Visiting the Southern Patagonia Andes is to see the Earth as it was 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. The region features a vast high plateau covered by steppe vegetation that lies from the Atlantic Ocean to the foothills of the Andes. Rising steeply above the steppe, the Andes show sharp profiled mountains, due to the recent withdrawing of the ice. The Patagonian Icecap is still the most extensive area of glaciers outside the polar regions. Mountains within these frozen plateaus appear as rock islands called nunataks. Huge glaciers spill off into enormous lakes. From the 350 glaciers sliding down from the Ice Field, the Perito Moreno Glacier is probably the most famous. As for mountains, names such as Mt FitzRoy, Torre and Paine, known by climbers all over the world, offer the most spectacular, magical and beautiful scenery in the world, with their vertical granite walls.

Day 1: El Calafate - El Chalten
Transfer to the coach station to take a four hour coach ride to El Chalten. Arrival in El Chalten, a wind-swept small village, 240 km North of El Calafate and at the foot of the imposing Mt. FitzRoy (3405 m) and Cerro Torre. Upon arrival, transfer to El Pilar Lodge, a beautiful 8-room guest house, 15 km out of El Chalten. The location, in the middle of a southern beech forest, is handy for trails such as the one to Mt. FitzRoy. From the guest house, you will enjoy magnificent views of the huge granite walls of the imposing Mt FitzRoy and other important peaks. We suggest a a short hike (about an hour) to Piedras Blancas Glacier. Following this trail you will enjoy a very interesting beech forest and, if you are lucky you may see the amazing Magellanic Woodpecker at work. On the way, on a clearing in the forest, and after about 20 minutes hike, you will sight the Marconi Glacier, the gateway to the Continental Ice Cap to your right. This hike is an ideal warm up and the perfect place for a nap in the sun! Alternatively, hike Cerro (5 hours), which offers a panoramic view of the Poincenot, FitzRoy, Cerro Torre and the Continental Ice Cap. (D)

Day 2: Mt FitzRoy. Full day hike to Mt FitzRoy base camp and Laguna de los Tres. After breakfast hike north towards FitzRoy with spectacular views of the massif ahead. Sacred and venerated by local Tehuelche groups and believed to be a volcano, they called it “Chalten” (exhaling fumes mountain). Further hike to Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mt. FitzRoy. Three glaciers drain into this greenish lagoon with majestic Mt. FitzRoy towering above. Enjoy breathtaking views to Lake Viedma and the endless Patagonia steppe. (B,L,D) Slope: 1100 m. Approx. hike: 8 hours

Day 3: Trek to Cerro Torre. Full day hiking another Patagonian classic: Mt Torre, famous for its beauty but also for its difficulty to climb. Countless expeditions attempt every year to reach the summit, but only a few succeed. After a 45 minutes’ climb you will find an even area surrounding an old lagoon, where vegetation is starting to grow again. The trail enters a forest with a slight descent leading to a lookout facing the Cerro Torre range and the Adelas Mt. The trail ends in by the Laguna Torre, with beautiful views of Mt Torre, surrounded by Egger, Standhard, Spires and the Adelas range as a backdrop together with the Torre Glacier. Hike back to El Chalten where a van will be waiting for you to drive you back to the guest house. (B, L, D) Slope: 600 m. Approx. hike: 10 hours

Day 4: El Chalten - El Calafate.
After breakfast, free time for a further hike in the area. Alternatively, drive to town and enjoy a short hike to a scenic point overlooking the famous Mt Torre. Afternoon private transfer to El Calafate airport to take your flight back to Buenos Aires. (B)

Rates: Please enquire for prices.

The rate includes: Accommodation with breakfast (B) and taxes included throughout the itinerary, transfers and tours on a shared basis (coach to/from El Calafate to El Chalten) and one private transfer (according to your flight arrangements), assistance of bilingual mountain guides, 3 dinners (D) as described on the itinerary without beverages, 2 box lunches (L) with beverages during the full day treks.

The rate does not include: airline tickets, airport taxes and local taxes, personal expenses and extras, tips for baggage handling and optional tips for guides/ drivers, meals not mentioned in the itinerary and beverages.

Notes
The extension to El Chalten is ideal for active people who love hiking.
An unbelievable diversity of excellent wildlife subjects and amazing landscapes make this a photographers’ paradise.

Weather conditions:
Weather is highly unpredictable. Particularly in spring or early summer, fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, as violent westerly storms sweep in from the Pacific Ocean. Strong westerly winds are usually at their worst from November to January, but typically continue through the end of April. Temperature can vary a lot too, ranging from -5°C to 25°C, averaging 15°C.