Patagonia Southern Ice Field Expedition from El Chalten

Join Joaquin, an IFMGA certified guide, on this Southern Patagonian Ice Field expedition. And discover a mystical world of ice near El Chalten.

Private

Andes

8 Days

Jan, Feb, Sep - Dec

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Rely on experienced local guides and safely enjoy this beautiful journey.
Discover unique geographical features such as seracs, crevasses, moraines and glacial lagoons.
Unique views and experiences that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.

Description

This Southern Patagonian Ice Field expedition from El Chalten will take you to an unknown world of ice and snow.

The Southern Patagonian Ice Field is the biggest remnant of the Patagonian Ice Sheet, located south of the Andes, between Argentina and Chile. It's the world's second-largest contiguous extra polar Ice Field.

We'll start from El Chalten, a beautiful small town, located at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy, on the Argentinian side of Patagonia. Among valleys, mountains and glaciers we will reach the Circo de los Altares, one of the most spectacular views of Cerro Torre and Mariano Moreno.

Relying on our experience as experts and guides of the area, we will safely enjoy this beautiful journey. We will be able to enjoy the glacial dynamism, creator of unique geographical features such as seracs, crevasses, moraines and glacial lagoons. This journey will leave us with unique views and experiences that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.

So join me on this incredible Southern Patagonian Ice Field expedition from El Chalten and discover an incredible Ice World at the end of the world. It’s an experience you will never forget!

Price includes

Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transportation start and back
Permit and entrance fees
Mountain guide expenses

Price details

Price includes Guiding fee, Transport to the start of your trip, All meals during trip, Transport during the trip, Group equipment, Permit and entrance fees, Camping Equipment, Insurance and satellite communication.

Itinerary

Day 1: Chalten - Rio Electrico - Piedra del Fraile

We leave by vehicle from El Chaltén at 08:00hs to Río Eléctrico. We walk into the forest until we reach the mountain refuge Piedra del Fraile. We will rest before continuing to our objective: to make our first camp at La Playita. Activity: 6 hours

Day 2: Marconi Glacier - Gorra Blanca Refuge

We walk to the Marconi River zip line. We ascend by mountain road to Laguna de los 14, with beautiful sculpted rock formations. We go up to the Marconi glacier walking on rocky terrain and glacier with crampons. After 300 meters of vertical drop we arrive at the entrance of the ice field. We sleep in the Chilean mountain refuge Gorra Blanca. Activity: 7/8 hours

Day 3: Rest at Gorra Blanca | Backup day

On this day we will use the Gorra Blanca refuge to rest or as an extra "wild card" in case of adverse weather.

Day 4: Ice field - Circo de los Altares

Long glacier hike of 16 km through the Ice Field. We pass by the west face of Cerro Marconi, giant granite needles and crevasses. We will camp at the foot of the Cordón del Cerro Torre in the famous "Circo de los Altares" Activity: 9 hours.

Day 5: Circo de los Altares - Laguna Ferrari

We have breakfast with a fabulous view of Cerro Torre. We continue to the Viedma Glacier, bordering the Adela range for 9km. We finish the glacier transit, we camp in "Laguna Ferrari". Activity : 8 hours

Day 6: Paso del Viento - Laguna Toro

From Laguna Ferrari, we climb up to the "Paso del Viento" and descend into the Patagonian forest. We cross a zip line or wade and camp at Laguna Toro.

Day 7: Laguna Toro - El Chaltén

From Laguna Toro, you reach El Chaltén through trails in forests and mallines, achieving this unforgettable Patagonian challenge. Activity: 6 hours

Day 8: Backup day

To be used in case of adverse weather or extra day.

Details

Accommodation

We will camp

More info

Regarding required fitness level, please take into account that the trip covers 90km, we do between 10 and 12 km per day, with 8 to 10 hour days. In case of not having a porter, it is necessary to be able to carry a 25kg backpack.

Meeting point

El Chaltén

Equipment you will need to bring

Crampons

Ice axe

Harness

Water bottle

Backpack

Helmet

Sunglasses

Goggles

Avalanche eqmnt

About the guide

Joaquin

Mountain Guide

Climber and mountaineer, I guide high mountains in the Andes, mainly in Patagonia and Mendoza, Argentina.

We do rock climbing, ski touring and freeriding, as well as technical and high altitude mountain ascents.

Languages

Spanish | English

Certificates

IFMGA | UIAGM

Request more information

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