Fitz Roy and Paine Hiking Tour

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