Overnight Lodge

Long drive today, though quite worthwhile. We continue south to reach the legendary Magellan Strait, which we will keep on sight up to Primera Angostura, where we board the Ferry in which we will cross the Strait. This Pass, discovered by Hernando de Magallanes in 1520, was the natural and logical way to all vessels until de Panama Channel was open at the beginning of the XXth century. You will find yourselves wondering how those brave men dare to sail those waters in such fragile caravels!!!
Once in Tierra del Fuego (literally, Land of Fire, due to the fires seen by the first white sailors in the coast, done by the local Indians to cook and heat) we enter back Argentina through Paso San Sebastián. Once in Ushuaia a transfer will take us to our hotel.

NB. For groups over 10 we will spend the night at Estancia Las Hijas, where a lamb cooked in the classical Patagonian bbq style will be waiting for us.
Accommodation: Bed in refuge in a shared room. The ranch has a dining room, bathrooms and showers will be available on this day.
Additional meal included: dinner

You will enjoy this entire day by your own, to choose the optional activity that better fit your desires.
NB. For groups over 10 – we will have slept at Estancia Las Hijas the previous night.
Groups of 10 people or more who have slept at Estancia Las Hijas the previous night:
In the morning we learn about the ranch activities and how dogs deal with the sheeps. By mid morning we continue south to visit Lago Fagnano in the middle of Andes Mountains, to continue to our last destination: Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the World. In the afternoon we continue to Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at lodge

After breakfast we walk to the Ushuaia Tourist Pier for a full day of activities: we will navigate the Beagle Channel to the iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, we will see Los Lobos Island and Los Patos Island, we will visit the Acatushun Museum in the pioneering Estancia Harberton and we will have the unforgettable opportunity to walk among penguins on Isla Martillo.

You will have the morning on your own to discover the town of Ushuaia, which is located in the north coast of the Beagle channel. Then town features interesting museums and its typical architecture. In the afternoon we are transferred to Ushuaia airport to take our flight to Buenos Aires. Our services end at the airport.