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This unique trek offers the chance to delve deep into the Los Glaciares National Park in Argentinean Patagonia experiencing classic landscapes with steep granite spires towering over vast glaciers, cerulean lakes, rivers and forests. You’ll carry a full pack and the benefits of this self sufficiency will become quickly evident. With the day hikers retreating back to El Chalten we savour the serenity of our base camps at Mount Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre being treated to incredible sunrises with the play of light on these formidable peaks. This is definitely a much wilder experience to your average trek with forays on the high ridge line above Lake Agostin and a high line river crossing of the Fitzroy River to access the real backcountry and to make the 700m ascent to the Pass of Agachonas.
Ascending the final saddle a surreal panorama brings together the last two days with expansive views of the Lago Torre, the spines of Cerro Torre, the glaciated mountain of Cero Solo & the Fitz Roy summit rising high above the ridgeline of the Techado Negro. From our next base camp at Laguna Toro we make a challenging foray to Windy Pass, involving another high line river crossing and a moraine traverse with the finale of sweeping views across the Patagonian icefield. Our circuit trek brings us back to El Chalten, a great short adventure that will leave a big impression.
Non-exclusive trips:
On selected departures, this trip is not exclusive to Rogue Adventures, and you will be joining a group of 2 – 8 adventurers from around the world.
Day 1 JOIN EL CALAFATE AND TRANSFER TO EL CHALTEN
Day 2 COMMENCE TREK VIA RIO BLANCO VALLEY AND LAGUNA DE LOS TRES
Day 3 TREK TO LAGUNAS TORRE AND MIRADOR MAESTRI
Day 4 TREK TO LAGUNA TORO VIA RIO TUNEL
Day 5 ASCEND TO PASO DEL VIENTO AND INFERIOR TUNNEL GLACIER
Day 6 TRAIN TO EL CHALTEN AND TRAVERSE PILEGUE TUMBADO
Day 7 RETURN TO EL CALAFATE WHERE TRIP CONCLUDES
6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
Airport transfers on days 1 & 7 only
Experienced local head guide and expedition crew
All group camping and cooking equipment
Emergency radio communication equipment, satellite phone
Emergency medical kit
Accommodation on a share basis in tents during the trek and lodging in El Chalten transfers: El Chalten ‐ El Pilar, El Calafate ‐ El Chalten adn El Chalten ‐ El Calafate
International airfares and departure taxes
Meals not indicated in the itinerary Sleeping bag
Thermarest sleeping mat
Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
Tips and gratuities
Porter charges if required is payable at time of booking. This means you only carry your day’s necessities in a small day pack. The personal porter is attached to the group for the trekking portion of the trip. This amount pays for the porter’s wages, trek food & equipment, accommodation and meals on the trek. A porter can also be shared amungst 2‐3 people.
Visa
Travel insurance (compulsory)
This is an expedition in the truest sense, where you are a member of the team. Your guide will be joined by assistant guides and they will handle the majority of the catering. But due to the wilderness factor, one has to be flexible and happy to assist when requested. You will be responsible for gathering water for drinking and meals, assisting with food preparation and expected to clean your own eating utensils, as well as erect and take down your tent. Food will be as varied as much as possible but bearing in mind that we have to be largely self sufficient, you should not expect much fresh food.
You are expected to be able to carry your personal gear and a share of the food and camping equipment (18‐20kg). The daily routine will be dependent on the weather. Most mornings we will rise by 6am and following breakfast, we plan to be on the trail around 7am, sometimes earlier. Lunch will be carried each day by individual group members and will be taken enroute. The sun sets late during summer in Patagonia, and the resulting long days allow us to make the best use of daylight on some long trekking days.
Argentina has a population of over 30 million and an area of 2,807,500 square kms. It is the second largest country in South America after Brazil. Its diverse geography ranges from tropical jungle in the north to the polar ice caps in the south. One needs to travel great distances between tourist regions in Argentina, and this factor makes this a very expensive destination. The cost of living in Argentina is quite high in comparison to other Latin American countries. The capital, Buenos Aires ‐ is famed for its restaurants, shops and boulevards, and has a population of more than 10 million. There are many very good restaurants (including a few vegetarian restaurants ‐ which is surprising for a country of such devoted meat eaters!). All tend to have good food and good service including the smallest ones, but some are expensive so always check the menu before ordering. Wines are very good and come mainly from the Mendoza region.
Patagonia’s southern coastal position leaves it exposed to the intense winds that circle the Antarctic land mass. As such, the climate of Patagonia is unpredictable. The summer season spanning November to March, experiences day time temperatures of between 8‐20 degrees Celsius and in the evenings the temperature can reach zero. By Andean standards, the Patagonian Mountains are low in altitude, but they capture virtually all the south‐west air borne moisture cladding their summits with snow, and leaving the leeward side, the Patagonian plains, in a severe rain shadow. This makes for some very interesting contrasts in the landscapes.
Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut‐free or allergen‐free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travelers with life‐threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self‐administering these medications.
This is a self sufficient camping trek based on sharing double occupancy (single supplements are available at extra cost, under request). Tents and cooking equipment gear is provided however you will be required to put up your own tent (please see gear list for what is required). There is two nights lodging in El Chalten, one before and one after the trek.
For most of the trip you will only need to only carry a day pack. However you will need to carry your full pack on some days of the trek. Porters will carry a portion of your gear (maximum 7.5 kg per person) from day 4 until day 8. Each porter has their own pack; we suggest you use a stuff sack or strong plastic bag for the gear you would like to give to the porter. You will need to carry your main pack, with the reduced weight. You may wish to put your day pack into the main pack for days 4 to 8 or consider a pack with a zip off day pack.
Specialist gear required include walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre‐departure information provided on booking).
During the course of your trip, we will use a variety of vehicles, all of which are fit for purpose and the conditions encountered. It should be noted that laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and on occasion some vehicles may not have seat belts fitted. While game viewing within a national park could be one example, public bus transfers or specialised transport such as ‘tuk‐tuk’s’ could be another. Where seat belts are not provided we strongly recommend that you hold tight to a fixed part of the vehicle at all times.
A visa is exempt for passport holders from the following countries visiting Argentina for short term tourism purposes:
Australia
New Zealand
Canada
United States
United Kingdom
For all other nationalities and longer stays please contact the relevant embassy.
Please bear in mind that visas may be required for countries you are visiting en route or transiting through on the way to your destination. It is important that you check the requirements of all countries you will visit. Visa costs and requirements do change regularly so we suggest you check with your travel agent or Rogue Adventures reservations consultant. It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary visas.
Please note that this trip is not exclusive to Rogue Adventures clients and is operated by our partner in Argentina. Groups are pleasantly informal, usually comprising a majority of Australasians but also other nationalities. The groups are of maximum 8 participants.
