Another program of trekking linking the trails of the Fitz Roy with Torres del Paine. We will start with a light hike to Laguna Capri to get back the same path on the second day to the base of Cerro Fitz Roy, Laguna de los Tres. Keeping with our base camp in Laguna Capri we will go in search of Cerro Torre, the lagoon and the glacier. After 3 full days in the camp we will return to the village of El Chalten where we start our hike on the south end of the park going to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, where the trail lead us through the Patagonian with its almost-desert arid characteristics and up to enter in a lush pine forest.
We leave El Chalten to visit the most famous glacier in the world: Perito Moreno Glacier, the trip includes a navigation that goes to the front walls of the mythical giant. We're going to Chile to get impress with the Torres del Paine National Park and complete the second objective of our program: to walk the most desired paths for walkers worldwide. We will start the trekking to the Base de las Torres by the Valle del Rio Ascencio (Ascencio River Valley). We will start on the foothills of Mount Almirante Nieto, we will climb for 1 hour to reach the Valle del Rio Ascencio (Ascension River Valley), then we will stay overnight at the base camp of Las Torres.
We will sail the Lake Pehoe and walk along the French Valley. We will walk through by the trail of the valley to observe the upper viewpoints, which are in the natural amphitheater, surround by the walls with the names: Cuernos, Espada, Mascara, Hoja, Aleta de Tiburón, Catedral and Paine Grande. We will trek to the Grey Lake Valley and its glacier. The Grey Glacier has an area of 300 square km., embroidering the Patagonian Icefield ends in the lake at its northern point, surrounded by forests of beech or brunettes. In the Grey Glacier is permanent the detachment of icebergs. In the return we will sail the waters of Lake Pehoe, to disembark in Puerto Natales and then return to El Calafate to complete this unique adventure. A journey full of trekking thought exclusively for those who have already gone through all the trails of the Fitz Roy and around El Chalten. This itinerary focuses on the Torres del Paine in Chile and Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego at the ends of the earth, being the southernmost trekking.
13 days - 12 nights
Day 1 - El Calafate
Reception at the airport of El Calafate. From there we will head to the touristic city of El Calafate to enjoy the first dinner.
- Lodging: Hostel room with shared bathroom/ Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom
- Meals: Dinner
- From/To: El Calafate / El Calafate
Day 2 - Bus to El Chalten - Laguna Capri
After having breakfast, we will go by bus to El Chalten, a beautiful mountain village located at the foot of Cerro Fitz Roy To get there we must travel 220 km through the Patagonian steppe, on the way we will stop at a picturesque tea house to taste some handmade cakes and enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Viedma. Arriving in El Chalten, we will begin our trekking; we will take with us only the things that are necessary for the three adventurous days ahead, where we will be staying in camps in the Los Glaciares National Park. We will walk through a path by the Rio de las Vueltas (Spin River) up to the viewpoints of Fitz Roy. We will continue along the road to the camp that is located next to Laguna Capri (Capri Lagoon) where we enjoyed a wonderful view where beech and ñires wrap the clear waters.
The camp has large tents Igloo type, which can be occupied in single or double base, each passenger will have an isolating mat, a sheet and a special sleeping bag for high mountain.
The place offers a tent that is used as a dining room. It has a table, chairs, dishes, and kitchen tent that is used for food preparation. The bathrooms are organized in a system of bathrooms with latrines.
- Lodging: Camp Full Laguna Capri - Double or Single Room (Rural Area)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch & Dinner
- From/To: El Calafate / El Chalten / Laguna Capri
- Duration: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Day 3 - Cerro Fitz Roy, Laguna de Los Tres
Early in the morning, and only wearing a warm coat and a camera, we will climb up the Chorrillo del Salto to reach the Río Blanco (White River) Campground at the base of Cerro Fitz Roy. Throughout the journey we will accompany us the impressive glacier massif needles that lie just ahead of us, creating an unforgettable landscape. From the camp we will go for a steep climb for about an hour and a half that leads to one of the most spectacular natural lookouts of the park at Laguna de los Tres. From this viewpoint you can see the extent of Cerro Fitz Roy; its towering spires have a height of 1,500 meters above the surrounding glaciers. From that moment we must consider ourselves privileged to be so close and to fully enjoy this unique work of nature. Finally we will return via the same path towards Laguna Capri (Capri Lagoon). (5 hours)
- Lodging: Camp Full Laguna Capri - Double or Single Room (Rural Area)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch & Dinner
- From/To: Laguna Capri / Laguna de Los Tres / Laguna Capri
- Duration: 6 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate to Heavy
Day 4 - Cerro Torre
In the morning we will trek surrounding the Laguna Capri (Capri Laggon)until we reach the trail through the Valle de las Lagunas Madre e Hija (Valley of Lagoons Mother and Doughter), we will descend to Cerro Torre valley through a thick forest of meadows. When we finished the descent we will come across the Fitz Roy River from there we will go back to its source in Laguna Torre. This beautiful lake is surrounded by moraines, usually in the West End; the icebergs emerge from the Great Glacier. The shocking spiers of Cerro Torre, with a height of 3128 meters, makes a unique landscape. We will go near Laguna Torre to enjoy the views of the Cerro Solo and Adela Glacier. In the afternoon we will return to El Chalten across the Tower path.
