Mount Fitz Roy and El Chalten

Mount Fitz Roy, with its cluster of jagged granite spires soaring above the Patagonian steppe, is one of the most dramatic and challenging peaks on earth, an icon of mountaineering. At its foot sits El Chalten, the self-styled trekking capital of Argentina, from which superb walking trails lead straight from the village to glacial lakes, viewpoints and the base of the towers, in a UNESCO wilderness of ice, rock and wind.

What you actually see

• Mount Fitz Roy - the jagged granite spires above the steppe.
• Laguna de los Tres - the trek to the glacial lake beneath the towers.
• The village trails - the walks leading straight from El Chalten.
• The Patagonian wilderness - the glaciers, lakes and dramatic skies.

When to go

November to March, the southern summer, for the mildest weather, longest days and open trails; even then Patagonia is famously windy and changeable, and the peak is often hidden in cloud, so allow spare days for a clear view.

Honest expectations

The peak is notoriously shy, wrapped in cloud far more often than not, so a clear view of the spires is a real prize; allow several days. The weather is fierce, with ferocious wind even in summer, so come prepared. The trails, though starting from the village, are long and strenuous. It is remote, far south in Patagonia.

Nearby

The Perito Moreno Glacier and El Calafate are to the south; the Chilean Torres del Paine is nearby.