Trek & camp

THESE ARE OUR TREK & CAMP PROGRAMS.


CLASSIC 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT

October to April


Technical Difficulty: Beginner

Physical Demand: Moderate


Clasico 2 dias 1 noche

DESCRIPTION:

Join our Mountain guides to hike the most popular trails with the best views. Two days of intense hiking plus one night in our base camp at Lake Capri.

DAY 1  LAKE DE LOS TRES AND LAKE CAPRI
You will meet with the guide early in the morning to go by car or bus to Hosteria El Pilar where we begin to walk. This is going to be a full day hike to one of the best lookouts of the Los Glaciares National Park. The trail has the best views of Fitz Roy and the Piedras Blancas Glacier. The trail goes through a beautiful beech forest to base camp Poincenot. Here we start climbing to the famous Laguna de los Tres (Lake of the three); the way up is very steep but it’ll be worth it. The view from the top is the best you can have of Fitz Roy. After having lunch we’ll go down back to Poincenot and then continue for a bit more than an hour to our camp at Lake Capri where we’ll spend the night. Estimated time: 8 to 9 hs.
 
DAY 2  LAKE TORRE -  EL CHALTEN
Full day hike. We will go from Capri to Laguna Torre (Lake Torre) taking the Lagunas Madre e Hija Trail (Mother & daughter trail). The trail is mostly flat and then down to the Fitz Roy river which is coming from Lake Torre. This is the best place to see the legendary Cerro Torre. You will also see the snowcapped Adela Range, Cerro Solo and the Lake and Glacier Torre. Return to El Chaltén. Estimated time: 8 to 9 hs

THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE INCLUDED:

Certified Mountain Guides authorized by the National Park. All the activities and excursions described in the itinerary. First Aid Kit. All meals along the trek (breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner) Camp accommodation (double tents and mess tent) and cook. VHF radio communication with our office. Bus transfer to Hosteria El Pilar.

NOT INCLUDED:

Insurance (except when is specifically indicated). Meals in El Chaltén. All services not specifically indicated above. Transfer to and from El Calafate. Personal equipment (check list). Lodging in El Chaltén.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT:

Dress like an onion in the mountains. Comfortable hiking pants, warm clothing (polar fleece, two layer, thin and thick), rain jacket and pants, mountain boots o tough sneakers, good hiking socks, gloves, wool hat, spare clothing, sun cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, walking poles (optional, you can rent in El Chaltén), water bottle, camera, binoculars, pocket knife, personal hygiene kit, personal medical items, 50/60 lts backpack, sleeping bag (-5/-10° C), etc.

NOTE:

The Casa de Guias Staff and Mountain Guides will assess you on any matters, doubts and questions as well as organization issues, rental equipment if needed,  prior and after the programme. Casa de Guias would like to emphasize that a good mountain spirit and collaboration of all programme members is essential for a successful and learning experience. Regarding weather you should expect cold temperatures during all the season, rain or snowfall and high speed winds, you should be prepared to carry a daypack with personal items, sleeping bag and lunch. Our Mountain Guides are fully experienced in the area so programme members will have to accept all decisions regarding weather, safety, member’s lack of ability and itinerary modifications of any degree. Extra porters are available at your expense.

CLASSIC 3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS

October to April


Technical Difficulty: Beginner

Physical Demand: Moderate / High


Clasico 3 dias 2 noches

DESCRIPTION:

DAY 1 EL CHALTEN – LAGUNA DE LOS TRES – LAGUNA CAPRI
30 min. bus ride to Hosteria El Pilar (15 km. north of El Chaltén). Here we’ll take a nice trail through a beech forest towards the Poincenot Base camp (2.30 hs); on the way there are great views of the Piedras Blancas Glacier and the Rio Blanco Valley. From this camp a steep trail (1.30/450 mts) goes to Laguna de los Tres. This is the closest lookout to see Mount Fitz Roy, after this point only climbers can continue. We’ll have lunch here enjoying one of the most beautiful mountain sceneries of the world: the superb granite tower called Mount Fitz Roy. Once back to Poincenot via the same trail that we took on our way up, we’ll head to laguna Capri (1.30 hs). Night and dinner at Capri Base camp. Estimated time: 8hs. Aprox. Distance: 15 kms.

DAY 2 LAGUNA CAPRI TO LAGUNA TORRE – MADRE E HIJA TRAIL
We’ll take a trail along the Madre & Hija Lakes (1 hour from Capri). On the way there will be plenty of photo ops both of the mountains and crystal lakes. Once we leave the lakes behind the trail goes down until we reach the Torre Lake trail that follows the Fitz Roy River valley (2 hs). The Torre Lake is one hour from this point. A great mountain landscape will receive us behind the glacial moraine: Cerro Solo, the Adela’s Range, Glacier Torre and the legendary spire: Cerro Torre, the impossible mountain. Our camp is located 20 minutes from the lake.
Before dinner we’ll have time to relax enjoying a snack or perhaps some hot tea. Estimated time: 6 hs. Aprox. Distance: 9 km.

DAY 3  TORRE GLACIER TREK – EL CHALTEN
After a 30 min. hike on the moraines around the lake we will have to cross the Fitz Roy River on a Tyrolean rope, and start walking on a very steep trail to reach the glacier. Here the guide we will put us the crampons on and before starting he will give all necessary instructions on technique. Curious ice formations and crevasses will give a chance to practice the basics of ice climbing and to explore this unique place. There’re will be a closer view of Cerro Torre, the “impossible peak” among beautiful spires and snowcapped mountains. We will take the same way back to camp. We will have a snack before returning to El Chaltén (3 hs). Estimated time: 9/10 hs. Distance aprox.: 20 km.

THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE INCLUDED:

Certified Mountain Guides authorized by the National Park. All the activities and excursions described in the itinerary. Ice climbing gear (crampons, harness), safety equipment (ropes, ice screws, karabiners) and rescue kit. First Aid Kit. All meals along the trek (breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner). Camp accommodation (double tents and mess tent) and cook. VHF radio communication with our office. Bus transfer to Hosteria El Pilar.

NOT INCLUDED:

Insurance (except when is specifically indicated). Meals in El Chaltén. All services not specifically indicated above. Transfer to and from El Calafate. Personal equipment (check list). Lodging in El Chaltén.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT:

Dress like an onion in the mountains. Comfortable hiking pants, warm clothing (polar fleece, two layer, thin and thick), rain jacket and pants, mountain boots o tough sneakers, good hiking socks, gloves, wool hat, spare clothing, sun cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, walking poles (optional, you can rent in El Chaltén), water bottle, camera, binoculars, pocket knife, personal hygiene kit, personal medical items, 50/60 lts backpack, sleeping bag (-5/-10° C), etc.

NOTE:

The Casa de Guias Staff and Mountain Guides will assess you on any matters, doubts and questions as well as organization issues, rental equipment if needed,  prior and after the programme. Casa de Guias would like to emphasize that a good mountain spirit and collaboration of all programme members is essential for a successful and learning experience. Regarding weather you should expect cold temperatures during all the season, rain or snowfall and high speed winds, you should be prepared to carry a daypack with personal items, sleeping bag and lunch. Our Mountain Guides are fully experienced in the area so programme members will have to accept all decisions regarding weather, safety, member’s lack of ability and itinerary modifications of any degree. Extra porters are available at your expense.