South America Adventure Travel
Patagonia Ice Cap Trek
This intense trip to southern Patagonia will allow you to admire the contrast between desolated yellow steppe, deep green Nothofagus forest and the white horizon of the continental ice cap.
This route is a full circuit around The Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre massifs offering magnificrnt views of these spires. Walking and camping on the ice is a rewarding and powerfull experience in a unique area.
Patagonia Ice Cap Trek Trip Details
- Skill level: Beginner & Intermediate. Different types of terrain, ice, steep slopes, moraines and flat ground as well.
- Location: Continental Ice Cap, The Fitz Roy, and Cerro Torre Massif, Patagonia, Argentina.
- Length: 10 days
- Climber/guide ratio: 3:1
- Capacity: 9
- Prerequisites: excellent physical condition, previous experience on expeditions recommended.
- Cost: $3,100
- Departure dates:
Included
- Certified Mountain Guides
- 2 nights Hotel accommodations in Chalten
- All meals while in the mountains
- Restaurant meals in town
- Camping and cooking gear for the group
- Technichal gear for the group
- Porter for group gear
- Private ground transportation throughout the trip
- Communication equipment
- Personal Insurance
Not included
- Plane tickets
- Park Fees
- Restaurant meals and those not listed in the itinerary
- Restaurant drinks
- Personal gear (see the Patagonia Ice Cap Trek Equipment List)
- Personal expenses
- Rescue costs and extra expenses caused by abandoning the expedition.
Patagonia Ice Cap Trek Trip Itinerary
| Day 1 |
El Calafate - El Chalten. We'll be waiting for you at the airport and we will continue together for 5 hours to Chalten, where we'll check in at our Hotel. |
| Day 2 |
Rio Electrico. This day we'll drive to Electrico's bridge, from where we'll start hiking to our first camp site at the Lake.
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| Day 3 |
Eléctrico Lake to Marconi Pass.
This might be the hardest day, for which we will use ropes and climbing techniques. Expect magnificent views of the expansive continental ice cap. There is plenty of space to camp on the ice! (6 to 8 hrs).
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| Day 4 |
Trek to Circo de los Altares.
There are incredible views in this section that can't be missed. The cirque is formed by several of the most famous peaks in the climbing world, such as Cerro Torre, Fitz Roy and Egger (5 to 6 hrs).
If we have good weather, the next day we will make a round trek to the base of Cerro Torre without backpacks (approx. 5 to 6 hrs). In this case, we will be using one of the extra days.
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| Day 5 |
Trek to Paso del Viento. After breakfast we'll start hiking to Paso del Viento. We'll be gaining 1500 ft of elevation before reaching the pass, from where we'll have a superb view of the Mariano Moreno range. Before reaching our camp at Laguna Toro, we'll cross the Tunel river on a Tyrolean, depending on the river conditions (approx. 10 hrs). |
| Day 6 |
Trek to Puerto Huemul. We'll move towards the glacier until we reach the Viedma Lake the foothills of the Mascarelo Range. We'll hike up to reach Puerto Huemul where we'll set our camp in front of the magnificient Viedma Glacier. |
| Day 7 |
Puerto Huemul - Bahia C Hornos - Chalten. We'll start descending to reach Cabo de Hornos Bay, from where we'll take the Huemul shuttle. We'll navigate for an hour through the Viedma Lake until reaching Bahia Tunel. From there, a tranfer will take us to Chalten.
NOTE: if the shuttle can't navigate due to bad weather conditions, we'll be hiking to Cabo de Hornos Bay.
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| Day 8 & 9 |
Extra days.
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| Day 10 |
Transfer from El Chaltén to El Calafate. End of our services. |
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