Fitz Roy in Patagonia, Argentina is one of the best hikes in the world.

Why? hiking guidebook Lonely Planet 2005 travel guidebook Footprint 2004 travel guidebook 160x600Argentina	World > South America > Patagonia > Argentina > Fitz Roy One of the best hikes in the world is Around Monte Fitz Roy Also called: Fitzroy Fitz Roy Trek Laguna Torre and Fitz Roy Los Glaciares Hikers who visit Torres del Paine in Chile are urged to hike nearby Fitz Roy. A similar fantastical landscape — but with even worse weather! WHY WE LIKE THIS HIKE ARGENTINA is one of our favourite destinations Paine & Fitz Roy are the best two hikes in Patagonia the jagged mountains of Paine are surreal — but we feel Fitz Roy is even more stunning hikes here are slightly easier than Paine, more suitable to all levels of ability and experience it's easy to hike independently in Fitz Roy no need to speak Spanish, though it helps no need to filter water no risk of altitude sickness chance to see condor, guanaco, fox & nandu (rhea) Argentina is less expensive than Chile most hikers like El Calafate better than Puerto Natales (the two jumping off points for Fitz Roy & Paine respectively) side trip visit to Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the best tourist attractions in South America ... add a comment here Fitz Roy is at the northern tip of gorgeous Parque Nacional Los Glaciers, itself part of Hielo Sur, the largest icecap not in a polar region.The history of these impossible spires adds a special flavour. It's named after Cpt. Fitzroy, skipper of Charles Darwin's Beagle. And Fitz Roy is one of the most famously difficult mountaineering destinations in the world. see more great photos like this at eTravelPhotos.com CONSIDERATIONS The biggest concern for hikers is wind. It can blow steady from November to April. We have never seen wind like this anywhere else in the world.Fitz Roy is colder than Paine. The huge Hielo Sur ice sheet diminishes the maritime influence. At El Chalten: February (summer) low maximum 5C (41F) plus wind chill February (summer) high maximum of 22C (72F) In fact, temperatures in your tent, closer to the mountains, will be colder. If you are not there in February, it will be colder again. plan for horrible weather: rain, sleet, hail, snow hypothermia is a slight risk is there any hike in the world with worse weather? the summit of Monte Fitz Roy's polished granite spire is usually obscured by cloud you need a strong tent & good tie-downs to survive the wind & weather you need a stove as fires are prohibited (rent in town) most hike independently here. Few are guided. November to April are the best months January & early February first-come, first-served campsites are crowded, but not as much as Paine the days are long in Patagonia during their summer — it is light until at least 10PM hiking is possible any month though you will be considered loco if you go off-season ... add a comment here Unfortunately the only hiking allowed in Parque Nacional Los Glaciers is around Fitz Roy. (We wish they would open more routes.) LOGISTICS start this trek by heading for the bustling tourist town of El Calafate, Argentina many hikers fly or bus there from Buenos Aires, Argentina REI.com Paine & Fitz Roy some hikers fly to Chile first to hike Paine, then bus to El Calafate it is normally easy to cross the Chile - Argentina border from El Calafate you need schedule a full extra day to visit must see Moreno Glacier from El Calafate you can bus (4.5hrs) to the trailhead town of El Chaltén, entering the national park (free entrance) en route. no reservation, trekking fee or permit is required it is easy to day hike out of a hostel or hotel in El Calafate. This is particularly advisable if the weather is too dreadful for tenting. you can start hiking directly from El Chaltén, which has grocery stores for last-minute purchases. Accommodation & restaurants are surprisingly good in tiny El Chalten. It is no hardship to relax there, waiting for the winds to drop. There is even a free campground on the edge of town. For Fitz Roy, independent hikers need budget: bus El Calafate - El Chalten return = about US$30 park entrance = free tenting = free rental gear, especially a warm sleeping bag, if needed, in El Calafate ... add a comment here Argentina, since a 2002 currency crisis, has been very good value if you are holding foreign currency. It is far cheaper than Chile. Stingy traveller / hikers spend as little as US$350 a month in Argentina. It will be double or triple that in Chile. ROUTE Around Fitzroy trek as described in Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes is 38km (23.6mi) plus sidetrips any variation (often decided on by weather) of this route is excellent we recommend 4 days, 3 nights minimum the standard route has you tent at Agostini, Poincenot & Refugio Los Troncos (which sells snacks & meals) an extra day is helpful in case you need to wait on weather or to add some sidetrips extreme hikers could (carefully) consider the Ice-cap Circuit variation described in The Andes, A Trekking Guide INDEPENDENT OR GUIDED? 