Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre Loop hiking guide: route map, stages & where to stay

The Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre trek is the classic multi-day walk of El Chaltén, Argentina's "national trekking capital", in the northern sector of Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz, Patagonia. It links the two famous day hikes of the town into one camping trip: up to the foot of Fitz Roy (3,405 m) and Laguna de los Tres, across the forested valley past Lagunas Madre e Hija, and down past Laguna Torre below the granite spire of Cerro Torre. Most people walk these trails as day hikes from town. Camping in the park lets you see Fitz Roy at sunrise and split the long days, but since the 2024–25 season every campsite must be booked and paid online in advance.

The route

This guide follows the standard 3-day camping loop. It starts at the Fitz Roy trailhead at the north end of Avenida San Martín in El Chaltén and climbs through lenga forest to Laguna Capri and its campsite (4 km). It continues past the Río Blanco valley viewpoints to Poincenot campsite (8 km from town), the base for Laguna de los Tres. On day 2 most hikers climb to the lake at dawn without packs, then come back to Poincenot, take the Madre e Hija trail south past two quiet lakes and join the Laguna Torre trail near the Mirador del Torre. The day ends at De Agostini campsite, a few minutes below Laguna Torre. Day 3 starts with the lake and its glacier, then follows the Río Fitz Roy valley back to the Laguna Torre trailhead at the west end of town, 1.1 km from where you started.

The route on this page is mapped from OpenStreetMap and split into 3 stages, about 8.3 km each, 25 km in total. The side trips are not part of the line, so add them to your plan: Laguna de los Tres is about 2.5 km and 430 m of climbing each way from Poincenot, the Laguna Torre viewpoint is 0.6 km from De Agostini, and Mirador Maestri on the moraine above the lake is about 2 km further. With them the trek is about 33–37 km. The 2.8 km between the Madre e Hija junction and De Agostini is walked twice, in on day 2 and out on day 3, because the Laguna Torre valley is a dead end.

Highlights

• Laguna de los Tres: the glacier lake right under the east face of Fitz Roy, best at sunrise from Poincenot
• Laguna Capri: a calm forest lake with Fitz Roy reflected in it on still mornings
• Lagunas Madre e Hija: two lakes on the quiet connecting trail between the two valleys
• Laguna Torre and the Torre glacier: icebergs below Cerro Torre (about 3,100 m), one of the most famous climbing peaks in the world
• Mirador Maestri: a moraine walk above Laguna Torre for a closer view of the glacier

When to go

The main season is October to April. December to February has the longest days and the most people; March and April bring autumn colours in the lenga forest and fewer crowds. Wind is the constant: strong gusts are common, the weather in the mountains is very different from town, and clouds often hide the peaks for days. From May to September the trails are under snow and ice and the days are short; walk only with winter experience and ask the rangers first. The campsites stay open all year, but winter services are basic.

How hard is it?

The walking is moderate: well-marked trails, about 400 m of climbing on day 1 and gentle ground on days 2 and 3. The hard part is the side trip to Laguna de los Tres: the last kilometre climbs about 400 m on loose rock and scree, and the park says it is dangerous in wind and rain. Rangers close this section, and sometimes others, at short notice when conditions or staffing make it unsafe. Allow 3 hours for each main stage with a full pack, plus 3–4 hours for Laguna de los Tres and back.

Permits, fees and booking

You need two things, both bought online before you arrive:

• Park entry: Los Glaciares – Portada El Chaltén. From 1 June 2026 the general (foreign visitor) rate is ARS 50,000 for one day or ARS 100,000 for a 3-day Flexipass, which covers this trek. Argentine nationals, Santa Cruz residents and students pay less; children up to 6 are free. Buy on the APN ticket site and carry your passport: rangers check tickets at booths on the trails.
• Campsites: Laguna Capri, Poincenot and De Agostini are run by the Asociación Amigos del PN Los Glaciares. Each night is a separate online booking, paid in advance: ARS 30,000 per adult per night in 2026, children under 12 free. Payment is non-refundable and dates cannot be changed, so book after you check the forecast. Wild camping is forbidden.

Prices change often with inflation; check the official pages shortly before your trip.

Getting there and away

El Chaltén is 220 km from El Calafate, about 3 hours by bus on paved roads. Buses run every day from El Calafate, whose airport has flights from Buenos Aires; some services also stop at the airport. Stop at the national park visitor centre at the entrance to town for the trail status and weather. Both trailheads are on foot from your bed: the Fitz Roy trail starts at the north end of Avenida San Martín and the Laguna Torre trail at the west end of town.

Money, phone and supplies

El Chaltén has shops, outdoor gear rental (tents, stoves, sleeping bags), restaurants, a bank and ATMs, but bring some pesos as well as a card in case the machines are empty in high season. There is mobile signal in town only: the trails and the campsites have no signal, electricity or shop. Buy gas cartridges and all your food in town.

What to pack

• A tent that can stand strong wind, a warm sleeping bag and mat
• A gas stove (mandatory: fires are forbidden) and all your food for 2–3 days
• Full waterproofs, a warm layer, hat and gloves, even in summer
• Sun cream and sunglasses: the sun is strong and the air is clear
• Water filter or tablets for stream water
• A bag to carry out all your rubbish, and your campsite vouchers and park ticket

Safety

The main dangers are wind, cold and falls on the steep climb to Laguna de los Tres. Turn back if gusts knock you off balance, and never cross a closed bridge. At Laguna Torre there is a risk of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF): in February 2026 the park moved De Agostini campsite away from the lake for this reason, so follow the signs and stay off closed paths by the shore. In an emergency call 911 if you have signal, or tell the campsite staff, who can call the park rangers by radio. The town has a health post with 24-hour urgent cover; the nearest hospital is in El Calafate, 3 hours away.