- Lodging: Hostel room with shared bathroom/ Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom
- Meals: Breakfast & Box Lunch
- From/To: Laguna Capri / Laguna Torre /El Chalten
- Duration: 5 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Day 5 - Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
The hill we will visit today is located south of the Fitz Roy River. There we will enjoy the most spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, as well as the Fitz Roy River, Cerro Torre with valleys and spectacular glaciers. Always considering the skills of the group, it will be possible to choose the viewpoints that are located at an intermediate height of the mountain (approx. 900/1000 meters high), or choose to continue to the summit reaching a height of 1500 meters with a altitude of 1100 meters above the village. The trekking will be done through steppe, scrub and forest.
Upon arriving at the top we can be dazzled by the wonderful view of Fitz Roy River and Torre also enjoy the view of the valleys that lie between the two hills, and ancient towering mountains of the Continental Ice. We will return to El Chalten after a fabulous day on the heights of the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado.
- Lodging: Hostel room with shared bathroom/ Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch & Dinner
- From/To: Campamento Laguna Torre / El Chaltén
- Duration: 5 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Day 6 - From El Chalten to El Calafate
In the morning each of the participants of this adventure can choose to take a break, explore the town of El Chalten or do some of the optional activities offered by the team leader. In the afternoon we will return to the city of El Calafate.
- Lodging: Hostel room with shared bathroom/ Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom
- Meals: Breakfast
- From/To: El Chaltén / El Calafate
Day 7 - Visit to The Perito Moreno Glacier
After breakfast, we will take the bus to travel for about 80 km to the Magallanes Peninsula that is located where the recognized and famous Perito Moreno Glacier. A short trek will allow us to appreciate the wonderful view of the channel of Iceberg and different landscapes.
There the guide will teach us about glaciology, while we enjoy the place walking the gateways and maybe we can view some of the breaks of the blocks of ice from the front walls which have a height of over 60 meters. In the afternoon, after having witnessed one of the most beautiful and mysterious shapes of nature, we will return to El Calafate.
- Lodging: Hostel room with shared bathroom/ Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom
- Meals: Breakfast
- From/To: El Calafate / El Glaciar Perito Moreno / El Calafate
- Duration: 1 hour
- Excursion: Safari Nautico (not included)
- Difficulty: Mild
Day 8 - Traveling to Torres del Paine National Park
After breakfast, we will leave from the city of El Calafate to take a road surrounded by beautiful views of the Patagonian steppe. Flamingos and Choiques are species of the region that can be easily seen. After completing a course of about 4 hours, we will arrive at a border crossing between Argentina and Chile, this step is called "Cancha Carrera" / Cerro Castillo. We will continue our way to enter to the huge Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the world named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Once inside the Park, we will descend the bus to take a short hike that allow us to enjoy the first views and become familiar with the beautiful flora and fauna that gives us this vast park. In the evening we will arrive at the camp which is situated at the foot of the mountain. The total journey time is 6 hours plus almost 2 hours walk in the park.
- Lodging: Las Torres Full Camp in double or single (area with sanitary services)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch & Dinner
- From/To: El Calafate / Torres del Paine National Park/ Las Torres Camp Full
- Duration: 8 hours - 2 hours for trekking
- Difficulty: Mild
Day 9 - Trekking through the Ascencio Valley
Today we will do one of the most classic and beautiful walks along a path which offers the park and take us to the Torres del Paine. After finishing breakfast will go towards the bridge over the Ascensio River and we will start our trekking. Through the foothills of Mount Almirante Nieto and the beautiful river valley that runs through the mountain. After doing 1 hour walk in ascent we will enter the valley and reached the Chilean refuge. The trail that starts from there will take us through the forest to the base camp of Torres del Paine, where climbers await the right conditions to do the ascent to the high walls that have 900 meters of altitude. After 1 hour of travel we will finally arrive at the viewpoint of the Towers, designed by nature with an amphitheater at the foot of the spectacular granite towers 2800 meters. After having enjoyed this awesome and wonderful view, we will go back along the same path. The trek takes about 7 hours.