40° South Expeditions REI Adventures Fitz Roy and Paine Peregrine Adventures Amazon Adventures Fitzroy Expediciones Ice Field treks ... add a recommendation here Browse the options above to find a guided package which suits you. We want to try some of the intriguing 40° South Expeditions! Or hike Fitz Roy independently. This is an easy hike as long as you can carry your own gear. In case of trouble, slippery trails or bad weather, you can quickly retreat to El Chaltén. The most popular trails are rated easy - medium. Children & non-hikers will enjoy this trek, weather permitting. But there sidetrip scrambles aplenty to challenge any hiker. Especially Cerro Electrico Lookout — which most hikers opt not to do. Looking for trekking partners? Plan an extra day or two in El Calafate. Put a note up at your accommodation & check at popular gringo restaurants. It is fairly easy to hook up with others for this trip. And easy to meet other hikers on the trail and in El Chaltén. You won't be alone for long on this hike. LOCAL INFORMATION Parque Nacional Los Glaciers South American Explorers Buenos Aires ... add a recommendation here The welcome and information provided the national park visitor centre (Parque Nacional Los Glaciers) in El Chaltén is terrific. It's the best park office in South America we can recall. And a big surprise after the nonexistent help offered when you enter Paine in Chile.No one is too stressed about hiking Fitz Roy, however. Not much can go wrong — except the weather. Ask in El Calafate at trekking outfitters for up-to-date news on conditions at Fitz Roy. BEST TREKKING GUIDEBOOKS Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes Lindenmayer & Tapp, 2003 Trekking en Chalten & Lago Del Desierto (Paperback) Miguel Alonso (Spanish) Trekking and Climbing in the Andes Pitkethly & Harper, 2002 The Andes, A Trekking Guide John & Cathy Biggar, 2001 Bradt Chile & Argentina. Backpacking & Hiking Tim Burford, 2001 ... add a recommendation here BEST TRAVEL GUIDEBOOKS Lonely Planet Argentina Hubbard, Barta & Davis, 2005 Footprint Argentina Green & Janek, 2004 Footprint Backpackers' Latin America, Vol 1: Patagonia Dilks & Janek, 2005 Lonely Planet Healthy Travel Central & South America Young ... add a recommendation here OTHER RECOMMENDED BOOKS The Crouch book is ideal reading when tent bound at Fitz Roy. Enduring Patagonia Gregory Crouch In Patagonia Bruce Chatwin Baja to Patagonia Larry Rice Nowhere Is a Place: Travels in Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin, Paul Theroux, Jeff Gnass Patagonia: Wild Land At The End Of The Earth by Tim Hauf, Conger, Jr. Beasley, Gregory Crouch The Voyage of the Beagle , Amabel Williams-Ellis, 1931 ... add a recommendation here BEST MAPS Zagier & Urruty Monte Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre trekking map Two different versions (at least) are available in El Calafate. Other alternate maps are available there, as well.Browse on-line maps: REI.com Paine & Fitz Roy map fuggire.it Fitz Roy trekking map ... add a recommendation here BEST WEBSITES After this site, the best links are El Chalten official website trekker.co.il Fitz Roy interpatagonia.com Fitz Roy accommodation in El Chalten Navimag Ferries ... add a link here BEST PHOTOS & TRIP REPORTS new Photodiary of a Nomad Los Glaciares - Fitzroy Treks Fitz Roy Sherpalito Mike DiLorenzo Fitz Roy 2005 Eu-Jin Goh Fitz Roy Seth Pollack Los Glaciares photos Seth Pollack Los Glaciares trekking Peakware.com superb Fitz Roy photos Jeffrey Poznanovic Los Glaciares pics 2006 Tony Costa etravelphotos.com El Chalten ElChalten.com Fitz Roy Welt der Berge Fitz Roy Dara O'Neil Fitz Roy 2001 Geoffrey Peters Patagonia 2001 Sira & Brian's Fitz Roy trekking ... add a link here MOVIES, VIDEOS, DVDs ... add a recommendation here