Torres Del Paine and Fitz Roy Trekking Combo

Need To Know

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Location

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If you go to Patagonia, there are three places everyone agrees you simply have to see. Torres Del Paine, Fitz Roy and Perito Moreno. This trip has it all, and takes you to corners of the parks few others tread while we are at it.

Los Glaciares National Park, home of Fitz Roy, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering 2,806 square miles, making it the largest national park in Argentina. Home to 47 glaciers, as well as Magellenic woodpeckers and the nearly extinct Huemel deer, 30% of the park is covered in ice, with the rest comprised of mountain lakes and lagoons, glacial moraine and snow covered peaks including the towering 3,405 metre summit of Mount Fitz Roy. The town of El Chaltén is home to around 350 year-round residents and has been named Argentina’s capital of trekking.

Torres Del Paine is undoubtedly one of the gems of wild, magical Patagonia. In fact, to come all this way and not spend a significant chunk of time here would be foolish. The most famous landmark is of course the three soaring granite peaks of the Paine massif. It’s not a one trick pony though. This wonderful national park serves up a spell-binding array of mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers and forest, with views evolving and changing with every step. The glaciers, including Grey, Pingo and Tyndall, spill out into impressive lakes and wind their way up pre-historic valleys to join the Southern Patagonia Ice Field.

Wild nature in all it’s glory.

Start point

El Chalten, 19.00.

Check in to your accommodation any time, then meet the rest of the group and guide at the host’s local office in central El Chaltén at 19:00 on day one for a pre-trip briefing. A bus from El Calafate (airport or town centre) to El Chalten takes 3 hours, and is included in the price. It will be pre-booked privately for you according to your own travel timings. Your local host will confirm all the details with you after booking.

Finish point

Your accommodation in Puerto Natales

You will be dropped at your accommodation in Puerto Natales after the final days hiking. Breakfast is included, so checkout when you like the following morning and continue with your adventure, wherever it takes you next!

The best options to get home from Puerto Natales are either flights to Santiago from Punta Arenas (there are convenient buses running regularly to Punta Arenas airport taking 3hrs), or flights to Buenos Aires from El Calafate (there are two buses a day from Puerto Natales taking 5-6hrs with border crossing). Your host can arrange transport as an optional extra, enquire when booking.

What to Expect

Day 1: Travel to El Chaltén

From the town of El Calafate on the edge of the Patagonian ice field, jump on the bus (pre-arranged for you from either the airport, or town centre) and drive for around three hours to El Chaltén, getting your first glimpse of the Fitz Roy massif as you cross the altiplano.

Check into your hotel and then meet your guide and fellow hikers in central El Chaltén, before relaxing over a hot meal in one of the town’s cosy restaurants.

Day 2: Trek Laguna de los Tres and Ascend Cerro Madsen

From the trailhead at El Pilar, set off on foot along a gently ascending path through the forest, to the Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint.

After a break to recharge and take in the views of the hanging glacier, tackle the most challenging section of today’s trek - one hour of steep uphill hiking through a landscape of snow-capped mountains.

Catch your breath at the top and then eat lunch alongside panoramic views of Mount Fitz Roy, before crossing the glacial moraine to begin your ascent of Cerro Madsen.

Hike and scramble across rocky outcrops as you climb towards the summit, then look down upon Laguna de Los Tres and the altiplano in the distance.

Once you’ve had your fill, descend to Capri Lagoon and see Mount Fitz Roy reflected in its still, clear waters, then continue on to Poincenot campground, your home for the night, where you’ll set up your tent at the edge of the forest and enjoy a hot dinner cooked over an open fire with views of Mount Fitz Roy.

24km / 12 hours / 1200 metre ascent

Please note, depending on the weather, the guide may decide to switch the ascent of Madsen to day 3.

Day 3: Trek to Laguna Torre

Rise with the sun to watch the morning rays hit Fitz Roy turning its steep rocky slopes into dozens of shades of orange and red.

After breakfast, hike past the Madre and Hija lagoons and then drop down into Torre valley, famous among geologists for its perfect shape carved by glaciers scouring the landscape thousands of years ago.

Follow the valley to the glacial lake of Laguna Torre, keeping an eye out for small icebergs floating across the surface and enjoy the views of Mount Torre – one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb.

Take lunch at the lagoon and then visit D’Agostini camp where some of the world’s most famous climbers have spent a night or two, before following the Fitz Roy river back to El Chaltén to say goodbye to your guide and enjoy a meal with your fellow hikers.

20km / 7-8 hours / 250 metre ascent

Day 4: Head to Perito Moreno glacier

After breakfast, jump on the comfortable public bus back to El Calafate, where your new guide for the day will be waiting with a private mini-van to take you to explore Perito Moreno glacier.

The beautiful 80km drive along the shores of Lago Argentino is worth a photo stop or two. Your guide will tell us a bit about the history of the region, its life and customs, the National Parks and the glaciers. Once we get to the glacier, we’ll have 3 or 4 hours to explore the series of walkways, allowing you to get up close and see the glacier from all sorts of different angles, and possibly a spectacular ice fall or two.

Back in El Calafate at the end of the day you’ll be dropped at your hotel. Explore the town in your own time, and perhaps head out for a final dinner with your fellow adventurers.

Day 5: Get to Puerto Natales

Check out after breakfast, say your goodbyes to those not lucky enough to be doing the combo trip, jump on to the bus to Puerto Natales (5-6 hours). You’ll be met off the bus by your hosts for the next leg of the journey, and taken to your accommodation to settle in. Head to your local guides office at 6pm to meet your guide and the rest of the group. Afterwards, we can head out for dinner together, then get some rest before the next adventure truly starts.