- Lodging: Las Torres Full Camp in double or single (area with sanitary services)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch & Dinner
- From/To: Camp Full Pehoe Lake / Las Torres
- Duration: 7 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Day 10 - Lake Pehoe crossing - French Valley
Early in the morning we will take the bus and go to the port to board the Pudeto boat to cross transparent and spectacular Lake Pehoe. Navigation will last for about 45 minutes. We will land in the area of the Refugio Pehoe and from there we will start walking towards the French Valley, a beautiful mountain valley that comes the inside of the massif into Lake Nordenskjold, surrounded by large horns on the east and the majestic Paine Grande (3050 meters).
We will climb up the valley towards the intermediate viewpoints that offer stunning views of Paine Grande and glaciers suspended in the air, we will also enjoy the view of the Cuernos del Paine and its black sedimentary topping. Along with the forest and the sound of the winds, the fall of the ices and snow located on the slopes of Paine Grande, make this magical place unforgettable postcard. We will make the descent through the same path to reach the base of the valley, and then we will take to the west and around the lake Skottsberg to find the campsite where we will spend the rest of the night, which is located next to Refugio Pehoe. The total journey will last for about 5 hours.
- Lodging: Camp. Full Pehoe double or single room (services area)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch & Dinner
- From/To: Camp Full Pehoe Lake/ Valle del Francés / Pehoe Refuge
- Duration: 5 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Day 11 - Glacier Grey viewpoints
Today we expect another unforgettable day dedicated to visit the magical Grey Lake Valley surrounded by glaciers descending from the Southern Ice Field. Among the glaciers we can see the spectacular Glacier Grey of approximately 300 km of extension and 25 km long, is a great mass of ice falling into the lake at its northern end. Continuously, large blocks that become amazing blue icebergs that sail southward by wind action.
We continue hiking on a trail for a few hours and we will reach the spectacular Lake Pehoe viewpoint from which you can contemplate the entire lake, the glacier and the mountains rising Ice Field to the west.
We will leave early to get to the port at noon and start sailing again on Lake Pehoe to our lodging in the city of Puerto Natales.
- Lodging: Hostel room with shared bathroom/ Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch
- From/To: Pehoe Refuge/ Grey Glacier / Puerto Natales
- Duration: 5 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Day 12 - From Puerto Natales to El Calafate
Early the morning we will leave from the city of Puerto Natales to return to El Calafate. We say goodbye to our Tour Leader and some of our colleagues who will go to the city of Ushuaia. When we get to El Calafate we will wait for the transfer to the lodge where we will spend the night. We will have the afternoon free to explore the city.
- Lodging: Hostel room with shared bathroom/ Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom
- Meals: Breakfast
- From/To: Puerto Natales / El Calafate
Day 13 - El Calafate Airport
After breakfast we will be transfer to El Calafate airport where will end the service.
- Meals: Breakfast
- From/To: El Calafate / Calafate Airport
Services
Included:
- Bilingual tour leader for all the trekking
- Mountain guide
- Navigation of Pehoe Lake
- Transfers during the trekking by public and private transport
- Accomodation
Not Included:
- Entrance to the national parks
- Medical insurance
- Life Assurance
- Tips
- Drinks
- Air tickets
- Optional excursions and all services which are not included in the journey program
General information
Recommended gear for the trekking
The following is the suggest equipment and clothing required for the trekking:
- 50 litre rucksack
- Synthetic interior garments
- Long Sleeved T-Shirt and another of cotton
- Walking trousers
- Under trousers without feet
- Polar jumper
- A pair of leggings and a pair of gloves
- Two pairs of woolen socks
- Two pairs of light socks
- Walking shoes
- Woolen hat (better woolen than fibre)
- Sun visor
- Hand and bath towel
- Sun glasses
- Sun cream protector
- Torch
- Walking sticks (fundamental)
- Documents necessary to enter to Chile (Passport etc.)
- Personal medicines