Hi there! My name is Chelsey (@chelseyexplores). In this hiking guide I will outline some of my best adventures and experiences in Monte Fitz Roy – an incredible mountain in Patagonia located on the border between Chile and Argentina. Before I do that, please allow me to introduce myself.
I am a San Diego based travel blogger who has a deep love for travel, adventure and anything outdoors. I grew up in San Diego and graduated with a degree in nursing. After graduating, I moved to San Francisco for five years and have just recently moved back to San Diego to be closer to travel.
Growing up I always had a love for photography and travel. My parents constantly took us on camping trips. I never had a dull moment as a kid. We were always outdoors and onto the next adventure. My love for travel was instilled in me at a young age. That passion has only grown over time.
I originally wanted to major in photography but ended up becoming a nurse in order to have a “stable” job. I figured I would do photography on the side. To be honest, I kind of gave up until recently. Over the past year, my passion for photography has returned. I purchased a DSLR camera and have been learning editing. I fall in love with photography more each day.
Eight Incredible Days in Patagonia
Funnily enough, I didn’t even know that Patagonia was a real place until recently. I thought it was a clothing brand! It wasn’t until a picture on Instagram popped up that I said to myself: “I want to go”. I researched where it was and found a group tour. Booking the trip was spontaneous. Patagonia was never on my bucket list but the timing was right so I went!
I have an article written on my website that outlines my itinerary to South America which you can find here. Essentially, I was in South America for a total of eight days. I chose to go with a tour company to make things easier. We visited both the Argentinian and Chilean side. My trip was mainly focused on hiking – each day consisted of some type of outdoor hike.
Staying in El Chalten, Argentina
I spent two days in the El Chalten area and it was perfect. Activities included walking and shopping around El Chalten, and plenty of amazing hiking adventures. Of course, we did the Monte Fitz Roy hike and also the Condores y Aguilas trek! Most of our days consisted of hiking adventures.
We stayed at the Pudu Lodge in El Chalten. It wasn’t luxurious by any stretch of the imagination but it had everything we needed, including an ideal location in the middle of town and a nice continental breakfast.
Hiking the Epic Monte Fitz Roy
Hiking Monte Fitz Roy was such a rewarding experience but it was a long hike! I would say that the last two miles were the most difficult for me. It’s all uphill and there are tons of switchbacks. Then the last portion consists of loose gravel on a steep hill which makes hiking pretty tough.
The area surrounding Monte Fitz Roy is beautiful too. It was a lot larger than I expected. There is plenty of room for everyone. Although, coming in the middle of the day is definitely a tourist trap. Plenty of people headed up there for the day but I still felt like I had room to enjoy the area.
One of my favourite aspects about this hike was going with a large group of people. The hike was so long that I got to enjoy talking with new people throughout the entire hike. It was so awesome to have a group of others surrounding you to encourage you to keep going even on the difficult bits.
The best moment, though, was definitely coming over the last peak with a few people from the group and seeing the glorious Monte Fitz Roy. Make sure you are with someone when you approach the top so you can experience this beauty together! These memories will stay with you forever.
Challenges of Monte Fitz Roy
This trip was incredible in some ways and difficult in others. Unfortunately, we had a medical emergency with a member of our group which made the second half of our trip quite emotional. On the other hand, I remember coming over the peak and seeing the epic Monte Fitz Roy in all its glory.
This trip was incredible in some ways and difficult in others. Unfortunately, we had a medical emergency with a member of our group which made the second half of our trip quite emotional. On the other hand, I remember coming over the peak and seeing the epic Monte Fitz Roy in all its glory.
The biggest challenge of hiking Monte Fitz Roy is the length of the hike and the difficulty. My knees and feet were so done by the end of the long hike. I recommend bringing hiking poles to help combat this problem.
Another challenge was the weather. Conditions can drastically change in Patagonia and so I had to pack for all possibilities. You start the hike early in the morning and the weather is freezing. But once you start walking you get hot and once you reach the summit it gets cold again. Make sure you pack clothing that is also lightweight and easily packable.
Need to Know Before you Go
Monte Fitz Roy is by no means an easy hike. You will need to arrive prepared both physically and mentally. It’s not only long but strenuous at the summit. I recommend starting early and giving yourself the whole day.
As always, pack plenty of water and bring lunch to eat at the top. It makes for an epic lunch! I would also recommend using hiking poles on this trail – especially for the last section as the terrain becomes gravely and steep.
Lastly, if you plan on travelling around Patagonia for a while, I would recommend checking out Torres del Paine National Park. There are tons of awesome hikes here too! Thanks for reading and enjoy Monte Fitz Roy.
