Patagonia Ice Field Trek

Welcome to Patagonia! Arrive at the airport in El Calafate, Argentina. You’ll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel in El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.

Get ready for awe-inspiring views of moving glacier. Leave from your hotel at 9:00 AM for a two-hour drive west toward the border to Chile. When you reach Perito Moreno National Park, you will board a catamaran to sail up close to the glacier. Watch as impressive boulders of ice break off the glacier and drop into the cold water below. After this memorable tour, take a break for refreshments at the visitor area, then continue to tour the park to witness this incredible glacier from a variety of different viewpoints. After a magical day in Perito Moreno National Park, in the afternoon you’ll return to your hotel in El Calafate.

Leave El Calafate early in the morning and drive to the trekking capital of Argentina, El Chalten. Enter Los Glaciares National Park and drive to the trailhead at the Electrico River Bridge (about 17 km). Once on the trail, a gentle ascent brings you to the heart of the Andes. Hike for about 3 hours until you reach the incredibly beautiful camping area at La Piedra del Fraile.

Continue your trek today, following the renowned Rio Electrico, which gets its name from its incredible electric blue color. Hike from La Piedra del Fraile along the southern bank of the river. Cross the Pollone River and set camp at Laguna de los 14 (854 m / 2,802 ft). From here, you’ll get your first glimpse of the north face of Fitz Roy mountain.

Get a very early start for a long, difficult, but very rewarding day. You’ll gain about 700 m in elevation today over varying terrain. Begin by following the valley and climbing to rocky slopes. Depending on the conditions here, it may be necessary to rope up for safety.

Climb to the Marconi pass (1,525 m / 5,003 ft) where your fantastic view includes seeing the ice field for the first time. The sight is almost surreal, as though you’re looking through a window into a different world. Descend from the pass to the ice field where, weather permitting, you will camp for the night. Hike until a suitable camping area is found, or, if necessary, continue on to the Gorra Blanca refuge and make camp nearby. You have now crossed the Chilean border and you’ll camp in the vicinity of the famous Cerro Gorra Blanca mountain.

Awake this morning for the first time on the world’s third largest ice mass. Today’s route is easier and much shorter with very little elevation change. Hike across the glacier for several hours to reach El Circo de los Altares. This place is iconic in mountaineering circles because it is surrounded by some of the best-known climbing locations in Patagonia: Cerro Standhardt, Torre Egger, and Cerro Torre’s eastern face. Camping in this spectacular area may turn out to be the highlight of your whole tour.

Leaving your incredible Circo de los Altares campsite behind, continue hiking south across the ice field. After approximately 4 hours, you will return to mountainous terrain, climbing a rocky segment of trail to reach Ferrari Lake. Camp here for the night, at the foot of the Paso del Viento mountain pass. The panoramic ice field views from here are simply breathtaking, and if conditions are right you may also have a good view over the mountains on the Chilean side of the border as well.

Return to the eastern side of the Andes today by crossing the famous Paso del Viento mountain pass. When you reach the top at 1,400 m (4,593 ft), you’ll understand why it is called the “Wind Pass”. Be prepared for high wind speeds, but it’s the view that will really take your breath away. Pause here to enjoy one last look over the ice field and the world-famous granite spires that Patagonia is known for. As you descend on the other side, the trail is poorly marked. You’ll pass a small glacier at the base of the Cerro Grande mountain then continue on to camp on the shores of Toro Lake (650 m/2,133’). Before reaching the campsite, you’ll cross the Toro River via en exhilarating zip line.

Descend along the Tunel River for several hours and then climb again to cross the Pliegue Tumbado pass, then follow the path that leads to El Chalten. Notice how the landscape around you changes at lower altitudes. Once again, you are surrounded by grassy plains and flowers. Celebrate your completed journey with a nice dinner and a comfortable night in a hotel.

Today is an extra day included in the itinerary in the event that weather conditions delay your trek at some point. In many cases the extra day is required during the trek.

If an extra day is not needed, then today is a free day in in El Chalten. Lodging and meals are not included. Please be prepared to pay for it personally.

Sadly, your Patagonia’s Ice Field tour has reached its end. After breakfast, return to El Calafate and arrange your departure from there. Pleasant travels!