All hikers plan, one day, to travel to southern Patagonia.
Towers of Paine photos entice.
And anyone who hikes Paine, should also hike Fitz Roy, Argentina.
Hikers have a choice to base themselves out of Puerto Natales, Chile or El Calafate, Argentina. Though you may find yourself stopping in both, El Calafate is the better choice.
El Calafate is a small town in Patagonia, Argentina. …
… an important tourist destination as the hub to visit different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park, including the Perito Moreno Glacier (one of the most visited in the world) and the Cerro Chaltén and Cerro Torre.
… In the last census 6,143 permanent residents were counted
You could argue that El Chaltén, Argentina’s “national trekking capital“, about 220km from El Calafate, is an even better base town.
On the other hand, there are large grocery stores like Diarco in El Calafate. The shops in Chaltén in 2019 were still very limited. We couldn’t get instant mashed potatoes in Chaltén, for example. Pick up your provisions in Calafate.
And Calafate is about half way between Paine and Fitz Roy.
These are the most famous, but there are many more “best hikes” in the Patagonian Andes. Ground transportation is the biggest challenge in this part of the world.
– Hörnli Hut: A challenging ascent to the base of the iconic Matterhorn, where I soaked in the majestic views.
– Limmernsee: A hidden gem with stunning turquoise waters surrounded by towering cliffs.
– Lauterbrunnen Valley: A picturesque valley with cascading waterfalls and charming alpine villages.
– Oeschinensee: A serene mountain lake with crystal-clear waters, perfect for a peaceful hike.
– Schynige Platte: A classic Swiss trail offering sweeping views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau and a botanical alpine garden featuring the edelweiss flower. (It’s close to the fantastic Harder Ridge / Hardergrat)
– Schäfler Hut: Perched high above the clouds, offering panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.
Now that Nepal required you hire a guide for almost all high altitude treks, Peru might offer the easiest logistics for similar independent adventures.
Of many great options in Peru, we like the Ausangate Circuit best. You can side trip to the Rainbow mountain, if you like. And nearby Red Valley. AND Red Lake.
Megs from Wisconsin has traveled over 70 nations. Here’s how she trekked Ausangate independently.
Mileage: Around 45 Miles, depending on route
Difficulty: Extremely Difficult
The Ausangate trek without a guide is extremely difficult due to the trail’s remoteness, altitude, and being unmarked. Additionally, the weight of carrying all your gear and food for at least 5 days
This high-altitude trek in Peru never dips below 14,150 feet (4,000m)
The weather can change fast at this altitude and there are risks associated with doing the trek guided or not. NEVER HIKE ALONE
Duration: 5 – 7 Days
The most popular time to hike Ausangate is between the months of April to October. Peru has two main seasons, dry and rainy. In general, dry season is from May to October, while rainy season is from November until April. …
The altitude of the Ausangate trek is insane. Remember, this trek never drops below 14,000 feet!
Many of the passes are grueling and top out at over 16,000 feet. The mountains are Apus, or Gods, to the Indigenous, so go in with the mindset of respecting them. By the way, the mighty mountain of Ausangate is a staggering 20,945 feet (6,384 m).
I stayed in Grindelwald again in 2023. What a terrific hiking town.
Most hikers arrive by train from Interlaken. They share that journey with hundreds of thousands of camera clutching tourists all en route to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe.
Grindelwald is a municipality in the district of Interlaken in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at 1,034 metres (3,390 ft) above sea level in the Bernese Alps. …
Long famed as a winter tourist destination with slopes for beginners, intermediates and the challenges of the Eiger glacier for the experienced, there are activities for the non-skiers, from tobogganing to groomed winter hiking tracks. It is the usual starting point for ascents of the Eiger and the Wetterhorn. Nowadays Grindelwald is also a popular summer activity resort with many miles of hiking trails across the Alps. …
Grindelwald has a population (as of 2007) of 3,809 …
Many experienced hikers would pooh pooh Grindelwald as too touristy, basing themselves instead out of Lauterbrunnen, Mürren or even (our pick) tiny Gimmelwald, accessible only on foot or by aerial tramway.
There are no bad hikes out of Grindelwald. It is fantastic in every direction.
Our favourite hike in the high Andes. Doing it independently only recommended for confident, self-sufficient hikers experienced at high altitude. It’s remote.
AT A GLANCE
Peru
circle sacred Ausangate massif(6372m, 20,905ft), the highest peak in southern Peru
4 high passes between 4757m – 5165m
70km (43.5mi) plus sidetrips
almost everyone does Ausangate with a guide, but it’s quite doable independently if you are acclimated
many options to extend this trek
best months are the May-September dry season
Tinqui is 5-8 hours now only about 3.5hrs by bus on a new road, about 100km S.E. of Cusco
You might guess the challenge is ridge walking — but there’s nothing with exposure.
I was wearing trail running shoes in late June. And they were NOT sufficient for the snow, ice, and loose scree. At minimum wear approach shoes. Most Europeans were wearing light hiking boots.
Poles would help for sure. If I did it again I’d carry YakTrax, just in case.
The weather kept changing. My jacket went on and off a dozen times.
Your lift ticket includes entry to the Alpenzoo which we did on the way back to Innsbruck.
It’s small, but well worth the stop. The focus is on animals indigenous to the Alps, though there are over 150 animal species. It’s built on the vertical slope of the mountain.
I was most enthusiastic to see the European Brown Bear and Lynx.
If you get to Innsbruck, this hike is highly recommended. A terrific hiking day.
Note ➙ it’s Europe, so there are easily a dozen variations to this route. You do not need to backtrack, for example. 10Adventuressuggests hiking late in the day — sleeping at Pfeishütte — and walking out day two.
besthike.com 