WHY THIS TRIP
Argentine Patagonia is one of the most spectacular regions in the world, and the 6 day or 4 day Fitzroy and Los Glaciares Trekking trip explores the most stunning part, Los Glaciares National Park, by foot. Cerro Torre and Mount Fitzroy can only be truly appreciated by hiking up close to the peaks, and the Perito Moreno Glacier (6 day itinerary only) comes alive when you walk on its ice. Relax in quaint Patagonian hotels each night after long walks to see the best of Patagonia.
TRIP DESCRIPTION
Mount Fitzroy and Cerro Torre are two of Patagonia’s iconic peaks, and no roads lead up to them. The best way to experience them is by taking the long way to get close to their bases. This trek explores the area around both peaks and also explores the equally famous Perito Moreno Glacier with its classic views of ice chunks calving into the water.
Day one of this trek involves traveling to El Chalten, Argentina, a small town at the edge of Los Glaciares National Park from either Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, or El Calafate, Argentina. The first three nights are spent in a classic Patagonian inn.
After a good night’s sleep the trekking begins, with long but not overly difficult treks to Laguna Torre at the base of Cerro Torre and then to Laguna de los Tres at the base of Mount Fitzroy. If you’re doing the 4 day trip, you’ll head back to El Calafate the following day and depart.
On the 6 day itinerary, trekking on Day 4 is much shorter than the previous days, but it involves hiking uphill for an hour to reach the viewpoint at Mirador de las Carretas with excellent views of Cerro Torre and the region around Mount Fitzroy.
After this walk you transfer back to El Calafate where you spend the next two nights at a beautiful hotel outside of town. The next day you travel to the Perito Moreno Glacier where you board a boat to view the southern wall of the glacier. Then you hike a short ways to glacier and put on crampons to walk out onto the ice, before ending at a small bar serving cocktails in glacier ice. Finally you move to the main glacier viewpoints to see the north side’s giant walls with chunks of ice calving off into the water below. After one more night in El Calafate your Los Glaciares trip is done and everyone will head on to their next destination.
LOCAL OPERATOR: CASCADA EXPEDICIONES
Since 1991 Cascada Expediciones has been offering eco-friendly opportunities for travelers to let go of normal life and refresh with energizing connections to nature. With a strong focus on providing innovative, high-quality experiences — trips in which each traveler enjoys every moment of a trip — Cascada has refreshed nearly 30,000 people. Headquartered in Santiago, a trip of a lifetime with Cascada can include activities ranging from trekking, mountaineering, horseback riding, biking, rafting, fly fishing, kayaking, skiing, wildlife safari and photography, multisport itineraries to winery tours. In engaging the outdoors Cascada-style, every traveler is made to feel relaxed and energized by each activity; nourished rather than weary.
More good feeling comes in knowing the money spent on a Cascada trip stays in the Chilean economy. Moreover, the money stays with a company and people who have a deep respect for the environment. The staff and guides live an eco-friendly life, sharing the environmentally sustainable philosophy put into practice over the life of the company. So firm in its understanding of nature’s importance, Cascada became a carbon neutral company in 2008 and, between June 2009 and 2010, offset more than 183 tons of CO2 emissions. With a goal of becoming entirely CO2-free, Cascada encourages its travelers, suppliers and shareholders to help by standing by its philosophy.
Rick –
I did the Fitzroy and Los Glaciares Trek first, followed by the W-Trek in Torres de la Paine, which is the order I would definitely recommend. The Fitzroy area is spectacular and the guides were excellent. I hiked the first two days with Marcello and the third day with Pella. They are very competent knowledgeable guides and I learned much about the local area, flora, and fauna. They hiked at a very pleasant pace, slower than I’m used to, which allowed me to experience everything around me like I haven’t normally done. I consider that a lesson learned in how to be in the moment and not obsessed with accomplishing the hike.