Up close with Fitz Roy

Several treks can be done from El Chaltén, the following being the most significant. These treks are “free”, meaning they can be done without a guide, as the trails are very well marked.
- Mirador Los Cóndores Trek (30 minutes one way, easy difficulty, 100 metres elevation gain): this trek leads to a natural viewpoint offering a panoramic view of the Adela, Torres and Fitz Roy peaks, as well as the Río de las Vueltas valley. As its name suggests, this hike also offers a chance to spot condors. It is the shortest hike from El Chaltén;
- Chorrillo del Salto Trek (1h one way, easy difficulty, 10 metres elevation gain): this easy hike passes through Patagonian forest and arrives at a 20-metre-high waterfall. Ideal for those with limited time;
- Laguna Capri Trek (2h one way, easy difficulty, 200 metres elevation gain): the route begins similarly to the Laguna de los Tres trek, reaching the natural viewpoint, then continues along the same path to the southern turn-off leading to a remarkable lagoon and the Laguna Capri campsite. From the lagoon, a unique panoramic view of Fitz Roy and its surrounding “spires”;
- Cerro Torre Trek (4h one way, easy difficulty): the trek begins in the Río de las Vueltas valley and continues upstream to its source. Halfway along, you’ll reach a natural viewpoint with an unmatched view of the Cordon Adela, the Torre glacier and its accompanying granite spires. The trek ends at the edge of Laguna Torre, where it is common to see numerous small icebergs;
- Laguna Capri and Laguna de los Tres Trek (5h one way, moderate difficulty): during the first hour of this trek, the slope is fairly steep, continuing until reaching the Arroyo Del Salto valley, heading towards Mount Fitz Roy. The route passes by Laguna Capri. About 4 hours after departure, you arrive at Poincenot campsite (a large free campsite), then cross the Río Blanco. The trek then continues up a slope of roughly 400 m elevation gain to Laguna de los Tres. It ends with an extraordinary view, remarkably close to the granite wall of Mount Fitz Roy, the lakes and the Los Tres glacier. This is undoubtedly the best-known of all the routes departing from El Chaltén.