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Fitz Roy and Paine Hiking Tour

This action-packed small group trekking tour combines the best hikes in Patagonia: Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks. Discover Perito Moreno Glacier on a boat expedition and enter Torres del Paine on a unique hike. Our tour leader and expert guides will ensure the seamless running of your trip from start to finish.

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Fitz Roy and Paine Hiking Tour

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Trip type

Group Tour

Trip length

12 Days

From

$4,495

Location

Multi-location

Fitz Roy and Paine Hiking Tour - 12 - $4,495

Trip Summary and Itinerary Map

Day 1: Arrive in El Calafate, transfer to El Chaltén; Cumbres Nevadas

Day 2: Trek to Laguna Torre; Cumbres Nevadas

Day 3: Trek to Laguna de Los Tres – Mt Fitz Roy; Cumbres Nevadas

Day 4: Trek to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado; Hostería La Estepa

Day 5: Boat trip to Perito Moreno Glacier; Hostería La Estepa

Day 6: Transfer to Puerto Natales; Hotel Big Sur

Day 7: Trek from Estancia Lazo to Weber Bridge; Camp or lodge

Day 8: Boat to Paine Grande; Trek to Glacier Grey; Refugio Paine Grande

Day 9: Trek the French Valley; Refugio Los Cuernos

Day 10: Trek along Lake Nordenskjöld; Refugio Las Torres

Day 11: Trek to the base of the Towers; Hotel Big Sur

Day 12: Transfer to Puerto Natales Airport

Start from El Calafate and end at Punta Arenas

Landmarks visited on Fitz Roy and Paine Hiking Tour

Operator's Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in El Calafate, transfer to El Chaltén; Cumbres Nevadas

Arrive in El Chaltén and meet your Tour Leader who will give you an introductory briefing to the fantastic trip that lies ahead. If arriving in El Calafate, we include the transport to El Chaltén, during which you’ll enjoy some of the amazing Patagonian scenery. Let the excitement build as your fellow travelling companions arrive from all corners of the globe.  

Argentina’s trekking capital, El Chaltén, sits at the base of Mount Fitz Roy and attracts hikers and climbers from all over the world to explore the adjacent wilderness of forests, glaciers, and of course, its world-famous mountains!

Given that some guests arrive late this day, your group's welcome dinner will be taken on day two.

Transfer duration: 3hrs

Accommodation: Cumbres Nevadas or similar, El Chaltén


Day 2: Trek to Laguna Torre; Cumbres Nevadas

The trek to Laguna Torre is one of the most spectacular walks of El Chaltén, with impressive views of the Torre massif and other peaks in the region. It is a relatively gentle trail, so it's a great hike to ease you in on your first day which leads you to one of El Chalten’s iconic photographic viewpoints: Laguna Torre and Cerro Torre! After a rest and lunch, you will return along the same trail.

This evening you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner with your tour leader and fellow travelling companions at Madsen House Museum, the first house built in El Chaltén in 1905 by the Danish pioneer, Andreas Madsen. Take a journey through time during this unique dining experience.

Length of hike: 7-8hrs, 18km/11.2 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Cumbres Nevadas or similar, El Chaltén


Day 3: Trek to Laguna de Los Tres – Mt Fitz Roy; Cumbres Nevadas

This is your chance to get up close to the iconic and imposing Mount Fitz Roy and trek one of the most iconic day-hikes in the world. While this trek is steep in places, the spectacular views once you reach the top make it totally worth it. Unlike other outfitters, we transfer you to the trailhead, around half an hour's drive from El Chaltén, meaning you do not back-track on the same trail.

You will probably take lunch at Laguna de Los Tres, whilst witnessing one of the most impactful sights in Patagonia: Mount Fitz Roy. The trek continues through a variety of different landscapes of forests, crystal clear streams and lagoons, ending up once more in El Chaltén in the early evening.