Day 6: Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of the Torres del Paine Massif

We’ll set out this morning with our guide to drive to the park. After a couple of hours drive and checking-in at “Guarderia Grey”, we’ll hike up to Mirador Ferrier for beautiful views of the Torres del Paine massif (2 hours up). Back at Guarderia Grey, it’s a half hour hike up to nearby Pingo Camp at the entrance of the Pingo Valley – our home for the night.

4-5 hours hiking

Day 7: Hike into Pingo Valley

After a delicious camp-side breakfast we’ll begin a hike that leads us through this solitary, remote valley. During the hike you will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of the Torres del Paine massif. If you are lucky you can see one of the rare, endangered South Andean deer known as Huemul or the mysterious feral cows known as Baguales! We’ll climb up a viewpoint to gaze upon the vast expanse of the Antarctic icefields before returning to camp for dinner and a good night’s rest.

8-9 hours hiking / 21km

Day 8: Cruise to Glacier Grey

We’ll head back to the trailhead this morning to jump on the boat and cruise up Lago Grey. We’ll sail past enormous blue icebergs and have a chance to marvel at the spectacular Glacier Grey before jumping off at Refugio & Camping Grey, where we will spend the night. There will be an optional walk this afternoon which will take us through the forest across multiple suspension bridges until we are looking out over the glacier, a truly humbling experience.

4 hours hiking, boat cruise

Day 9: Hike to Lake Pehoe

After breakfast, we’ll begin our hike towards Paine Grande, where we’ll camp along the shore of Lake Pehoe. There is another optional walk this afternoon to head further around the lakeside and have the chance to look back at the spectacular massif. Or for those who would rather rest, there is the chance to enjoy the famous bar and sample some delicious Chilean wine.

4 hours hiking / 11 Km

Day 10: Hike Behind the Cuernos

Get a good breakfast in, today is a longer day. We’ll head towards Bader Valley, located between Almirante Nieto and the famous Cuernos. Along the way we will border Almirante Nieto and pass by Lake Nordenskjold. There will be a few rivers we’ll need to hop over the rocks to cross. As you hike you will catch glimpses of glaciers and the mountaintops hovering over you.

Finally we’ll see the monstrous peaks of the Cuernos. We’ll enter the remote Bader Valley and continue to the campsite, before taking time to explore deeper into the valley. Tonight you will spend the night just behind the Cuernos.

7.5 hour hiking / 18 km

Day 11: Explore Bader Valley

Today after breakfast we’ll have another opportunity to explore Bader Valley and enjoy the remoteness of this amazing place. When we’re ready, we’ll descend the valley and back to the marked trail. We’ll follow the shore of Lago Nordenskjold, hiking past Almirante Nieto and finally reaching Camping Central, where we’ll spend the night.

5.5 hours hiking / 11 km

Day 12: Visit the Famous Towers!

Todays the big day! We’ll hike to the iconic towers of the park – Las Torres! After breakfast, we’ll hike up Almirante Nieto, a mountain with incredible views of Lake Nordenskjold and the Asencio Valley.  After two hours of hiking steadily upward we’ll arrive to Refugio & Camping Chileno to enjoy a good lunch before continuing onto the Las Torres lookout. We’ll walk for one hour through a dense Lenga forest before approach the moraine and climbing until we see Las Torres — imposing granite peaks rising 9,000 feet into the air. Take many photos and breathe it in.

It all has to come to an end though. We’ll hiking down the Asencio Valley to Camping Torre Central to be collected by our driver and taken back to Puerto Natales, where we will say good-bye to our guide. 

8 hours hiking / 18 km

Day 13: Say goodbye

Check out after breakfast and head off. Your local host can help arrange your onward travel if needed.

A note on the travel style

On this trip, we’ve helped you to combine the adventures by using public buses to/from El Chalten, El Calafate and Puerto Natales. They are direct, comfortable and run regularly, allowing you to keep costs down and the spirit of independence up. We’ll use private mini-vans to get from each town to the trail heads and adventure spots.

Accommodation

In both El Calafate and El Chalten you’ll be in welcoming local guesthouses with clean, comfortable, en-suite rooms.

While trekking in Fitz Roy you’ll spend one night at the Poincenot camp ground located on the wooded edge of a valley with epic views of the Fitz Roy massif. The campsite is basic, with no shower facilities or electricity. All camping and cooking equipment will be provided by your hosts.

In Puerto Natales, accommodation will be in comfortable B&B’s or boutique hostels such as Amerindia, Treehouse Patagonia or Aquaterra lodge.

Out in Torres Del Paine National Park you’ll be camping again. Tents and sleeping mats are provided, and your porters will pitch camps ready for your arrival. The camp facilities depend on the section of the park. On the Pingo/Zapata side and in Bader Valley it is true wilderness camping - off trail and without facilities. All other sites on the main ‘W’ stretch have toilets and showers.

Prices are based on sharing twin rooms with someone of the same sex (or a double if you’re travelling as a couple). Private sole occupancy rooms and hotel upgrades are available as an extra - ask when you’re booking.

Tent sleeping arrangements will be decided during the pre-trip meeting before you set off - you can decide who you want to share with, and if you prefer your own tent, that’s fine.

Optional Extras

Make your life easy. Once you have reserved your space, your host can help you arrange the extras you’ll need. Here are some guide prices which can be confirmed with you during booking.