It’s finally time for your long-awaited departure to Argentina. Wave goodbye to friends and family, before you board the flight and embark upon your challenge!
You will arrive in Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina.You will have some free time to explore and perhaps warm up limbs with the famed dance the Tango. Overnight in a local hotel.
Transfer flight to El Calafate, the true start point of our adventure. Your leader will brief us for the days ahead. Overnight in Calafate.
This morning will be an early transfer towards El Chalten where you will start your first challenge, to conquer the formidable Viedma Glaciar. Access to the glacier is up a rocky slope and requires the use of ropes and crampons for both the ascent and descent. You will need to concentrate hard on this day and hope that all your training has been enough for the challenge. Overnight in Chalten.
Trekking on this day will require a strong level of fitness and confident trekking abilities*
(* Your trek guide will assess fitness levels and determine whether you will complete this trek or not)
After a transfer from Chaltén to Estancia Los Huemules you will start a trek up Loma del Diablo. This is a long steady climb with great views of the estancia and Mount Fitz Roy. The trek is varied between forest and open areas; ending with a panoramic view of the mountains, the Laguna Verde and Azul. Overnight in a lodge or Campsite.
After breakfast you head back to the Estancia and enter a different valley to enjoy another spectacular day of trekking. The trek moves along the relatively flat valley floor and through the beautiful and protected Lenga forests whilst admiring the stunning views of glaciers and their lakes. Overnight in a lodge or Campsite.
The trek starts Electrico Bridge and hikes through some more forests along the valley and towards the Pollone Glacier.
The trek will be challenging as you will be walking into the strong winds coming off the Continental Ice Field towards the hidden lagoon at the base of the mountains. After this you return back to the refuge at la Piedra del Fraile.
After breakfast you head towards the Piedras Blancas Glacier and river, arriving at the Rio Blanco campsite. There is a steep ascent from the campsite up to Laguna de los Tres which is the closest you are able to get to Fitz Roy without any technical climbing. The hard work of today’s trek will be rewarded by the incredible views of Mount Fitz Roy’s Summit and the view of the valley that you have walked through. Weather permitting you may have your lunch at the lagoon before starting your descent towards Poincenot, your campsite for the night.
Today is another early morning; after breakfast the route continues through the beautiful lenga forests past the lagoons of Madre, Hija and Nieta. The path is quite flat, so will offer a well earned rest for your legs after all the climbing the day before!
After a couple of hours you drop in to the glacial valley towards Laguna Torre. This valley is both loved by geologists and photographers alike because of its perfect U shape. At the end of the valley is the Laguna Torre, the glacier and the famous Mount Torre. After lunch at the lagoon you head back to El Chalten along the Fitz Roy river valley.
After breakfast, you head up towards Laguna Toro. After a steep ascent there is again outstanding views of Mount Fitz Roy, Torre and Huemul. The trek continues across the Pampas, locally known as “Pampa de las Carretas”. Leaving the forest, you walk across alpine terrain, where it can snow even in summer.
After saying goodbye to the glaciers and mountains, it’s time to head back to El Chalten and then transfer to El Calafate for a well deserved hot shower and celebratory meal.
Today you transfer to Buenos Aires to overnight.
Today is time to say Adios Argentina! The flight home is the perfect opportunity to reflect on all you have achieved, before sharing your fantastic journey with friends and family.
Arriving back onto home soil it’s a heartfelt goodbye to your new friends and trekking partners.
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE
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