Transfer duration: 30mins

Length of hike: 8-9hrs, 20km/12.4 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch

Accommodation: Cumbres Nevadas or similar, El Chaltén


Day 4: Trek to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado; Hostería La Estepa

This lesser-visited trail provides fantastic, elevated vistas overlooking the National Park with a panorama of peaks, and is the best place to see both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. This full-day hike is moderately testing, as it constantly gains in height to reach the view-point on Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. The goal of today will be to gain a wonderful perspective of where you have hiked over the last few days. After lunch, you return back along the same path to El Chaltén.

A private transfer will take you to El Calafate later in the afternoon, where you'll check-in and enjoy a home-cooked meal for dinner at the hotel. Prepare yourself for tomorrow's exciting experience!

Transfer duration: 3hrs

Length of hike: 8-9hrs, 20km/12.4 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hostería La Estepa or similar, El Calafate


Day 5: Boat trip to Perito Moreno Glacier; Hostería La Estepa

You can't visit this part of the world without visiting the captivating Perito Moreno Glacier, and we will take you there on an unforgettable, unique day-trip. Driving west out of town, you will then board a comfortable expedition boat which will take you into the different branches of the immense Argentino Lake, arriving in the afternoon at the north face of the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier.

You will spend some time watching its spectacular display of calving ice and the formation of deep blue icebergs from the water and afterwards explore the walkways and viewpoints from land, right in front of both faces of the glacier.

Alternatively, you may wish to take the full-day ice hike on the glacier, at an extra cost. Please enquire with Swoop's Customer Experience team at the time of reserving your trip.

This afternoon is for you to enjoy at your own pace; you may wish to check out one of the world's few glacier museums - located very close to your hotel, or relax and take in the stunning setting of the Patagonian Steppe.

Transfer duration: 1hr to the pier plus 1.5hrs back to El Calafate

Length of excursion: 9hrs

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch

Accommodation: Hostería La Estepa or similar, El Calafate


Day 6: Transfer to Puerto Natales; Hotel Big Sur

Your tour leader will accompany you on the morning bus crossing the border from El Calafate to Puerto Natales, in Chile. The landscapes witnessed are the same as those which inspired Charles Darwin on his voyage to Patagonia almost 200 years ago. Arriving in the early afternoon, you will enjoy some free time to stretch your legs and explore this picturesque little town.

This afternoon you'll meet your Torres del Paine Mountain guide at an trek-briefing for you to get prepared for hiking the famous W Trek. Afterwards, you'll be accompanied by both your Argentine tour leader and your TdP leader and guide to a local restaurant for your first dinner together on Chilean territory!

Transfer duration: 5-7hrs (depending on border crossing)

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Big Sur, or similar, Puerto Natales


Day 7: Trek from Estancia Lazo to Weber Bridge; Camp or lodge

The day begins in Puerto Natales from where we transfer 2hrs to Estancia Lazo. This working 13,000-hectare cattle ranch on the shore of Laguna Verde is over one hundred years old. We'll start the trek here and enter Torres del Paine National Park along a fairly flat trail through beech and coihue forests.

There will be plenty of wildlife to watch out for – condors and caranchos in the sky, guanacos on the hillsides and woodpeckers and owls in the trees. We'll reach Honda Lagoon before continuing to Lake Toro lookout where we'll have fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, river, lakes and glaciers. From here we'll be able to spot the Grey, Paine and Serrano rivers, Mount Balmaceda, plus the Geike and Tyndall glaciers.

It's a short descent from here to Weber Bridge where our  private transfer will take us to our deluxe camp on the bank of the Serrano River. Here we'll enjoy a welcome dinner with views of the Paine Massif and spend the night in deluxe tents.

Transfer duration: 2hrs

Length of hike: 5hrs, 13.5km/8.4 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Bell-tent camp or mountain lodge


Day 8: Boat to Paine Grande; Trek to Glacier Grey; Refugio Paine Grande

Today you will be transferred into the national park and enjoy a short boat ride across the beautiful Lago Pehoé to reach our first Refugio, Paine Grande. Leaving your heavier items here, you will spend the rest of the day hiking with just your day-pack, as you begin the famous W Trek of Torres del Paine.

The trail will take you closer and closer to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, and the vast Glacier Grey. You’ll stop at viewpoints, taking lunch along the way, as your guide explains the magnificent landscapes that you are hiking through. This afternoon, when your guide determines (depending on the speed of the group and the weather conditions), you’ll return to the Refugio along the same trail, where you can rest up before dinner. Therefore the distance of today's hike is variable.

