Mount Fitz Roy

Mount Fitz Roy rises to about 3,400 metres above the Patagonian steppe, its sheer granite towers often wrapped in cloud. At its foot, the small village of El Chaltén, founded only in 1985, is known as Argentina's trekking capital.

You do not need to be a mountaineer to enjoy it. Short trails lead to viewpoints such as the Mirador de los Cóndores in about an hour, while fit walkers can make the long, steep day hike to Laguna de los Tres, a glacial lake at the foot of the spires.

El Chaltén is about three hours by road from El Calafate, so we suggest staying at least two nights to allow for the weather. Clear mornings bring the famous sunrise, when the peaks glow red, and the village has cosy cafés for the evenings.