Camp at Fitz Roy Base
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY
physical exertion
Total duration
Camp at Fitz Roy Base
Program detail
INTRODUCTION
Enjoy the two most famous views of the El Chaltén sector of the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares on this overnight trekking experience. Taking in both Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, this 2-day excursion is the minimum required to capture the classic postcard/Instagram views in your memory or with your camera.
ATTRACTIONS
• Climb to the Laguna de Los Tres for an incomparable view of Cerro Fitz Roy and Laguna Sucia (Dirty Lake)
• Explore Patagonian Lenga and Ñires forests and spend a night camped amidst the native trees of this region
• Contemplate the dramatic Cerro Torre and Torre mountain range across the glacier-fed Torre lake
ITINERARY
We leave El Chaltén by car and follow the Río de las Vueltas to our starting point 17km away. From there, we hike along a beautiful trail through the lenga forest, following the Río Blanco (White River) towards the Poincenot campsite. Along the way, we will stop to learn a little about the flora and fauna that is characteristic of the Patagonian Andean forest and also visit the beautiful Piedras Blancas (White Rocks) viewpoint. Here we will see the Piedras Blancas glacier and its associated glacial features, including the erratic boulders and lateral moraines left behind as the glacier retreated over the last few decades. We will have many different views of the Fitz Roy mountain chain as we make our way towards our final objective for the day - the magnificent Laguna de Los Tres. This unforgettable location has the best view of Cerro Fitz Roy - and one of the most impressive vistas in all of Patagonia.
Estimated Duration
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From our forest campsite, we will enjoy the first light of day breaking over the incredible Fitz Roy mountain range.
After breakfast, we leave Cerro Fitz Roy behind us and head off towards a lovely valley with rolling hills and the Lagunas Madre e Hija (Mother and Daughter lagoons). We will have plenty of time to stop and take photos and, if we are very lucky, we may even spot the small group of Cauquenes that is sometimes found in the area. The trail leads us through forests of Lenga and Ñires and across a large moraine before arriving at our destination - Laguna Torre (Tower Lake).
Here, we will stop and have lunch while taking in the spectacular views of the Torre mountain chain and Glacier Grande (Big Glacier). If the weather conditions allow, we will then hike towards the viewpoint Maestri for the closest view of Glacier Grande. This viewpoint is named after the controversial Italian climber, Cesare Maestri, who designed his strategies for climbing one of the most difficult mountains in the world from this location.
Once we are ready, we will leave the lake and mountain and follow the trail through the Cerro Torre valley back to El Chaltén.
Estimated Duration
Distance
Elevation Gain
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NOTES
Our camping equipment is already set up at the campsites. Participants only have to carry personal objects and their boxed lunch during the trek. The campsites have dry toilets (with a seat) but do not have electricity or showers. Access to drinking water is available throughout most of the hike.