Refugio meals are usually lively events where all nationalities of hikers gather, exchange travel experiences, and reflect on trekking in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

Transfer duration: 30mins

Length of hike: 8hrs, 15-22km/9.3-13.7 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande


Day 9: Trek the French Valley; Refugio Los Cuernos

Today you’ll follow the edge of Cerro Paine Grande through the middle section of the W Trek. Along this trail, the Cuernos or 'horns' will be your guide as you edge closer and closer to them - a truly stunning sight!

You will explore the French Valley, considered by many to be the most spectacular region of the whole park, as you leave your heavier packs at the start of the valley. After reaching the French valley viewpoint you will be surrounded by the wildly beautiful, rugged mountains!

Follow the same path back down, pick up your backpack and continue to Refugio Los Cuernos.

Length of hike: 8hrs, 23km/14.3 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Refugio Los Cuernos


Day 10: Trek along Lake Nordenskjöld; Refugio Chileno/Refugio Las Torres

Today's hiking is a little gentler than yesterday’s as you follow the base of the Almirante Nieto Mountain, with the imposing Cuernos (the horns) of Paine to one side, and the beautiful Lake Nordenskjöld to the other. This section of the ‘W Trek’ has great panoramic views and is an exciting place to try to spot the elusive Andean condor!

This afternoon you’ll arrive at Refugio Las Torres to relax and prepare for tomorrow’s final trek to the base of the towers.

Length of hike: 5hrs, 13km/8 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Refugio Las Torres


Day 11: Trek to the base of the Towers; Puerto Natales

This truly iconic day-hike is a wonderful way to end our experience hiking the ‘W Trek’ in Torres del Paine. This testing, yet fascinating trek follows the Ascencio River, undulating through forests and rising high into the valley to the base of the colossal towers.

You will have lunch at this incredible spot, admiring the view of the towers, before returning down the same trail.

This afternoon you will be transferred to Puerto Natales and in the evening the farewell dinner will prove a fitting end to a wonderful group adventure!

Transfer duration: 1hr

Length of hike: 7hrs, 14km/8.7 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Big Sur, or similar, Puerto Natales


Day 12: Transfer to Puerto Natales Airport

Say goodbye to your guide and fellow group members.

A private transfer will be provided this morning to Puerto Natales Airport. We can help you with your onward travel plans to Punta Arenas of El Calafate if you wish.

Take away memories of an unforgettable trip!

Meals: Breakfast

Customer review background image

What our customers think of Fitz Roy and Paine Hiking Tour

Fitz Roy and Paine Hiking Tour trips scored 4.3/5 from 13 reviews

This is so hard to choose! I think our guides were the most memorable part of the trip.

Travelled: December 2022

Emily -

Standing on the viewpoint looking out at the pristine landscape. No jet trails in the sky. No roads cut into the landscape. No buildings, power lines, or other visual impact from humans. Inspiring to see the land the way nature created it.

Travelled: March 2022

David -

Great adventure and experience. My fav part was site of FItz Roy after a hiking Laguna de los Tres.

Travelled: March 2023

Rina -

Our guides on both sides: When our guide Max showed us how to properly drink mate; when Lucille encouraged Judith to walk arm & arm during 50 mile an hour gusts and when Tomas walked patiently with us on the last few hours of the hike and last, Julian working to help the fast and slower group stay happy.

Travelled: February 2023

Judith -

Hard to pick- it was such a wonderful experience. I think seeing both Argentina and Chile’s Patagonia was spectacular

Travelled: December 2022

Sudarshan -

Sitting behind a boulder to shelter from the wind with our group drinking tea our guide had carried up for us with a clear view of Las Torres with a rainbow going across the base.

Travelled: February 2023

Anonymous -

Being in El Chalten for the World Cup win!

Travelled: January 2023

Julie -

The initial impression of getting off the plane in El Calafate and the drive into El Chalten looking at Fitz Roy.

Travelled: March 2023

Richard -

Hiking in beautiful places with friendly and knowledgeable guides.

