Patagonia South

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Fitz Roy
Torres del Paine
​Dientes Circuit

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Fitz Roy Hiking Trails

Approach hike from El Pilar Hosteria

The best experience in Patagonia is hiking in the El Chalten region around the Mount Fitz Roy in Argentina.  The hiking is relatively easy compared to most trips on this website and the area can be enjoyed by anyone able to walk 10-15 miles.

The three areas to visit around Fitz Roy that do not require permits are Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre, and the overlook above Laguna Torre called Loma del Pliegue Tumbado.  You can also get free permits to walk off-trail in some of the valleys from the visitor center

Mirador Piedras Blancas

Starting the trek to Laguna de los Tres from El Pilar Hosteria lessens the elevation gain and allows for views of the Piedras Blancas glacier.  Shuttles can be hired from town. ​

Laguna de los Tres beneath Mt Fitz Roy

 The most popular option is to hike back to town after taking the one way shuttle to the hostel.  Many people combined Laguna de los Tres with Laguna Torre as a short backpack although both can be completed as dayhikes

Panorama of Laguna de los Tres and Mount Fitz Roy

View from Campamento Poincenot at sunset

Cerro Torre from the Laguna

The lesser traveled of the hikes in the El Chalten region is to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado (12 miles roundtrip, 3300ft elevation gain).  There is also a shorter hike to Mirador Condores that is a good spot for sunrise.

Cerro Huemul from the overlook

With the right equipment and a free permit a 3-4 day circuit can be done around Cerro Huemul with views of the icefield

The most accessible glacier is at Perito Moreno and can be seen from a boardwalk, a few hours drive from El Chalten.  The glacier was breaking off from the heat of the afternoon sun, a great experience

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Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine is other popular area that represents Patagonia on the Chilean side of the border 

The base towers hike and a shorter hike to see the Cuernos of Paine were my two favorites in the park

A day hike from Refugio Paine Grande up the French Valley is possible by taking the evening Catamaran the night before the hike (16 miles round trip, 2000ft elevation gain).  It would be difficult to see the entire valley if taking the morning boat since it does not arrive until 10am.  Payment for the boat shuttle is taken on board in Chilean pesos

Mirador Frances

Mirador Frances is the highlight here, about halfway up the French Valley to Mirador Britanico

Bridge on the way to the French Valley

Mirador Britanico

I had difficulty getting permits and completed the "W" walk as separate day hikes camping in the areas near the hotels.  Pre-bookings would be advised if wanting to walk the "O" or "W" circuit (​Vertice Patagonia and Fantastico Sur are the companies in charge of the campsites and refugios in Torres del Paine)

Cuernos del Paine

There is also a short hike that offers views of the "cuernos" or horns of Paine from across the lake that starts at Salto Grande (5 miles roundtrip).  There is no significant elevation change, although the trail is in a strong wind area

I found this simple walk to be the most scenic in the park

Salto Grande

Watching sunrise on the Paine Horns

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Dientes Circuit

A more remote experience can be found further south on Isla Navarino walking the Dientes Circuit (33 miles, 6500ft elevation gain).  The $240 USD boat transfer fee from Ushuaia keeps some from doing the walk

Weather also keeps some away, shin deep snow and strong winds on the side hill slopes of Cerro Bandera in mid-summer 2019

The track is well marked with red horizontal slopes, visible even with the snowfall

Trail between Paso Australia and Paso de los Dientes

Most of the snow had melted by afternoon

My favorite area of the walk was around Laguna de los Dientes.  The majority of the walkers followed the outline in the Lonely Planet guide and camped at Laguna Escondida instead

Late evening at Laguna de los Dientes

The downside to the walk are the boggy areas and beaver damage in the valleys.  I had pizza with beaver meat in town to do my part in contributing to the decline of the species

Coming down Paso Ventarrion

Camp behind the bushes on a windy night at Laguna Hermosa

All downhill from Paso Virginia, once the road is reached there is a five mile walk back to Puerto Williams

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