Travelled: March 2023

David -

The whole trip from start to finish especially the guides.

Travelled: March 2020

Phil -

Hiking all the way to Britanico in the French Valley.

Travelled: March 2020

Dean -

Way too many to mention. Amazing hiking, glaciers and above all the people

Travelled: February 2023

Debbie -

Base of las torres

Travelled: March 2023

Elle -

Review:

Prices, Departures and Inclusions

The 17th December departure is specially discounted. The final price will vary according to the total number of people on the trip. Please ask us for more details.

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If your desired date isn't listed, please get in touch and we'll quote a private departure for you.

2023

2024

Start date Price (pp)
November 2023
6-Nov-2023 $4,995 Limited Availability Enquire
19-Nov-2023 $4,495* Fully Booked Enquire
December 2023
3-Dec-2023 $4,995 Fully Booked Enquire
17-Dec-2023 $4,545 Guaranteed Date Enquire
24-Dec-2023 $4,995 Guaranteed Date Enquire
31-Dec-2023 $4,995 Guaranteed Date Enquire
January 2024
7-Jan-2024 $4,995 Provisional Date Enquire
28-Jan-2024 $4,995 Guaranteed Date Enquire
February 2024
4-Feb-2024 $4,995 Provisional Date Enquire
18-Feb-2024 $4,995 Guaranteed Date Enquire

* Note: Prices are per person. Paid in USD ($) - figure above is based on today's exchange rate. Actual cost $4,495

Additional Notes

Group size – 14 maximum, four minimum. We will guarantee your departure with four travellers signed up. If travelling solo, please ask us about our provisional dates. We may have other solo travellers who can join the tour.

Optional excursions Optional excursions on day five at Perito Moreno Glacier:

Big Ice Hike: USD $700; Full day, 3.5hrs hiking on the glacier; also includes walkways and boat trip to face of glacier; group size 20; age limit under 50 years.

Mini Ice Hike: USD $275; Full day, 1.5hrs hiking on the glacier; also includes walkways and boat trip to face of glacier; group size 20; age limit under 65 years.

Accommodation – Whilst we have requested refugio shared-dormitory rooms for days eight, nine and 10, the local operators of each refugio reserve the right to offer supported camping in place of this. If this is the case, we will inform you ahead of your trip. You will be provided with a pre-pitched tent, roll mat and sleeping bag at each night stop in this instance.

Single supplement – USD $750 per person for a single room in El Chaltén, El Calafate, Puerto Natales (seven nights in total).

Solo travellers  If you are willing to share with another solo traveller then you will not be charged the single supplement and we will match you with someone of the same gender. If there is no other same-gender solo traveller in the group, you will be granted the single room for the hotel nights, at no extra cost.

Joining & departure instructions – It is recommended to spend a night in Buenos Aires, or El Calafate, before the tour and a night in Santiago after the tour; if you would like help booking your pre/post tour arrangements, please just let us know.

Peak season departures - For the departures of 17th and 24th of December 2023, a supplement of USD $50 per person is charged by the refugios for Christmas or New Year.

Includes

  • Meals: 11 breakfasts, 9 picnic lunches, 8 dinners
  • Accommodation: Seven nights in hotels; three nights in refugios or shared (double) tents; one night camping in shared (double) bell-tents
  • Three hikes in the Los Glaciares national park with a local mountaineering guide (English speaking)
  • 4-day W Trek with local mountaineering guide/group leader (English speaking)
  • Perito Moreno Glacier excursion including boat trip to face of glacier
  • All national park entrance fees
  • All ground transportation in either private transfer, public bus or by boat
  • Airport pick up and drop off (El Calafate/Puerto Natales)
  • Tour leader in Los Glaciares National Park (English speaking)
  • All bedding for your nights in the shared tents and glamping

Excludes

  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • Drinks during lunch or dinner
  • Ice hiking at Perito Moreno Glacier (can be added optionally)
  • Any extra/optional excursions
  • Personal equipment (see our recommended kit list)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Personal porters
  • Gratuities/Tips
  • International and domestic/in country flights
  • Any visa, passport and vaccination expenses

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